[OrangeHoof]

So if God determined before the beginning of the world which individuals are to be saved, does that mean that a lot of people are doomed and whether they’re good people or evil bastards they’re still not gonna be raptured? Sounds like a pretty crappy system to me.

The mystery can only be understood with the realization that God invented time and exists outside the boundaries of time. It is how free will and predestination can co-exist for if there is no free will, there could be no just punishment for unbelief. And if there was no predestination, no one could be considered God's chosen.

God knows the results before they happen because he exists beyond time.

That "crappy system" as you call it is how man can choose salvation or choose to reject it and yet God can already direct the outcome.

[UCANSEE2]

It is how free will and predestination can co-exist for if there is no free will, there could be no just punishment for unbelief. And if there was no predestination, no one could be considered God's chosen.

Predestination is simply the 'path' that God puts us on during our material existence. I.E. he decides 'what' happens to us.

Free-will is how we 'react' to what happens.

[Duck Fan]

I assume that you have read Boethius.

[Graybeard58]

Your explanation in number 34 is as straight forward an explanation as I’ve seen yet but then again, I didn’t need convincing.