The Age to Come

Light out of darkness

The phrase “the age to come” (aion mello) occurs three times in the New Testament. To what age does it refer? There are only two options: the millennium or eternity. It cannot be a reference to eternity, because one of the passages speaks of men sinning. Therefore, we understand it to be a reference to the coming earthly reign of the Lord Jesus. Recognizing this not only enhances our understanding of the millennium but also sheds light on some difficult passages of Scripture.

The unpardonable sin

“And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.” (Mt. 12:32)

Much interest (and, occasionally, worry!) is generated by this verse. What is the unpardonable sin? Can someone commit it today? Examining the context of the verse gives us the answers. Christ was not speaking of some common event that might occur at any time. The Pharisees were in the physical presence of the Son of God and observed Him performing undeniable miracles. This, in and of itself, sets apart their circumstances from any circumstances a person could be in today. But they took it one step further. Their response to Christ’s miracles was not confusion, debate, or even mild unbelief. Instead, they attributed the miracles to the devil himself.

This sin cannot be committed today because the Lord Jesus is not physically present. This is why He said, “either in this age, or in the age to come.” Because He was speaking of the two times when He would be physically present: during His incarnation and during the millennium.

Absolute supremacy “Which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:20f)

Christ has been exalted to the highest place. This is not a temporary arrangement. It is God’s design that at all times—including the coming golden age of earth—Christ should have the preeminence.

Hebrews 6 “…and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come” (Heb. 6:5).

Here we find our phrase at the center of one of the most debated passages of the New Testament. Who is being described in these verses? Many Christians believe the passage is speaking of genuine believers and then conclude that it is possible for a Christian to lose his salvation.

A more complete list of reasons why we know this passage isn’t referring to actual believers will have to await a future column. But, for now, let us simply consider the significance of our phrase in this passage. The people of Hebrews 6:4-6 had “tasted…the powers of the age to come.” When Christ was on earth, He performed miracles and signs that gave people a taste of what the millennium will be like. He cured diseases. He calmed the elements. Wild animals were tame in His presence. He performed, on a small scale, what He will one day enact worldwide. Those who were eyewitnesses of His signs tasted the powers of the age to come.

It is those people who were warned against turning their backs on Christ. Similar to the unpardonable sin, the author is not referring to common conditions that any person at any time might find himself in. This is a warning to those who had the rare privilege of being in the physical presence of Messiah and observing His wonderful signs first-hand— conditions that are not possible today, but will be possible again in the millennium.