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He said to me, "I made this decision before I created the world: before the gates of the world were standing; before the winds were brought together to blow,
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or the lightning flashed, or the thunder rolled; before the foundations of Paradise were laid,
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or the beautiful flowers appeared; before the powers that move the stars were established, or the armies of angels assembled;
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before the air was piled up high, or the divisions of the heavens given their names; before I chose Mount Zion as my footstool;
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before the present age was planned, or the scheming of its sinners was rejected, or my seal was placed on those who obeyed the Law and laid up a treasure of faithfulness.
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Even then, I decided that since I, and I alone, had created the world, I, and I alone, would bring it to an end."
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Then I asked, "How long a period of time will divide the ages? When will the first age end and the next age begin?"
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He answered, "The interval will be no longer than that between Abraham and Abraham. He was the grandfather of both Jacob and Esau, and when they were born, Jacob was holding Esau's heel.
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Esau represents the end of this age, and Jacob represents the beginning of the new age.