Kenny wrote:I believe it was Paul who said every knee shall bow, every tongue confess My question is, what will cause this? Will freewill be taken away at this time? Will absolute proof be provided dismissing the need for faith? If so, why not do it now before it's too late?
Ken
Interesting question.
Let me see if I can provide an interesting response.
I'd ask you, can anyone look at the Sun without it burning their retinas? No.
Or, how about standing on the Sun's surface...? We could try, but would obviously melt even before we got there.
Does this fact inhibit our free will? Not really, but
we are limited by our natures.
At the end of the day, we are a creature (created being).
We have not always existed like God but were made by Him.
That is, after all, what Theism is about and is being assumed in your question.
So you could try to resist Christ as legitimate Lord of all if you like, but at the end of the day Jesus Christ is Lord whether you like it or not.
He created all, is Creator of all -- nothing that came into existence, has existence except through Him.
THAT, is part of the Christian message in John 1.
So having found out Christ is rightful Lord of all, and standing in His direct presence, is there any point in resisting further?
You can if you like in the same way you might make a stand on the Sun. But, you'll just melt away anyway.
For you are only a creature, and your existence whether you like it or not is dependent upon God's existence.
There is a reason why I see a place away from God must necessarily exist.
It exists for those who reject God as their Lord and so cannot dwell in His full direct presence (God's kingdom).
Yes, such may be a punishment, but it is also necessary place if God wishes to honour our decision to denounce Christ as Lord without just snuffing us out.
Only those in Christ will get to live on the "Sun's surface" (in God's direct presence) being eternally shielded by Christ.