Here's an interesting article talking about partial Preterism etc. I think the STILL get it wrong. However, they do see some of the idiocies of "full preterism" and "hyper-preterism." What an irrational pile of heresies.
http://www.apocalipsis.org/preterism.htm
.
.
.
Some of you will have come across the word 'preterist' either through reading or on the web, probably from the Preterist Archive. This is a short introduction to explain what it is. I have used Todd Dennis's article "An Introduction to Preterism" for some of what follows. Note: this article is no longer available, Todd has become an `overjoyed` idealist (May 2008).
R C Sproul defines preterism as:
Preterism: An eschatological viewpoint that places many or all eschatological events in the past, especially during the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. (R C Sproul, The Last Days according to Jesus, p 228)
Todd Dennis says "Preterism is from the Hebrew language's Preterit [Past Perfect] tense."
Preterism is the idea that some or all prophecy has been fulfilled in the generation alive when Jesus preached, i.e. it has been fulfilled in the past. It takes the divine inspiration of the bible seriously and literally. Some people have alleged that some of Jesus prophecies were wrong, in order to counter these arguments preterists believe that Jesus prophecies were indeed fulfilled in this (ie. His) generation, most notably by the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Preterism takes the following key verses literally:
(Mat 10:23 NIV) When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
(Mat 16:28 NIV) I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Mat 23:35-36 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
(Mat 24:34 NIV) I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
(Mat 26:63-64 NIV) But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." {64} "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
It is very important to distinguish between partial preterism and full preterism. Partial preterism says that some prophecy was fulfilled in the generation of Jesus day, while full preterism says that all prophecy was fulfilled then. Full preterism says that the Coming (Parousia), resurrection, rapture, day of the Lord and day of judgement all occurred in AD 70. While partial preterism says that Christ came in judgement on Jerusalem in AD 70 and that it was a day of the Lord not the day of the Lord.
Full Preterists |
Partial Preterists |
|||
AD 70 |
At the end of history |
AD 70 |
At the end of history |
|
Coming (parousia) of Christ |
Yes |
No |
Yes (judgement) |
Yes (bodily) |
|
Resurrection and rapture |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Day of the Lord |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Judgement |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
Partial preterism has been a part of Christian belief for many years and many people from all denominations including myself hold to the view that the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 was an important fulfilment of some prophecy. However we still believe in a future coming of Jesus Christ and resurrection from the dead. The distinction is between a coming of the Lord in judgement against Jerusalem in AD 70 and the future bodily Second Coming of our Lord at the end of history.
Todd Dennis says:
"Preterism (sometimes called "Full Preterism") is almost identical to the Reformed partial Preterist position, with only one great exception - the nature of the resurrection. Whereas the Reformed position teaches a bodily resurrection, Preterism agrees with Paul, that "it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (I Cor. 15:44). The spiritual nature of the general resurrection (though Preterists strongly defend Christ's bodily resurrection) is, probably, the main factor that precludes Preterism from being absorbed into any other denominational positions, unlike partial Preterism, which is conformable to nearly all. Simply put, (Full) Preterist theology is a radical departure from other contemporary positions. How many other systems teach that the Second Coming of Christ already took place, and that all prophecy has been fulfilled? None."
Again Todd Dennis says:
"The Second Coming of Christ is directly stated as occurring in the space of the men then living (Matt. 10:23; Matt. 16:27,28; Matt. 24:34), and is also often implied as being very near (James 5:8,9; 1 Pet. 4:7; I Thess 5:23, etc.). The Judgment is also declared and implied as being within a short space (Matthew 3:7; 16:27-28; 23:36-38; Acts 2:16,17,20; James 5:9; I Peter 4:5,17; Revelation 22:12), as was the Resurrection, which is nothing more than the redemption of believers from the same death passed upon then by the curse spoken in Genesis 2:17. To prove the nature of the resurrection, Paul states the following: "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (I Cor. 15:44). This most significant passage is almost entirely overlooked when considering the actual substance or nature of the resurrection body!"
The crucial failure of full preterism is that it fails to understand that Christ's Second Coming will be bodily. Full preterism also fails to understand the resurrection (of believers) to be a bodily resurrection. Instead they propose a spiritual Second Coming and resurrection of the body."
Full preterism re-introduces the Hymenaeus error (see 2 Tim 2:17-18) that the resurrection has already taken place. This is being taught now in the form of full or hyper-preterism, that teaches that the Second Coming and the resurrection occurred in AD 70. The partial preterist view says that Christ came in judgement against Jerusalem in the Jewish war of AD 67-70, but he did not come bodily which is what the Second Coming is about (Acts 1:11).
2Ti 2:16-18 ESV But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, (17) and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, (18) who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
Acts 1:11 clearly says that when Jesus returns he will return bodily.
(Acts 1:11 NIV) "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
While he quotes 1 Cor 15:44 to show that after the resurrection we shall have a spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:23 says "Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him".1 Cor 15:49 says "so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven". Now when we look at the kind of resurrection body that Jesus had we find it described thus:
(Luke 24:37-43 NIV) They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. {38} He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? {39} Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." {40} When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. {41} And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" {42} They gave him a piece of broiled fish, {43} and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Clearly, Jesus had a physical body. Our resurrection body will like His body.
(Phil 3:21 NIV) who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Partial preterism understands that Christ's coming in AD 70 was a coming in judgement against Jerusalem, not a bodily Second Coming. Indeed we can find in scripture several times when Jesus comes:
In John 14:16-18 Jesus speaks of his coming to the disciples as the Spirit.
(John 14:16-18 NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- {17} the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. {18} I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Just splendid!
Very nice article, looks like I have some reading to do this afternoon. Thanks.