Posted on 03/30/2015 7:11:21 PM PDT by grumpa
A DOZEN REASONS WHY I BECAME A PRETERIST
by Charles S. Meek
Kicking and screaming, gnarling and scratching, I became convinced that the preterist view of eschatology is the correct one. Here’s why.
1. I could no longer ignore, in good conscience, the over 100 time-statements in the New Testament that demand fulfillment of the prophesied events within the lifetimes of the New Testament writers.
2. I became convinced that the culmination of all eleven specific mentions of the “last days” or “end times” in the New Testament could not be placed beyond the first century.
3. I realized that I was ignorant about what happened in Jerusalem in AD 70 and the theological significance of these events.
4. I was shocked to discover that Jesus, as well as his disciples, stated that all OLD TESTAMENT prophecy would be competed in their literal generation—that is, the first century.
5. I realized that if Jesus and his disciples were wrong about the timing of fulfillment of the prophetic events, the charges against Christianity about Jesus being a false prophet would be true. The preterist view is the only one that answers the critics’ charges. So I am now convinced that Jesus kept his word. (No need to make excuses for Him.)
6. I had heard Christians argue that language such as “moon turning to blood,” “coming on clouds,” “make the heavens tremble,” etc. should be understood literally. I was always skeptical about literalizing these phrases, and my closer investigation revealed that my skepticism was warranted. Such phrases are typical non-literal Hebraic apocalyptic language to describe God’s intervention (usually judgment) on groups of people in history.
7. I recognized that the Bible teachers I had been listening to could not answer my serious questions about prophecy.
8. I realized that, in spite of what may appear obvious, the Bible never speaks about the end of the physical universe or planet earth. (Really, it doesn’t.)
9. I noticed that Christians tend to interpret the Bible through the lens of the daily news events—and have accordingly been making false and embarrassing predictions about the end of the world for 2,000 years. If they would be reading through the lens of the original audience instead, they would get a different picture.
10. I learned that over 60 competent scholars have been identified as teaching that Revelation was written prior to AD 70.
11. I discovered that there are over 30 passages in Revelation that (a) demand fulfillment soon after being written down, and (b) Revelation does not introduce new concepts but connect the events of Revelation with the same ones mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.
12. I noticed that objections to preterism are shallow, disjointed, biased, arbitrary, and inconsistent. Objectors are willfully blind about key passages and mostly regurgitate things they have heard from people who have not really studied the issue either.
If you were like me, you have an initial knee jerk reaction to the above. Please don’t take my word for it. Do the homework this important topic deserves. I back up everything from Scripture at my websites and my book CHRISTIAN HOPE THROUGH FULFILLED PROPHECY (available at Amazon). For more info, see my websites:
https://prophecyquestions.wordpress.com
http://www.faithfacts.org/world-religions-and-theology/the-biblical-last-days
https://www.facebook.com/EvangelicalPreterism
Not a preterist. I certainly think the mark of the beast referred to in Revelation didn’t occur within 100 years of Christ’s crucifiction.
So do you deny the miracles in the Bible now/yet? Those things like the flood, the virgin birth, the resurrection etc.?
Had a good friend in the ministry that fell head over heels for preterism. I had to cut off any communication with because he kept trying to “convert” me.
Blasphemy.
13. The Historical View of Revelation(Preterism) was the dominant view for almost 400 years after AD 70.
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Preterist view of the end times is based on a symbolic view of the Book of Revelation that holds most of its prophecies have already been fulfilled. Preterism denies the future, literal fulfillment of most of its predictions, focusing instead on allegory and symbolism. Of particular importance is the argument that the end time prophecies of Revelation were fulfilled in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
A close look at the facts concerning the Book of Revelation, however, make Preterism a difficult view to hold. First, Revelation chapters 6—22 were most likely written about events that have yet to occur. If taken as written, these chapters speak of a future seven-year period during which there will be a world ruler, a new Jewish temple that will be built and then desecrated, a time of great tribulation, and a final battle at Armageddon between the people of God and His enemies at which Christ returns in victory. This will be followed by the Millennial Reign of Jesus and ultimately a new heavenly city, new heavens, and a new earth where God’s people will dwell with Him forever. Much must be changed in order to make these sweeping predictions fit events that took place by the fall of Jerusalem in 70.
Second, a more specific argument against the Preterist View is that the Book of Revelation was almost certainly written after the year 70. The external evidence supports the traditional date of approximately 95—96 at the end of the apostle John’s life. Mark Hitchcock’s “A Defense of the Domitianic Date of the Book of Revelation” offers a comprehensive look at the lines of evidence that support this date (Available at www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/hitchcock-dissertation.pdf). Those who hold to the Preterist view must be able to prove that the Book of Revelation was written prior to 70 to demonstrate that its view is even possible.
A third concern with the Preterist view is that there is a lack of consistency on how to interpret the symbolism of Revelation. If taken allegorically, then many aspects must relate to other events, yet interpreters do not appear to be able to agree on even the basic allegories that would be required to support the Preterist view.
The historical evidence to support the Preterist view of the Book of Revelation is inadequate, the allegorical interpretations are too inconsistent, and the changes in interpretation are too forced for the Preterist view to consistently fit the writings found in the Book of Revelation. While many Bible-believing Christians have held and still hold to this view, the evidence to support the view is much weaker than simply taking Revelation as written as a book concerning what will happen in the last days prior to Christ’s return to earth at the end of the Tribulation period.
http://www.compellingtruth.org/preterist.html
If you can find a copy of "End Times Fiction" by Gary DeMar, do yourself a favor and read it. IMHO, partial preterism, along with amillenialism, is the only fully biblical, historical and rational position to hold.
Thanks for posting that.
I was about to make the mistake of attempting a discussion with the poster....i will rather believe that he is not so much interested in such, but advertising for his website.
I have enjoyed many such discussions on the subject however, and have yet to hear some of the claims to statements that he is making about what others believe.
No one could open the sacred scroll - except Jesus - the Lamb of God. Only the one who had been Man - and defeated Death (Satan) was qualified. I believe that the scroll was the Final - and seventh - Covenant between God and Man, and only Jesus could break the seals. This Covenant restored Man to full communion with God. Before the fall of Adam (and Eve), man is depicted as walking in the garden with God at the end of the day. However, once Death (sin) entered the scene, man hid because he knew he was naked. Now, through the completed work of Jesus, he is clothed in Jesus, thus fully presentable to walk again with God in the cool of the evening. This is the miracle of Revelation, as reveled as Jesus opens the scroll.
Keep up the good work - accepting this has changed my relationship with God!!
Many struggle with chapter 24, especially verse 29. Escapism isn’t happening!
And the two witnesses would have been .........?
Seen any angels preaching the gospel in the sky?
The great city that was destroyed in an hour, with ships at sea seeing it was......?
One third of the waters turning to blood happened when ......?
Everyone got the mark of the Beast at what time....?
The battle where the blood rose to the horse’s bridles took place.....?
The whole world saw Jesus coming back to finish off the Battle of Armageddon from the sky on which date....?
The new heaven and the new earth replace exactly what...?
“...Before the fall of Adam (and Eve), man is depicted as walking in the garden with God at the end of the day.”
It does not say that Adam walked with God. It says that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day.
It says that Enoch walked with God.
It says that Noah walked with God.
I believe that God created Man to have some to commune with who were willing communicants. Adam was not that. Enoch and Noah were. THEY walked with God!
That is our choice...to walk with God, or not to do so. We call it Free Will.
And we, who accept the work that Jesus did on the Cross, are fully clothed in His Righteousness, and WILLINGLY walk with God, as joint heirs with Jesus, the Christ, in the cool of the day.
And be blessed! You have it right! And remember, Apocalypse means Revelation...not some cataclysmic event. The Book, as John states in the first verse, ...the Revelation of Jesus Christ...
Many people have a hard time accepting that this will be real world events so frightening their hearts will fail them.
Totally agree.
Wish i could stay and chat. gotta go.
good night
The Christians had fled to the hills (as Jesus had told them to do), and the Jews were killed hiding in the Temple, so not many were left to tell the story. You have to read Josephus to see what really happened!
http://sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/
Thanks!
I have read dozens of books on theology and Biblical interpretation, and never once came across the term “preterest”. What the hell does it mean?
You ignored the whole of his post for one little tidbit...everyone flees when a battle is raging in your neighborhood. So 100 lb hail stones fell when? When did 1/3rd of the earth’s fresh water get poisoned? When did the seas turn to blood and all the fish die? When did the 2 witnesses get killed by the beast and then get resurrected 3 days and 3 nights later...when did God say to them, “come up hither”? Theses are very specific prophecies not symbolism!
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