Angels and those who fell

[Benadam]

The issue lies in the fact that God doesn’t need us or angels. God sits outside of time perfectly content. We don’t add anything to him or help him in any way. God knew that people would reject him and suffer eternally. God made those people anyway for absolutely no reason. How does that make sense?

God knew people/angels. Knows who will and will not love Him. These people/angels then exist potentially. God judges potential creatures rather than actual creatures. God doesn’t make those people/angels but allows those who will love Him to act. The true nature of people/angels is known only to God… The true nature of God’s creatures is hidden from them. They never know their true nature because God only allows those who will love Him to reduce their potential to act. Doesn’t this seem, wrong?

 

[KevinK]

It makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Benadam]

It makes no sense whatsoever.

it makes sense none the less. @Gorgias said it in a nutshell. He said something to the effect, we wouldn’t know we have free will. I followed with our own nature would be hidden.

 

[Gorgias]

God judges potential creatures rather than actual creatures.

Just out of curiosity: can you tell me what, from the perspective of God, a ‘potential person’ is and what an ‘actual person’ is?

 

[Benadam]

Just out of curiosity: can you tell me what, from the perspective of God , a ‘potential person’ is and what an ‘actual person’ is?

The perspective I adopted for my post and conforming to the OP’s argument is the idea that God can know a person in eternity and their act in time…From God’s perspective in the eternal now potential and act are present. I’m lead to think that there is no such thing as potential person since it implies a sequence of time. OTOH God does say He knows us ‘before’ we are formed…yeah, dilemma for me there.

 

[Gorgias]

I’m lead to think that there is no such thing as potential person since it implies a sequence of time.

There we go! OK, then: the assertion is merely that God knows every person who will ever exist. OK … no middle knowledge needed!

OTOH God does say He knows us ‘before’ we are formed…yeah, dilemma for me there.

Nah… not so much. The author of Scripture is speaking from his perspective – that is, from a human perspective. In the context of our experience of time, God’s knowledge “precedes” the existence of the person.