I am putting this topic up on the CT board because of the controversial nature of it and that it may evolve into the realm of what is called "full preterism/realized eschatology" which can only be discussed on this board.
With that aside, I would like to put up the Preterist perspective from a Preterist site.
I am of
the Covenantle view, of both the Olivet Discourse and Revelation, and will explain more about that was we get further along with this thread.
For now, here are a few Preterist views
[of course, both partial and full futurists can also post their views
FUTURISTS
(Virtually No Fulfillment of
Matt. 24/25 & Revelation in 1st C. - Types Only ; Also Included are "Higher Critics" Not Associated With Any Particular Eschatology)]
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The New Heavens and Earth | Study Archive @ PreteristArchive.com - The Internet's Only Balanced Look at Preterism
New Heavens and Earth
Global, Covenantal, or Personal?
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth." II Peter 3:13
John Brown (1853)
" 'Heaven and earth passing,' understood literally, is the dissolution of the present system of the universe, and the period when that is to take place, is called the 'end of the world.' But a person at all familiar with the phraseology of the Old Testament Scriptures, knows that the dissolution of the Mosaic economy, and the establishment of the Christian, is often spoken of as the removing of the old earth and heavens, and the creation of a new earth and new heavens" (vol. 1, p. 170)
"It appears, then, that is Scripture be the best interpreter of Scripture, we have in the Old Testament a key to the interpretation of the prophecies in the New. The same symbolism is found in both, and the imagery of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the other prophets helps us to understand the imagery of St. Matthew, St. Peter, and St. John. As the dissolution of the material world is not necessary to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, neither is it necessary to the accomplishment of the predictions of the New Testament. But though symbols are metaphorical expressions, they are not unmeaning. It is not necessary to allegorise them, and find a corresponding equivalent for every trope; it is sufficient to regard the imagery as employed to heighten the sublimity of the prediction and to clothe it with impressiveness and grandeur. There are, at the same time, a true propriety and an underlying reality in the symbols of prophecy. The moral and spiritual facts which they represent, the social and ecumenical changes which they typify, could not be adequately set forth by language less majestic and sublime. There is reason for believing that an inadequate apprehension of the real grandeur and significance of such events as the destruction of Jerusalem and the abrogation of the Jewish economy lies at the root of that system of interpretation which maintains that nothing answering to the symbols of the New Testament prophecy has ever taken place. Hence the uncritical and unscriptural figments of double senses, and double, triple, and multiple fulfillments of prophecy. That physical disturbances in nature and extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and in the earth may have accompanied the expiring throes of the Jewish dispensation we are not prepared to deny. It seems to us highly probable that such things were. But the literal fulfillment of the symbols is not essential to the verification of prophecy, which is abundantly proved to be true by the recorded facts of history." (vol. i. p.200).
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Isaiah 51:15-16 | Hebrews 12:25-29
Another example of "heaven and earth" being referred to the Covenant World of Israel, and not literal creation, is
Isaiah 51:16, "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the
heavens, and lay the foundations of the
earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Notice that God is speaking to Israel. He says he gave them his law, the Old Covenant, the same law Jesus is speaking about in
Matthew 5:17-18, to establish
heaven and lay the foundation of the
earth!
Clearly God is not saying he gave the Old Covenant to Israel to create literal heaven and earth! Material creation existed long before Israel was ever given the Old Covenant.
Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, 'You are my people.'
Who is God speaking to in
Isaiah 1:1-2, "…Hear, O
heavens, and give ear, O
earth." The physical creation?
No, he is speaking to
Israel. And who is the witness in
Deuteronomy 4:26, "I call
heaven and earth to witness against you this day"? Physical creation or Old Covenant Israel?
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