My take on preterism

[tonychanyt]

The term preterism is not in the Scripture. I neither believe nor disbelieve it. I approach it indifferently. I prefer to adhere to Scripture's wording when it comes to doctrines. I would not bother using the term in the formal doctrinal sense. I would put little weight on it when others use it in an argument. People who like to generalize tend to overgeneralize in a doctrine.

 

[Richard T]

Good topic and I can understand the indifference but will encourage any reader to at least look at all the possible end times beliefs. Why? Because, logically many will miss their version of end time beliefs because they vary so much. Thus, most should try to narrow their eschatology down. While there are partial and full preterists, they do not believe in the rapture or dispensations. I do not think this should affect anyone's salvation. However, it would be scary to think that many end time events have already occurred because in my opinion it makes one more ripe to accept the Anti-Christ. This is because some preterists suggest the tribulation has already happened. So this brings about their ideas of dominionism or "latter rain, or new apostolic reformation. Wrong end time beliefs can cascade a number of errors too, which again will occur for some groups because not everyone will be right. For preterists though If you think the events have already occurred you might be woefully underprepared.

Additionally, many partial preterists exist in Charismatic circles that also exercise prophecies that are related to the end time. This could be a problem because their end time views might also affect their prophecies. Why? because most (hopefully all) in the prophetic will not prophecy against their understanding of the word of God. So when you have the wrong end times version, would one be able to override their own doctrine to speak the truth? This becomes a very important question for those who listen to such leaders, who may be errant in their end time doctrine. (dispensationalists too).

 

[HTacianas]

The term preterism is not in the Scripture. I neither believe nor disbelieve it. I approach it indifferently. I prefer to adhere to Scripture's wording when it comes to doctrines. I would not bother using the term in the formal doctrinal sense. I would put little weight on it when others use it in an argument. People who like to generalize tend to overgeneralize in a doctrine.

If you adhere to scripture's wording, at the very beginning of the Revelation, literally the first verse, it says, "...things which must shortly take place". If it says "things which much shortly take place" I have to take it to mean that these things will shortly take place. And then later, at verse 1:19 the writer is told to write, "the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this". So the book includes things the writer had seen in the past, the things that were occurring at the time, and things that were yet to come. There is nothing about the distant future until Rev 20.

 

[tonychanyt]

at the very beginning of the Revelation, literally the first verse, it says, "...things which must shortly take place".

Can you quote the verse? I prefer to interact with people who are precise in their thinking.

 

[Richard T]

If you adhere to scripture's wording, at the very beginning of the Revelation, literally the first verse, it says, "...things which must shortly take place". If it says "things which much shortly take place" I have to take it to mean that these things will shortly take place. And then later, at verse 1:19 the writer is told to write, "the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this". So the book includes things the writer had seen in the past, the things that were occurring at the time, and things that were yet to come. There is nothing about the distant future until Rev 20.

Revelation 1:1 (KJV)
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Ok, this seems some evidence for preterists but what about this verse. When did this happen? "Every eye"
Revelation 1:7 (ESV)
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

 

[HTacianas]

Revelation 1:1 (KJV)
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Ok, this seems some evidence for preterists but what about this verse. When did this happen? "Every eye"
Revelation 1:7 (ESV)
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Every eye where? Look in history to where "those who pierced him" were.

 

[Richard T]

Every eye where? Look in history to where "those who pierced him" were.

thanks for the response. When did he return back to earth after the revelation of John was written around 90 AD? I'll assume those who pierced him refer to the Jews. So given this I have to think that shortly is a longer time frame because there is a lack of evidence that Jesus already returned at least to me. God's time is rather obscure anyway. A day is as a thousand years. So a couple of thousand years could be rather short.

 

[Richard T]

Every eye where? Look in history to where "those who pierced him" were.

I think those that pierced him refer to the Jews. I suppose literally it was one, possibly two Roman soldiers, but I don't know of any record that the one who pierced Jesus saw him return from heaven. I don't recall any record of this Roman soldier who saw Jesus once he had risen from the dead though some speculate I see as the soldier being Longinus, who know is considered a saint if I read things right.

 

[tonychanyt]

I think those that pierced him refer to the Jews.

Check out Those who pierced Jesus will see him coming with the clouds