Communications

Bible and Science

Dear Bro Don,

Bro. Bilello’s fascinating article Is the Universe Eternal (12/03, pg. 489) seeks to reconcile scripture passages which declare that God’s kingdom will last forever with the second law of thermodynamics, which implies that the sun will eventually cool down, causing all life on earth to perish.

Actually there is no problem because ‘for ever’ in Scripture means `for ages’ or ‘age lasting.’ The length of time is determined by the context. A typical example in the Old Testament is in Isaiah 32:14-15, where the Hebrew word olam, translated “for ever,” clearly refers to a limited time: “the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks…until the spirit be poured upon us from on high and the wilderness be a fruitful field…” Other examples are in I Samuel 1:22 and 2:30.

In the New Testament, the equivalent Greek word, aion has the same meaning. Thus, in John 14:16, when Jesus promised his disciples that the gift of the Holy Spirit would abide with them for ever, this would be for their lifetime. Bro. John is correct in asserting that God alone is never ending (I Tim.6:16) so when olam or aeon are applied to God, they mean just that.

Incidentally, I suggest that Hebrews 1:10-12, which speaks of the earth and heavens perishing, refers to the end of the Mosaic dispensation. Such an interpretation is in harmony with the theme of this epistle.

Alan Fowler Bridgend, UK