The Scriptures never mention “eternity,” an idea which cannot be grasped by human hearts.  Instead, they deal with a definite period of time, which some think will be about twenty-four thousand years in duration –  we do not know.  Eternity cannot have a beginning or an end, but the eonian times have both.  In these times God proposes to reveal Himself.  It is these eons which were made through the Son, not “the worlds” (Heb. 1: 2).  There was a time before the eons (1 Cor. 2: 7; 2 Tim. 1: 9; Titus 1: 2).  It would be silly to make this before “eternal,” or eternity.  The Scriptures also speak of the consummations of the eons (1 Cor. 10: 11), to which the Corinthians had attained, in spirit, because they were a new creation (2 Cor. 5: 17).

  Five eons can be found by careful search.  The eons and the world synchronize (Eph. 2: 2).  The first two eons are not mentioned, but their corresponding worlds are.  The third is our evil eon, lasting from the deluge to the day of wrath, now ready to burst upon the world.  The last two are the scenes of Christ’s future public glories.  The eons correspond to the tabernacle in the wilderness, where also are five divisions: (1) without the camp, (2) in the camp, (3) in the court, (4) in the holy place, (5) in the holy of holies.  The last eon is similarly called “the eon of the eons,” (Eph. 3: 21) because it, like the holy of holies, is the climax of all the rest.  Just as the two holy places are called the holies of the holies (Heb. 9: 25), so the last two eons are often called “the eons of the eons,” and are usually translated “for ever and ever.”

   The accompanying diagram will help the unlearned reader to grasp the meaning of the various phrases used of the eons.  The tabernacle was a picture of man’s approach to the Deity, so corresponds closely with the eonian times, which also bring him to God.  There are five divisions in each, in which the last and highest is called the holy of holies and eon of the eons respectively.    The two apartments in the tabernacle are called “the holies of the holies.”  So the last two eons are called “the eons of the eons.”  The “holy” place in the tabernacle corresponds to “the eon.”  This clearly shows the force of the various phrases used of the eons to come.