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Rutherford2
Guest
[CCC 600] To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy.
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Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
It’s a challenge: God doesn’t see time as we do… we’re “in” the timeline, he views it from outside. Imagine if all infinite time is a film strip; God can see the whole thing at once in front of him, start to finish. The year 1310 and the year 1982 are both visible together. Yet, the story of each is playing out for those who are living in the timeline with the experience of the prior years having happened.
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Maximilian75
Guest
Imagine watching a parade from on top of a skyscraper.
For one on top, they can see the ‘past, present, and future’ of the parade, all at one glance.
For someone on ground level, they can only see the present.
For one on top, they can see the ‘past, present, and future’ of the parade, all at one glance.
For someone on ground level, they can only see the present.
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Rutherford2
Guest
So for one on top, although he can see the ‘past, present, and future’, does he has any control over it?
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Rutherford2
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Okay, so He can see from outside but, can he control what he sees?
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commenter
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God can control things if He chooses, but He can also choose to allow free will.Cor_ad_Cor:
Okay, so He can see from outside but, can he control what he sees?
It seems easier to imagine God being outside of Place than being outside Time. Few adults would ever ask How can God be active in Pennsylvania if he also is active in London? We really don’t see this as a problem, because God created Place. He is not “in” it.
The same with Time. The offices in heaven don’t have a calendar showing 2018, or any other year. God isn’t closer to 2018 right now than He is to 1018 or 3018, any more than He is closer to Scotland than to Peru.
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AveOTheotokos
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EXCELLENT answers.
It is so curious how people grasp the “Place” concept so easily, while the “Time” concept is much more elusive.
Pondering the mysteries of God always leaves me so awestruck.
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commenter
Guest
For God there is no past, present, future. Regards “control”, He does send in miracles now and then. By allowing free will, He presents us with opportunities for acts of love. We may or may not respond to Him. Most important, there is the Incarnation. These are all interventions in OUR timeline. He is not detached or disinterested, as Mark Twain hinted.(Though I hope to meet Twain someday, we could use his humor).
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Maximilian75
Guest
Now, this may be theologically unsound, but i’d liken it to God being the planner of the parade- he ordained the order (High school band first, then the mayor, then the football team…) before the parade began
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Rutherford2
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If he allows freewill then it is possible that the jews might not choose to hate Jesus and he wont be cruxified. Yet we all know that Jesus died in the end. If jesus death is for certain doesn’t it means that God’s predestination for the Jews is fixed WITHOUT freewill to choose?
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Rutherford2
Guest
Does everything always goes according to the parade plan? What if somebody in the parade suddenly decided to quit from the parade?
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Maximilian75
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That’s where my analogy starts to leak.
I’d say that God knows beforehand if someone will quit, but then that gets into predestination and a bunch of stuff that’s WAY above my pay grade
I’d say that God knows beforehand if someone will quit, but then that gets into predestination and a bunch of stuff that’s WAY above my pay grade
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commenter
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Actually we are living in a world that did NOT go according to the original parade plan. Adam sinned. Since then, everybody is in one or another alternative parade plan.
I find it interesting to give a little thought to how it would have been for me in the garden of Eden, what Time might mean to Angels, what Place might mean to fallen angels. I like the big “what ifs” of history also. What if Germany had not invaded Russia?
But better not to be too distracted by those things. I DO live in a certain time and place. I have to use my free will to live the gospel and draw others to Christ.
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