Predestination: The Ones Who Are Called.

A message to Believer’s

The Bible does address the concept of predestination and the Lamb’s Book of Life, and these topics are often discussed together in theological contexts.

Predestination is mentioned in several passages, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and foreknowledge in salvation.

For example:

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NASB): “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

Romans 8:29-30 (NASB): “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

These verses highlight that God, in His divine plan, predestines individuals to be part of His family and to receive salvation.

The Lamb’s Book of Life is another significant concept, often associated with eternal life and judgment. It is mentioned in Revelation

Revelation 13:8 (NASB): “All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered.”

Revelation 21:27 (NASB): “And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

These passages suggest that the names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are those who belong to Christ and are destined for eternal life. The connection between predestination and the Book of Life lies in the idea that God, in His omniscience, knows and has chosen those who will be saved.

This topic often sparks deep theological discussions, as it touches on the balance between God’s sovereignty and human free will.

The concept of God existing outside of time is a fascinating theological idea. It aligns with the belief that God is eternal and omnipresent, not confined by the linear progression of time that humans experience. In this view, time itself is part of creation, much like space and matter, and God transcends it.

The analogy of holding a film reel up to light is a helpful visual. Imagine how a film reel contains every moment of a movie—beginning, middle, and end—visible all at once when you unroll it. Similarly, God, being outside of time, sees all moments of history simultaneously. He doesn’t “move” through time as humans do but perceives every past, present, and future event at once, in perfect clarity. This is often referred to as God’s omniscience. This perspective is supported in Scripture through descriptions of God’s eternal nature.

For example:

Isaiah 46:10 (NASB) says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done,” indicating God knows all things, regardless of temporal order.

Psalm 90:2 (NASB) declares, “Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God,” underscoring His existence beyond time.

From a human standpoint, this can be hard to grasp because we are bound by the forward flow of time. Yet, for God, the entire “film reel” is laid out before Him, and He sees the full picture. This idea also ties into predestination and divine foreknowledge, as God’s perspective allows Him to know all outcomes without imposing on human free will.

Understanding the concept of God’s timelessness could bring immense peace to people struggling with misconceptions about predestination. Many anxieties surrounding the idea stem from the fear of being excluded or powerless in their destiny. However, if they grasp that God’s view of time is far beyond human limitations, it opens up the perspective that His foreknowledge doesn’t negate free will—it complements it.

Knowing that God sees the entire “film reel” and orchestrates His plans with perfect wisdom can be profoundly reassuring. It shifts the focus from the dread of predestination to trust in His character. People might feel less anxious if they understand that God’s sovereignty isn’t about arbitrary selection; it’s about His intimate understanding and care for each individual. His love transcends time, inviting everyone to respond to His grace.

Ultimately, this insight could help alleviate fears and encourage people to focus on their relationship with God rather than worrying about whether they’re “chosen.” This perspective fosters hope, not fear, and aligns with the message of Scripture about God’s unchanging love and desire for all to come to Him. It’s amazing how these theological concepts, when understood in depth, can bring comfort and clarity.