Hello everyone. I am glad to be on this forum.
I think we all need to realize the importance of what we are talking about here. A previous poster said that our eschatological view does not matter as long as we walk with Jesus. It does matter, and it matters a great deal. The ultimate question eschatology seeks to answer is not just the timing of when Jesus returned or will return. It is the question of how much of our salvation we can experience in this life.
If we take the preterist view, the answer is pretty well near all of it. Spiritual death has been abolished, Satan has been defeated, and the kingdom of God is a present reality. If we take the futurist view our answer must be that we cannot really experience much of our salvation at all. The real glory awaits a future dispensation.
Most if not all futurists I know are not pure futurists. They may believe Jesus¡¦ return is yet to happen, but they are closer to the preterist understanding of our present experience. For example, not to long ago I was sharing with some folks about the kingdom of God from a preterist perspective. I told them about the present reality of the kingdom of God and the defeat of Satan, although I did not mention eschatology. There was one gentleman that grew so excited that he could hardly contain himself. I thought he was going to get up and do a dance. After I was done, he came up and told me how much he agreed with my conclusions. Yet, in the next breath, he started talking about Hal Lindsey. I only smiled.
Both futurists and preterists believe that the fullness of salvation was accomplished at the cross. (Futurists are every bit as much in Christ as the preterists and visa versa. Therefore, we should treat each other with the respect this fact affords.) However, both futurists and preterists agree that some aspects of salvation are consummated at the second coming. We see these things in I Corinthians 15:
20But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ¡¦s at His coming. 24Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27For ¡§He has put all things under His feet.¡¨T But when He says ¡§all things are put under Him,¡¨ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20 through 1 Corinthians 15:28 (NKJV)
Here we see at the second coming the defeat of Satan (God puts an end to the spiritual rulers and authorities that Paul talks about in many of his writings.), the coming of the kingdom of God, and the abolition of death.
The pure futurist looks at these things and says they are unobtainable in our current dispensation. The preterist says that the Parousia (His coming or presence) has occurred, therefore we can know victory over Satan, the present reality of the kingdom of God, and even victory over death-not physical but spiritual death which is separation from His presence.
We do not have time to discuss all of these issues in this post, so let us talk about just one-the defeat of Satan. The preterist and the pure futurist look different places to find the Devil. The futurist looks above himself. He, like one previous poster on this board, thinks that this world thoroughly belongs to Satan. He has not been cast down. The futurist may acknowledge that Satan was positionally defeated at Calvary, but experientially, he is basically the same Devil that he was before the cross. In fact, he is destined to grow stronger and stronger until he is basically running things. His fate may be sealed, but we have no hope of seeing that fate in this dispensation.
The preterist looks at a different place to find Satan. The enemy is no longer above. He is beneath our feet. He has been thoroughly defeated, bound, and crushed. This was accomplished at the cross (Colossians 2:15) but fully realized at the Parousia. This is why Paul said to the Romans who were anxiously awaiting the Lord¡¦s return, ¡§The God of peace will SOON crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16;20).¡¨
Therefore, the preterist sees the church above and the Devil below. Consequently, they see no hope for Satan and great hope for the church. What hope do you give a defeated foe? How should you treat a foe that is beaten and crushed beneath your feet? Yet, what hope do you give a people who as Paul said are ¡§seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus¡¨ and who in Him are ¡§above all rule and authority (See Ephesians one and two)?¡¨ We believe that the already present kingdom of God has prevailed and will prevail over the whole earth through the church.
If you look at history, which is His Story not the Devil¡¦s, from a broad perspective, you will see this indeed is happening. It is slow. Yet, we are seeing the kingdom advancing. Do we realize that more people have been saved in the last fifty years alone that in the previous 2000 combined?
So, which is it? Is Satan above you or below you? If are a futurist and you say below, you are not so far from preterist thought as you think.
I hope to discuss in future posts, with the help of other preterists on this forum, victory over death and the present reality of the kingdom of God, but that must wait for another time.
and welcome -good to have you "on-board". Yes, the "fulfilled" message is where it's at:
