CHAPTER TWO
THE PLAN OF THE AGES

       The phrase in Ephesians 3:11 "the eternal purpose"—which would be more correctly translated 'the plan of the Ages'—and that other phrase, so frequently occurring, "for ever and ever"—which should be translated 'unto the Ages of the Ages'—combine to give us our first intimation that the Creation was not just like a clock which would continue ticking obediently when once it was wound up, but was rather the beginning of a vast series of events, which would continue unfolding "for ever and ever". The word 'Age' really means a portion of time during which God is accomplishing some purpose. When that purpose is brought to its completion, then the age changes, and the Almighty begins another purpose, which in its turn is accomplished, and gives way to yet another Age.

       To men living on this earth time is measured by minutes, hours, days, years. To the Eternal these puny measurements do not count; a thousand years is no more to Him than a day (2 Peter 3:8). Living far above all Heavens the mere lapse of Time is immaterial: it is His purposes only which count: and He has divided time up into Ages, or Ages of Ages; that is, a succession of His Plans, which follow each other in orderly fashion, having as an end—but there is to be no end! The Creation once begun will proceed into perfections hidden in God, without end! Eternal life is a conception beyond our grasping, an unspeakable gift!

       It follows therefore that before "The Beginning of the

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Creation" all the processes of History were envisaged; the whole vast plan was conceived: the difficulties were faced; and the success assured. It often escapes our notice that only as we read the last two chapters of the Bible do we see the Beginning of the Real Plan. Up to then all has been preparation, mysterious, disappointing, heartrending, maybe; but then, and only then, as we gaze up on the beauties of the New Earth and the New Kingdom, and are entranced by the glory of the New Heaven, and shudder at the eternal smoke of Hell: then and only then will the Love and the Wisdom and the Power of the Almighty break upon our enraptured souls and inspire the songs of the Redeemed.

       God has, however, behind this succession of Ages in the history of His dealings with mankind one single overmastering purpose, to prove to men that there is no possible way whereby they can be happy except by a determination to love God and each other. In every age God has allowed a different method of government, only to show that selfishness, and so disobedience, has brought each successive attempt to chaos and misery. In the first pre-Adamic Ages Lucifer sought his own glory and pleasure, and brought both angels and men to ruin by so doing. The sin of Adam and Eve in disobeying God and seeking their own pleasure and advancement ended in the violence of Noah's earth where everyone fought to have his own way. The silence of God after the tremendous lesson of the Flood yet ended in the defiance and misery of the great Eastern Empires from Nimrod to Pharaoh, in which the luxury of the Rulers meant the wretchedness of the ruled. The setting up of an ideal kingdom in Palestine with wise laws and true worship ended with the apostasy of the favoured Jews into ways worse than those of the surrounding heathen (2 Chronicles 36). The entry into the world of the Son of God with His revelation of perfect Love, Wisdom

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and Power has failed, and will increasingly fail, to tame the savagery of disobedient men. And finally even the return of Christ with all power and wisdom to set up His ideal Kingdom in Palestine and rule the earth for a thousand years with a rod of iron, will not be able to do more than keep in check through fear the selfish desires of men, which upon the temporary release of Satan from prison will spring up into a final repetition of age-long violence. (Revelation 20:7-10). Thus will the Lord have proved beyond question that there is no possible way of governing wicked men so that happiness shall reign. Sin, or selfishness, will always and everywhere bring misery. Only the final and eternal incapacitation of the wicked will enable the righteous to enjoy the happiness intended for them by God.

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