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I frankly cannot understand the preterist position. Firs they tell us that he came in 70 AD. Then they say that even though this was his second coming, it wasn't his second coming, that somehow his third coming will be his second coming. They criticize futurists for looking for the signs of the times that Jesus told us to look for because there are no signs, that all the signs came in 70 AD. But they don't have a shred of scriptural proof for that position since they claim that all the scriptures were complete before 70 AD. So while they criticize the futurists for looking for signs in today's history, they have to search the past for signs that it occurred in 70AD.

In my mind the mere fact that no one can say for certain that they have seen Jesus coming in the clouds means that he hasn't. It will not be an obscure event. EVERY EYE shall see him.

What irritates me about the preterists is not the fact that they hold to a preterist position, but that they riducule those who do not hold to that position. They don't merely argue against it, they gleefully point and laugh and put those who disagree with them on the defensive. They use Hal Lindsey as a hammer to knock everyone who has ever held a dispensationalist position as if every dispensationalist is a Hal Lindsey disciple.

I have studied the scriptures and the premillenial position is clearly the one that makes the most sense to me. I have several strong reasons for believing in a pre-tribulation rapture, but I am certainly not married to the position. There are good arguments for a mid tribulation rapture and a post tribulation rapture.

I think I can say with absolute assurance that it is no coincidence that there is a Nation called Israel located in the land once occupied by those to whom God promised an eternal posession. It is no coincidence that it is the descendants of that promise who now occupy that land and it is no coincidence that all the nations of the earth are joined against it. The existence of Israel appears to be the work of God's hand. What that means at this time is unclear and subject to speculation. But God is not doen with the Nation of Israel. That is clear. To me it means that the times of the Gentiles is coming to an end. I'm not going to pick a date nor am I even going to speculate that it will occur in my lifetime or anyone else's lifetime. Undoubtedly we will all see Jesus within a twinkling of an eye when we pass from death to life. That has been going on for 20 centuries. But someday Jesus will literally come with clouds to rule and reign on earth for a thousand years. We have his word on that. We have his word that when it happens, there will be no debating about whether or not it occurred. Everyone will know for certain. Every eye shall see.

Are you arguing that the Roman soldiers did not drive the nails and thrust the spear?

What I'm arguing is that Zechariah 12:10, and by implication the verses in the NT that quote Zechariah 12:10, are a specific reference to Israel.

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."

In the context "they" can only be referring to "house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem", i.e., Israel.

I'm off for a few days. Have fun till I get back.