I largely ignore preterism because it seems equivalent to the Flat Earth Society. To be able to look at the events of today and claim with a straight face that the prophecies that God gave us to look for for the return of Christ to earth happened in 70AD is to place yourself above God, gee, almost like Satan has, and to have such an appalling sickness of pride and arrogance that you have removed yourself from ever being taken seriously as having any knowledge of Scripture whatsoever.
The heart of this error is based on Jesus' statement that "this generation shall not pass, till all things be fulfilled" (Mat 24:34). It seems easy enough to claim Jesus was speaking about a first-century generation; however, logic ends there when one contemplates the fulfillment of all Bible prophecy.
In order to make 70 AD the magic year, we would have to delete dozens of prophecies that were never fulfilled. When was the Gospel preached to all the nations? When was the Mark of the Beast implemented? What about China's 200-million-man army? When did 100-pound hailstones fall from the sky? And what date was it when the Euphrates River dried up?
The questions are endless. Why did we have the rebirth of Israel? If Jerusalem was forever removed from being the burdensome stone, why has it now returned to that status? When did all the Jews shout, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," as Jesus said they would?
After being so strict in their interpretation of Matthew 24:34, preterists then run roughshod over many clear statements of Scripture. They say that although the "resurrection" happened in 70 AD, the bodies of Christians were left in the grave.
Preterists take the dangerous step of spiritualizing all passages of Scripture that relate to the nation of Israel, and claim that these refer to the church, the "New Israel." They teach that the "old earth," which Scripture says will pass away, is the Old Covenant. The new heaven and new earth, they say, is the New Covenant, and the "elements," which Scripture says will burn with fervent heat when this happens, are the "elements of the law."
Preterism produces some bizarre explanations for why the world is still experiencing suffering and calamity. One explanation I ran across cited God's need for population control as the reason for mankind's suffering. There is simply no credible evidence that any end time prophecy, prophecies which fit completely with what is occurring in our time, happened in 70AD.
Preterists are to be dismissed as unfortunates who have deceived themselves and who attempt to deceive others.
INDEED TO THE MAX. Wonderfully put. Thanks tons.
It's soooooooooooo encouraging to see another beloved believer so reality based. Yea!
I mostly hate the potential such dunder-headed perspectives have to mislead young Christians and those contemplating a relationship with Christ amongst the lurkers hereon. I'm skeptical that many REPLACEMENTARIANS et al have much of a chance to adjust their fantasy constructions on reality enough and quickly enough to get on board with God and what he's doing in these END TIMES.
And if there WERE EVER AN ERA, DISPENSATION WHEN folks
OUGHT to LOGICALLY be very VIGOROUS AND RELENTLESSLY RUTHLESS WITH THEMSELVES ABOUT INSURING THEY ARE 110% ON GOD'S SIDE . . .
THIS IS THAT ERA.
Boggles my mind to see some of the utter irrational nonsense posted by folks pretending to have a brain and EVEN to have it turned on.
INDEED
TO THE MAX!