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not yet complete. It is the glory of the age purpose of God, that at last sacrifice and
priesthood will have so completed their appointed work that they will be ended and be no
longer necessary.
"The powers of the age to come" is more to the point here. When the apostle wished
to speak of the "world" to come he uses an entirely different word oikoumene "the
habitable world" (Heb. 1: 5). Again, instead of reading "eternal salvation", "eternal
redemption" and the like, read:
"He became the author of age abiding salvation"
"Having obtained age abiding redemption"
"The promise of age abiding inheritance"
"The blood of the age abiding covenant"
or better still, accustom ourselves to the use of aeonian, a word in the English dictionary
that has the merit of leaving the precise meaning of the term to be settled by the usage
and context. Readers may remember Tennyson's use of the word in his poem "In
Memoriam".
"The sounds of streams that swift or slow
Draw down aeonian hills, and sow
The dust of continents to be."
We rejoice to know that "The child born" or "The Son given" was seen in prophetic
vision by Isaiah not only as "The mighty God" but as "The Father of the age", "Father of
futurity" (Rotherham), where there is no confusion of the Persons of the Father and the
Son, the title here being one of pre-eminence in relation to the ages, as "Firstborn" gives
Him pre-eminence both in Creation and in the Church.
No.5.
"The Brightness of His Glory."
pp. 231 - 235
One verse in the opening of this epistle to the Hebrews speaks of times past and of the
prophets to whom God spake, and then the SON dominates the rest of the book:
"Hath in these last days spoken unto us IN SON, Whom He hath appointed heir of all
things, by Whom also He made, or appointed, the eons".
From now on "The Son" is supreme, and is purposely contrasted not only with the
prophets of "times past", but with all other agents until time shall be no more.
The Son is contrasted with angels (Heb. 1: 5-13).
"For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son . . . . . let all the angels of
God worship Him . . . . . He maketh His ministers a flame of fire BUT unto the SON He saith, Thy
throne, O GOD, is unto the eon of the eons . . . . . BUT to which of the angels said He at any time,
Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."