Preterist interpretations have been around since the first century as Francis X. Gumerlock and I demonstrate in The Early Church and the End of the World. Prior to the advent of dispensationalism, Bible commentators applied the fulfillment of the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) to the events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This includes Henry Hammond, John Lightfoot, Philip Doddridge, Thomas Newton, John Gill, Thomas Scott, Adam Clark, and scores of others as I point out in my book Is Jesus Coming Soon? Is Markell ready to say that all these men were engaged in “false teachings”? She would have to write off nearly two thousand years of biblical interpretation in order to maintain her thesis.
- Gary DeMar, 3/12/2007
Preterism requires the return of Christ. There are no 1st century Christians claiming that Christ had already returned. DeMar is out of his mind.