Definitions
pre·des·ti·na·tion
prēˌdestəˈnāSH(ə)n/
noun: predestination; noun: pre-destination
(as a doctrine in Christian theology) the divine foreordaining of all that will happen, especially with regard to the salvation of some and not others. It has been particularly associated with the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and of John Calvin.
pre·des·ti·nate
verb pri-des-tuh-neyt; adjective pri-des-tuh-nit, -neyt
verb: (used with object), predestinated, predestinating.
1. Theology. to foreordain by divine decree or purpose.
2. Obsolete. to foreordain; predetermine.
adjective:
3. predestined; foreordained.
proorizó: to predetermine, foreordain
Original Word: προορίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: proorizó
Phonetic Spelling: (pro-or-id’-zo)
Short Definition: I foreordain, predetermine
Definition: I foreordain, predetermine, mark out beforehand.
HELPS Word-studies
4309 proorízō (from 4253 /pró, “before” and 3724 /horízō, “establish boundaries, limits”) – properly, pre-horizon, pre-determine limits (boundaries) predestine.
[4309 (proorízō) occurs six times in the NT (eight in the writings of Paul). Since the root (3724 /horízō) already means “establish boundaries,” the added prefix (pro, “before”) makes 4309 (proorízō) “to pre-establish boundaries,” i.e. before creation.]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from pro and horizó
Definition – to predetermine, foreordain
NASB Translation – predestined (6).
pro: before
Original Word: πρό
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: pro
Phonetic Spelling: (pro)
Short Definition: before
Definition: (a) of place: before, in front of, (b) of time: before, earlier than.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin – a prim. preposition
Definition – before
NASB Translation – above (2), ago (4), ahead (2), ahead* (2), before (30), front (2), just outside (1), prior (1), right (1).
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
before, ago – A primary preposition; “fore”, i.e. In front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to — above, ago, before, or ever. In the comparative, it retains the same significations.
horizó: to mark off by boundaries, to determine
Original Word: ὁρίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: horizó
Phonetic Spelling: (hor-id’-zo)
Short Definition: I define, determine, appoint, decree
Definition: I separate, mark off by boundaries; I determine, appoint, designate.
HELPS Word-studies
3724 horízō (from horos, “boundary, limit”) – properly, to set boundaries (limits) – literally, “determine horizons” (boundaries).
3724 /horízō (“designate limits, boundaries”) refers to the Lord (literally) “horizoning” all the physical scenes of life before creation. This guarantees God works each in conjunction with His eternal purpose (providence, see 4286 /próthesis).
[The English term “horizon” (“horizoning“) comes from 3724 (horízō), “to set limits.” 4309 /proorízō (“pre-horizon, pre-determine”) emphasizes God’s eternality with its correlations, as operating in His perfect wisdom, absolute foreknowledge, etc.).]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin – from the same as horion
Definition – to mark off by boundaries, to determine
NASB Translation – appointed (2), declared (1), determined (3), fixes (1), predetermined (1).
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
declare, determine, limit, ordain.
From horion; to mark out or bound (“horizon”), i.e. (figuratively) to appoint, decree, specify – declare, determine, limit, ordain.
see GREEK horion
Our word horizon is derived from horízō.
A Mistaken Viewpoint
The Calvinistic viewpoint states that YHWH created the Elect to succeed and everyone else to fail, justified by these verses:
Proverbs 16:4 (Literal Translation) YHWH has made all things; yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Romans 9:22 What if YHWH, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity;
They will be led forth at the day of fury.
Psalm 69:27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, and may they not come into Your righteousness.
Romans 1:24 Therefore, YHWH gave them up in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason, YHWH will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie…
Acts 2:23 He was handed over by YHWH’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Malachi 1:2-3 (NKJV)
“I have loved you,” says YHWH.
“Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?”
Says YHWH.
“Yet Jacob I have loved;
But Esau I have hated, [Romans 9:13]
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”
This idea conflicts with Yah wanting all to come to Him:
Ezekiel 18:23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord YHWH, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?”
Ezekiel 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord YHWH. “Therefore, repent and live.”
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord YHWH, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 4:10 To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
2 Timothy 2:25 (ESV) …correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth…
2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
The problem stems from Greco-Roman philosophy brought over by pagan converts and encouraged over the centuries. This mindset set a division between the physical and the spiritual. This led to various errors, including humanism and the theory of evolution.
In contrast, the ancient Hebrews believed in everything being of the spirit since it was all derived from the Creator. They understood moving towards or away from Yah by our actions—the process of spiritual maturation—symbolized by the words walk, feet, path, door, gate, and way in Scripture. They also understood that accidental and deliberate sin (iniquity) created a spiritual barrier, separating us from Yah, not a physical one. The heavy veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Temple/Tabernacle system represented this as a symbolic teaching tool or reminder; its tearing asunder by the sacrifice Yahshua made eliminated that barrier for us on the supernatural level (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18).
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
(NLT) When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
YHWH created humans, starting with Adam and Eve before the Fall, with the ability to choose. That means all are capable of good and evil at any time. Most call it “free will,” but that term continues the mentality of physical separation from Him. If sinners were physically separated from Him, they would either cease to exist, have no hope of salvation, and/or cannot be used by Yah. We would all be lost.
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and Who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (MEV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of YHWH, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Acts 15:11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.
The question is not, “Do we get to choose salvation?” but rather “Do we accept the free gift of salvation?”
Dream Sequences and Alternate Endings
Although humans default to linear thinking for daily ease, we are capable of abstract thought. Have you ever read a story with more than one ending, or thought of alternate ending that you believe would improve a movie’s conclusion? Various forms of visual media can employ the concept of a dream sequence—when a character ponders possible scenarios, favorable or terrible. If mere humans can do this, why can’t the Father?
Predestination for a Being who operates outside of time and space means He knows what will happen no matter which choice His creations make. His mind is the multiverse comic book makers attempt to produce. Therefore, everything is constantly positioned for the best possible outcome despite our flaws and ignorance. Simply put, He knows what will happen if we move right, left, forward, backward, up, down, stay in place, do this sin or that good deed, etc.
We do not.
Genesis 50:20 (ESV) [Joseph said,] “As for you, you meant evil against me, but YHWH meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Thank Yah He kept Joseph’s brothers from killing him. Yah used their evil [good, twisted (becomes dysfunctional)] and the Egyptians, to refine Joseph and place him where he needed to be. Since we cannot predict what or who Yah will use for His purposes, we should have the view He wants everyone saved, to trust Him in this, and become a tool in His hands to accomplish this. It is not our job to condemn anyone, and we must make sure we are in the Father’s will before we dish out judgment (correction)—see Matthew 7:1-6, Luke 6:37, Luke 6:41, John 8:7, Romans 2:1, Romans 14:10, Romans 14:13, 1 Corinthians 4:5, James 4:11.
A Whisper, Screamed 