For Ever

This has typically been made the compound word forever, but the meaning of that word doesn’t align with the old languages’ statements. Forever means “ongoing in infinite perpetuity.” But then how does one add “ever” to that, as in forever and ever? You cannot add more to infinite perpetuity. The old Hebrew phrase translated into this phrase meant “to the horizon, and again” (l’olam va’ed לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד). It maintained finite limitations, but of great degrees. By keeping for ever as two words, ever may be understood as some finite portion to which additional ever can be added.

The term connotes cycles or returning patterns, as in Christ’s statement in my Father’s house are many mansions (T&C 98:3). When the term “mansion” was used in King James-ian English, it meant “a temporary stop” or what modern language would term a “motel.” For ever and ever implies moving from place to place — or going from estate to estate — in cycles that continue endlessly.¹See also WORLDS WITHOUT END; MANSION.