The Problem of Preterism: Is End Time prophecy already Past?
Is Preterism Biblical? Many churches including the Catholic Church, Mainline Protestant Denominations and many large Evangelical Megachurches lean toward this view. I'd like to share my thoughts on why Preterism, the idea that all prophecy is past (including the Second Coming of Christ) is an untenable view. This is an important issue because most churches in the Church Growth Movement ignore end time prophecies (that things will get worse before Christ returns to intervene and prevent the human race from becoming extinct) in the false belief that they can change change the world for Christ and quicken His return.
Preterists believe some or all of (full preterist) the ideas below:
All prophecy is past
Christ Second Coming happened already in 70 AD (Fall of Jerusalem)
We are in the middle or past the Millennium Kingdom already (Post Millennial)
Scripture is allegorical (rather than literal)
Preterism differs from Amillennialism in that they believe in a Millennium. But unlike Premillennialism (the view that we are in the age before Christ's 1,000 year reign), Preterists believe we are already in the Millennium (hence an allegorical interpretation of scripture).
The arguments below is a response to the most common errors in preterism.
POINT 1:
That “Jesus promised His Second Coming would come within the lifetime of those he spoke”. Preterist often use Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1 and Luke 9:27 to prove this. But this is not accurate.
Luke 9:27 (KJV) But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they SEE the kingdom of God
Mark 9:1 (KJV) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have SEEN the kingdom of God come with power
Matthew 16:28 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom
Some things to consider:
They all mention “seeing the kingdom of God”.
This doesn’t necessarily refer to His 2nd Coming.
There is no historical evidence of Jesus 2nd Coming in history. If it were so, all the world would have known (it would have been a frightening event in all the world, not just in Judea)
If Christ had returned, He would have come in glory (and full battle gear), there would have been 2 witnesses and as many believe, it would have happened on a Feast day.
So is there another event Jesus could be referring to other than His Second Coming? The best explanation would be to look at the next chapter (Matthew 17, The Transfiguration) which was within a few days of Jesus statement in Matthew 16:
Matthew 17:1-4 (KJV) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them:and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here:if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias
The transfiguration is certainly a type of Christ’s second coming. He appeared in glory, the two witnesses were present, Moses and Elijah and guess what?… it happened on the Feast of Tabernacles.
POINT 2:
That the Coming Judgment and Abomination of Desolation already happened in 70 AD according to Luke 21 and Matthew 24. This is not true.
Compare Matthew 24:3-27 with Luke 21:6-12
Matthew 24:3-9, 29 (KJV)
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:see that ye be not troubled:for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake...
...Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken
Luke 21:6-12 (KJV)
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near:go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified:for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake
Note that there are similarities and differences between both passages. Like a telescope, the more powerful it is, the greater its resolving power to see differences between to things which at first appear to be the same.
Matthew 24 and Luke 21 are different and its important to be precise in our hermeneutics to see the difference.
Luke 21 was given at the Temple in the morning to the general disciples.
Matthew 24 was given to 4 disciples at a confidential briefing at the Olivet Discourse.
Both Matthew 24 and Luke 21 mention these Signs (The Beginning of Sorrows) - False Christs, Wars, Famines, Pestilences & Earthquakes.
But Luke 21 discusses what will happen BEFORE THESE THINGS .ie. before those signs (to the 1st generation of believers). This is about events leading up to the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Unlike Matthew 24, Luke 21 does not mention the Great Tribulation because it did not concern them.
And Matthew 24 Discusses what will happen AFTER those signs (THEN SHALL THEY DELIVER YOU UP…) to the last generation. This is about the coming Great Tribulation (yet future).
For a summary of this watch Chuck Misslers “Whole Counsel of God” starting 1 Hour 12 Minutes
For a more detailed explanation of the difference between Luke 21 & Matthew 24, watch Chuck Missler’s Commentary on the Olivet Discourse
We need to keep in mind that Prophecy is pattern. There are prophetic events which are types of something yet future. The 1st Abomination of Desolation of Israel's temple was actually committed by Antiochus Epiphanes the “Mad Man” of Daniel 8 during the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BC. The 2nd was committed by the Roman General Titus who desecrated and destroyed the temple in 70 AD. A final world dictator known as the Antichrist will commit the same thing according to Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15. The first two were "types" or prefigures of the Antichrist and give us clues on what the final Tyrant will be like.
POINT 3:
If Preterists believe all end time prophecy happened already, then they would have to date the Book of Revelation before 70 AD (The Fall of Jerusalem) and indeed Preterists have done so, erroneously.
But evidence from the early church’s writings prove otherwise indicating a dating after 90 AD (decades after the Fall of Jerusalem) thus placing the end time prophecies after 70 AD (This is the Futurist view held by Dispensationalists).
The Koinonia Institute (A christian think tank and bible school that insists on a high view of scripture) encourages its students to become Bereans (Acts 17:11) by holding to a high hermeneutic characterised by adhering to Biblical precision and relying on the “Whole Counsel of God”. This is why Dr. Missler has often dismissed the Blood Moons and Shemitah Controversy. Not only is it Biblically untenbale, it has the potential to mislead others into thinking prophecy is unreliable. I have outlined my own quick analysis in a Facebook post on why the Shemitah is unbiblical.
CONCLUSION:
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is something we can all look forward to and put our hopes in. As the late Calvary Chapel Pastor Chuck Smith said “If we are already in the Millennium Kingdom, then Satan’s chains are too long”. The last century was the bloodiest in history and should have ended any thought that Preterism is true. When Christ returns, not only will He transform society itself, He will restore the natural world as well which is undergoing the Law of Entropy as a consequence of the Curse (Romans 20:21-22).
The Doctrine of Imminency is defined as the “next expectation” and doesn’t necessarily mean a specific period of time but rather that there are no longer any prerequisite conditions to the Rapture. The doctrine of imminency is supposed to instil in each believer a strong sense of hope. It has a sanctifying effect on those who eagerly await the appearing of the Messiah by strengthening our faith and endurance.
1 John 3:2-3 (KJV)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure
Romans 5:2-5 (KJV)
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us
