I'm not so sure about some of that reasoning. If we follow The Father and His Son the best we can, that's still not going to change prophecy of what God shows for the latter days. Why would He take time to forewarn us what will happen in the latter days? So we would know, and prepare for it, and be strong in the Faith, ready to make a stand for Him.
So I don't buy all the stuff that His people who stay on Him and His Word are anywhere near in the same boat as the wicked and haughty. Didn't Christ ask that when He comes, will He find faith on the earth? Yes, He will, with those who stay on Him and in His Word as written. There will be a group represented by the five wise virgins ready and waiting on Him like He showed.
Further, our Heavenly Father already showed He is in control, even referring to Satan as His 'rod' for punishing the rebellious (Isaiah 10). Are all Christians rebellious against God today? Of course not, even though we all fall short. Are all Christians responsible for the mess in our nation today? Of course not.
What does a vote matter if we can't have a say in the process of who runs for election? That's been a problem in U.S. politics for quite a while now. But if we had nothing but righteous leaders in governments today, how would that conflict with God's prophecies for the end of this world? So let's not go overboard and start blaming ourselves for what Satan's host have been busy doing, and what they plan to do in our near future.
The state of this world today didn't just happen by chance either. God shows some the history of how we got to where we are, and in many cases that helps to understand better where we're headed. I know I've been led to others who were also seeing it (teenagers too, surpisingly), but didn't yet understand how it involves God's Plan in His Word. It allowed me to give a greater witness of Christ Jesus to them. At the same time, it eased many of their fears once they understood it as prophecy from God's Holy Writ. And that's the main reason I go into such historical detail. It's not to cause fear, but to show how God is in control, so as to not have fear.
God said it's His intent to assemble the nations in order to pour out His cup of wrath upon them (Zeph.3). That's what the world beast system is leading up to. And when He does that, that means Victory for those in Christ Jesus. I look forward to that day.
I se what you're saying, yet the belittle the foreknowledge of God. We have the whole OT which is an example of man making poor choices, God's dealing with them, and God even prophecying this. It also states that if we don't fail at it like they did, we will not have the results that they did. But they did fail at it, and God foreknew this, and He, in the "fulness of time", does what He wants. And that is in full accordance with foreknowledge and free will, and God doing his thing.
So to hold that we have no effect is not correct. But God knew that we'd fail miserably at it, and uses that, knowing when the cup of sins is full, and He puts an end to it all.
We do the same thing with our kids, just on a much smaller scale. We can often see ahead of time something that is going to happen due to their actions, and we have a choice of either nipping it in the bud, or letting it run full course. Either way, we use it to train the child. From what I've read in the scriptures, God seeks to use life to train us also, so that we are tested and tried, and then come forth as gold.
So I cannot accept the stance that we do not have any say in world events. And I also say that God foreknew what we would do, and works it all for His glory, in HIs time.
He gets the glory. If there is any shame, I stand with Daniel on it: "to us belongs shame of face, O Lord."
As far as I know, he is listed by God as one of the most godly that ever lived, so I don't think that he was wrong on that one, as it also fits scripture, as I see it.
One more example of this fact:
the Pharisees killed Christ. They definitely changed world events, and no less spiritual events! But God foreknew this, and even prophsied it a number of times, and Christ Himself stated that they would do that. And then told his disciples to put up their swords and let it occur. So the disciples had a hand in it also, and Christ to, by standing by. But this was the will of the Lord, and the times were then for it to happen, so God made sure that it happened. And those involved definitely played an affective role, no matter which side they were on. Change their actions, and you've changed history. And negated prophecy. Christ himself stated that he could ask, and God would grant the angels, but he wouldn't do that and change what God had prophesied. So we see yet again that God foreknew that it would come to pass as He had said that it would. And man had the free choice throughout it all. Just as Pharoah.
If these things be not true, God would have never said "choose you this day whom you serve", as that would have been impossible. And scripture is full of this fact of our ability to choose. That's why God also said, "Seek, ask, knock", and "those who seek me with their whole heart will find me". We must do, and God reciprocates. "He who draws back from me, I will draw back and my soul will find no pleasure in him, says the Lord." God responds to our choices. And God knew before the foundations of the world were even laid, who would respond acceptably to His promptings. Those he foreknew, he predestined, sanctified, called, sealed -- before they were even born. And the others, they were "reserved unto the day of judgment".
It all only works if we accept it all. If we negate any one aspect of it, we become bogged down with problems, either the one way or the other.
But then again, we disagree on this one, it seems.