Eternity: The Realm of God’s Being

This last week we examined the fourth of the foundation doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1-2, which is called “laying on of hands.” It now remains for us to examine the last two doctrines in the list: resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.

The examination of these last two doctrines leads us into an altogether new realm of study. The four doctrines we have already considered have all been directly related to this present world and to the realm of time. However, in the study of the two doctrines now remaining, we are taken, by the revelation of God’s Word, out of this present world and beyond the realm of time into the realm of eternity. The stage where the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement will be enacted belongs not to time but to eternity.

Many people are confused by this word eternity. They think of eternity as being merely an immensely long period of time, beyond the power of the human mind to conceive. However, this is not correct. Eternity is not merely the endless extension of time. Eternity differs in its nature from time. Eternity is an altogether different realm, a different mode of being. Eternity is God’s own mode of being, the realm in which God Himself dwells.

In Genesis 21:33 and in Isaiah 40:28, God is called “the Everlasting God.”

In Psalms 90:2 Moses addresses God and says:

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

God Himself also defines His own eternal nature and realm.

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place.’” (Is. 57:15)

These scriptures reveal that eternity is an aspect of God’s own nature, the realm in which God has His being.