I probably won't be around to talk much longer, but found some of my old posts and copied the main points of my argument below, if you should decide you wish to read why I used to argue that the word aion and its cognates do not emphasize duration but rather quality:
By comparing similar word constructions that emphasize the superlative in both the New Testament and the Septuagint, it is obvious that the phrase "ages of ages" in Revelation, as in all other cases, is a qualitative phrase expressing the superlative, not a quantitative phrase defining duration.
Hebrew Expression using (Singular followed by Singular) 1. Holiness of Holiness Ezekiel 48:12 (LXX - hagion hagion) translated most holy.
Hebrew Expression (Singular followed by Plural):
1. Vanity of Vanities" Ecclesiastes 1:2 (Septuagint - mataiotis mataiotiton)
3. Heaven of Heavens 1 Kings 8:27 (Septuagint - ouranos tou ouranou)
4. Holy of Holies Exodus 26:33 (Septuagint - hagiou ton hagion)
5. Lord of Lords (Psalm 136:3/Septuagint 135:3 - kyrio ton kyrion)
Hebrew Expressions (Plural followed by Plural):
1. Holies of Holies" I Kings 8:6 (Septuagint - eis ta hagia ton hagion)
2. Heavens of Heavens Psalm 148:4 (Septuagint - ouranoi ton ouranon)
Greek Expressions (Singular followed by Singular):
1. Age of the age (aiona tou aionos): Hebrews 1:8
Greek Expressions (Singular followed by Plural):
1. Lord of Lords (kyrios kyrion) κύριος κυρίων (Revelation 17:14) 2. King of Kings (vasileis vasileon) βασιλεὺς βασιλέων (Revelation 17:14)
3. Age of ages (aionos ton aionon): Ephesians 3:21
Greek Expressions (Plural followed by Plural):
1. Holies of Holies" (hagia hagion) (Hebrews 9:3)
2. In Hebrews 9, Nestle reads (margin v. 25) (eis ta hagia ton hagion) "into the holies of the holies" (as in I Kings 8:6)
3. Ages of Ages (aionas ton aionon) (Revelation 14:11; 20:10)
Comparing the above word constructions shows that phrase ages of ages" (aionas ton aionon) in Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 expresses the superlative just like "holies of holies" (hagia ton hagion) in Hebrews 9:3 and also "heavens of heavens" (ouranoi ton ouranon) in Psalm 148:4. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just because something is everlasting, perpetual or forever does not mean it is eternal.
Habakkuk says the mountains that were "everlasting", until they "were shattered" Hab. 3 3:6).
The Aaronic Priesthood was to be an "everlasting" priesthood (Ex. 40:15), until it was superceded by the Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews 7:14-18).
An Ammonite or Moabite is forbidden to enter the Lord's congregation "forever", until the tenth generation (Deut.23.3)
The children of Israel were to "observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant" (Exodus 31:16), until Paul states there remains "another day" of Sabbath rest for the people of God (Heb. 4:8,9).
The Law of Moses was to be an "everlasting covenant" (Leviticus 24:8), until in the New Covenant, the first was "done away" (2 Corinthians 3:11,13), and God "made the first old" (Hebrews 8:13).
Jonah went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars against him forever, until God brought up his life from corruption on the third day. (Jonah 2:6,10; 1: 17);
Israel's "affliction is incurable" (Jer. 30:12), until the Lord "will restore health" and heal her wounds (Jer. 30:17).
The sin of Samaria "is incurable" (Mic. 1:9), until the Lord "will restore the fortunes of Samaria." (Ez. 16:53).
The fire for Israel's sin offering (of a ram without blemish) is never to be put out. It shall be "perpetual", until Christ, the Lamb of God, dies for sins, and we now have a better covenant established on better promises (Lev. 6:12-13, Heb. 8:6-13).
In chapter 15, Philemon is instructed to receive Onesimus "forever" (aionios), that is until the end of his earthly life/aion.
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Look at how αιωνιος/αιωνιον is used in the Septuagint Old Testament to describe duration and see if aionios by itself means eternal.
Ex 31:16 διαθηκη αιωνιος = perpetual covenant (Saturday Sabbath) but not eternal.
Ex. 12:14 αιωνιον εορτασετε = forever feast (Passover observance) but not eternal.
Leviticus 24:8 διαθηκην αιωνιον = everlasting covenant (law of Moses) but not eternal.
Lev 16:34 αιωνιον εξιλασκεσθαι = everlasting statute (yearly atonement) but not eternal.
Genesis 17:13 διαθηκην αιωνιον = eternal covenant (physical circumcision) but not eternal.
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Look at all the things below that are modified by "aionian"
John 3:36 aionian life - ζωὴν αἰώνιον
Mathew 25:41 aionian fire - πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον
Rev. 14:6 aionian gospel - εὐαγγέλιον αἰώνιον
II Thes 1:7-9 aionian destruction - ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον
Matthew 25:46 aionian punishment - κόλασιν αἰώνιον
Matthew 25:46 aionian life - ζωὴν αἰώνιον
Leviticus 24:8 aionian covenant - διαθηκην αιωνιον
Leviticus 16:34 aionian statue -αιωνιον εξιλασκεσθαι
Exodus 12:24 aionian feast -αιωνιον εορτασετε
Heb 9:14 aionian spirit - Πνεύματος αἰωνίου
Heb 6:2, aionian judgment - κρίματος αἰωνίου
Heb 5:9 aionian salvation - σωτηρίας αἰωνίου
Luke 16:9 aionian dwellings - αἰωνίους σκηνάς
Hebrews 9:12 aionian redemption - αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν
Romans 16:25 aionian times - χρόνοις αἰωνίοις
Romans 16:26 aionian God - αἰωνίου Θεοῦ
It is the character, quality and result of the covenant, statute, life, punishment, feast, fire, salvation, judgment, redemption, spirit, times, destruction, gospel, dwellings and God Himself which is the primary concern of the adjective, not whether the duration of the modified noun is temporal or eternal. Note the last two entries from Romans. God and times are both described by the adjectival form of aion. The aionian God is not God simply because he lasts forever any more than aionian times are eternal simply because they are described as aionian.
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Greek words in Scripture that actually denote "eternal" are: akataluton imperishable", aphtharto "immortal", amarantos "unfading", athanasian "indissoluble", anui telos "without end", anolethron "indestructible", adioleipton "never ceasing", ateleuteton "endless", pantote "forever", and eis tou dienekes "forever". These kinds of qualifying words are used to describe the rewards and blessedness of believers. However, Scripture never uses such words denoting endless duration to describe punishment for the wicked.