We find in scripture several references to "Forever". Mistakenly many believe tis to mean "eternally", but is this what "Forever" really means?
Exodus 21:5-6 "And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then the master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him forever." Humans are mortal, they do not have eternal life, forever here means "until he shall die."
In 1 Samuel 1 we find the story of Hannah, a woman who was barren and sorlly desired to have a child. Praying to God she was found by the priest Eli. Thinking she was drunk he confronted her and she explained what her desires were and he told her to go her way and that God would bless her and grant her petition to wit Samuel was born and dedicated "forever" in the service of the Lord. Is Samuel now serving the Lord? No, "forever" here means, "until he should die".
In Jonah 2 we find Johah in the belly of the great fish and he says in verse 6 "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever. But in 1:17 we find that he wa in the belly of the great fish for "three days and three nights", herein "forever" is three days and three nights.
Forever in many, cases has be, mistakenly, translated as "eternal".
Jude 7 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the citiies about thim in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for and example, suffereing the vengence of eternal fire."
If these means what they are always interpreted to mean absolute "forever" or "eternal" then these cities should be still burning today, they are not.
These are just a few examples of "forever", as with other scriptures, words must be understood within the context of where they are found and we must always let the scriptures reveal to us what they are saying through its own words rather then through what others tells us what they mean. What we need to understand is that Forever means "for as long as it shall last". When we examine the blessings of God it pertains to how long whatever it is that God has blessed will exist. For the sabbath day it will last for as long as there are days to count.
Exodus 21:5-6 "And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then the master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him forever." Humans are mortal, they do not have eternal life, forever here means "until he shall die."
In 1 Samuel 1 we find the story of Hannah, a woman who was barren and sorlly desired to have a child. Praying to God she was found by the priest Eli. Thinking she was drunk he confronted her and she explained what her desires were and he told her to go her way and that God would bless her and grant her petition to wit Samuel was born and dedicated "forever" in the service of the Lord. Is Samuel now serving the Lord? No, "forever" here means, "until he should die".
In Jonah 2 we find Johah in the belly of the great fish and he says in verse 6 "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever. But in 1:17 we find that he wa in the belly of the great fish for "three days and three nights", herein "forever" is three days and three nights.
Forever in many, cases has be, mistakenly, translated as "eternal".
Jude 7 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the citiies about thim in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for and example, suffereing the vengence of eternal fire."
If these means what they are always interpreted to mean absolute "forever" or "eternal" then these cities should be still burning today, they are not.
These are just a few examples of "forever", as with other scriptures, words must be understood within the context of where they are found and we must always let the scriptures reveal to us what they are saying through its own words rather then through what others tells us what they mean. What we need to understand is that Forever means "for as long as it shall last". When we examine the blessings of God it pertains to how long whatever it is that God has blessed will exist. For the sabbath day it will last for as long as there are days to count.
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