Figurative expression in Holy Writ (Apocalypse 21) for predestination, which signifies God's foreknowledge of the elect. It is plain that God by virtue of His omniscience must infallibly know the number of the elect and the lost, which, however, does not imply that the fate of either the elect or the damned is sealed by God without prevision of each individual's merit. Damnation is in no way forewilled, but merely foreknown by God. See predestination.