Martinus: Livets Bog, vol. 3, sect. 1005

1005. So what is eternity? Eternity is the universe itself, since this cannot possibly have ever begun, just as it can never come to an end. If that were the case, "something" would have to come out of "nothing", just as this same "something" would have to be able to turn into "nothing". Eternity is thus a "something" that exists. An analysis of this "something" must therefore also be an analysis of eternity. To make an analysis of this "something" that is not at the same time an analysis of eternity can be only a false analysis, since it would be able to express only a "temporal picture" of this "something". But a "temporal picture" of this "something" is the same as what we call "age". To give the universe or the "something" that exists "age" is the same as saying that eternity is so and so many years "old". But an "eternity" with "age" is the same as an "eternity" that had a "beginning". And an "eternity" that had a "beginning" cannot possibly be an "eternity"; it is merely a "period of time". But a "period of time" can never be anything other than a local feature in "eternity". And consequently, all analyses that express only "age" or a "period of time" cannot possibly be anything other than analyses of local features in the eternal "something" that constitutes the universe. If, for example, we say that the universe is "evil", this analysis can be only the expression of a local feature in the universe, since "evil" must always border on its opposite, namely all the so-called "good", in order that it can be perceived at all. If we say that it is "white", we are likewise expressing only a local feature in the universe, since the "white" can be perceived only to the degree that it borders on its opposite, namely the "black". Whatever we say about this divine "something" will therefore be of absolutely no consequence. If what we express is not at the same time an analysis of eternity, it can express only a locality in this "something" or the universe, and does not constitute any kind of absolute expression of the totality. The road to the absolute solution to the mystery of life is therefore paved exclusively with answers that at one and the same time constitute an analysis of eternity and the "divine something". And it is such answers we, here in "Livets Bog", have given mankind access to. Owing to the fact that they diverge from all other answers, being at the same time expressions of eternity – which means that what they express are eternal phenomena, phenomena that have never ever begun and will never ever come to an end – we have called them "cosmic analyses". They are a description of the eternal, fundamental principles that are the solid, unshakable pillars supporting eternity, infinity and almightiness. Without these pillars, in fact if just one of these pillars were missing, no eternity, infinity or almightiness would exist. Only an eternal and absolute "nothing" would exist where today the universe incontestably vibrates.