Ontology guides theology

[Pig]

What we believe about "eternity" affects what we believe about theology and ET and UR.

It is a fairly modern idea that time is like a film strip, and we exist simultaneously past present and future. This is patent nonsense. There is 220 pounds of me; no more no less. I exist now.

This idea has also permeated our idea of eternity; some thinking it is merely a timeline that goes on forever in both directions.

But we still sing a hymn: "When the trumpet of the Lord will sound, and time will be no more..."
Eternity is timeless. Time is just an artifact of decay.  Timelessness doesn't mean that there is no sequencing, and/or no movement. We find it hard to imagine.

A good ontology resolves apparent contradictions.
Scripture says when Christ returns, he comes a s thief in the night, yet when he returns, all men will see him.

These are merely views of the same event: one view from within time looking out, one from eternity.

In time we all die at different times. He comes as a thief in the night. But from the perspective of timeless eternity, we all arrive simultaneously.  They saw Steven die, but he saw all the heavenly host in eternity with Christ coming to get him. He might have even seen you and me.

Which generation will not pass away?  Every one that reads it, if we get raptured at the time of our death.

This throws a monkey wrench in what we think of eternity, and eternal this and that. 

Have you ever had a momentary memory that elicited a physical response? Perhaps you winced, or even gnashed your teeth. What would that be like if there was no time? It wouldn't necessarily be without end, since here are sequences in eternity, but it could last a moment, or seem like forever.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

[eaglesway]

That fits with the Hebrew concept of "olam", which identifies sequences of an indeterminate nature as "worlds", "other worldliness", the "world to come", "worlds without end"- from indeterminate sequences as short as a life span or as long as the life of God.... the far distant past and the far distant future.

If eternity is the "moment, the twinkling of an eye", the "Now'" and the "Today", the concept of endlessness gets swallowed up by the reality of "being" (I AM That I Am)- and the veils get torn away in sequences(each in his own order) but the destination that all will find themselves in eventually is beyond the artifacts of decay- as you put it(well). All rule, power and authority will be dissolved(1 Cor 15), as the "elementary principles" give way before something higher(2 Pet 2), "a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness abides and flourishes."

"Brethren, we know not yet what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is."(1 John 2) He Is That He Is and we will be like Him when all the veils(artifacts) are removed by the glory of His being, and our being "in His presence" or "in Him".

And eventually the whole creation will be set free from futility into the "glorious liberty of the children of God"(Rom 8) - which is "being in Him"- and sharing the beauty of being who we are together in Him who will be "all in all"(1 Cor 15:28). I think this is the glory of God, the radiance of His divine nature, and will create such "joy unspeakable and full of glory" that it will wash the artifacts away like the Day swallows the Night.

"Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead and the light of Christ will shine on you."

[marie glen]

  :thumbsup: :dsunny:

And within all that (God's Glory) I think will also be the / a universe, which I believe He will cause to be all habitable! :dunno: that's the way my mind runs. Space being one of the things which shall also be different..

And music! When I think of ultimate reality, I think of music. And colors.. Lots of colors.. certainly not less..

Somehow His ultimate awareness with a 'physical' perfect and beautiful paradise filled with His family with its ethnicities even.. of beautiful branches.. Also with animals! (As our friends, even in a sense our brothers).. and creatures which swim and creatures which fly.. and sing.

Its very awesome to think on these things.. And how most of all, love will be the ruling force.. With "life" being more interesting and full than its ever been!
:cloud9: