For ever

With reference to Daniel 2:44—Now, as the Apocalypse treats of the same subject as that revealed to Daniel in his seventh chapter, namely, the kingdom and conquests of the Saints, we ought to find the Chaldee original of this formula, so frequently occurrent in the New Testament. And this we do in the eighteenth verse of that chapter. In this, the time is specified how long the Saints shall possess the kingdom; the same kingdom that Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar should "stand !hebrew! leahlmayyah, for OLAHMS" (2:44) -- "they shall possess the kingdom ad ahlmah, wead ahlahm ahlmaiyah, for an Ahlmah, even for an Ahlmah of Ahlmahs." The Chaldee word ahlmah is identical with the Hebrew !hebrew! olahm; and is represented in the Greek by aiwn, though in etymology, different.

The Hebrew and Chaldee nouns are derived from the verb !hebrew! ahlam, "to hide, to conceal." Hence an Olahm, in relation to time, is a period hidden or concealed; hidden in the past, or concealed in the future. In prophecy, it designates absolutely a certain period to exist; but without defining its beginning or ending. The kingdom belonging to the Saints of the Most High Ones (elyonin) is to "stand for hidden periods," or olahms, comprised in one hidden period, or Olahm; which must, therefore, be longer than all of them together. Hence this will be a Hidden Period of Hidden Periods, or an Olahm, even an "Olahm of Olahms." I have a translation of Dan. 8:18 before me which renders the time the Saints are to possess the kingdom by the formula, "for eternity, even for eternity of eternity." This, however, is a mere flourish, and no translation, and bears on the face of it proof that the inventor of the form knew nothing about the nature of the kingdom, nor the purpose for which it is to be established. As I have shown, the kingdom is not to continue eternally; so that the Saints cannot hold it for eternity; and as the scripture is true, they do not use the word here in the sense of ever and eternity.