WHO IS RULING THE WORLD? WHY SUFFERING?

Download WHO IS RULING THE WORLD? WHY SUFFERING?

WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER?

 

 

Version 2025

 

SUMMARY

 

Who is ruling the world?
First, we need to establish what “world” means from scripture, not from a dictionary. It refers to “the human race on earth, for whatever reason, not seeking God” (John 17:11; James 4:4). This does not include all of the human race, but rather those who are not seeking God. The key question then is: Does a person truly have the choice to seek or not seek God, or is it predetermined?

 

There are two main philosophies/doctrines that believers follow, each containing some elements of truth, but only one is correct:

  1. God has given people free will, but they are unable to choose, so He has predetermined who He wants – Fate.
  2. God has given people free will to choose Him or not – Free will.

 

Let us explore each of these together. There will be a statement followed by a response to that statement:

 

 

PREFACE

 

Dear reader, I want to be transparent about my position and the impetus behind this question. My position, based on scripture, is that we suffer because of the sin that is in the world. Sin entered from the beginning, through Satan, through people, and through the authority that God has given us to choose, as well as the wrong choices we sometimes make. The impetus for the question comes down to: "Why is there suffering?"

 

The biggest issue I see with the ‘Fate doctrine’ is that it removes the individual’s responsibility and authority that God has given them through Christ. The person is focused on “if God gives it, then He gives it, and if not, then not,” versus “desiring, pushing, pressing forward, and asking—basically knocking, and it will be opened.” They are waiting for God to do the knocking and open the door. Yes, He can, but so can we, as He has given this authority to us (Matt. 7:7-8). If one removes the individual responsibility and authority that Christ has given believers, what is left to impact the world? We cannot do it in our own power, but through Him. How will the world be salted? How will they shine in the dark world? They will never see believers operating in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12-14) because they don’t earnestly desire the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 1 Cor. 14:1); they are waiting on God. God doesn’t put it in our mouth but within our reach. Nor will they operate in the authority Yeshua gave, for example: “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18). Their doctrine will discount many scriptures like this, thus making the Word of no effect in their life—more importantly, easily ignoring Yeshua’s words because of doctrine.

 

If one preaches this doctrine to a mass of people, it might sound like this:

“God loves the world; therefore, I am preaching to you all. But God has only chosen some of you to be saved. You will be saved no matter what you do, as He has chosen you. God uses Jesus to connect you to Him. The rest of the people are going to Hell, sorry about that, but God has His reason for not choosing you or your family member. No one can make a good decision because of sin, and therefore He makes you choose Him. You have no say in this. Technically, you are not robots, but you are. The devil has no impact on you unless God gives him access. He is God’s lapdog. So don’t blame the devil because God has allowed it for your good. You should pray because God said you must, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t make a difference as it is not based on your prayer. God will do whatever He wants regardless of your prayer.”

 

 

FATE OR FREEWILL?

God has given people freewill but they are unable to choose so He has predetermined who He wants.

 

WHY DO SOME, HOLD TO THE POSITION THAT GOD IS ULTIMATELY RULING THE WORLD?

Based on the fact that God created all things and how they operate (Genesis 1-2), He knows the future and has a plan for it. Therefore, how can people truly have free will when it seems to be predetermined?

 

In response to God ruling the world:
Scripturally, this is an incorrect statement. He is not ruling the world, as the scripture says Satan is the ruler of the world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). “He who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God” (James 4:4). If God were ruling the world, then a friend of the world would be a friend of God. God loves the world (John 3:16) and now helps them seek Him through the conviction of Yeshua (John 16:8).

 

It is true that God has created all physical and spiritual laws (Colossians 1:16-19), including establishing rules and boundaries (Acts 17:25-27). One of the rules He has given is that mankind has the responsibility to rule over the earth (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 115:16). Even though mankind has failed since Adam and has not done what God required of them (Romans 3:23), He has not taken this authority away from them. God didn’t put Satan in charge of the earth, but mankind, through their rebellion, gave Satan that authority. Satan tempted Yeshua and said, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours” (Luke 4:6-7). The only reason Satan is ruler of the world is because mankind delivered it to him through their sin.

The next statement people make is, "If you think mankind is ruling, then are you making yourself God?"

 

Firstly, Satan is ruling the world through the sin of man. And yes, mankind holds the authority God designed to rule over the earth. This is God’s idea and plan (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 115:16), not ours, and He will hold us accountable for the way we rule. God is the Owner of the earth, not man. He has made us rulers, so we are to rule effectively, glorifying His name. The only way to rule effectively is to surrender to Yeshua (John 14:6).

 

“And God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness… Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth’” (Genesis 1:26-28). David said to the Lord, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than God, and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the paths of the seas” (Psalm 8:5-8). And the psalmist said, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16). God has not and will not violate the command that went out of His mouth (Psalm 138:2; Numbers 23:19). Just as God could have stopped Adam and Eve from eating the forbidden fruit, yet He didn’t because He gave them the ability to choose.

 

 

WHAT ABOUT THESE DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS, ARE THEY TRUE?

 

Here are some of the statements people make and the correct responses:

 

Number 1: God can do anything He wants!

Not according to God Himself! There are parameters He has set, and He will not contradict Himself—He keeps His Word! (Numbers 23:19). As the scripture says, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).

 

Does anyone think it was an easy decision to send His Son to the cross? He had to if He wanted us, as He will not go against His Word—“in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). He had to fulfill that Word, as the Word killed us because all had sinned.

When the Israelites sinned against God, serpents were sent to kill them (Numbers 21). They repented but were only healed when they looked at the serpent on the pole. The serpent represented the one who killed them (Numbers 21:6-8)—similar to the Word that separated mankind from God. Moses made a serpent and placed it on a rod: “It shall come to pass, that everyone who is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). Even so, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14). The Son of Man, Yeshua, the Word of God, was also placed on a rod so that those who look upon Him and surrender to Him will not die but have everlasting life with the Father.

 

Here are a few scriptures where God couldn’t do what He wanted because He puts His Word above His name:

 


God, in His mercy, wanted to help a group of people who had broken His laws. And because they broke His laws, they were going to receive the consequences of destruction from Him. However, God did not want to destroy them. He sought someone to stand in the gap for them—someone righteous who would use their authority (that He gave them) to petition Him to save those people, like Moses had (Exodus 32:9-10; 32:21-32).

 

God couldn’t just stop the events taking place because He would be violating His Word. Even though God personally wanted to stop the situation, He couldn’t. Therefore, against God’s will, He had to destroy them according to His Word.

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the reasons He has set it up that those in Christ are "labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9).

 

 

Number 2: No one can resist God’s influence to save someone!

That is NOT true. Just as God’s Word can have no effect in a person’s life because of unbelief (Matthew 13:58) and tradition (Mark 7:13), so it is with salvation. Adam initially had no sin, and all he knew was good—very good. Yet he rejected God’s influence and Word. It wasn’t God’s desire for him to do so.

 

Here is another example: Israel, who received the commandments and had God’s help, rejected God’s Word after witnessing the amazing plagues in Egypt. God had told them they would enter a land flowing with milk and honey, yet they didn’t because of their disobedience (Exodus 3:17). This wasn’t God’s desire for them.

 

One more example is where Stephen told the Pharisees, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). The phrase “always resist” is plural and ongoing, meaning they were “continually rejecting” the Holy Spirit’s influence in their lives.

 

 

Number 3: Once Saved, Always Saved!

“Once Saved, Always Saved!” Or another way of phrasing this: “Is it possible to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and later turn from Him?” We hear this a lot, but is it scriptural? Paul said, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). God loves the world, but they are not all saved (John 3:16).

 

There are ways that can separate believers from God for eternity. Some would argue that if this happens, they are not true believers. But in response, who are you to call someone not a true believer if they have been baptized and call upon the name of the Lord? (Romans 10:6-7). Can you say that you are a true believer? Yeshua speaks to the church leaders and the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. They are believers, and some of them will not overcome (Revelation 3:16). What are some of the ways a believer can lose salvation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are more than these examples in the scripture where believers, who are in the Kingdom of God, can be removed. Believers are betrothed to God, they are washed by the blood of Yeshua (Hebrews 13:12), and they are equipped with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). We have this assurance that He has equipped us and will help us, but we also have our part. To them, Yeshua says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things” (Revelation 21:7). In other words, those who don’t overcome will not. And those who don’t overcome look like this: “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:7-8). Therefore, the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” is not scriptural.  If you still believe it is then answer these questions:

 

1. Why does Jesus warn that a person’s name can be blotted out of the Book of Life? (Revelation 3:5).

2. Why does Scripture say only “he that overcometh” will inherit all things, while others face the second death? (Revelation 21:7–8)

3. If a person was “sanctified” by the blood of Christ, how can they still face worse punishment for trampling the Son of God? (Hebrews 10:29)

4. Why does Paul warn believers that those who practice certain sins “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”? (Galatians 5:19–21; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10)

5. Why does Jesus say He will “spue” lukewarm believers out of His mouth? (Revelation 3:15–16)

6. Why does Peter say it would have been better not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away from it? (2 Peter 2:20–22)

7. Why does Jesus describe a servant being appointed a portion “with the unbelievers” if that servant was already part of the household? (Luke 12:45–46; Matthew 24:44–51)

8.  Why does Jesus warn believers that if they deny Him before men, He will deny them before the Father? (Matthew 10:33)

9. Why does Jesus say that if believers refuse to forgive others, the Father will not forgive them? (Matthew 6:15)

10. Why does Jesus say “Depart from Me” to people who called Him Lord and did works in His name? (Matthew 7:22–23)

 

 

 

Number 4: God is Sovereign!

This statement for many includes the following: It is God’s will to kill and allow rape. He is Sovereign, and He can do what He wants. Ultimately, He makes people sin who He hasn’t chosen. The Devil is God’s “lap dog” and does His will too.

 

In response to the word Sovereign: The word “Sovereign” has various meanings, and most word-for-word translations don’t use this word in the Bible. The same Greek word in Luke 2:29 (“Sovereign” in NIV) is also used as “masters” (1 Timothy 6:1). The problem with this word is that everyone has their own definition of it, and it is used as a scapegoat when people do not understand a certain outcome. It is also used to justify holding scripture in “tension” – “You know God is sovereign.” The Sovereignty doctrine is nearly identical to the Islamic concept of Allah – guess who is behind it? Satan! Whatever our personal definition of the word “Sovereign,” let’s forget about it because it drives more confusion. It may sound honoring to God, but it is not. Stick to what the Word of God says about His character.

 

In response to God making someone sin: If one believes this, then they don’t know God. Sin grieves God (Genesis 6:6). God does not make people sin; they sin on their own. Yet, He tells them to rule over sin (Genesis 4:7). He wouldn’t have told them to do that if it were not possible. If we want to know God’s will, then all we need to do is look to Yeshua. Did Yeshua make anyone sin? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

 

In response to God allowing rape, etc.: God has given choice to mankind, and if they abuse their choices, God will hold them accountable either now on earth or in the future. But the choice is still theirs to make. If murder, rape, and molestation are considered God’s will, then God would also be the originator of sin. Yet, He judges those He made do it; therefore, He would be judging Himself – this does not make sense. This ideology goes against the character of God. Yet, the Islamic religion – e.g., Islam – promotes the rape of women because Allah allows it.

 

In response to the Devil doing what God wants: Yes, sometimes God has tricked the Devil, like in the case of Job, or used Satan to tempt Yeshua. But the Devil has his own will and does many things against God’s will. His motivation is to steal, to kill, and to destroy, whereas Yeshua came so that they might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). One cannot get more polar opposite in motivation. It is in the Devil’s character to destroy mankind, whom he hates. When someone is outside of God’s protection by the things they do (going against God’s law), then the Devil is there to cause damage (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). It is not God’s will, but it is His will that they repent, and that He protects them from evil (Psalm 91, Matthew 6:13).

 

God gave us His law to help us. He said, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). The choice is ours to make, so choose wisely.

 

 

Number 5: God’s will, will be done regardless; therefore, we don’t really need to pray.

Yeshua told us, “Our Heavenly Father … Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It is clear that His will is not always being done. The world doesn’t always look like Heaven, and that is why we need to pray. As mentioned earlier, if there had been people who interceded for others, God would not have destroyed them (Ezekiel 22:30-31). We are made in God’s image, and the words of our mouths are important. That’s why confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). Every idle word will be held accountable in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36) because life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). We are to watch and pray that we don’t fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41) because it is not God’s desire that we fall into temptation, but through prayer, it is in our power not to.

 

 

Number 6: No matter what a person does, God has already determined who He wants to save and who He doesn’t.

This is not correct. It is true that God has a plan for everyone who is born (Jeremiah 29:11), but not everyone follows His plan – like Esau. Esau was told to serve the younger (Jacob), but he refused to. In addition, God’s will is that all be saved, not just some people (Ezekiel 33:10-20; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 18:14). He takes no delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). But it is a choice a person makes to repent or not; God doesn’t repent for them (Acts 17:30-31). The Psalmist said to the LORD, “My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law” (Psalm 119:109). Many people choose to forget His law; it is called free will.

 

Yeshua said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Who opens the door?

 

 

Number 7: Does God establish ALL authorities like Hitler, Stalin, or this or that Leader?

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:1-2). “… know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will” (Daniel 4:25). “He removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:21). "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes" (Proverbs 21:1).

 

In Response to Daniel 2:21; 4:25: Daniel is not saying that “every” or “all” kings that are raised and lowered are by God. He is telling Nebuchadnezzar that God is the ultimate authority. He is higher than all kings and has the power to raise and lower kings. People have raised up kings, but God can judge them, as He did with Herod (Acts 12:21-23). To confirm, God does not raise up all kings. The LORD said, “They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them” (Hosea 8:4). Here are other verses where mankind made kings and not God (Judges 9:6, 18; 2 Samuel 2:8-9; 2 Kings 14:21; 23:30). One example is where the Dragon (Satan) himself gives authority to the Beast to reign in the world (Revelation 13:3-4). There may be others, which is why he tempted Yeshua by showing Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8-9).

 

In fact, it is clear that God was initially against the idea of making kings and that the nations had already made kings for themselves (1 Samuel 8). The first indication that God made anyone a king was Saul, but God didn’t want to: “For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). The Israelites insisted they wanted to be like the nations who had kings (1 Samuel 8:19-20): “We will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

 

Regarding Proverbs 21:1: The water here symbolizes the will of the king. God doesn’t change the water into something else but directs it. For example, God gave Solomon wisdom, but when Solomon grew old, he rebelled against God: “So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded” (1 Kings 11:9). Yet Solomon, based on his own will, chose not to listen to God. God didn’t direct Solomon to rebel against Him; it was Solomon’s own choice, and God gave Solomon the consequences for rejecting Him.

 

Regarding Romans 13:1: Just as Satan tempted Yeshua with scripture, Satan also tempts Christians with this scripture to sin. They say, “We are required to be subjected to ALL governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). Therefore, we need to follow all they say about ….” The conclusion of this is a lie from Satan. Before we reflect on this verse, we should ask: Why did God commend the following for going against their leader’s orders? The Hebrew midwives, who were asked by Pharaoh to kill the Israelite male infants, and they did not obey (Exodus 1:16, 20); Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobeyed the king’s command to bow to an idol and responded to the king, “We will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:18); and the disciples refused to obey the council and the high priest (Acts 4:19) but continued to preach in Yeshua’s name. Therefore, we are not to follow man when the order contradicts the Word of God. Peter and the other apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

 

The Greek word for “governing” authorities literally means “higher/better” authorities, not “governing” authorities. Those who are in a higher position. This Greek word “authorities” appears 103 times in the New Testament. In all 103 instances, it is never in reference to a leader or ruler, but in reference to the position of authority. Meaning, having an authority structure is from God. Without an authority structure, there is chaos or anarchy. An authority structure is good and from God, but not every ruler in a position of authority is from God, nor do they submit themselves to what God wants them to do. In verse 3, Paul talks about the ruler in that authority structure. Please notice the characteristics of the leader Paul is referring to: “He is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil” (Romans 13:4). Notice this leader isn’t one who executes wrath upon those who do good! Please understand this: if they do, then they are not of God, so don’t use Romans 13 for this leader!

 

So no, God did not establish Hitler, Stalin, etc. They were chosen by people or Satan because they brought wrath on those who did good.

 

 

Number 8: All are sinners, and therefore they can never make the right choices!

Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin (Romans 5:12-14). Therefore, it is impossible to rule over sin, for we were born into sin, especially without Christ. “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” (Ephesians 2:1-5).

 

It is true that all are sinners and have fallen, but it is also true that mankind has the ability to rule over sin (Genesis 4:7). The concept that because a person is a sinner, it is therefore impossible for them to do anything good or holy, is NOT correct. Many have done good and have chosen good, including Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. Therefore, the statement that people are “unable” or “never” make the right choices because we are in a sinful environment is not true. Just as Adam was in the perfect Garden of Eden, where there was no sin, and all he knew was goodness—based on that same logic, it would not have been possible for him to sin. Of course, that is not true either, as free will is the ability to choose life or death, good or evil, regardless of the environment one is in. Remember, Adam ate knowing he was disobeying God. It wasn’t a surprise or by accident (Genesis 3:5; 1 Timothy 2:14). Therefore, if it was possible for him to do evil when only goodness dwelt in him, it is also possible to do good when sin dwells in him too.

 

Cain sinned, and yet God told him to rule over it, which means it is possible to rule over sin (Genesis 4:6-7). God wouldn’t have said it was possible to rule over sin if it weren’t. Later, God tells the Israelites, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). God saw that mankind was weak, so He sent His Son. Today, it is much easier for Christians, who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, to do what is good and walk in freedom because of what Yeshua has done (Ezekiel 11:19-21; Ephesians 1:13). Yet Christians also sin today, but thanks be to God we have a sin cleaner—the blood of Yeshua (1 John 1:7-9) and the conviction to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Romans 8:1). We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:16).

 

 

Number 9: God has destined some to Hell when they are born!

Some refer to passages like God hardening Pharaoh’s heart: “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth” (Romans 9:17-18). Or they mention God hating Esau: “For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:11-13).

 

In Response: This interpretation is not correct. Firstly, understand that the lake of fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41); it wasn’t designed for mankind. Mankind who rejects God’s Word will go there (Revelation 20:15). Secondly, this question about Romans 9 suggests that God raised Pharaoh from birth to punish and harden him, or that God chose to hate Esau before he was born. But neither of these are correct interpretations. The early church would have understood these passages because they were familiar with the Old Testament scriptures.

 

Before we explain these from the Old Testament, consider this: If God chose someone before they were born to send them to hell, what choice would that person really have? And when God judges them one day based on their works, how could He send them to hell if He made them do it (Revelation 20:11-15)? Is that the God we know from scripture? Absolutely not! It is His will that all be saved, not some:

 

If people don’t hear the good news, who is at fault? God, or the people whom God has commissioned to share the good news? Just like if someone is bitten by a poisonous snake and we are holding the antidote but don’t give it, is the company that makes the antidote to blame, or the person holding it?

 

Now, regarding God “raising up” Pharaoh from birth to destroy him: The Greek word “raised” in the Old Testament (through the Septuagint) and the New Testament NEVER refers to being raised from birth. Approximately 10% of the time, the Greek word refers to being raised to power or authority, given a position of authority. About 90% of the time, it refers to being raised from a position of rest or death or being raised up from collapsing (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:14; Job 5:11; Daniel 12:2). God could have killed Pharaoh for what he did to God’s people. Pharaoh had killed children and abused the men and women of Israel (Exodus 1:15-22; 2:23-24). Instead of killing Pharaoh, God’s judgment was to raise him up every time he buckled under the weight of the plagues. Then, God hardened him. Hardening means making hard what already exists, not changing Pharaoh’s will. It was about hardening what was already in Pharaoh’s heart, so that it didn’t break under pressure, and for Pharaoh to continue fighting against God. This allowed God to show all ten plagues, not just one. For example, hardening could look like this: "You are Pharaoh, you are a tough guy, you are the ruler of Egypt, why listen to these Israelites?" That’s why this phrase “God used” is used just before the 7th plague (Exodus 9:16), not before Pharaoh was born, nor before he came to power! God didn’t want Pharaoh to fold so easily, so God raised him up by hardening him just before and during the plagues (Exodus 4:21; 9:12, 16). God didn’t need to harden Pharaoh after each plague, as Pharaoh hardened himself (Exodus 8:15; 9:34; 1 Samuel 6:6). Hardening is stubbornness motivated by self-righteousness.

 

Now, regarding Esau being hated by God before he was born: This is another untrue interpretation and shows a misunderstanding of Old Testament scripture. It is true that God chose the assignments of Esau and Jacob before they were born. The assignment was for Esau to serve Jacob. But when Esau grew older, not only did he refuse to serve Jacob as God commanded, but he actually attacked Jacob and his descendants for many years! The statement “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” was made by God over 1,000 years after Esau was born, and it referred to their descendants (Malachi 1:1-4). Paul is comparing these Israelites, who are not surrendering to the Messiah (Romans 10:3-4), to Esau’s rebellion of rejecting God’s Messiah, Yeshua.

 

 

Number 10: Here are the verses that demonstrate that God knew beforehand what He would do!

Firstly, before we discuss these verses, it is true that God gives instructions beforehand, even before people are born. However, sometimes people don’t follow them, as in the example of Esau. There are many other instances, such as the Israelites leaving Egypt and going to a land flowing with milk and honey, yet they didn’t enter that land because of their disobedience. The outcome is a result of their obedience.

 

Psalm 139:16: “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

 

Job 14:5: “Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.”

 

Romans 11:2: “God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying…”

 

Ephesians 1:11: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.”

 

2 Timothy 1:9: “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”

 

Revelation 13:8: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

 

 

Number 11: Only those whom God has predestined will be saved.

This is incorrect theology — the belief that God has chosen some to go to Hell before they are born, predestined to damnation, and similarly, that God has predestined some to be saved. This view is apparently based on the following key verses:

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

 

“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:4-6).

 

In Response to Romans 8:28-30 & Ephesians 1:4-6:

God obviously knew that people would come to Him, but this does not mean that He predestined all individuals. Rather, He planned to redeem those who would choose to follow Him and enabled them to be conformed to the image of His Son. If a person buys a Ford car, it could be said that the Ford company predestined that people would buy it, as they would not make it otherwise. Similarly, it is the responsibility of the individual to respond to the call of God.

 

In Romans 8:28-30, it specifically refers to those "that love God" (verse 28), which is a choice they make. God does not force them to love Him. Those who love God will accept His invitation and follow Him. This is what Romans 8:29-30 is referring to. It is not in reference to all of mankind.

 

To understand God’s plan for all of mankind, we need to look at Matthew 22:1-14, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Notice that God had predestined all those He invited to come to Him (first the Israelites, then the rest). Many reject His invitation, and only a few accept it. It was not His will for them to reject it; they still received an invitation, and the reason behind it was “I have prepared my dinner.” He was surprised that they rejected His invitation and became angry. Why would God become angry if He knew they would say no, or if He made them say no? Only those who accept the invitation and come are called the "chosen." They are not called "chosen" before they accept it.

 

Yeshua said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37). Notice that He says, “how often would I have gathered... and ye would not.” It was not God who would not, but the people who refused.

 

What about “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48)?

 

In Response to Acts 13:48:

The context is that the Jews were jealous and spoke against Paul’s message (verse 45). Paul and Barnabas responded to the Jews who rejected the message: “Seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (verse 46). “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (verse 47).

 

Now, in verse 48, it is referring to as many of the Gentiles who Paul and Barnabas appointed, directed, or ordained to eternal life — meaning they gave them the message of eternal life. It was Paul and Barnabas who directed them to eternal life, with the Holy Spirit working with them. The Gentiles, who were directed to the message of eternal life by Paul, then accepted it and believed.

 

 

Number 12: Does God know who will be saved and who will not?

Yes, it is possible, but at the same time, it is also possible that God Himself has chosen not to know. This is within His authority to do, and we should not base our decisions on this. Neither should we say who is going to Heaven or who is not (Romans 10:6-7). Remember, God chose Saul as Israel’s king, but He was displeased with Saul, whom He had made king. Didn’t God know that Saul would rebel, or did God choose not to know? (1 Samuel 15:11).

 

Another example is Moses, who was promised that he would enter the land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:17). Yet he didn’t enter because of his actions. God could have chosen not to know Moses’ future, or He could have shared His intent with Moses, but it was conditional based on how Moses responded. God’s intent is that all be saved.

 

What if God chose not to know certain things so that on Judgment Day, no one can say, "Because You knew, therefore You didn’t send laborers across my path"? To which God could respond, “I chose not to know, and what is that to you? You know I am not a respecter of persons, and My will is for all to be saved, so why...?” We should not base our decisions on what we think God knows but on what God has commanded us to do.

 

The key message we need to remember is that God’s desire is that no one perishes, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 18:14; Acts 17:30-31). Obviously, His desire/will is not being met because of the free will He has given mankind (just like Moses, Saul, Esau, etc.). God has given free will, and it is the responsibility of individuals to respond to the invitation from God (accepting Yeshua as Lord and Savior). Those who accept His invitation are the chosen; thus, they are justified and glorified.

 

Some get confused over the various stages of salvation. Some ignore free will, while others ignore God’s calling. Paul covers the stages of salvation (Romans 1:16): “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (invitation), for it is the power of God (God’s plan) unto salvation (Chosen) to everyone who believes (We respond).”

 

Here are the stages of salvation — not just one stage, but all are required for salvation:

  1. God’s Plan/Predestination/His Desire: God created the plan, not us. He made Yeshua available to all (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

 

  1. God Calls/Draws/Convicts/Invites: The Holy Spirit draws people to Yeshua by convicting them of sin (John 16:9; Matthew 22:3-4; 9-10; Isaiah 65:1-2). We wouldn’t come to Him unless we receive an invitation through others (Romans 10:14-15). We are laborers together with God — a choice (1 Corinthians 3:9; Matthew 28:18-20).

 

  1. We Respond/Free Will: People have an opportunity to accept Yeshua or reject Him. God doesn’t make them call upon Him (Acts 17:30; John 6:28-29; Romans 9:32-33; 10:9-10, 13, 17; Matthew 11:28; 23:37; 1 Peter 1; Matthew 22:5-6; Ephesians 1:12; 1 Timothy 4:10). If they accept, they are chosen by God (Matthew 22:10, 14). If they reject, they are rejected by God (John 3:36; Matthew 22:8; Isaiah 65:12).

 

  1. (Matthew 22:14): The chosen are justified and glorified (Romans 8:30). They are sealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Acts 2:38) to do good works as they were predestined to do (Ephesians 2:8-10), ultimately being conformed into the image of His Son, Yeshua (Romans 8:29). Therefore, the chosen are a result of God’s predestined plan (Ephesians 1:5).