The word “eternal” comes from the Greek word that simply means “age.” Throughout the New Testament, the writers referred to “this age” and “the age to come.” The age to come is obviously a reference to the time of the kingdom of heaven’s full manifestation on the earth. We are living in the now time of the kingdom of heaven, and the not yet, because even though the kingdom of heaven is here, it will not be fully realized until the age to come.
Look at something Jesus said that I think is very powerful. John 8:23, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.” In both cases where the word “world” is used is the word “age.” Jesus was saying that even though he was in the world, he was not of the world because he was living the life of the age to come, even in this present life. Eternal life is being in union with Christ and his very life, which allows me to participate while still in this world, or in this age, in the life of the age to come. In other words, eternal life, that life which is in union with Christ, carries the life of the kingdom of heaven. As Christians, we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ. Now notice something awesome, in light of that, from Hebrews 6:4-5.
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, …
Because you have received the heavenly gift, becoming partakers of the Holy Spirit, you should be experiencing and releasing, at least at some level, the powers of the age to come. The reality that takes place in the Kingdom of Heaven, with all the supernatural wonders that happen in Heaven, is ours to enjoy and to impart into the lives of those who are being oppressed by the kingdom of darkness in this present evil age. As one in union with Christ, signs and wonders should be a part of your normal experience because you have received life from above; that is, life from the age to come while still in this fallen age. I don’t know about you, but that provokes me to want to explore and discover how much of life in the age to come I get to take out for a spin in this fallen world.