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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Tom]
#128742
11/09/10 06:08 PM
11/09/10 06:08 PM
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SDA Active Member 2024
5500+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,512
Midland
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Is this what you meant to say? Or did you mean to say:
a.The future is in our reality wide open (multi-threaded). b.The future is in God's reality is not wide open (instead, it's single-threaded).
Yes to the former. Otherwise, there are four permutations and MM will no doubt choose both a and b: a.The future is in God's reality wide open (multi-threaded). b.The future is in our reality is not wide open (instead, it's single-threaded). Which does not answer your question as the answer would be a split multi-reality. One could give the benefit of the doubt of the arbitrary substitution of some other word's definition for "reality" but that would only further obfuscate things, if possible....
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: kland]
#128744
11/09/10 06:16 PM
11/09/10 06:16 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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M:As we live and breathe, the future is wide open.
T:What does this mean? Does is mean something different than "The future is, in reality, wide open"? I hope so, because this is the question I'm asking. Otherwise you're answering some other question which I'm not asking. If so, please answer the question I am asking.
M:Yes, as we live and breathe, the future is, in reality, wide open. I don't understand why you won't answer my question. Just having fun? I've been trying to get an answer to this question for 2 or 3 weeks. Is there some reason you won't answer the question? We are totally, completely, absolutely free to choose as we please. I didn't ask anything about this.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: kland]
#128746
11/09/10 06:24 PM
11/09/10 06:24 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
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Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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This means there was a chance of failure. This contradicts what you wrote here: ... the chances He would sin and fail was 0%. Perhaps you don't understand the meaning of the word risk(?). Here's the definition: the possibility of incurring loss or misfortune Do you see how this is the opposite of "the chances He would sin and fail was 0%"? But the chances He would choose to sin or abandon the plan of salvation were nil. There we go again! A contradiction one sentence right after the other. It never once occurred to Jesus to deliberately sin or to abandon the plan of salvation. Yes, He was tempted to sin and to abandon the plan of salvation, but He didn't hesitate or waver between wanting to and not wanting to. God forbid!!!! He instantly, immediately, and resolutely resisted sin, self, and Satan. You're saying it was easy for Jesus? That is, to make the decision as to what to do? He didn't have to think hard about it. Is this correct? By the way, what do you believe? Do you believe Jesus knew with absolute certainty He would succeed? Or, do you believe He didn't know for sure? Citing passages which speak of risk and peril may or may not mean Jesus didn't know with absolute certainty He would succeed. I don't understand this. If there was risk involved, that means there was a chance of failure. Indeed, the sentence reads "at the risk of failure." So how can you take this to mean something other than there was a chance Christ wouldn't succeed? Please answer the following question with a yes or no: I believe Jesus Christ knew He was taking a risk, that there was a chance He would fail. Was Jesus 100% certain He would succeed on the cross? Christ knew there was a chance He would fail.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: kland]
#128747
11/09/10 06:29 PM
11/09/10 06:29 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
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M: I don't know why the Godhead elected to create the FMAs they knew with absolute certainty would sin and die. . . . [post truncated and quotes omitted by Tom]
T: You've made clear you don't know why you believe what you do regarding the idea you have. I don't think your idea makes sense, and you apparently don't either. If at some point you see some sense for why you believe what you do, you could share that, and we could continue our discussion. Until then, I invite you to consider that possibility that your thinking might be wrong. You may be simply misinterpreting the passages which lead you to the conclusions you don't understand.
I think having a point of view that one understands in regards to the problem of evil is preferable, especially as this is a subject which weighs so heavily on the minds of so many. Many people want to know how an all-powerful, all-loving God could create such a world as we have, full of suffering and injustice. As SDA's, we have a wonderful answer to give, which involves the Great Controversy. Saying that God created beings He was certain would sin isn't an answer that satisfies.
M:The following inspired insights make it clear the Godhead chose to create FMAs even though they knew precisely which ones would sin and die. You just quote the same passages as before. I'm aware that you quote these passages, and ignore the ones I quote. No need to repeat that! What I asked about was the *why* involved. That is, why do you believe that God would create beings He was certain would sin. I hear you saying, no, God did not know with absolute certainty who would sin and die. You say God knew all the possible outcomes and that some of them involved all FMAs sinning and dying. You also say God risked it hoping none of them would sin and die. Personally, I think this view of God portrays Him as impotent and reckless. I think you're choice of "impotent" is telling here. I think you have a view of God which demands a high degree of control (so much so, I don't really understand why you're not a Calvinist). My point of view is that God created beings with the capability to love, and that this entailed risk. Why do you think this would make God impotent? I believe that God, in choosing to make creatures who could love and be loved, chose to share His power. Indeed, this is the only way free will can work.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: kland]
#128748
11/09/10 06:31 PM
11/09/10 06:31 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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T:Everybody's experiences are unique. That should especially so for God doesn't seem difficult to understand.
M:Why does God's experience in time and space include experiences ours cannot?
T:Again, everybody's experiences are unique.
M:Please be specific. What is it about God that makes you agree His experience in time and space includes experiences ours cannot? Well, there's a million things that make God different than we are, and would impact His experience. To name just one, He's smarter than we are.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Tom]
#128757
11/10/10 02:46 PM
11/10/10 02:46 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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M: Please be specific. What is it about God that makes you agree His experience in time and space includes experiences ours cannot?
T: Well, there's a million things that make God different than we are, and would impact His experience. To name just one, He's smarter than we are. God is simultaneously aware of everything everyone everywhere thinks and feels every second of every minute of every day. How is this physically possible?
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Tom]
#128758
11/10/10 02:49 PM
11/10/10 02:49 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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M:As we live and breathe, the future is wide open.
T:What does this mean? Does is mean something different than "The future is, in reality, wide open"? I hope so, because this is the question I'm asking. Otherwise you're answering some other question which I'm not asking. If so, please answer the question I am asking.
M:Yes, as we live and breathe, the future is, in reality, wide open. I don't understand why you won't answer my question. Just having fun? I've been trying to get an answer to this question for 2 or 3 weeks. Is there some reason you won't answer the question? We are totally, completely, absolutely free to choose as we please. I didn't ask anything about this. The future is wide open.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Tom]
#128759
11/10/10 03:14 PM
11/10/10 03:14 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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M: The risks were real.
T: This means there was a chance of failure. This contradicts what you wrote here: "... the chances He would sin and fail was 0%." Perhaps you don't understand the meaning of the word risk(?). Here's the definition: "the possibility of incurring loss or misfortune." Do you see how this is the opposite of "the chances He would sin and fail was 0%"? Saying there was a possibility Jesus could (possesses the ability and power to) fail is totally different than saying He knew there was no possibility He would fail. M: But the chances He would choose to sin or abandon the plan of salvation were nil.
T: There we go again! A contradiction one sentence right after the other.
M: It never once occurred to Jesus to deliberately sin or to abandon the plan of salvation. Yes, He was tempted to sin and to abandon the plan of salvation, but He didn't hesitate or waver between wanting to and not wanting to. God forbid!!!! He instantly, immediately, and resolutely resisted sin, self, and Satan.
T: You're saying it was easy for Jesus? That is, to make the decision as to what to do? He didn't have to think hard about it. Is this correct? Jesus never wanted to sin or abandon the plan of salvation. Surely you can agree. He also resolved instantly to reject and resist temptation. Surely you can agree. Did it require superhuman effort to retain His resolve? Yes, of course. Was it easy to retain resolve. No, of course not. On one occasion He sweated blood retaining His resolve. M: By the way, what do you believe? Do you believe Jesus knew with absolute certainty He would succeed? Or, do you believe He didn't know for sure? Citing passages which speak of risk and peril may or may not mean Jesus didn't know with absolute certainty He would succeed.
T: I don't understand this. If there was risk involved, that means there was a chance of failure. Indeed, the sentence reads "at the risk of failure." So how can you take this to mean something other than there was a chance Christ wouldn't succeed?
M: Please answer the following question with a yes or no: Was Jesus 100% certain He would succeed on the cross?
T: I believe Jesus Christ knew He was taking a risk, that there was a chance He would fail. Yes, there was a risk Jesus would sin or abandon the plan of salvation. The risk pertains to the fact Jesus possessed the ability and power to fail. Before His incarnation it was impossible for Him to sin or to redeem sinners. However, there was a risk the Father wouldn't consent to the plan of salvation. God possessed the ability and power not to implement the plan of salvation. Nevertheless, God knew with absolute certainty He would permit Jesus to save the human race. He also knew Jesus would succeed. PS - I posted 12 different statements where Jesus positively affirmed He would succeed. You haven't posted a single statement where Jesus expressed doubt about it. Why haven't you posted one?
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Mountain Man]
#128761
11/10/10 04:02 PM
11/10/10 04:02 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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M: Please be specific. What is it about God that makes you agree His experience in time and space includes experiences ours cannot?
T: Well, there's a million things that make God different than we are, and would impact His experience. To name just one, He's smarter than we are.
M:God is simultaneously aware of everything everyone everywhere thinks and feels every second of every minute of every day. How is this physically possible? Why shouldn't it be possible?
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: How Can a Person Know if a Prophecy is Conditional or Unconditional? - Part 2
[Re: Tom]
#128762
11/10/10 04:05 PM
11/10/10 04:05 PM
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OP
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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Thank you. Given that the future is wide open, it cannot be the case that it has "already played out." If it had "already played out," that would mean there's only one possibility. Things which have "already played out" have this characteristic. For example, JFK died on 11/22/1963. There's only one possibility here. It's not wide open.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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