Why Are New Testament Writers Concerned With The "Ages"?
Background:
An "age" is a long period of time. It can be of varying lengths of time and there are various ages referred to in Biblical and ancient near east writings. However, the context of the New Testament is concerned primarily with two ages: The present age and the age to come.The "age to come" is the age that God will set up His kingdom on earth through the Messiah. This will be be the greatest age and is referred to as the Age of ages. The term "Age of ages" is often translated "forever and ever" but that prevents us from seeing how the ages were viewed and how the next age was so important. Just like the terms "King of kings" is used to describe the greatest king and "Lord of lords" is used to describe the greatest lord, so to the term "Age of ages" is used to describe the greatest age.
Daniel uses the term to describe the time when it would be given to the holy ones for the Age of ages.
Daniel 7:18
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom unto the age, and unto the Age of ages.
The False Teaching:
The Spirit of Christ would reign in this age but not in next because that is when the Christ in the Flesh would reign.New Testament Response:
Hebrews 1:8
But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, into the Age of ages. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion into the Age of ages. Amen.
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign into the Age of ages!"
Matthew 12:32
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
