At this stage I feel that partial Preterism seems to fit best in an understanding of scripture. There are a few things, however, I can't explain which are troubling me.
One of those is determining the date that revelation was written, ie pre 70AD or around 95AD. It is concerning me because if I read it and think it is prophesising about the temple destruction, if it is written in 95AD that would be in the past. Also, I am yet to be convinced that the arguments and counter arguments for an early authorship hold much water. There seems to be better evidence for the later date.
So my question is... For those amongst us who are partial preterists or similar, is the dating of revelation a game changer? If I can't get an answer, I will rethink my doctrine for sure.
I see Preterism as a valid, lucid way of understanding Revelation. The pieces tend to fit well.
As to authorial intent, I believe it's quite likely that St. John the Revelator was laying out an exposition of events, not all of which were yet future at the time of writing.
One of the most in-depth expositions/studies of Partial Preterism (or "Orthodox Preterism") I've ever found is
http://tektonics.org/eschhub.html and it has many insights which (1) explain the Partial Preterist view and (2) does so while answering the common Futurist view(s), particularly Pre-Trib/Dispensationalist/Left Behind type stuff. Recommended!
ETA- Preterism as a system doesn't necessarily eliminate the possibility of a dual fulfillment
ned once.
I agree and a well done post....
Couldn't Josephus be considered a Preterist since since he practically quoted from the 70ad Temple/Jerusalem discourse
Except for
The Preterist Archive of Realized Eschatology I would say this is one of the best sites to read about the 70ad event and how Josephus practically harmonized the whole 70ad Olivet Disourse.
JOSEPHUS, OLIVET DISCOURSE AND BOOK OF REVELATION
What are others view of this site?
The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD
Proof that Matthew 24 was fully fulfilled in 70 AD!
Also see: Rapture refuted
History records few events more generally interesting than the destruction of Jerusalem, and the subversion of the Jewish state, by the arms of the Romans. -- Their intimate connexion with the dissolution of the Levitical economy, and the establishment of Christianity in the world ; the striking verification which they afford of so many of the prophecies, both of the Old and New Testament, and the powerful arguments of the divine authority of the Scriptures which are thence derived ; the solemn warnings and admonitions which they hold out to all nations, but especially such as are favoured with the light and blessings of REVELATION ; together with the impressive and terrific grandeur of the events themselves -- are circumstances which must always insure to the
subject of the following pages more than ordinary degrees of interest and importance. Many eminent and learned men have employed their pens in the illustration of it..............
Of the prophecies which have already been fulfilled, few, perhaps, are so interesting in themselves, or so striking in their accomplishment, as those which relate to the
destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the signal calamities which every where befel the Jewish nation. The
chief of our Lord's predictions, relative to these events, are contained in Matt. 24 ch. Mark, 13 ch., Luke 21 ch., Ib. 19 ch. 41-44 ; Ib. 23 ch. 27-30 : and we may with confidence appeal to the
facts which verify them as conclusive and incontrovertible proofs of the divinity of his mission. Before, however, we enter upon this illustration, it may be gratifying to the reader, and add considerably to the interest of many of the subsequent pages, to give in this place a brief description of that renowned city and its temple..............
Thus awfully complete an ever, beyond example, were the calamities which befel the Jewish nation, and especially the city of Jerusalem. With what truth, then, did our LORD declare, that there should "be great tribulation,
such as was not since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be !" (Matt. xxiv. 21.) Such was the pre
diction : the language in which Josephus declares its
fulfillment is an exact counterpart to it : "If the misfortunes," says he, " of all nations, from
the beginning of the world, were compared with those which befel the Jews, they would appear far less in comparison ;" and again, "No
other city ever suffered such
thing's, as no other generation , from the
beginning of the world, was ever more fruitful in wickedness." These were, indeed, "the days of vengeance," that all things which are written (especially by Moses, Joel, and Daniel,) might be fulfilled." Luke xxi. 22. Nor were the calamities of this ill-fated nation even now ended ; for there were still other places to subdue ; and our LORD had thus predicted, "
wheresoever the carcass is,
there will the
eagles be gathered together." (Matt. xxiv. 28.
