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Could God have prevented this?
Yes, he could have prevented this at any time.
Why didn't he?
Because he knows of the good that will come from these evil actions by these men.

My sister told me once that in these end days there will be some Christians that will be martyred, and that I might be one of them- that I just don't know. I proceded to tell her that if she was right, I could never trust God (have faith in His word) that He would protect me from lethal persecution, for I would always wonder (doubt) if perhaps this was His plan for my way of death. I proceded to tell her that since I don't doubt God, I cannot accept her doctrine. Her doctrine is one that placed doubt into our faith for God's protection upon us. And since you cannot please God without faith, her doctrine would cause us to be displeasing toward God.

The same with your doctrine. We would always be wondering when ever we get into an airliner that we find is being hijacked, "Perhaps we will die and yet God has ordained this to get some good out of it." Immediately, we doubt God will protect us for we think perhaps it is now at this time that he chooses not to. But thank God, God never changes. He will protect me tomorrow on a plane just as he did when I spun out on the freeway at 70 MPH, or slid in the rain in the dark crowded HWY 101 one night many years ago. God will protect me because he told me so, and I intend to trust him so that I may please him. I refuse to accept any doctrine that would contradict my faith in his provision of protection.

Does God every promise that harm or troubles will never come your way? Let's look at what the scriptures say.

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

2 Corinthians 6:1-10
1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Matthew 24:9

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

And finally, words of Wisdom from Solomon.

Ecclesiates 9:12

Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

I can think of no better way to refer to those who perished on September 11th than "evil times that fall unexpectedly".

God does not promise us physical protection, but he does provide comfort and love here on earth and eternal life to those that believe.

My sister told me once that in these end days there will be some Christians that will be martyred, and that I might be one of them- that I just don't know. I proceded to tell her that if she was right, I could never trust God (have faith in His word) that He would protect me from lethal persecution, for I would always wonder (doubt) if perhaps this was His plan for my way of death. I proceded to tell her that since I don't doubt God, I cannot accept her doctrine. Her doctrine is one that placed doubt into our faith for God's protection upon us. And since you cannot please God without faith, her doctrine would cause us to be displeasing toward God.

Ask Steven,or Peter or Paul..

If your faith depends on being saved from prosecution you need to consider if it is saving faith.

Revelation - 12:11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.