FAQs about eternity
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Eternity is where nothing ever dies and nothing ever ages. What isn't eternity contains both death and aging.
Can eternity have time and still be eternal?
Some would argue that the first 6 days of creation occurred in what is considered eternity. This is because the first sin did not happen until the creation was over. So what needs to be understood is how creation in eternity affects how creation "had" to be done.
We relate time with age, and death, because that is all that we have known. But God's word says that death was not so until man sinned, and sin did not come into the world until the creation was finished. Which also means that death was not a process of creation. And death requires you to age to be able to reach that goal which is the end of life. So death being a direct process of aging, means that aging was not a part of the creation either. So knowing that the 6 days of creation were done in 24 hour days. And because sin had not caused death yet. Means that the time during creation was eternal.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2Peter 3:8 (KJV)
Heaven and earth are being compared in the verse above. Time here cannot be compared to a place that does not contain time. And next verse actually shows there is time that can be measured in eternity.
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Revelation 8:1 (KJV)
A half an hour does not exist where time does not exist.
What makes time eternal in Heaven and not here?
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2Peter 3:8 (KJV)
This verse is a formulation for time dilation. Time dilation is where the faster you travel or move, the slower time becomes. And because of this, there is a speed in which the "effects of time" (aging) stops. So the formula goes like this: 1 day x 365 = 1 year. 1,000 years x 365 = 365,000 years. So 1 year compared to 365,000 years means that eternity (being with God) works 365,000 times faster than our time does.
Side note: The term "time being faster" is actually where the "beings in that eternal realm move faster". Time in all three realms (heaven, hell and where we are) are in sync.
This would explain:
- Why we cannot see God or anything in that eternal realm. We cannot see beings that move 365,000 times faster than us.
- How God can be everywhere at once.
- How God can know the past, present and future. Because they combine to become one (Alpha-Omega).
Alpha-Omega means that the time-line in eternity is just one big time-line that can be seen from beginning to end at the same time (all of time can be seen at one glance). Why? In the phrase "Alpha-Omega", notice that there is no "present time". Which means the beings in eternity are always moving through time. Eternity is all there is in time (beginning to end) bottled up to where any being there can be any where in time they want. So basically: Time - "present time" = time that moves 365,000 times faster than normal time. Time that moves 365,000 times faster = time - the effects of time (aging). Time - aging = eternity. And of course it has to be sinless to be Heaven.
Example: Think of your time line of life like a river that flows to it's end (your end of life). When you are born, you get into this river. As time passes, you flow down this river. What you can see as you go down this river is present time. What has already passed is in the "passed time". And what's up ahead is future time. Now God is above all this in a helicopter because "Alpha and Omega time" has no "present time". This allows God to see your total time-line in one glance. And regardless of your choices here on earth through freewill, He can always see your destination. And God, and His angels, are above that same river of time and can enter into that river of time at any point because they are not restricted by "present time" as we are.
We live in "present time" which makes us have to live our lives through aging. God does not live in present time therefore aging is not a process of that time. And therefore is what makes God's time in Heaven eternal. So in more simple terms:
- Passed + present + future = non-eternal time (time with aging).
- Passed + future (alpha omega) - present = eternal time (time without aging).
What makes time eternal in Hell?
Every thing is the same as the above situation, except Hell contains sin, and Evil. So eternal Heaven is all the above plus purity (sinless and all that is good). Hell is all the above plus impurity (sin and evil). And neither one can exist inside of the other.
Can a individual experience the timing difference related to the other heavens (realms or dimension)?
Yes.
When a person is involved in a near death accident, or a really bad accident where the individual knows they could have died. Their physical conscious state is transferred to their spiritual side. And because infinite laws begin to apply, the physical state of things happening around them slow up. As if all that were happening were going in slow motion (time dilation). This also applies to when you find yourself observing an event outside of your physical body. Everything still is in slow motion because when your consciousness is no longer connected to your physical body. Another dimension is revealed. And the laws of that other dimension are being applied.
This event is also related to one's whole life flashing before their eyes in just a matter of a second or 2. Yet the person it happens to compehends the whole experience. Even though normally this would take a very long time, being out of sync with time allows this to happen in just a few seconds.
Why does the time slow up during such an event?
As the event that causes this unfolds, the "present time" laws start to not apply as your physical consciousness starts to make that transfer from a physical state to a spiritual one (preparing for a possible death). Once "present time" starts to not apply, the individual becomes out of sync with physical time and can observe it in slow motion because they are no longer a part of that time. Question (to make one think): How can one be a part of physical time if they are temporary in a spiritual state or dimension? That is why things are very different during such an event that causes this to happen.
What can we learn from such an event?
We are given a glimpse into the other side by example when such things happen. As we see this difference, can one imagine how they could actually operate in that area of time? Because for every event that happens in physical time, one could alter it living outside of that time. And were able to intervene because they could move a lot faster than the actual event. This shows us how, through time being faster in a spiritual state, that God and His angels are able to intervene on our part.
How many realms (heavens) are there?
There are three (a trinity).
I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2Corinthians 12:2 (KJV)
The three heavens are:
- The temporal heaven of both good and evil (where we are).
- The spiritual heaven of total darkness and evil only (where Hell is).
- The spiritual heaven of total light and purity, all that is good only (Where Heaven is).
Each one has laws that govern it and either make it finite (non-eternal), or infinite (eternal).
When were the heavens created?
On day one of creation.
First understand that before there had to be separation, only one realm existed. Then upon creation of our realm (universe) came the need for separation, and the laws that govern each. Second, the first light that was created was not physical light, from a physical object, for a reason. Spiritual light and darkness have meaning. Spiritual light = purity and all that is good. Spiritual darkness = impurity and all that is evil. Third, the word "Heaven" stays singular through out creation until Genesis 2:1, when the creation of all the realms (heavens) were completed. Then the word heaven becomes plural for the first time. Fourth, in Genesis 2:1. Not only does it use the word heaven in a plural sense, but it also says that the host of each heaven were all present. Which tells us that not only were the heavens created during creation. But all the life forms that belong were put into these just created heavens as well.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. Genesis 2:1 (KJV)
What does all this creation of the heavens tell us?
- When the angels were created.
- When Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels fell.
- When Spiritual Heaven and Hell were created.
What determines which eternity we will end up in?
Because we are "all" born into sin, we have to "change" in order to fit into the laws that govern the eternal Heaven. If we choose not to change, then because of sin we will go to the eternity realm that allows sin and evil to exist through it's laws. So if a person prefers to sin and refuses to change, then there is only one eternity realm that allows this persons choice (Hell). If a person "chooses to change" and makes the covenant with the being (Christ) in Heaven who can provide this change through salvation. Then a person will end up where the sin-less laws govern that eternity (In Heaven).
Are these laws that govern these realms supported in the Bible?
Yes:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (KJV)
The two laws are:
- Law of the spirit of "life" in Christ Jesus (which is the choice we have to chose from what we are born into).
- Law of sin and "death" (which is what we are born into).
Life through Christ is eternal. Life through sin has the end goal of death. These are the laws that govern what makes up both eternity (infinite realm), and non-eternity (finite realm). One we are born into (sin and death), the other we have to change to become a part of (eternal life). But because these laws are not naturalistic type laws, they cannot be found in science which is only interested in naturalistic things. So even though these laws can answer a lot of questions concerning how things work in this finite universe, and the parallel infinite universe. They are ignored because it is taboo to ponder anything supernatural in science.
What about sin and death, everybody dies right?
Yes.
What most do not understand or comprehend. Is that when the flesh dies another part continues on to live (the human soul). So the first death is just a conversion unto temporary life under the laws of the flesh, unto a eternal life under the laws of the spirit (our souls).
Can the soul also die?
Not in the sense that we would understand the death of our own flesh. But the Bible does speak of a soul death called the "Second Death".
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:14 (KJV)
Present time creation
Is there anything being created during non-eternity time?
No. After man sinned nothing else was created.
Why did the creation of things stop after man sinned?
The laws of time changed. Creation is needed when birth and death are not present (when the laws of eternity are in effect).
Are there examples of this?
Yes. When God had Jonah swallowed by a fish, God did not create a fish to do this. God prepared a fish (altered it what was already created).
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 (KJV)
When the wedding, Christ attended, ran out of wine. Christ had the servants fill the containers with water. He then turned the water into wine (altered the water).
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, John 2:9 (KJV)
Does eternity (no death and no aging) apply to everything created?
No. Life is considered in the blood.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. leviticus 17:11 (KJV)
So things like plants were not considered alive because they do not have blood. So they can go through their cycle of producing fruit, seed, and grow. And things would still be considered eternal. And as far as animals go. Animals would not have aged, but because they have no soul. They are considered a separate creation from man. And because animals have no soul, their blood becomes the atonement for our souls (the old covenant). And only those things with a soul (man) are promised eternal life. Those things that have no soul, are not. For how do you save a creature that has no soul that can be saved?
Can eternity have anything birth into it?
No. This is because that anything birthed would never age. And this applies to both living and non-living matter.
- Example (living matter): If a living creature were born into eternity, when would it grow up since eternity does not have the aging process?
- Example (dead matter): If a star, or planet were born into eternity, when would it cool down since aging is not a process of eternity?
Without the laws of present time (as dicussed ealier), nothing can be birthed. Because the laws of Alpha Omega would not allow anything to age.
If nothing can be birthed into eternity, then how does it work?
Because nothing can be birthed into eternity, everything has to be created. Hence the need for a Creator.
Side note: After creation and then sin, nothing more was ever created by God on this planet. Why? Non-eternal laws existed. Plus anything created directly from God has to be perfect until sin corrupts it. But because the laws of sin are already in place due to man sinning, nothing perfect can be created under those laws. This is also why Christ had to be born into this world as a man through a virgin so that He could die for our sins. He could have just appeared and done this, but God is not a law breaker. Abiding by the current laws of life and death, because of sin proves this. But being without sin gives Christ power over it.
If age is not the process of eternity, how are things created concerning a age-less realm?
Because eternity has to be created in working order, because aging is not a process of it. Everything created in eternity is created with age already added. This applies to both living and non-living matter.
Is there physical evidence for this?
Yes, the earth being created with enough age (4.6 billion years aged) to sustain life. The moon only having 3 inches of dust but dating to 4 billion years old.
Is there biblical evidence of this type of creation?
Yes, both man and animal were created and told to go forth and multiply. This means that both were created with enough age to do just that, on the very same day they were created.
If things cannot be birthed into eternity, why was man given the ability to go forth and multiply?
Because God is the Alpha and Omega, and time was already created. God knew that man, given the choice, would probably choose sin. So to make man not ready physically to deal with what sin would bring. Would be God making an imperfect creation. Why? After sin, if man was not able to multiply. God would either have to recreate man to do so. Or allow man to just die off. So man was created prepared for a sin-less, or sinful world. It was his choice.
Side note
The rest of creation had to be created also with a sin-less and a sinful universe in mind. So the formula for creation had to include a creation prepared to work in either universe (sinful or sin-less). To do so would mean a creation that has to abide by the laws of each universe, or be destroyed by those same laws that govern each universe when man sinned. So in other words, there were some laws to follow for the creation. A God that breaks His own laws does not set a good example for His creation to follow.
Why did not God stop man from sinning by not giving him the choice to sin, in this way he could stay in eternity?
What a lot of people do not understand, including most Christians, is that true love requires true choice. And the freedom to choose it. This is why salvation is called a free gift. A forced love is a counterfeit love. It's a type of love that demands you give it. It is a one sided love where only one person benefits from it. This is how cults operate. They get you in, then force you to stay by making threats, or using guilt trips.
God gave the choice of good and evil to Adam and Eve because true love requires it. But God also warned them. The serpent (representation of Satan, and how cults work), gave Eve only a one sided story (forcing his counterfeit view). Made it sound as if there was only one choice, and that the other choice was not true (calling God a liar). So Eve, feeling the push in one direction, made the choice that sounded like the right one. And we all know what happened after that.
So what does this mean as far as what we observe today?
It explains how you can have an object date billions of years old, but yet have evidence for only 6,000 years of actual time passage. The old age dating explains the age which was added to the object upon it's creation in eternity (before the first sin). The young earth evidence explains how much actual time has past since it's creation with age (after the first sin). This is how you get both young and old evidence mixed.
How does this explain the existence of the geologic column?
The Geologic column was set up by the flood through hydrologic sorting. The layers contained the age markers of the earth being created with age. The fossils, which were also hydrolically sorted from the flood, were laid out in the layers. And because the layers already had age of being created with age. The layers cross contaminated the fossils.
Does this mean that the geologic column is wrong?
No. Only half wrong. The layers are dated correctly because they were created with age already added (when the earth was created in eternal time). The flood sorted the fossils into the layers, and were cross contaminated from the layer's dating markers from the earth being created with age. This is why the layers date the fossils, and the fossils date the layers so well. The layers cross contaminated the fossils to make them date the same.
Does this make God deceptive as many evolutionists will imply?
No. Which would be deceptive?
- A 4.6 billion year old earth with only 6000 year old dating markers? Which would have everyone scratching their heads wondering: How did that happen? Imagine for a minute that because actual time passage was only 6000 years old. And that regardless of any formation stage of any planet, or star. They all dated 6,000 years exact. Now how would man understand how things work in aged time (a representation for actual time passage) if the dating markers for that were not left? We would have a 4.6 billion year old earth that dates 6,000 thousands years.
- Everything dated really old, with no evidence (not even a shred) for young earth. But, God's word says that it is not that old. So basically this would be opposites. God's word say this, but the evidence says that. And since there is no evidence for What God's word says, who would believe it?
God's word contradicting His creation evidence is like God calling Himself a liar. So you see, mixing both young and old evidence shows that God created with age upon the day the creation was made. So in the beginning, the earth was created to be 4.6 billion years old. And God left the dating markers to prove it. But He also left evidence of actual time passage which is only 6,000 years. This is why we get mixed results on the evidence we find.
Where did God come from, or who created God?
Because of the laws of eternity, before time, there was no beginning. Which means that what ever existed when time was not a factor, always existed. For God had to exist before the creation of time because He created time. Everything that exists has to have a starting point. But until time was created, the starting point was not relevant nor measurable. And because God existed before time, the starting point of that existence is not measurable by means we could even understand. How do you understand an existence where time does not exist?
Who, or what created God is another issue. This is because it becomes a self cancelling question. How? Once you figure out who or what created God, then the next question arises about where did that Creator come from? And these types of questions can go on for infinity if you could answer them all. It's like asking the question: Where did the matter come from for the big bang? Once that gets answered, then you want to know where that source came from. And those questions would continue for infinity as well. So in no way is the questions of who created God, or where did God come from, scientific. It is more or less a question designed to weaken one's faith due to the inability to answer it. And the person asking already knows this, and is the very reason the question gets asked.
Why does God have to always exist?
- If God has to be created by another force or being, then He is not God. And is not the ultimate Creator because He had to be created.
- Science, reason, and logic cannot prove that something comes from nothing. Therefore something had to "always" exist in order for the rest to be created.
- Temporal (physical) things have limitations. This is because they are finite. Spiritual things have no boundaries or limitations as far as time is concerned. And because of that they are infinite.
- Temporal things cannot become infinite in a finite universe where finite laws govern their existence. An example of this is where it was thought at one time that our universe went on forever (being infinite). How ever, it has been found that our universe has an end (finite). Perfect example of how finite things cannot be infinite where finite laws exist.
- All finite things (time, space, and matter) have to have a beginning. So it would take something from the infinite realm of existence to create all finite things that exist. That something would have to be intelligent enough to know how to make another realm of finite things (where we exist). And be able to create a set of finite laws that allow all finite things to work in order and not chaos. Order equals intelligence. Chaos equals random chance.
- In a finite universe, there are three parts to time. Past, present, and future. In an infinite universe, these three parts of time would unite and become one. Which would give the being who lived there infinite wisdom about everything. All three parts of time existing as one also explains how God's word can predict future events before they happen. And explain how one being can know all and see all.
- In a infinite universe, where all things are eternal. The only things that can exist are immaterial things (spiritual). In this way material laws do not apply. And because immaterial things do not exist in the same way material things do. The space required for material things does not apply to immaterial things. Therefore eliminating all limitations of the material universe.
- Immaterial things do not take up space, nor do they require space. Which means they can interact with things in all realms of existence. Both material (finite) and immaterial (infinite). And because they are immaterial, they do not require substance (material things) in order to survive. And is basically what makes all spiritual beings eternal, and why material possessions do not matter. They are not needed nor desired.
So how do we know that God from eternity, created all that we see?
God knew the basics of creation and knew the correct order in which things had to be created.
First you need: Time, space, and then matter. Time gives you the "when" of creation. Space gives you the "place" to create, and matter gives you "what" to create.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- In the beginning = time being created.
- God created the heaven = space being created.
- Earth = Matter being created.
So in a finite universe, and around the time that the Bible was written. How could a finite being (man) have knowledge and wisdom of an infinite being in order to write things he has never seen, nor has knowledge of? In science you get the knowledge from logic, reason, testing, evidence, etc... But where did such knowledge, not even known of, get written in a time where nothing can be confirmed? Because the instruments to do so, did not exist yet. There was no scientific method in biblical times. So where did the knowledge and correct order of the basics for creation come from?
From a being that lives in eternity and has infinite wisdom to do so. And therefore had the ability to inspire a finite being (man) to understand and write about things he never knew.
So why is God and His Son the only way?
So many people try and say that there are many ways to get to Heaven. But is that true? Let's use some logic, reason and the word of God to see.
According to the Bible, all beings in Heaven are perfect, and without sin. Which means in order to enter Heaven ourselves and be able to stay there, would mean that we would have to be able to accomplish this. Why? Freewill still exists in Heaven and is the very reason Lucifer and 1/3 of the Angels were cast out. Knowing this, a being in Heaven would have to be able to be perfect and sinless. How can a mere human, whom cannot control himself upon this planet, be able to accomplish this feat in Heaven by himself? It's impossible.
So those who take it upon themselves to make their own way into Heaven (works, other gods, living a good life etc...) have no idea what is required of them to actually enter into an infinite realm and be able to stay there. Now God knew this, and this is the very reason He had to "make" a way to heaven for "finite" beings to become "infinite" (eternal). This is because there is no other way to do this. It is not because the Christian God wants to be the only God. It's because He is the only one who can make the transition for finite beings to become infinite (eternal).
The other reason is because finite beings cannot exist under infinite laws (being perfect and sinless). So there has to be change (salvation through Christ) to the finite being to allow them to exist under infinite laws. So God made a covenant with man, and sent His Son to make sin atonement for all of man kind. But because finite beings have a sin nature, and there is freewill in Heaven. There has to be a preparation process that gets us ready to make the transition and allows us to stay in Heaven.
The thousand year reign
After the earth is purified by fire. The City of God will come down from the heavens and Christ will rule and reign using a "rod". The word "rod" in the Bible is a instrument of correction. Because of our choice of freewill, we will have to be corrected on how "not" to live so that we may remain in Heaven. Heaven and earth are not run like a matrix, where the beings there are controlled like puppets. Freewill makes it to where our choices can change. Correction using the rod shows us what the right choices are and keeps the now infinite beings infinite. Even though we started out finite.
This is also why Satan will be let out for a short season towards the end of the 1000 year reign. This is to demonstrate our correction first hand and to show by example why things have to be a certain way in order for us to exist in a infinite realm (Heaven) with God an His Son.
Related References
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