|
|
Judaism is not dogmatic regarding eschatological matters, and the various Rabbinic traditions have never reached consensus regarding the issues of life after death and the future state of the world. However, most discussions on the issue include a basic division of the world into two spheres: the Olam Hazeh and the Olam Habah: |
|
|
The relationship between Olam Hazeh and Olam Habah can be depicted as follows: |
Life Modes: Chayei Sha'ah and Chayim Olam |
The ideas about Olam Hazeh and Olam Habah are cosmic and metaphysical - they pertain to the universe outside of ourselves in terms of the LORD's overarching goal and plan for His creation. From the point of view of the human soul, these are experienced as Chayei Sha'a (fleeting life) and Chayei Olam (eternal life), respectively. |
|
The relationship between life modes and world modes can be expressed in this way: |
In the Jewish tradition, the study of Torah prepares us for Chayei Olam in Olam Habah, whereas the neglect of Torah leads to Chayei Sha'ah in the Olam Hazeh - and consequently the loss of reward in the eternal world to come. |
Yeshua and Eternal Life |
The Brit Chadashah identifies Chayei Olam as the knowledge of the one true God who sent Yeshua into the world as the Mashiach: |
Chayei Olam, eternal life, is a conscious relationship with God through Yeshua the Messiah. Since God inhabits eternity, this means living in the mode of life that apprehends (by faith) the reality of the eternal in the here and now. In other words, faith sees the Olam Habah and prepares us to partake of its reality even in the Olam Hazeh. These words spoke Yeshua, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify thee: As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, whom you have sent. (John 17:1-3, KJV) Chayei Olam is a gift of revelation -- from the Messiah directly to you -- that ultimately derives from the will of the Father to be chosen as one who will know the truth of God's love and redemption. This is summarized by the famous verse found in John 3:16: |
In other words, eternal life is the Person of Yeshua the Mashiach -- He is the Source of all life and is the One who alone bestows redemptive life to chosen individuals. He is the Initiator of the relationship that heals us, for if He should choose to keep Himself hidden, how would He be disclosed? Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life (chayei olam), and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:10-13) |
|
|
|