Post by Brother Ben on Oct 22, 2010 11:15:32 GMT -5
The Error of Preterism
Preterism is a teaching that is creeping, sometimes jumping, into churches. Preterism simply means "already ended." (pre-before, ter-terminate.) They focus on the gross misinterpretation of the Olivet Discourse as recorded in Matt. 24 and Lukes discourse in Luke 21. They claim these events all took place, including the second coming and the new heavens and the new earth in 70 A.D.
The Olivet Discourse
Notice some important differences in these passages:
Mat 24:15 ¶ When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
Luk 21:20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
It is not unrealistic to believe Jesus could have been talking about 70 A.D. in the Luke passage, but the Matthew passage is clear the end times. Jesus very well may have had two different discussions with the disciples in regards to the destruction of Jerusalem. However, they do GROSS misjustice to the word of God and prophecy with their treatment of the second coming and the new heaven and the new earth.
The Second Coming
They claim that Jesus did not "literally" come back in 70 A.D., but only spiritually. They say that he will never come back and that the earth will go on like it is indefinately. This is just liberal skepticism dressed in Reform Theology garb. This is a lie from hell.
The Bible says:
Act 1:9 ¶ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The following preterist arguments against the traditional meaning of Acts 1:9-11 comes from Keith A. Matheson’s article titled, “Acts 1:9-11 and the Hyper-Preterist Debate.”
(Originally at: www.ligonier.org/articles/Act...rpreterism.pdf)
J. Stuart Russell was the original author of full preterism. He says that “in like manner” should not be pressed to far. He then points out differences between the ascension and the return as with the angels. He thus denies that the return will actually be all the way to the ground. But that’s not the obvious meaning that Luke intended, based on the words of the two angels.
Max King, of Presence Ministries International, says that “in like manner” simply means that it’s the same Jesus who will return. He says it’s not a physical appearance. He denies that we will actually see him.
Randall E. Otto is an author that is cited regularly by full preterists. He denies that Christ’s resurrected body was actually physical. So, he argues, the return of Christ is spiritual and invisible in nature. He describes the ascension as not something physical that they were actually seeing, but that Christ was spiritually lifted up in their understanding of his statue or dignity.
Edward E. Stevens, president of the International Preterists Association, equates the ascension with the high priest ascending into the holy of holies in heaven. Thus it’s not to be interpreted as a literal ascension. The coming in 70 AD is suppose to be when Christ returned from the holy of holies to announce that his blood had been accepted. “In the same way” meant that Jesus came in the clouds in 70 AD, but not back to earth.
John Noe is the founder of the Prophecy Reformation Institute. He believes that “in like manner” means that people would not see Christ when he returned because he would remain hidden in the clouds.
This is balderdash! This last guy literally REVERSES they meaning of the text.
Gen 3:1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ...
The New Heavens and the New Earth
They claim the new heaven and the new earth is not literal, but is a reference to a new "covenant."
Again, what does the Bible say:
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The passage is clear, and they become the VERY people it is talking about. In Philip Brown's article, Problems With Preterism, he states:
Full preterists believe the “new heavens and new earth” is the “new covenant.” They argue that the new covenant was not completely established until 70 AD. This is done using Hebrews 8:13, which says the old covenant was obsolete, aging, and would soon disappear. They will argue that the destruction of the present heavens and earth, in 2 Peter 3, would be the destruction of the present covenant. Thus, they argue that Peter referred to the old covenant as the present covenant, saying that the present covenant would be destroyed by fire. Then they argue the fire is figurative, or that it’s literal fire that destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.
They say the "spiritual" second coming of Jesus, invisibily, was as the High Priest, coming out of the Holy of Holies, bringing the New Covenant to mankind.
The Real Second Coming
Rev 22:12 ¶ And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Jesus has NOT already given his rewards to those who follow him becasue they have not all been born yet, or at least have not since 70 A.D. This teaching completely takes the TRUTH of scripture, redefines all the terminology, and deals it out for those who doubt the veracity of God's word.
Peter warned:
2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
There may be some discussion as to the whens and wheres of the sequence of events of the Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, but this we know...it is yet in the future, he is coming in Glory! and ALL eyes shall see him.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
He cometh, future tense.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.