Originally posted by Mike Beidler
As I continue to read through the Bible in a year, I've come to the prophet Amos. Interesting things here, from a preterist perspective.
Amos 1:2 -- "Amos said: 'The LORD comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds' pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.'"
In context, the LORD is coming in judgment against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and ultimately Judah and Israel. Interestingly enough, all of the judgments contained in Amos 1-2 were fulfilled in the past. Of this there is no dispute between eschatological camps.
But here's the kicker: the LORD is said to "come" and his "coming" results in pastures wilting and the mountaintop withering. Is there any historical record of these things actually happening, or are we to assume that the language is exaggerative and metaphorical? What are we to think of this "coming" language? Can we apply the same hermenuetical principle to Christ's description of His own coming, which uses similar language?
(Remember, hermenuetical principles should not have to change when going to and from the Old and New Testaments. The same culture, which was extremely familiar with eschatological language, is involved here.)