Nov 25, 20235 min read

Forever and Eternity

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

Since Time is relative and finite, there’s no doubt that this physical reality will end for us all at some point. Scientists all agree that eventually the hydrogen gas that fuels the sun will burn up and run out. Needless to say, when the sun goes out, all of the life on this planet will cease to exist as we know it as well. Yeshua told us that centuries ago:

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” - Matthew 24:35

When I finally got to the point in my life that I genuinely developed a sincere passion to get close to The LORD, I was led to go back and learn about the Jewish roots of Our LORD and Savior, Yeshua (Jesus). As I started to learn Hebrew and some of the ancient Hebrew Liturgy that has been preserved for centuries by our beloved Jewish Brothers and Sisters, I noticed that many of these sacred prayers ended with the phrase “L’Olam Va’ed” - which translates to Forever and Ever.

I found an example of this particular phrase in the following verse:

“The LORD will reign forever and ever.” - Exodus 15:18

יהוה ימלך לעלם ועד

Total Numeric Value = 376 - Same as Shalom ( שלום ) - Peace

Before I go deeper into this, I just have to say that this short verse is so perfect in every way. Commit this one to memory, in the original Hebrew Tongue:

יהוה ימלך לעלם ועד

“Adonai YimLoch L’Olam Va’ed”

What exactly does the phrase “Forever and Ever” mean anyway? Since the term “Forever” encompasses all time, from now to the end of time, I believe that a better translation of “L’Olam Va’ed” ( לעלם ועד ) would be “Forever and Eternity” - hence the subject of this post.

For a soul that is trapped inside of a human vessel made of flesh, eternity can be a difficult concept to grasp. Eternity is something outside of our physical realm and cannot fully be understood by a mortal man whose days are numbered on this earth. In order to even begin to comprehend this, we must walk in the spirit and not in the flesh, as it is written:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Many Believers, myself included, tend to overthink things while trying to obtain the deepest level of Biblical Interpretation. Through much obedience, study and prayer, I can finally see now that the difference between Time and Eternity is really not that difficult to understand.

G*d wants us to know Him as Our Heavenly Father and to truly understand His Word. Abba gave us The Holy Scriptures in such a way that even a child can comprehend it, unfortunately we are the ones that twist it and make it difficult with our complicated interpretations. I firmly believe that this is why Yeshua instructs us to be like children, as they totally depend on their parents and follow their instructions without questioning them. Actually, to say that G*d wants us to Know Him is an understatement - He wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Since our sinful nature is what separates us from him, Our Faith in Yeshua and His Ultimate Sacrifice is absolutely necessary for any of us to achieve Oneness with Our Creator. There is no amount of good deeds that can bring that gap between us and Him, it can only be done through Yeshua. He truly is Our Mediator who has repaired that breach, Yeshua is LORD.

As Paul stated in his first letter to The Corinthians, this Heavenly Wisdom is nothing but foolishness to anyone that has not received the Gift of The Holy Spirit. G*d’s Ways are much higher than ours and we don’t have to understand it, that’s why we have been instructed not to lean on our own understanding.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

Since we know that Time is Finite, we can deduce that Eternity must be Infinite. Our Creator is Eternal and Heaven is outside of Space and Time. HaShem (THE NAME), The Sacred Four Letter Name of Our LORD known as The Tetragrammaton ( יהוה ), signifies THE connection between Past, Present and Future - thus indicating His Eternal Nature. In the Hebrew language, we can literally see that His Name is made up of these three things, again alluding to The Complex Unity, or The Triune Nature of Our Creator.

Past - Hayah ( היה ) - HE WAS

Present - Hoveh ( הווה ) - HE IS

Future - Yihyeh ( יהיה ) - HE WILL BE

The biggest revelation that I have to share regarding Time versus Eternity is has Will - Man’s Will or G*d’s Will. Above all things this is the main differentiator between the two.

In Eden, when Adam (Man) walked with G*d in Eternity, there was only ONE WILL, The Will of Our Eternal Creator. When the opposing will came onto the scene and man committed sin, that's when Time and Death began. There is only ONE WILL in Eternity and anything that opposes His Sovereign Will equates to death and is governed by Time. Just like I said earlier, it really is that simple.

In order for mankind to have free will, Our Creator has allowed an Opposing Will (Satan) to temporarily govern this physical plane of existence. We know that it’s temporary as science has established the fact that his days are numbered. When the devil tempted Yeshua, he declared this earth as his own and attributed the glory of it all to himself, however that was just in reference to Time.

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the KINGDOMS of the world, and the GLORY of them;" - Matthew 4:8

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the KINGDOMS of the world in a moment of TIME." - Luke 4:5

Now put all of this information in context to how Yeshua taught us to pray:

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. - Matthew 6:9-13

When we pray this prayer, we are making the declaration and giving Our LORD all of The Glory and Power of BOTH Kingdoms - This Timely Physical Kingdom as well as His Eternal Kingdom in Heaven.

L’Olam Va’ed”

( לעלם ועד )