There is nothing in the way of this application, unless the words “forever and ever” denote absolutely an eternity of duration. These words are translated in the New Testament from _aion_, and _aionios_, respecting which the following facts may be stated. _Aion_ is defined by different lexicographers as follows:-- Greenfield: “Duration, finite or infinite, unlimited duration, eternity; a period of duration past or future, time, age, lifetime; the world, universe.” Schrevelius: “An age, a long period of time; indefinite duration; time, whether longer or shorter.” Liddell and Scott: “A space or period of time, especially a lifetime, life, _ævum_; an age, a generation; long space of time, eternity; in plural, _eis tous aionas ton aionon_, unto ages of ages, forever and ever, N. T., Gal. 1:5.-3. later, a space of time clearly defined and marked out, an era, age, period of a dispensation: _ho aion houtos_, this present life, this world.” Parkhurst: “Always being. It denotes duration or continuance of time, but with great variety. I. Both in the singular and the plural it signifies eternity, whether past or to come. II. The duration of this world. III. The ages of the world. IV. This present life. V. The world to come. VI. An age, period, or periodical dispensation of divine providence. VII. _Aiones_ seems, in Heb. 11:3, to denote the various revolutions and grand occurrences which have happened in this created system, including also the world itself. Comp. Heb. 1:2, and Macknight on both texts. _Aion_, in the LXX. generally answers to the Hebrew _holam_, which denotes _time hidden_ from man, whether indefinite or definite, whether past or future.” Robinson: “Duration, the course or flow of time in various relations as determined by the context, viz: (A) For human life, existence. (B) For time indefinite, a period of the world, the world, in Gr. writers, and also in Sept. and N. Testament. (C) For endless duration, perpetuity, eternity.... Sept. mostly for Heb. _holam_, ‘hidden time,’ duration, eternity.--Hence, in N. T. of long-continued time, indefinite duration, in accordance with Greek usage, but modified as to construction and extent by the example of the LXX., and the Rabbinic views.” Schleusner gives as the first meaning of _aion_, “a definite and long-continued time,” _i. e._, a long-continued but still a definite period of time. Wahl has arranged the definitions of _aion_ thus: “(1) Time, unlimited duration, _ævum_. (2) The universe, _mundus_. (3) An age, period of the world,” as the Jewish age, Christian age, &c. This reference to Schleusner and Wahl we find in Stuart on Future Punishment, pp. 91, 93.