Sometimes I think about the Lord and prophecy from a different perspective. I think of the history of man from Adam to Armageddon as being like a movie, with the Lord already knowing the end from the beginning. He exists outside of time and has seen the whole movie, being intimately acquainted with every detail, down to the very hairs on the head of each character in the drama. As prophecy unfolds in our dimension of time, He is not manipulating people to do things so they will fulfill His prophecy. Rather, He already knows every move we will make in the exercise of our free will. Remember, He has seen the entire movie and knows the end from the beginning. True prophecy cannot help but be fulfilled, not because God is making people do what He said would happen, but rather because He has already seen the whole movie. So, when His prophets towards the beginning of the movie speak about what will happen at the end of the movie, moved by the Spirit of God, the same Spirit knows the end from the beginning. So, there is absolutely no chance a true prophet of God being informed by the Spirit of God could possibly be wrong. The Spirit has already been there and seen it all, in full detail. I know, I know. We are swimming in the deep end of the theological swimming pool, to be sure. I guess the point I am trying to make is that God does not manipulate people per se to keep His prophecies. Rather, people exercise their free will within the boundaries of His sovereignty and do exactly what God already knows we will do (because He has already seen it). I better stop there, while I'm behind. LOL. Interested to hear other's thoughts about this. To expand on this idea....God already knows what rewards we will earn for our eternity in Heaven and exactly what our Heavenly position and possession will be. So from our perspective, we're still here now in process of earning those rewards, but God already has it all sorted and waiting for us. I even believe that God had already decided our position and possession in Heaven first and then worked backwards, figuring out what we would need to do in this earthly Christian life in order to qualify for it, and of course He would be able to figure that out based on His foreknowledge of exactly what kind of Christians we would be. I think that's a fascinating concept, and one which others might not necessarily agree with. ...and so ends the story of how God's glory was manifested in the flesh Indeed this perspective only reinforces the fact that God has always been in charge. He operates outside of time and space. Most importantly, that because He is infinite and always has been, it's all about Him. He is the main character and the story line revolves around Him alone! We are merely bit players in this drama called life. It's not about how much we understand or can even anticipate, but rather simply wait for Him to reveal the last scene. TR I have often used this same analogy myself. I also find it curious that the book of Revelation can also be characterized as a production or play if you will. Many scene changes accommodating the various acts, also highlighting flashbacks and leaving chronological order behind, the story continues to unfold. TR Watchman what you state was stated by Isaiah 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' The other thing is, we are in Christ, so we are with Christ, who is at the right hand of God’s throne, a paradox, I know but scriptural. God is a living Father, who wants only the best for His beloved children, beyond our understanding of such steadfast lies veg and faithfulness. :prayer-hands:
