Many times in Scripture when the words "world" and "forever" are used, a more suitable word for the context should have been used. The Greek NT uses the word for “age” (aion) one hundred and twenty six times. And a major problem in understanding ages surrounds the translation of aion. The word has, numerous times, been translated either “world” or “forever” and ultimately lead to misintrepitation of the text. Let’s sight some examples:
Matt 12:32
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world (age), neither in the world (age) to come.
KJV
Matt 13:22, 39, 40, 49.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world (age), and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
KJV
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (age); and the reapers are the angels.
KJV
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world (age).
KJV
49 So shall it be at the end of the world (age): the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
KJV
Let’s move to some references in Mark’s gospel:
Mark 4:19
19 And the cares of this world (age), and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
KJV
Mark 10:30
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world (age) to come eternal life (age-lasting life).
KJV
Mark 11:14
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever (the remainder of the age). And his disciples heard it.
KJV
Translating (aion) in these verses as ‘age’ makes a world of difference in the interpretation of these passages. Let’s sight a few in Hebrews:
Heb 1:2
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (ages);
KJV
Heb 5:6
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever (for the ages) after the order of Melchisedec.
KJV
Heb 6:5
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world (age) to come,
KJV
Heb 6:20
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever (the ages) after the order of Melchisedec.
KJV
Actually, in the KJV there are only two instances in the entire NT where aion has been translated “age”:
Eph 2:7
7 That in the 'ages' to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
KJV
Col 1:26
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from 'ages' and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
KJV
Other versions (e.g. NASB, NIV) have, on the other hand rendered the word as “age” in many instances, though still frequently remaining with the KJV translations “world” and “forever.”
Then to further complicate the issue in the KJV, the Greek word genea (appearing in a plural form and meaning “generations”) has been translated “ages” twice:
Eph 3:5
5 Which in other 'ages' (generations) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
KJV
Eph 3:21
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages (generations), world without end. Amen.
KJV
These mistranslations leave some very misleading thoughts. Actually, in Eph. 3:21 both aion and genea appear together, and both have been mistranslated in the KJV. Genea, appearing in a plural form, has been translated “ages”; and aion, appearing twice and the meaning within its structured usage, “of the age of the ages” (referring to the climatic age in a sequence of ages, i.e. the Messianic Era [which is the subject matter leading into this verse – vv. 1-11]), has been translated “world without end.”
Aion and genea also appear together in Col. 1:26
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from 'ages' and from 'generations', but now is made manifest to his saints:
KJV
Unlike Eph. 3:21, both words have been translated correctly.
To translate genea as “ages” in Eph. 3:5 sets forth an issue concerning ‘ages’ which is not at all in accord with the teachings of other Scripture. Scripture sets forth the thought of a series of ages beginning at the time of the creation of the heavens and the earth 1Cor 2:7
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world (age) unto our glory:
KJV
Eph 3:9
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world (age) hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
KJV
Heb 1:2
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (ages);
KJV
Why are these so important you might ask? They all move toward and climax with the coming Messianic Era. That is, the 1000 – year Messianic Era is the climactic age in a series of ages which begun with the creation of the heavens and the earth and the placing of Lucifer over the earth as the earth’s first provincial ruler.
The basic problem though with understanding the word meaning “generations” as “ages” in Eph. 3:5 has to do with the thought that many generations come and go during Man’s Day, but not so with “ages.” All of Man’s Day – 6000 years – actually covers only one age, not many ages as Eph. 3:5 in the KJV would lead one to believe.
Scripture makes it quite clear that only two ages exist within the framework of the 7000 years referred to by seven days in Gen. 1:1-2:3. One age covers the first 6000 years, and the other age (the climactic age) covers the last 1000 years.
To understand this within the Scriptural framework, begin with
Matt. 12:31, 32.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world (age), neither in the world (age) to come.
KJV
These verses dealing with what is called “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit [attributing to Christ an exercise of supernatural power emanating from Satan rather than from the Holy Spirit], refer to two ages. The sin of committing this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by the religious leaders in Israel was such that it would not be forgiven them, neither in this age or the age to come[the Millennial kingdom].
A proper translation of these words make a world of difference to the way we interpret Scripture for a better understanding of the Word of God.
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