Any thoughts?
Predestination is a different topic.
In all of the dispensations, some degree of predestination occurred. Volition(free will) is an institution established by God for all humans, believers and unbelievers alike. Both can enjoy the fruits of that institution, provided they respect legitimate authority. Along with volition, comes volitional responsibility.
That’s why we are held accountable at the Great White Throne Judgment and the bema seat judgment. It’s also why we aren’t condemned for sin at those judgments. Christ has already been judged for human sin. Good and evil have not been so resolved.
It’s all part of the angelic conflict and His Provision for all His Creation.
I am not omniscient, but I could predict that my preschoolers would get into the cookies when they were left out.
How much more would an omniscient Creator be able to know what will happen before it does.
The Lord created time, stands outside time, and sees all things throughout time.
That is not “predestination”. That is just seeing what will happen, not making it take place.
Man always has free-will. God knows what we will do, but loves us enough to let us have our way, and hopefully the lessons we learn will not be lost.
Lets see somewhere between 3 and 37 dispensations, as if it is not important how many there are, I would think the number is of great importance, because God in our scriptures tells exactly how many there are.
Knowing and believing this will make the scripture and the gospel so much easier to understand, our scripture abounds with simplicity:
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.