[xzins]

After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Theology from Florida Bible College, John went on to receive his Masters of Divinity from Knox Theological Seminary and later did post graduate studies at Reformed Theological Seminary. Having worked for 29 years in the Fire-Resue arena, John retired in January 2007 at the rank of Battalion Chief in the Broward Sheriff's Division of Fire-Rescue. As an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America, John has taught at Miami International Seminary, at the Boca Campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, at the South Florida Bible College and overseas at the Moldova Bible Seminary in Eastern Europe. Now he has been called to a new work as the President of Redeemer Bible College.

[xzins]

This Reformed pastor (PCA) with a solid reformed scholastic background clearly disagrees with preterism.

Peter, of course, wrote his letter near 65AD. Five years away from the preterist parousia, Peter did not even hint at the soon return of Jesus.

Actually, the opposite. Peter said,

2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

[irishtenor]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[Frumanchu]

I have yet to meet a Preterist whose focus is upon church ministry or the spreading of the gospel or the building up of the church. To the contrary, those with whom I have thus far come into contact seem to have as their primary focus the spread of this particular teaching.

Typical hit piece. John ought to pay a little more attention to people within his own church (PCA) as there are several partial preterists therein (particularly R.C. Sproul) who ARE focused on church ministry, spreading the gospel and building up the church, and spend relatively little time on eschatology.

[topcat54]

As long as we are quoting outside sources:

Preterism is a hermeneutic method used to interpret eschatological (end-times) passages in both the Old an the New Testaments. The orthodox preterist view sees nearly all events (excluding the Second Advent [emph. added]) described in the book of Revelation and the 24th chapter of Matthew as already having been fulfilled by A.D. 70. The preterist position may be held by those who hold to the amillennial, postmillennial, or the historic premillennial positions on the Second Coming of Christ.

***

CRI considers the preterist position to be within the pale of orthodox Christianity [emph. added], since it affirms all of the essential eschatological doctrines of the historic Christian faith, which includes:

The Bodily Return of our Lord Jesus Christ in Glory for His Church The Bodily Resurrection of Believers & Unbelievers
The Universal Judgment of the Living and the Dead
The Reception of Eternal Life for the Elect, and the Allotment of Eternal Condemnation for Unbelievers The Eternality of Christ's Righteous Kingdom
A vital distinction needs to be made, however, between the preterist and "hyper-preterist" [emph. added] views pertaining to eschatology. While preterists do assert that the majority of biblical prophecy has already been fulfilled, "hyper-preterists" go so far as to insist that even the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection has already occurred. This position is no part of the historic, orthodox, Christian faith .(emphasis added)

-- Taken from a CRI letter dated May 19, 1999 authored by CRI representative Thad Williams

[ladyinred]

While I do believe many things were fulfilled in 70AD, the Jesus coming in the clouds part I just don’t get. I believe there are things left to happen and that when He does return in the clouds, every eye will see him.

[Between the Lines]

Mk. 9:50 “....Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Jn. 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Rom. 12:10 Be devoted to one another with mutual affection. Honor one another above yourselves.

Rom. 12:16 Live in harmony with one another.

Rom. 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another....

Rom. 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

1 Cor. 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Cor. 12:24-25 ....But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

Gal. 5:13 ....But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love

Gal. 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Eph.4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Col. 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another....

1 Thes. 4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

51 Thes. :11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up

1 Thes. 5:13 ....Live in peace with each other.

1 Thes. 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Heb. 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Heb. 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds Jam. 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another....

Jam. 5:9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged....

1Jn. 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God....

1 Pet. 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

1 Pet. 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Pet. 5:5 ....All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

[Silly]

“Why I Am Not A Pederast”