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Did Time always exist?

Baptist Believer

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It's self explanatory. Why can't you understand what I am saying?
You make the claim that time is "self explanatory." It is not. If you know anything about the subject, you know that there are at multiple opposing views of time, so any discussion of the subject needs to nail down the basic of what you mean by time.

I gave you the simplest view - that time is merely a description of a sequence of events. If that is the view, then any changes (decisions/actions by persons) fall into a sequence. Therefore, time always exists and God is likely within time.

If time is a dimension (the fourth dimension?) within the material world, then time will likely always exist since God has created the material world and we are part of it. The promise of resurrection points to eternal existence and continuation of material life. However, that doesn't mean that time always existed, also sequence seems to have existed since there was a time before time.

If time is defined as entropy (as some people have described it), then entropy will end in the new creation.

Many people are fond of saying God exists out of time. I don't know if I agree with that, but it all depends on what you mean by time. The ability to change/act seems to be a characteristic of Persons/persons, so sequence seems to be a necessary element of personhood.

And I'm not even touching on the issues raised by Einstein and modern physics...
 

FollowTheWay

Well-Known Member
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Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

"The Heavens" is the universe, the space/time continuum. God created space, time, and matter at some point in the past. So, obviously, time did not exist prior to God creating it.
I acknowledge this is speculation but I agree with you. In the same way, I believe that time will end with the Second Coming of Christ. My view is this explains the issue about "what happens to us after we die and are waiting for the Kingdom to come" and completely destroys the idea of Purgatory. I believe that when we die we step outside time into Go's timeless realm to be judged at that moment along with everyone who ever lived (past, present and future). I've always been intrigued by the explanation of what time is and how that impacts our faith (just retired after a 40-year career as an engineer but will never retire as a Christian trying to follow Jesus).
 

InTheLight

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I believe that when we die we step outside time into Go's timeless realm to be judged at that moment along with everyone who ever lived (past, present and future). I've always been intrigued by the explanation of what time is and how that impacts our faith (just retired after a 40-year career as an engineer but will never retire as a Christian trying to follow Jesus).

How do you reconcile "when we die we step outside time" with Revelation 8:1, which clearly states that time exists in Heaven.

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
It's self explanatory.
Actually, it is not. It is difficult to discuss anything without first defining terms.

When you say "time" do you include sequence, duration, and unidirectional passage? The first two are factors of time, results of the unidirectional passage of time.
 

Ebenezer

New Member
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Concerning the questioin, "Did Time Always Exist?" It seems there is a tremendous lack of Biblical response to a simple inquiry about one of "the first principles of the oracles of God" (Hebrews 5:12). "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1), but it did not say he created "time". Howbeit, most falsely so called "theologians" and their illegitimate ecclesiastical offspring "Bible Scholars" have wasted 2,000 years of history writing volumes about "when" was "the beginning". That in itself is a colossal failure to understand that "the beginning" is not a time or place in history, as if "time" could be located and pin pointed in man's vain attempt to grasp their imaginary "universe" as a replacement for eternity. Brethren, Jesus Christ said repeatedly, "I AM the beginning and the ending" (Revelation 1:8/ 21:6/ 22:13), so much so, that for the Bible to say, "In THE BEGINNING God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1) is nothing removed from also saying, "In Jesus Christ God created the heaven and the earth". That is why Paul stated, "IN HIM we live, and move, and HAVE OUR BEING" (Acts 17:28). Likewise saith the New Testament, that "In THE BEGINNING was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD" (John 1:1). "The SAME was IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD" (vs. 2). Jesus Christ IS "the beginning", and In Jesus Christ WAS THE WORD, and WORD was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD", and "the WORD WAS made flesh" (John 1:14) when "GOD WAS manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Brethren, "the beginning" is not a time period, but the person of Jesus Christ for all eternity. And to find the answer to the question about the existence of "time", one only has to look at the Beginning and the End as the same person to find the answer.
Jesus Christ being "the beginning and the end", the two are the same in Christ Jesus, so that in looking at the creative acts of God in Genesis 1, the deafness and blindness of modern Bible scholars prevents them from hearing or seeing what God clearly said and shewed them about when exactly did God "create the heaven and the earth". God asks this of the theological blind leaders of the blind, "Thou hast heard, see all this. And will ye not declare it? I have shewed thee NEW THINGS from THIS TIME, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They ARE CREATED NOW, and NOT FROM THE BEGINNING; even BEFORE the day when thou heardest them not; lets thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. BEHOLD, thou heardest not. Yea, thou knewest not. Yea, from THAT TIME thine ear was not opened." (Isaiah 48:6-8). That eternal statement was followed with "I AM HE. I AM THE FIRST, I ALSO AM THE LAST" (vs. 12), with this admonition to even an unbelieving, Bible believing 'antichristianity', "Com ye near unto me, hear ye THIS! I HAVE NOT SPOKEN in secret from THE BEGINNING. From the TIME THAT IT WAS, THERE I AM; and NOW THE LORD GOD" (48:16). To understand the existence of time, one must needs only look at "THE END from THE BEGINNING, and from ANCIENT TIMES the things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:10), and it that view of "THE END from THE BEGINNING", you will discover a point near "THE END" where God says, "there should be TIME no longer" (Revelation 10:6).
"Time" in the Bible is first mentioned as a process (Genesis 4:3) not a period or location. And "time" is a process that the Bible and the modern vernacular say "happeneth to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Time happens! That process is first spoken of in the New Testament concerning "WHAT TIME the star appeared" (Matthew 2:7, 16) that announced the birth of Christ, the Holy Ghost translating "time" (see Hebrews 11:5 metathesis) from where the English word 'chronology' comes from. Time, as does matter and space, does not exist in eternity, or eternity would not be eternal. Eternity is mentioned only once in the Bible and is spoken of as "the High and Holy Place", that God Almighty "inhabiteth" (Isaiah 57:15). As such, it is a place limited to only those who have "life eternal", which is defined as "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3), which John wrote further in identifying Jesus Christ as God and life eternal, saying, "And we know that the Son of God IS COME, and hath given us an understanding, that we may KNOW HIM that IS TRUE, and we ARE IN HIM that IS TRUE, even IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. This IS THE TRUE GOD, and ETERNAL LIFE" (1 John 5:20).
As "THE TRUE GOD, and ETERNAL LIFE", Jesus Christ as "God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16) is both "the Son of God" and "the Son of Man", about the latter of which the Word of God that was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) said very clearly, "GOD IS NOT A MAN, neither the Son of Man" (Numbers 23:19), setting in motion "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:10), concerning "who is the Son of Man?" (John 12:34). There is an aspect of Jesus Christ that is the eternal manifestation of "the beginning and the end", as much as He is also "the First and the Last" (Revelation 1:11, 17/ 2:8/ 22:13), which latter attribute calls time for all generations from the beginning (see Isaiah 41:4/ 44:6/ 48:12).
As "the First and the Last", Christians must "from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10) deal with the creation of the first man, which God Almighty said from the beginning, "Let US make man in our own image, after OUR likeness" (Genesis 1:26), the end of which concluded that "So God created man IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD created He him" (1:27), identifying for all eternity that "Christ...is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4), even "the image of the Invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) by whom "were all things created, that ARE IN [present tense] heaven, and that ARE IN [present tense] earth, visible and invisible, whether they BE [present tense] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things WERE [PAST tense] created by Him, and for Him: and HE IS BEFORE all things, and by HIM all things CONSIST" (Colossians 1:16-17). They consist and exist by Him, to the very "end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10), and from the first until the last second of time no longer (Revelation 10:6). Then it will turn upon Christ alone, who being "THE FIRST and THE LAST", even "THE FIRST born of every creature" (Colossians 1:15), and "the first born from the dead" (vs. 18), to manifest in and for all eternity the timeless "Revelation of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:1) by which "HE reconciled IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH through death" (Colossians 1:21, 22) how "HE ALONE" (Mark 6:47) could eternally be "the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4/ Colossians 1:15) even "the express image of HIS PERSON" (Hebrews 1:1-3) in which God created man. Jesus Christ being "the image of God", then Brethren you must understand that "God created man IN His own image, in the image of God created He him" (Genesis 1:26, 27), which is nothing different from saying the God created man in Jesus Christ, "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10). That "Revelation of the Mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but NOW IS made manifest" (Romans 16:25, 26) in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4:10, 11) explains why and how "the FIRST man Adam was made a living soul; the LAST Adam WAS MADE a quickening Spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45) even when Christ says, "a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39). In that "body of His flesh" (Colossians 1:22), even "the flesh of the Son of Man" (John 6:53) we must abide and "trust in Him AT ALL TIMES" (Psalm 62:8) as "the FIRST and the LAST", who "FIRST BEING by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also KING OF SALEM, which IS [present tense], King of Peace, without father, without mother, without descent, having [present perfect] neither BEGINNING of days, nor END of life; but MADE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD" (Hebrews 7:2, 3) as a timeless manifestation of "the flesh of the Son of Man" (John 6:53) as eternal "members of His body, and of His flesh, and of His bones" (Ephesians 5:30). When "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) as "the beginning and the end" (Revelation 1:8), and says that "there should be time no longer" (10:6), then time did not and does not exist always, anymore than it will exist always. But God lives, and His name IS JESUS CHRIST. And he exist always, and bears record to HIS existence in Heaven as "the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these THREE ARE ONE" (1 John 5:7).
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
Ya, maybe in what is now known as California!:Roflmao
I wouldn't know. I'm in Texas. And the time difference only accounts for two hours. What happened to the other half hour? Huh? Huh? Tell me! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER HALF HOUR!? :D:D:D:D
 

percho

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Were we created and or born subject to, space/time continuum but we must, put on, or be clothed, not subject to, space/time continuum?

That is: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor 15:53

Timeless?
 

percho

Well-Known Member
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In 1642, just 31 years after completion of the King James translation of the Bible, Cambridge University Vice-Chancellor John Lightfoot published his voluminous calculation of the exact date for the creation of the universe: September 17, 3928 b.c. He arrived at this conclusion by analyzing the genealogies in Genesis, Exodus, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles.

Eight years later, James Ussher, Anglican archbishop of Ireland, corrected Lightfoot’s date. His copious commentary and calculations changed it to October 3, 4004 B.C. Ussher’s work also derived specific dates for every historical event mentioned in the Bible.

In a final round of academic sparring, Lightfoot adjusted Ussher’s date. He concluded that all creation took place the week of October 18–24, 4004 B.C., with the creation of Adam occurring on October 23 at 9:00 A.M., 45th meridian time.

Hugh Ross, A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2004), 21–22.​


“I'm With You Fellers” Delmar, O Brother Where Art Thou
 

Alcott

Well-Known Member
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Did Time always exist?

If it didn't.... when did it not?... meaningless.
What are conditions like north of the North Pole?
If you've taken off every stitch of clothing, how do you get still more naked?
How cold is less than Absolute Zero (-273.15C; -459.67F)?
 

percho

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Before times ages did God make a promise of, expectation of life age, timelessness?
 

Ebenezer

New Member
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How do you reconcile "when we die we step outside time" with Revelation 8:1, which clearly states that time exists in Heaven.

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Obviously there is time, for the Bible speak a lot about it; just not in the terms of modern science falsely so called, or modern theology. When God says, "There should be time no longer" (Revelation 10:6), it is a future tense reference ("should be"), taking in consideration that "HEAVEN and EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY" (Revelation 21:1/ 2 Peter 3:10-12). It isn't just that "there should be time no longer", but heaven passes away as well.
 

Ebenezer

New Member
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I wouldn't know. I'm in Texas. And the time difference only accounts for two hours. What happened to the other half hour? Huh? Huh? Tell me! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER HALF HOUR!? :D:D:D:D
I do not think it matters as much as to 'what happened to the other half hour", as it does in why did was the silence only for an half hour. The "half an hour" was translated from the definitive blend Greek hemiorion, which is from two stems, hemi (as in hemisphere/ half a sphere), and orion (which is where the English partially transliterates its word 'hour", while astrologers transliterate and derive the constellation name of Orion. Orion in Greek mythology was the Hunter, and rose first to take his prey; and thus the name means 'dawning' or 'first arising'. The unique scientific importance of the verse as it is a transliteration of hemiorion is that Orion is not visible at most latitudes, and only in the summer in the Northern Hemi-sphere, and only in the winter in the Souther Hemi-spher, and only in each for "about an half an hour" (Revelation 8:1). Science and theologians still haven't caught up to the verse. The half hour chronologically is swallowed up within the other hours mentioned in the Book of Revelation (3:3, 10/ 9:15/ 11:13/ 14:7/ 17:12/ 18:10, 17, 19).
 

evangelist6589

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Actually, it is not. It is difficult to discuss anything without first defining terms.

When you say "time" do you include sequence, duration, and unidirectional passage? The first two are factors of time, results of the unidirectional passage of time.

I think I picked a more complex subject than what can be understood.
 
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