If the future is fortold in Revalations, then how can it be that man has 'free will' ?

Question

The future is either set in stone (and there's nothing we can do about it) or it's not. You can't have it both ways.

You can't say, "The bible fortells the future."

And also say, "Man has free will."

Those two statements contradict themselves.

So which is it?

Answer 1

They don't have free will. The Christians just like to think they do. Free will isn't "Do as I tell you or burn in hell for eternity".

Answer 2

You haven't looked at the amillenialist position that looks at the book of Revelation in a larger sense. I'm not an expert on the subject, but a-mil is worth a closer look if you're interested.

There are also other positions besides "Man has free will" that might be worth looking at, i.e. Calvinism that denies the ability to look to God for salvation.

Your own answer to this question is going to involve a lot of study for you, but the two concepts do not have to contradict.

Answer 3

Revelations is spelled REVELATIONS. The correct posit in your question is, "Man has free will." The bible does not accurately foretell the future; it doesn't even accurately describe the natural world. It was written by men who didn't know the world was round and that it orbits the sun. These men didn't even know about the Western Hemisphere. Irrational, stone age thinking will not help you live a successful, happy life: think and use your free will.

Answer 4

It is very simple. The Bible tells what will happen in the end times. This is called prophecy but what the Bible does not tell you is who will be here when the tribulation period starts. That is left to each person. If you believe and trust that the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins then you will be caught off the earth before the wrath of God is poured out. Man has free will, he can decied if He is going to heaven or hell by what he does with the cross work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The future will happen just like the Bible tells us. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Daniel 9: 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Answer 5

Sometimes it might look to you like the bible is saying two things that contradict each other but the bible does not contradict itself but rather it is complete harmony with itself, the problem is in getting men to have faith and believe in God and his great power and in the harmony of his word..blindness of men and their doubt is the actual problem. your not looking at this situation in a proper light, revelations is a message to the lords church,those who have obeyed his will, and abide in Christ and are obedient to bible doctrine according to what the bible teaches. As far as the foretelling goes when the writer who is john speaks of the church its spoke of in a way that speaks of the whole group of obedient believers , or those disobedient.but the teaching in revelation does not interfere with the free will of man. please notice these certain verses that the Lord has spoken:revelation 22: the whole chapter, notice verses 11 thru 17- these verses certainly reveal that it is mans free will to choose what he will do, what he will believe and to whom he will obey. theres is also a warning to all not to trifle with Gods word , not to add onto or take away from anything that it says and that warning is the very next 2 verses,18 and 19, so be warned and read the bible to learn what God would have you to know for your own sake, when anyone speaks the word ,try to check what you have heard and see if the bible actually teaches what you have heard. If you dont know the answer --seek out a church of Christ and ask the brethren there. Concerning the bible men should never speak without knowing for sure about what they are saying.At the church of Christ we have a saying that we pass on to people: SPEAK WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS AND BE SILENT WHERE THE BIBLE IS SILENT. If you have any new questions ,let me know, when we consider all that God has done in creating the world and its intricate and delicate habitationsand how in particular the human body is so intricate to support life and function in harmony with itself. theres clearly a harmong in all that God has done including his word! The bible tells us in 2peter 1:19and20and21-that in verse 20 the bible says that "knowing this first ,that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.---so the bible leaves no doubt as to what it says!!!! Also 2nd timothy 3:16and 17 . Verse 16-- ."all scripture is given by inspiration of God ,and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,for correction,for instruction in righteousness.Verse 17. that the man of God may be perfect ,throughly furnished unto all good works. THANK YOU

Answer 6

You're thinking about it in the wrong way.

God knows the future, from our point of view, but we still make all of the decisions.

God sees past, present, and future the same as we perceive now.

Right now he sees you typing stuff on Yahoo Answers and at the same time he is watching your birth. Right now he sees your entire life in the moment we call now.

Only an eternal God can do that. So, from that point of view, while it may seem to us the future is set in stone, it is not.

God is only merely saying what he is watching right now.

We still make the choices.

Answer 7

You have free will to choose whose side you are on. You must make the choice if you choose between good or evil. The destiny of both groups are described in the book of Revelation. If you read the Bible the difference between the two groups are explained in every book. The book of Daniel and the book of Revelation go hand in hand.

Answer 8

Man will be free to chose sides as a general rule. Only the major players are predestined.

That is where the Mark of the Beast will come from.

No one is exempt. Not even Christians or Jews.

Everyone will be chosing a side. Chose wisely!

Answer 9

Logic 101 - Someone foretelling the future does not remove freewill. Let's say I'm a pychic, and tell you that one day you'll marry a girl with the initials "M.S." - as it turns out ten years later, you do indeed end up wedding "Mary Smith". But did my foretelling your future somehow remove your free will to run right out of my Psychic Fortuneteller booth, and marry "Jane Richards"??? (obviously not)

Answer 10

Just one of many, many contradictions in that book. Somebody a short while ago sent me an e-mail listing dozens and dozens of them Unfortunately I accidently deleted the e-mail, and I'm asking the person to send me that list again. I was a skeptic already, but let me tell ya, that list really cinched it for me.

Answer 11

They both are true, You say I can't have it both ways, why not, By God's foreknowledge in knowing what all events will be, God put that free will in everyone, to make their own choice, & God knowing before hand what choice you would take, he can Predestinate. God even knew your were going to ask this question before the foundation of the world, but yet God gave you that free will to ask your question.