>>Would you, or could you, agree that when Paul wrote these words he is looking forward. It is hard for something that did not yet exist to be glorify Christ. Could Paul glorify Christ prior to his salvation on the road to Damascus?
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I am not sure what you are asking. I was taught that the Church began on the day of Pentecost.
>>At the time of this writing there are at least two ages to come . . . the millennial age and Eternity. We are not told if there will be “ages to come” beyond that. Some also believe that the tribulation period could also be assigned it’s own age. But as to duration . . . it is world without end.
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Not every Christian has been taught that way. There are also these verses to be considered:
“And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”” — Luk 18:29-30 NASB
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” — Eph 1:18-21 NASB
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” — 1Cor 10:11 NASB
It seems like all the ages had already come in the days of Paul days, except for the one to come.
I know that there are many evangelical churches who don’t espouse, teach, or believe much of what I read here. As I see it, all of our positions regarding the whole area of eschatology is speculative. No one really knows for sure and thus we shouldn’t be dogmatic or say that one school of thought is correct, to the exclusion of another.
Thank you for your thoughts, PP, and have a Blessed Day!
>>>I am not sure what you are asking. I was taught that the Church began on the day of Pentecost.<<<
Acts is a transitional book between the law and the church age . . . there is no doctrinal teaching per say.
In actuality, the church was started when Jesus told Peter that He would build it on the Rock - which is Himself (Petras not Petros, or Huge boulder versus little pebble) and not Peter.
The church was empowered . . . and so too were the disciples empowered with boldness on the day of Pentecost.
However, the day that the church got down to receiving doctrine was when Paul was captured by Christ on the Damascus road.
That is not to say that there were not great things happening in Acts - we saw great multitudes being added as they daily taught the Scriptures from house to house - but their understanding beyond simple salvation was fuzzy without the ‘inspired’ teachings of Paul.
And a Blessed Day to you as well, Kalamata!
My day is blessed . . . sort of . . . except for waking up and finding out that all of a sudden I am 64 years old.
Now I have that stupid Beatles song playing on a loop in my head!
However, the nice thing about being 64 is that there are but a few more days (or weeks or months or years) until I get to meet my blessed Saviour in person and see my wife again who left this earth in April!
>>>not only in this age but also in the one to come<<<
Some churches teach that once Jesus returns the next, and final age, begins. They put the Tribulation and the Millennium together and do not choose to call eternity an ‘age’ . . . which is definitely understandable.
One reason it does make sense over all is that there is ‘no more time’ past the Millennium and ages and time are rather indiscernible.
On my part I can not imagine that God’s programs will suddenly cease in eternity as his kingdom will have no end - but I can agree that ‘ages’ may well not be a descriptor for the new programs.
Continue to be faithful in all that God has given you. I might request that as you continue to read and study His Word that you’ll at least consider some of the things I’ve posted. Not to insist I’m right and you’re wrong - God and His purposes are rather beyond understanding.