[Saw this on the net. Any reactions?]
70 AD Futurism !
Preterists claim that the “Antichrist” and the “great tribulation” were fulfilled during the 70 AD period.
If so, why do we find that the arrival of the Antichrist was still expected by writers who lived during and after 70 AD?
Polycarp (70-167) wrote that “He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead.”
Justin Martyr (100-168) said that “[Antichrist] shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians....”
Irenaeus (140-202) wrote that the ten kings (Rev. 17)”shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the church to flight.”
It’s not true that Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) “revived” futurism because it was never lost during the Middle Ages or prior to that period of time.
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) stated: “There remains only one thing - that the demon of noonday [Antichrist] should appear.”
Roger Bacon (1214-1274) spoke of “future perils [for the Church] in the times of Antichrist....”
John Wycliffe (1320-1384) referred to “the hour of temptation, which is coming upon all the world, Rev. iii.”
Martin Luther (1483-1546): “[The book of Revelation] is intended as a revelation of things that are to happen in the future....”
(Google or Yahoo “Famous Rapture Watchers” to see quotes from many Christian leaders throughout the Church Age which prove that they expected a future Antichrist and a future great tribulation.)
Preterists use Matt. 24:34 (”This generation will not pass....”) to try to prove a 70 AD fulfillment of “Antichrist.” Since many of them see “these” (Matt. 25:46) fulfilled in the future in Rev. 20, why can’t they apply futurism as easily to Matt. 24:34? After all, the word “this” is the singular form of “these”!
Church history is fascinating, right?
Church history is - indeed - interesting. Luther “proved” that the Pope was evil using his interpretation of Revelation. Sorry, he was driven by a different motive.
Christ fulfilled all that was required so that we could return to the condition Adam had before the fall. Satan is still around (and was then), but we now have power over him, through Jesus, and he must flee on our command in His name.
This “Good News” is lost in the “confusion” of interpretations still looking for the completion of Jesus’ work.