FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES



Subjects just "pop" into my head at times. Driving back from the market, I was watching the cows grazing lazily under the HOT summer sun, and I had such peace that I wished it could go on forever!

FOREVER? Why would I ever say something like that? I didn't want to REALLY be out in the hot sun driving, and watching the cows...FOREVER! And that made me think of what the word "forever" really means. But I guess that would depend upon who was defining that word...and what they meant by it. "Subjective" comes to my mind. And being subjective is not always being truthful! And I am all about the TRUTH!!

For instance:

What person (any gender of the species of "Man") has not looked into the eyes of someone they totally loved and thought they would love them "forever"?

How many marriages begin at the Alter with making vows to "love and cherish" "forever" (which actually is until "death", or divorce). Murder comes to mind as well, but that's another subject.

And millions of people receive gifts with the comment, "I will cherish this forever!"

Sure! Know how long "forever" lasts with people? Until they decide differently. You love someone until they disappoint you beyond the point of toleration....then love turns to hate. The OPPOSITE of "love" is not "hate" (they both imply emotion), it is "indifference" (you just don't give a darn one way or the other...no emotion involved). But it's certainly not "forever" any more.

The gift one would cherish "forever" is until there is too much clutter on the shelves, and then it gets tossed into the rubbish. There goes "forever" with not another thought about it.

The marriage vows for "forever" usually end when one gains about 200 lbs, gets gray hair (or no hair), and gets generally bored with their company....or someone else comes along to satisfy their need for "youth", "money" or "sex". These things put a halt on "forever" quite efficiently!

Ah! To be young again and believe that everything nice, and good, and pleasant, and exciting will last "forever". But, in contrast, all things that cause pain, anger, or stress are usually forgotten when tomorrow comes.

That is, except for women! We NEVER forget anything or anyone who has ever wronged us....and "paybacks are rough". Some men fear women because they are very aware of this. That's why the phrase, "Yes, Dear! came to be so commonly said by most males in marriages. There is a saying, "If Momma's not happy, the whole house pays for it"....or something like that. Men are instinctively smart in knowing this, or they learn it very quickly!

BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT "FOREVER"???? I believe that many, if not most, Christians do not understand the word "forever" as God meant it to be understood. The Bible contains the "inspired words of God". We all know that!! But, those who translated the Bible from the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic WERE NOT! People make errors! And there are LOTS of different "Bible translations" (versions) today. People can receive salvation from ANY "Bible", that is, IF GOD THE FATHER DRAWS THEM...John 6:44.

In detail link explaining the words translated as "for ever":


http://www.savior-of-all.com/aionian.html


This is a also a good link in explaining what God means by "forever", but it has "different" details than the link above:


http://www.godfire.net/paris/howlong.html


Piece of the end of the article:


EVERLASTING LIFE

For hundreds of years believers have been plagued with these "for ever" texts, which caused mental blocks to shut out scriptures which could have reconciled them. "For ever" must be measured every time in the King James version. Some times the passage explains the time element, but at other times, a lot of scripture has to be compared before we can measure accurately how long is meant. "A little knowledge is dangerous," it is said, so a lot of knowledge is needed here, or else we assume wrongly that "for ever" is endless.

Will everyone who ever lived arise to be rewarded or judged? Of course! No one has been forgotten, nor will anyone ever be! Failure to recognize this causes false doctrines to spring up. Will anyone's death be final? No, our Savior was victorious over every death! All who have been created have been redeemed, but it is going to be very hard on those who must go through long correction! Many believers resist measuring these for ever texts. But it is all so simple! The righteous (who are a minority, as a few) will receive life which is not subject to death. Rev. 2: 11. This thrives on and on until death is destroyed. In effect then, life is ETERNAL life, and there is not one thing to worry over! So as believers, let us rejoice that we receive such LIFE, none will be tortured for ever, nor destroyed for ever. ALL of us are safe in our heavenly Father's hands! Praise Him. Oh, how we can trust such a loving Creator.

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Arlene