Would you, or could you, agree that when Paul wrote these words he is looking forward. It is hard for something that did not yet exist to be glorify Christ.
Could Paul glorify Christ prior to his salvation on the road to Damascus?
At the time of this writing there are at least two ages to come . . . the millennial age and Eternity. We are not told if there will be “ages to come” beyond that. Some also believe that the tribulation period could also be assigned it’s own age.
But as to duration . . . it is world without end.
Some limit Jesus in scope to his birth as a human child. How might he be a blessing to those that lived before?
Now, I am only using this as a weak example for I am sure you are aware of the pre-incarnate Christ (or Christophanies) that occurred prior to the Word taking upon Himself flesh.
Was He not a blessing as He revealed His glory to Abraham, to Jacob, to Joshua, etc.?
But we are addressing the church. Although the saints of the church will not have the same capacity as millennial saints - they will still bring glory to Jesus Christ.
>>Would you, or could you, agree that when Paul wrote these words he is looking forward. It is hard for something that did not yet exist to be glorify Christ. Could Paul glorify Christ prior to his salvation on the road to Damascus?
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I am not sure what you are asking. I was taught that the Church began on the day of Pentecost.
>>At the time of this writing there are at least two ages to come . . . the millennial age and Eternity. We are not told if there will be “ages to come” beyond that. Some also believe that the tribulation period could also be assigned it’s own age. But as to duration . . . it is world without end.
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Not every Christian has been taught that way. There are also these verses to be considered:
“And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”” — Luk 18:29-30 NASB
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 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 1:18-21 NASB
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” — 1Cor 10:11 NASB
It seems like all the ages had already come in the days of Paul days, except for the one to come.
I know that there are many evangelical churches who don’t espouse, teach, or believe much of what I read here. As I see it, all of our positions regarding the whole area of eschatology is speculative. No one really knows for sure and thus we shouldn’t be dogmatic or say that one school of thought is correct, to the exclusion of another.
Thank you for your thoughts, PP, and have a Blessed Day!