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Author
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Topic: What Is Preterism
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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
That was a pretty decent, straightforward explaination, easy to get one's arms around. It gives the basic definition pretty well. Pre 'T' is ultimately strange. And we know that Paul began to realize that the Lord was not going to return in his lifetime. Now I find myself trying to remember something he said (it was how he said it) that illuminates to us this fact.
Besides, there is no record of His return! If HE was able to give us the Bible, He certainly is able to leave a record of HIS return.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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Caretaker
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Member # 36
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posted
Preterism
Preterists are committed to the view that the majority of the prophecies of the book of Daniel have already been fulfilled and therefore have no significance for the present day and hence the name Preterism. The origins of the Preterist view of prophetic interpretation was from the Spanish Jesuit Luis De Alcazar (1554-1613) and the part he played in the Counter Reformation. The Papal Roman Catholic Church commissioned De Alcazar and another Spanish Jesuit Priest to develop false interpretations of prophecy to take the heat off the Pope who was feeling some discomfort from the Protestant Reformers talk that the Papacy was the Antichrist. The whole idea of the Preterism view was that if the Antichrist had been fulfilled in the past then it could not be the Papacy. Preterism claims that the apocalyptic prophecies, especially those dealing with the Antichrist, were fulfilled before the Papacy ever ruled Rome. Since they were already fulfilled, the prophecies could not apply to the Papacy. The Preterist view ignores the fact that within the Old Testament are the foundation of prophetic interpretation and this foundation produces a broader view revealing the fatal flaws of the false Preterist interpretation.
Luis De Alcazar (1554-1613) wrote a commentary called Investigation of the Hidden Sense of the Apocalypse, which ran to some 900 pages. In it he proposed that it all of Revelation applied to the era of pagan Rome and the first six centuries of Christianity. According to Alcazar (or Alcasar):
* Revelation chapters 1-11 describes the rejection of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.
* Revelation chapters 12 - 19 were the overthrow of Roman paganism and the conversion of the empire to the Church.
* Revelation 20 describe the final persecutions by Antichrist, who is identified as Cæsar Nero (54-68 A.D.), and judgment.
* Revelation 21 -22 describe the triumph of the New Jerusalem, the Roman Catholic Church.
Among other things, I believe Preterists are wrong for the following reasons:
“At hand,” “quickly,” “near,” “a little while”:
These words reflect God’s eternal perspective, not man’s. In the context of the timing of the return of our Lord, Peter said, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Thus, to God, time is relative. To Him, a one thousand year period is like one short day. Peter said we should “not forget this one thing.” As we shall see, “this one thing” is the key to Preterism's failure. Two verses later Peter continued, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Preterists contend for literalism. Honestly, did this literally happen in 70 A.D.?
A “little while” that lasted over 500 years:
The book of Haggai was written around 500 B.C., “in the second year of King Darius,” (Haggai 1:1). Notice carefully: “For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once more [it is a little while] I will shake heaven and the earth, the sea, and dry land: and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:6-7). The phrase, the Desire of All Nations, refers to Jesus Christ. Not only was Christ's coming to be “in a little while,” but so was the shaking of the heavens and the earth. First of all, Christ didn't come until 500 years after this prophecy was given; and secondly, the New Testament book of Hebrews quotes Haggai 2:6 as still future! (Hebrews 10:27; 12:26-27). Thus Haggai 2:6-7 is biblical proof that “a little while” does not literally only a few days or years. Even if one were to take this literally, how long is a “little while”? Ten minutes? Two days? Five years? Again, the only way “a little while” makes sense is to interpret the phrase from God’s perspective, not man’s.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
Preterism
What is Preterism?
The term preterist is Latin for “past.” Thus, preterists believe that Bible prophecy was fulfilled in the past. Therefore, they view the major prophetic passages of Scripture, such as the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation, as already fulfilled. Preterism is the exact opposite of Futurism, which views these major biblical prophecies as being fulfilled in the future.
Extreme preterists, who prefer to call themselves “consistent preterists,” hold that all Bible prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem. They view this event as the Second Coming of Christ and reject any belief in a future return of Christ. Thus, they deny a future bodily resurrection of believers and a literal return of Christ to earth. Extreme preterists believe we are already in the “New Heavens!” Their view is not only ludicrous, but it is also heretical and places them outside the parameters of biblical orthodoxy.
Moderate preterists, like R.C. Sproul, claim they still believe in a future Second Coming, but still insist on interpreting the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation as basically already fulfilled in the past. As a result, they reject such basic concepts as: Rapture of the Church; Literal Seven Year Tribulation Period; Literal Antichrist; Conversion of Israel; Battle of Armageddon; 1000-year Millennium; Future Binding of Satan.
In contrast to the basic beliefs of premillennialism, moderate preterists believe that God is finished with biblical Israel. They see no prophetic future for national Israel. The fact that the State of Israel exists today is blamed on an “accident of history” perpetrated by “ignorant premillennialists” who supported the Balfour Declaration that eventually led to the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948. While most preterists would insist they are not anti-Semitic, their theology certainly leans in that direction. One of the symbols of the current preterist movement is an artist’s rendering of the smoldering ashes of Jerusalem in AD 70, as though they are rejoicing in the destruction of the Holy City.
Theologian Tom Ice writes: “Because of the current spread of preterism, pastors and teachers need to be prepared to defend orthodox eschatology from this attack.” Those who believe that Christ already came back in AD 70 can hardly obey our Lord’s command to “keep watching” until He comes (Matthew 24:42).
Preterism rests on a faulty hermeneutic and raises serious concerns for sincere students of Scripture. Consider the following; Preterism:
1. Destroys the Literal Meaning of the Bible. Once you start arguing that the language of prophecy cannot be taken literally, you are not that far removed from not taking the rest of the Bible literally either. Preterists are following the dangerous path of liberalism which began denying predictive prophecy and soon rejected the literal interpretation of creation, the flood, the virgin birth of Christ, His vicarious death and bodily resurrection.
2. Distorts the Promise of the Second Coming. Placing the return of Christ in the past robs the Church of a confident expectation about the future. We are left on earth trying to “make the best of it” without any real hope of divine intervention. It leaves the Church trying to “bring in the Kingdom” without the King.
3. Diminishes the Hope of the Believer. Preterism negates the biblical commands to “watch” and “be ready” for the coming of Christ. It limits those injunctions to the first century believers prior to AD 70. In fact, it limits every biblical command related to the return of Christ. The phrase “until He comes” would have to be limited to AD 70. How can we “build the church” (Matthew 16:18) or “occupy until he comes.” In fact, how do we celebrate the communion service to “show forth the Lord’s death until he comes” (I Corinthians 11:26)? Should we stop celebrating the Lord’s Supper because He already came in AD 70?
4. Deprives Israel of Her Future. Preterists insist that God is finished with Israel. Many of them teach that it is actually Jesus who breaks the covenant with Israel in Daniel 9:26-27. In essence, Preterism pits Jesus against Israel and therefore smacks of anti-Semitism. Preterists actually teach that the “Babylon” of Revelation 17-18 is Jerusalem! Therefore, the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 represents Christ’s ultimate triumph over unbelief.
5. Denies the Power of Christ. While most preterists would insist they are defending the power of Christ, they are actually denying it. They are trying to “bring in the Kingdom” without the King. And might I add, they are fighting a losing battle! Christianity is under attack like never before. We are not winning the battle for world dominion and we never will. Yes, the church will continue to grow (Matthew 16:18), but so will the resistance of Satan (1 Timothy 4:1). God will continue to do marvelous things in this world. But the Church will never bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth until the King of Heaven returns in person.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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