Ecclesiastes 1:4 A generation is going, and a generation is coming; but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.
What are your thoughts?
2007-02-22 11:30:33 · 13 answers · asked by Jason W 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. ‛Olam′ may mean eternity, as is apparent when it is used where Jehovah is called “the everlasting God,” and spoken of as being “from everlasting to everlasting.” (Gen. 21:33; Isa. 40:28; Ps. 90:2) It is used to depict Jehovah as the “king of eternity.” (Jer. 10:10) Hence, as Gesenius’ Hebrew and English Lexicon says, the word indicates “time future, ever, forever, evermore, in such a way that the terminus ad quem [end to which] as it is called is to be determined from the nature of the subject.”
So it is “from the nature of the subject” at Ecclesiastes 1:4 that we must determine whether ‛olam′ as there used means to a concealed but limited time or to eternity. The text reads: “A generation is going and a generation is coming, but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.” Jehovah made the earth as man’s home. He made man to live, not die. Death was the penalty of disobedience. As long as the perfect man obeyed he would live, even forever if forever obedient. Even after sin and death entered, obedient men who exercise faith in Christ have the promise of everlasting life on earth: “The meek ones themselves will possess the earth.” Jesus said: “Everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all.” To know Jehovah and Christ “means everlasting life.” (Ps. 37:11; John 11:26; 17:3) Jehovah God “formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.”—Isa. 45:18
He made the earth to be inhabited by obedient men who would live forever; so the earth must remain forever as their home, else its creation would be in vain. This is made sure by Psalm 104:5. For emphasis two Hebrew words are used, ‛olam′ and ‛ad. The latter means, according to Harkavy’s Students’ Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, “duration, everlastingness, eternity, for ever.” So by both these Hebrew words Psalm 104:5 makes doubly sure the earth’s permanence: “He has founded the earth upon its established places; it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, nor forever.”
2007-02-22 11:36:53 · answer #1 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
By natural processes, like when our sun goes supernova, if that is your definition for god than so be it. Ecclesiastes is suggesting that a transformation in the consciousness of humanity will someday take place: The old paradigm will go and a new one will take its place.
2007-02-22 19:41:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree.........Shortly after the great White Throne Judgment takes place, the earth will be consumed by fire (purified) and made new. A new Kingdom of God on earth will be established, and the heavens will be open for the saints God to be with Him for eternity in eternity.
2007-02-22 19:41:57 · answer #3 · answered by SLEDGE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can I answer a question with a question?
Why are you worried about this????
You do realize the only two types of answers you can hope for are snide ones and speculative ones. And I'm not sure either are that helpful...
My two cents?
Why worry? If it happens, you won't know 'cause you'll be dead. If it doesn't happen, you've wasted a lot of energy worrying about something over which you have absolutely no control...
I do think I remember from 6th grade science that suns gonna run out of fuel, blow up into a big crazy red giant and cook us all in about 10 million years, but I could be mistaken. And either way, that's 9,999,982 years too late to get me out with my student loans....
2007-02-22 19:37:19 · answer #4 · answered by helpful_dude 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Global Warming: God is going to Burn everything Man has polluted His Earth with.When He completes this ,Earth will look like the Garden of Eden
2007-02-22 19:39:21 · answer #5 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep in 3-2-1- nah i'm just joshing ya. Nope most likely by a meteorite, or the sun burning out.
2007-02-22 19:34:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
God doesn't have to destroy the Earth.
Man will do that all on his own.
2007-02-22 19:37:17 · answer #7 · answered by polgara922 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away -Matthew 24:35.
It is inevitable at the judgment.
2007-02-22 19:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God will never destroy the world, man is doing a good job destroying it himself.
2007-02-22 19:35:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Man will and then God will restore it, after he vanishes the wicked away.
2007-02-22 19:40:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋