September 6

THE ETERNAL PURPOSE / PART 18

THE AGE OF THE AGES

According to George Hawtin:

-"Very, very few people are familiar with the truth that there is a coming age which the Bible names the "dispensation of the fullness of times" (Eph. 1: 10), and that that age above all others has been specially set aside for the work of reconciling all things in heaven and in earth and bringing all things into Christ. The age, as I will point out presently, is the "Age of the Ages". It is the greatest age of all ages and is the time in which the Almighty God brings to completion the unfailing Word spoken before time began, "Let Us make man in Our image and after Our likeness. " There are yet at least two great ages to come, first, the "Kingdom Age", which in scripture is often referred to as "The Age", and following this there comes the "Age of the Ages", which in Eph. 1: 10 is named the "dispensation of the fullness of times". Our failure to recognize God's workings in that wonderful age of the fullness of times is the reason so many thousands of God's good people fail to see the restitution of all things. The "Age of Grace" or the "Church Age", of which we are now a part, runs from the resurrection to the setting up of the king- The "Kingdom Age", next in order, will last at least one thousand years. Rev. 20:4. Then follows the "Age of the Ages", or the "dispensation of the fullness of times". The term "Age of the Ages" identifies this age as the greatest of all the ages. No age, not even the "Kingdom Age", can be compared to it. Just as the Song of Solomon is the song of songs, that is, the greatest of all songs, and as the holy of holies is the holiest of all, so the "Age of the Ages" is the greatest age of all the ages, far surpassing even the "Millennial Kingdom" in its power and glory, its revelation of God, and its wonderful reconciliation and restitution. Men today use such terms as "the greatest day of my life," "our finest hour," or the "day of days." It is in this same sense that our Almighty Father speaks of the "dispensation of the fullness of times" as the "Age of the Ages". Now all ages have to do with time and times, but there comes an hour eventually when time has reached its fullness. When all other ages have run their course, then we have come at last to the fullness of times. Time is full, time is complete, and time shall be no more. At the consummation of the fullness of all time the purpose of God, laid down in the edict, "Let Us make man in Our image and after Our likeness," is complete, and time shall be no more. The "dispensation of the fullness of times" is the eighth dispensation. The dispensations of Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace and the Kingdom - these seven will have run their course and all will end in judgment, but the "dispensation of the fullness of times" is the eighth dispensation, and it will conclude all former things. It will end death, judgment, pain and tears, and its final act will be the delivering up of a perfect kingdom to the Father of all. Then time will have reached its fullness and will be no more." ( The Restitution Of All Things, George Hawtin )

-Incidentally, the number eight in scripture means new beginning.

-BEHOLD, HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW!-