If God is ALL KNOWING, did he know that 9/11 was gonna happen, even before it happened?

Question

If so..........................why did he let 911 happen,knowing that it was going to happen. If he didnt know it was going to happen, then that means he is not all knwoing,,,right?
How could someone be a God if he doesnt know everything? Or was he on vacation during 911?

Answer 1

This is a very logical question. I very much appreciate the opportunity to discuss it. My answer is very long, but please read through it because I'm sure you'll find the information satisfying. I think basically, in the big picture, your question is "Why does God allow suffering?" People often, rightfully, ask "Why?" after war, disaster, disease, or crime takes the innocent lives of loved ones, destroys their homes, or brings untold suffering in other ways. So, like you said, if God is all-powerful, loving, wise, and just, why is the world so full of hatred and injustice?

It most certainly is not wrong to ask such a question. When reading the Bible you will find that faithful, God-fearing people had similar questions, such as the prophet Habakkuk at Habakkuk 1:3.

Often when people go to their religious leaders or teachers to ask why there is so much suffering the response is that suffering is God's will and that he long ago determined everything that would ever happen, including tragic events. Many are told that God's ways are mysterious or that he brings death upon people - even children - so that he can have them in heaven with him. However, God never causes what is bad. The Bible says, "Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!" (Job 34:10) It also says, "When under trial, let no one say: 'I am being tried by God.' For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone."

The reason people make the mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world is because they think he is the real ruler of this world. They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches. The real ruler of this world is Satan the Devil. 1 John 5:19 says, "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.." When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So, the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is ONE reason why there is so much suffering.

A second reason is that mankind has been imperfect and sinful ever since the rebellion in the garden of Eden. Sinful humans tend to struggle for dominance, and this results in wars, oppression, and suffering. (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9) A third reason is "time and unforeseen occurrence." (Ecclesiastes 9:11) In a world without Jehovah God as a protective Ruler, people may suffer because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is comforting to know that God does not cause suffering. Still, we need to know, as you asked, Why does he allow all this suffering? If he is the Almighty, he has the power to stop it. Why, then, does he hold back?

To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. When Satan led Adam and Eve to disobey God, an important question was raised. Satan did not call into question Jehovah's POWER. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to God's power. Rather, Satan questioned Jehovah's RIGHT TO RULE. By calling God a liar who withholds good from his subjects, Satan charged that God is a bad ruler. (Genesis 3:2-5) Satan implied that mankind would be better off without God's rulership. This was an attack on Jehovah's sovereignty, his right to rule.

Adam and Eve rebelled against Jehovah. In effect they said, "We do not need Jehovah as Ruler. We can decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong." How could Jehovah God settle that issue? How could he teach all intelligent creatures that rebels were wrong and that his way truly is best? Someone might say that God should simply have destroyed the rebels and made a fresh start. But Jehovah had stated his purpose to fill the earth with the offspring of Adam and Eve, and he wanted them to live in an earthly paradise. (Genesis 1:28) Jehovah ALWAYS fulfills his purposes. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) Besides that, getting rid of the rebels in Eden would not have answered the question that had been raised regarding God's right to rule.

Consider an illustration. Imagine that a teacher is telling his students how to solve a difficult problem. A clever but rebellious student claims that the teacher's way of solving the problem is wrong. Implying that the teacher is not capable, this rebel insists that he knows a much better way to solve the problem. Some students think that he is right, and they also become rebellious. What should the teacher do? If he throws the rebels out of the class, what will be the effect on the other students? Will they not believe that their fellow student and those who joined him are right? All the other students in the class might lose respect for the teacher, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong. But suppose that the teacher allows the rebel to show the class how HE would solve the problem.

God has done something similar to what the teacher does. Remember that the rebels in Eden were not the only ones involved. Millions of angels were watching. (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) How Jehovah handled the rebellion would greatly affect all those angels and eventually all intelligent creation. So, what has God done? He has allowed Satan to show how he would rule mankind. God has allowed humans to govern themselves under Satan's guidance.

The teacher in the illustration knows that the rebel and the students on his side are wrong. But he also knows that allowng them the opportunity to try to prove their point will benefit the whole class. When the rebels fail, all honest students will see that the teacher is the only one qualified to lead the class.They will understand why the teacher therafter removes any rebels from the class. Similarly, Jehovah God knows that all honesthearted humans and angels will benefit from seeing that Satan and his fellow rebels have failed and that humans cannot govern themselves. Like Jeremiah of old, they will learn this vital truth, "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." (Jeremiah 10:23)

You might wonder Why has he allowed it to go on so long?

I'm sure I've written too much for this forum already, but I highly recommend a book I read called "What Does the Bible Really TEach?" If you would like to know how to get a copy of it, you can email me.

I hope you find comfort from this information.

TO KJ7GS:

By explaining that God is not the Cause of suffering, I am not inferring he has never destroyed anything. His sense of justice and his purpose to end suffering requires that he take decisive action like he did in Noah's day and like he will do in the near future. My answer speaks specifically to this question, not to all the questions that could possibly be brought up with reference to this subject.

Answer 2

I doubt if you'll find a satisfactory answer to your question if you hold a theology that maintains both God's omnipotence and man's relative innocence. Logically one of the two must go, or you are left with "God allows it", it's Satan fault, it's a test, or simply "it's a mystery". Arminian theology has this dilemma, and it turns quite a few people off when they run into this speed bump.

Calvinism says that man is guilty, cannot choose God in his guilt, and therefore, since Adam plunged the entire human race into this guilt, man only deserves the fires of hell. And, God would be fully justified in destroying mankind.

Calvinism isn't a very comfortable theology, but it does answer your question in that it doesn't matter what man does to man, or what natural disasters happen, no one merits heaven anyway, and God would be fully justified in destroying all of civilization. This is reflected in the story of the flood as one example. More Biblical proof can be found in the book of Job and how God chastises him when he asserts his innocence before the Lord in the circumstances that have befallen him through the work of Satan.

Is God evil? No, he is righteous, but he's not the kind lovable old grandpa in the sky that you might be accustomed to hearing about. He destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. "Lest I smite the earth with a curse", Malachi 4:6, is yet another example of wrath when you might have expected kindness. And finally, take a look at God's own son that he poured out his wrath upon through the extreme agony of crucifixion. Do bad things still happen? Obviously, yes, they do. Does man deserve life on a silver platter and a reserved spot in heaven? No, we can't expect that. We are far removed from innocent.

EDIT: berdudget, God did cause suffering in the form of a flood, God did punish, God did kill in the OT. His law required death for certain behaviors that we wouldn't think twice about today.

Answer 3

This is a common misconception among even some Christians. The manuscripts are quite clear about Gods mindset in making His decisions about this flesh age; for example that we should not remember being in the spiritual body, etc. - No, God does not know each and every thing you and I will do. What he does know, is us, personally, from when we were with Him before. Just like you would probably know basically what your mom might do given a certain circumstance; likewise, God knows what in a given situation we are CAPABLE of, again, from knowing us personally. As far as what exactly we will do, no, He does not know.
He does not want to know; His idea was not to make a person who is pre-set like a robot - He wants children, with minds that think, and with hearts that love.
God does not take "vacations". I realize 9/11 was a terrible tragedy; but at least have the maturity and dignity to blame those responsible, instead of blaming God.

Answer 4

Of course He knew. You have to understand that everything that happens is for a reason. I know that seems unfeeling to us, BUT, God's reasons are not for us to always understand. All the anger between Christians, Muslims and Jews was for told long ago. Everything is just winding down to the inevitable ending. The rapture, the 7 years tribulation and then the ultimate return of Jesus. All we can do from here on out is to be sure we are right with the Lord and watch what happens.

Answer 5

God doesn't take a vacation ; I bet looking down and around, he wished he could at time; he gave a great gift to mankind, the opportunity to choose your path, good , bad or indifferent; he didn't cause the pain but if he intervenes all the time, you lost the gift, the ability to choose how you live your life; God doesn't cause it but to intervene takes away someone's gift to choose; this life is brief ; time flies; I am sure that God was there for the people who suffered at the hands of the terrorists and for that they will be judged in God's time not ours; we assume that this life is the best that God offers ? To be with God, in his grace is rewarded beyond our human comprehension. We all die; we will all suffer to pass, each in whatever way but we choose how we live, where we go ; some men are corrupt and evil and it time, they will receive what they are due. God knows , you can't place our knowledge with the knowledge of God's plan ; freedom to choose what you can do with life is an awsome gift; God was there in the hour that those people needed him to pass on; miracles happened on that day through the goodness of mankind in a struggle of good v evil. That is why each day counts, not the money, the important things, the phone call to family to say I love you ; the assistance of a coworker ; etc etc; you never know at what hour your life will end so you can't leave goodwill and love for another day here on earth; all things will pass but God will never and he gave us the promise of eternal life with him if we believe.

Answer 6

Yes, He knew that 911 was going to happen because the first man Adam, brought sin into the world through disobedience to God. That disobedience continues. 911 happened because God allows people to make choices. 911 was the choice of men.

Answer 7

God is all knowing... and let me step away from religion in order to present a way of thinking; I once read in a book by Terry Goodkind that a wizard endowed with the gift of prophecy let out words that caused a civil war and lead to the deaths of thousands... upon being condemned he replied saying," You had me locked up this whole time, I could do nothing else... for as the war raged, in one home a child was killed... a child who would have grown up to become the worst tyrant the world has ever known, and his rule would have seen the deaths of MILLIONS"

This takes a moment to think about, but there is much we limited humans cannot understand... all we can do is put our trusts in the one who does know all, and knows what best to do about it.

Answer 8

why does god let starvation, famine, disease, war and other disasters happen? Why is he/she/it letting climate change happen?
Why can't this god intervene properly like they are supposed to? Maybe god doesn't care - after all he's done his bit, made the world etc, for all we know he's passed away in his armchair and doesn't know about all this...

Oh right, I forgot, there is also the whole question of whether this God actually exists or not that some people seem to have forgotten about!

Answer 9

That's why I have a problem!!!

I stopped believing awhile back and have gone to

My People's Religion

Wakan Tanka -------- The Creator
and here's Why!!!

Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, gives thanks for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strength to be a better person. Seek for the things that will benefit others (everyone).

2. Respect. Respect means "To feel or show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or something with deference or courtesy". Showing respect is a basic law of life.

3. Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.

4. Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions.

5. Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests.

6. The hurt of one is the hurt of all; the honor of one is the honor of all.

7. Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family.

8. All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator they must all be respected.

9. To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation, and the world is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget you’re most important talks. True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.

10. Observe moderation and balance in all things.

11. Know those things that lead to your well-being and those things that lead to your destruction.

12. Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms; in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends.






Wahoo

Answer 10

Love the answers to this one..."god is all knowing" but we "can't see the whole picture" because "god moves in mysterious ways"! With one question you were able to bring out every tired cliche Christians use. I love it. I wonder how many Christians lost the faith because this "all knowing" god allowed 9/11 to happen. I wonder if he was "testing the faith" of his followers. Wouldn't a simple 20 question quiz been better than depriving families of their loved ones? Personally I believe this god character is one cruel sumb*tch.