by Zakary Venturo

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 21, 2009

Predestination versus Free Will is an old hat debate. John Calvin wrote, "let them remember that when they inquire into predestination, they penetrate the inmost recesses of Divine wisdom, where the careless and confident intruder will obtain no satisfaction to his curiosity, but will enter a labyrinth from which he will find no way to depart." Calvin's remedy was not based in understanding, rather it was stating God preferred His creation to be ignorant. Any inquiry would be dangerous and a possible heresy.

This illustrates the difficulty of grasping a God who made man with the ability to choose alongside the divine nature of a God who is all powerful, capable of knowing the destiny of the choices man would make. The Bible states both realities are true but the debate always weighs in on one side or the other because the concept appears to deliver a paradox. How can one have a choice if God has already predestined those who will receive salvation?

The basic trouble when talking about the reality of God with many people is the unsaid expectation of having God confined within the reality He created. It is the imagination that makes believe human perception is the concrete of reality. Even while observation is a key element in being able to use the scientific method to learn, it is also known perception itself can be altered when other conditions come into play. Albert Einstein made this notion popular within his Theory of Relativity.

Scripture consistently calls out to man to make a choice, but does it provide a clue to the perspective of God? The Apostle John wrote:

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Revelations 11:1-2 KJV)

The Apostle John continued to write, but curiously none of the measurements of the temple are included in his writings. However, over four hundred years earlier, the Prophet Ezekiel wrote:

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 40:3-4 KJV)

Ezekiel continues to write a great deal regarding the measurements of the temple.

Many of the Biblical Prophets wrote of being called up to heaven in a vision. What they wrote have been looked upon as predictions for the future, some of which have become fulfilled through the course of history. Maybe these predictions would be better understood as journals for a God who has already completed his interaction with his creation.

History and future are terms used inside a half dimension of time. If it were a full dimension, then it would be possible to move backwards as well as forward. If it were two dimensions, time would be like a piece of paper and a pencil, scribbled in both directions, at any point in the space provided. In a third dimension, time would be a sphere and God takes the center, capable of being in all of space and time at once. Man makes choices and God prepares for him a place.

Learn more about this author, Zakary Venturo.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.