For an esoteric & non-conventional religious take on it, I would say this:
There is something referred to in Christian scriptures as the "Book of God's Remembrance," which corresponds to the Akashic Records found on subtle, or Inner, spiritual worlds. This is not something that your average psychic can access, and even folks who catch a glipse every now & then are usually just seeing a distored reflection in the astral plane (glamorous, illusory world of emotions & desires).
Nevertheless, it is possible for the pure of heart (who have also lived an outer life of utmost & strictest purity) to access these records. Souls such as Nostradamus (who had direct guidance and instruction from a spiritual Teacher, in writing his Quatrains), Edgar Cayce, Blavatsky, and others, have been able to read these Records and relay something of their experiences ... and it is precisely this which happened 2000 years ago when St. Paul inspired John to write Revelation.
What matters is that Christ (Jesus), St. Paul, the Buddha, and quite a number of other Teachers have been able to access the Akashic Records (or, portions of `God's Library'), and the evidence is the predictions that have come true - often with the most amazing detail, even if the original statements (prophecies) have been grossly distorted & twisted through the centuries.
In the stories of the Buddha (Shakyamuni), there are many, many accounts where he meets an aspirant, foretells the future of that individual, and then, centuries later, precisely what was foretold comes to pass. The example that has stuck with me is the Buddha's meeting with a young child, who would reincarnate approx. 2000 years later as the great Tsongkhapa of Tibet. The Buddha foretold this, in detail - and was quite active in Tsongkhapa's life, just as Christ told his disciples that he would be with them, Lo, unto the end of the Era (of 2100 years). And so it is!
Astrology, esoterically considered, allows one to predict all sorts of major events and developments - both in the life of an individual, and in the life of the planet(s), hence for Humanity - but this is only a general sort of means of prophecy. As a rule, the more advanced the person, group, or planet being considered, the less certain & precise will be the prediction, precisely because of what the Christian calls "free will." A relatively unevolved individual will usually be the product of his/her environment, with relatively minimal direct Soul influence and direction, while the spiritual aspirant might accomplish much, much more in a given lifetime than would otherwise be the case - and so a conservative prediction of his progress would be in error. Or of course, there are temporary failures, and then a prediction would seem to overestimate one's progress - though in truth it was accurate.
Surely, one would say, the very "Book of God" will contain within it all measure & all manners of things, people, events, etc. - with perfect exactitude and no room for error. But, an esotericist will respond, this is only true from within the Higher Worlds, where time is naught, and where all things, all people, and all events are known for their true Purpose, and in their state of fullest Perfection! The world of outer forms, cycles and struggles, and everyone in that world - is subject to various karmas ... such that what God knows is simply the Greatest which we might hope to accomplish, while He also knows the least (whatever is our present state). Whatever lies in between is determined by many, many factors, and one of these is individual free will, while another (and considerable) factor - is the choice of Humanity, en masse. And thus the work of world disciples goes forth, hoping to sway the hearts & minds of Humanity, and to help us in our journey from Ignorance to Wisdom, and from darkness to Light!
By the way, in Greek, the word which corresponds to the future possibility or potential within us all, the "Christ within" as some might call it (or the Buddha within, the Soul, or Higher Self) ... is Augeoides. It means, form or shape - of bright light, or radiance. Compare, Sanskrit Deva - "shining one." And just as a tidbit, some Christian church services conclude thus: "[size=-1]May the Lord Bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you and give you Peace." Wow. This Lord guy sounds like a really neat individual, indeed!
andrew
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