Predestination: A Mystery of the Ages Unveiled

By P. L. Ditshego

Predestination: A Mystery of the Ages Unveiled is an expository discourse unveiling the mystery of mans pre existence in eternity past and Gods plan about him. It explores the revelation of how man was first conceived in the creative loins of the Creator God in eternity past as a spirit and soul personality and was later transferred into human mortal bodies in the dispensation of time to fulfil Gods plan. It further explores in a deep and profound manner challenges man faced and experienced while in his seed form or spirit and soul form and how those challenges had dire consequences as currently manifested in the human behaviour in the current dispensation. Lastly, it thoroughly explores Gods plan of the ages for mankind to be conformed to the image of Christ. A must read for sons and daughters of destiny indeed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514493984

P. L. Ditshego

Raised for such a time as this to be a reservoir of spiritual wisdom and revelation knowledge, Rev. P. L. Ditshego is anointed to quench the spiritual thirst of God’s people internationally. He is particularly hailed as one of the Bible expositors of our time. A prolific author who has written dynamic, profound, and insightful books such as Christ in Me: The Hope of Glory, With Christ in the School of Deliverance, Understanding Bible Prophecy and the End Times, Foundations of Faith, Dynamics of Spiritual Leadership, etc., Rev P. L. Ditshego is highly sought after as a revivalist, conference speaker, leadership and mentorship coach (www.plditshego.org). An astute strategist by skill, Rev. P. L. Ditshego assists spiritual leaders on how to do strategic planning for their church organisations. Together with his wife, Ephania Motlatso Ditshego, they pastor World Back to God Ministries, an apostolic hub strategically headquartered in Soshanguve (Northwest of Pretoria) to raise, equip, and usher ministers into their God-given ministries.

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Copyright © 2016 by P. L. Ditshego.

The book is an insightful and a thought-provoking biblical exposition of the mysterious subject of Predestination speaking into the purposes of God to enlighten God’s people.

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Website: www.plditshego.org

Cover design by: K.E. Nkuna

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations used in this book are taken from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

We would love to hear from you. Kindly direct your comments or inquiries to Rev. P.L. Ditshego, Postnet box # 002, Private Bag X10, Karen Park Office, 0118 or by ordering on-line through our website.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 05/18/2016

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

738953

CONTENTS

Acknowledgment

Dedication

Endorsement

Foreword

1 Defining and Explaining the Concept of Predestination

2 Predestination in Perspective

3 What Influenced Man’s Choice for or against the Truth?

4 The Consequences of Man’s Choice for or against the Truth

5 The Purpose of Predestination

Epilogue

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Success can never be enjoyed alone. For this reason, I feel indebted to great minds who, over the years have contributed to my understanding of fundamental truths of the gospel that I have been able to build on to impact other generations.

Members of World Back to God Ministries, associate partners, and family members who are committed to the success of the Lord’s mandate to this ministry – to bring the world back to God - are also acknowledged for their intercessory, moral and financial support.

How can I forget Dr T.T. Mudau, for helping me to proofread the manuscript, ensuring that it is doctrinally sound as was intended? Thanks Doc for having my best interest at heart.

Lastly, my one and only wife (Motlatso Ephania Ditshego) and my kids (Precious, Provia, Prudence, and Promise) are acknowledged and appreciated for making the burden to fulfil my ministerial mandate easy. When the going gets tough, then I become tough and get going by just knowing you are always there for me. Thank you guys.

DEDICATION

To: sons and daughters of destiny. May this material add value to your journey of self-discovery!

ENDORSEMENT

This book is full of wisdom that baffles the human mind. Simple minds that lack wisdom and discerning cannot appreciate the work of this magnitude. This book is not for spiritual toddlers and infants, but for giants seeking to unravel the deepest mysteries of the ages. Even after reading this work, you will realise that God is much bigger than the universe combined seven times. No wonder the scientists are saying that it is expanding. This is true because it has to accommodate lazy people who will fill it whilst the elders and the bride are here on earth walking and dining with Him in close proximity – Dr Thilivhali Mudau (Director of Scorpion Publishers).

"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" (Romans 8:29)

FOREWORD

Predestination - a mystery of the ages unveiled! - explores God as a purposeful God Who foreknew us from the ceaseless ages of eternity past and purposely destined us to be conformed to the image of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The controversy of the subject, which lies in the difficulty of reconciling it with man’s free will is scripturally clarified. In this timely book, a reader is sure to find:

• The eternal nature of God within which lies the complexity of the phenomenon of predestination;

• The mystery of man’s pre-existence in eternity past;

• The choice man had to make for or against the truth before he manifested in a mortal body;

• The connection between Fallen Lucifer and the phenomenon of man’s predestination and;

• The purpose of predestined souls.

Undoubtedly, this book was written for such a time as this to be the blueprint that leads to the footprints of God’s ways. It will surely be appreciated by those who are willing to sit at the feet of the Master Teacher to learn of His deep mysteries.

- The Author

PART I

Defining and Explaining the Concept of Predestination

UNDERSTANDING PREDESTINATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ETERNITY

The word predestination is a syllable of two words: Pre which means before and; destination which means fate. To predestine someone is to decide or appoint one’s fate beforehand. Implied in the meaning of pre-destination is the principle of eternity. Predestination cannot be clearly understood apart from the principle of eternity. Eternity pertains to God’s unchanging, eternal nature in which past, present and future are all combined. The following verses are examples which verify that God is indeed an eternal Being:

Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).

Before mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalm 90:2).

And swear by him that liveth forever and ever who created heaven, and the things that there in are and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer (Revelation 10:6).

We learn about many of God’s divine attributes by studying His names because names of God are purposely given in the scripture to reveal His nature, character and authority. A thorough study of His names reveals the fact that they are classified into primary names and compound names. And, one of the primary names which describe God’s eternal nature is the name Jehovah.

When studying about the name Jehovah, one realises that it is formed from the English name, LORD which refers to the Hebrew tetragram name JHVH. Translators have added vowels to spell Jehovah, which means Self- Existent One or One who is Self-Reliant; Who is in Himself, by Himself and through Himself. He is the Self-Reliant One Who does not need anything to depend on.

Moses the prophet of old got a clear revelation of the meaning of Jehovah God.

And Moses said unto God, Behold when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say unto me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations (Exodus 3:13-15)

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by the name JE-HO-VA was I not known to them (Exodus 6:2, 3)

When God called Moses to become a Deliverer of Israel from the Egyptian bond slavery, Moses wanted to know how he would convince the sceptical Hebrews that he surely did meet Him. In response to his query, the LORD said to him: I AM THAT I AM.

From the context of the statement, what God meant to Moses was simply, I AM the same all-knowing God Who knew the sufferings of My people and revealed them to you when you were separated from them, having no means of communication and connection with them while you were tending Jethro’s flock at the back side of the desert. God then was saying to Moses that, that same God who reveals things and Himself to men has made Himself known to him!

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The name Jehovah then basically

refers to God Who reveals Himself!

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This is very enlightening in a sense that it acquaints us with the fact that God is not known by information or education, but by revelation and it is His nature to reveal Himself to His people.*¹ Indeed, if God was known by education, then all educated people would be Christian believers today. But, because He is not a respector of men, He reveals Himself to whoever seeks Him; for He … hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us (Acts 17:26, 27).

Historically