In Ephesians 2:7, Paul talks about the ages to come. How many ages are to come?
ANSWER: The word age is the Greek word ‘aion’ meaning “forever, an unbroken age.” An age is a period of time characterized by a specific manner or mode of life. Age has more to do with what takes place in the period, than how long the period lasts. The word ‘aion’ also can be translated “world” in the Greek sense meaning, “the historical context of a period of history,” that is, the age of evil, corresponds to the world of evil, and the age of righteousness to the Messianic age. An age should not be confused with a dispensation, for a dispensation contains a specific working of God with a set of rules in place, whereas, an age speaks of a specific characteristic of the period.
Ephesians 2:7 uses the plural “ages” to come, which means there is more than one age (e.g., the Messianic age) to come. I do not know how many ages there are yet to come, but I can point to three: the age or time of Jacob’s Trouble (dispensationally speaking, the Tribulation), the Messianic age (dispensationally speaking, the Millennial reign of Christ on earth), and the age that follows – the new heavens and earth – the final state or age.
We are currently in the Church age. For example, in John 14:16, the comforter, advocate, or helper (Gr. Parakletos) will be with believers in the “age to come” that is, the Church age.
In Scripture there seems to be several ages:
- The current age, i.e., the Church age (1Tim. 6:17; Tit. 2:12), which is characterized by the words believe and grace and where the gospel is preached in a fallen world.
- An age of tribulation. The Tribulation period is an age where the nations will be judged for their treatment of Israel (Isa. 24:21-23; 59:16-20), God will purge the earth of wicked people (Isa. 13:9; 24:19-20; Ezek. 37:23; Zech. 13:2; 14:9; Isa. 11:9), and both judge Israel and produce a national revival among the Jewish people (Deut. 4:27-30; Isa. 6:9-13; 24:1-6; Dan. 12:5-7; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 20:34-38; 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Zech. 12:9-13:2; Isa. 59:20-21; Rev. 7:1-4; Mat. 24:14). This age is characterized by the words judgment and justice.
- An age to come where Jesus reigns (Eph. 1:21; 2:7). In Luke 1:33, the work refers to the Messianic reign of Jesus, therefore, the Millennium is a distinct age. Sometimes the word means eternal, or forever, and can refer to eternal life of the redeemed (Rev. 22:5), or eternal torment of those separated from God in the second death (Rev. 14:11; 20:10). The age is characterized by the two great words of righteousness and peace.
Dr. John Pappas
