Gene Shaparenko brings up interesting points concerning preterism.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
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Preterism: Part Of The Church's Final Apostacy
by Gene Shaparenko
INTRODUCTION:
"For the time shall come when they will not endure sound doctrine but, after
their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables". 2 Tim. 4: 3-4.
In 2 Tim 4: 3-4 Paul is not talking about the unsaved heathen who are
without prior knowledge of Jesus Christ and salvation.
Instead, he is talking about individuals who have had prior knowledge of
sound doctrine, but because of their own desires for "a more intimate
knowledge", a "deeper understanding" or other intellectual as opposed to
spiritual interpretations of scripture, have turned away from the truth and
have found others of similar mind (and teachers) who also question the
orthodox faith and through their private interpretations, internet groups as
well as home study and discussion groups have concluded that man has the
power to do what only God is capable: turn the hearts and minds of the
unsaved to Christ.
The bible warns us about these individuals and their last day's teachers:
"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" : 2
Tim, 3: 7.
Apostasy, according to Webster, means a turning away from the faith. It also
means
"having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof". 2 Tim 3:5.
In the present case to be discussed, the "form of godliness" is the
presumption of a new biblical interpretation and through the use of selected
biblical scripture and phraseology, create an end result where the resultant
theology is powerless and degenerates to a false doctrine.
The secular world has no faith, so it has nothing to "turn away from", thus
apostasy does not apply to the unsaved. Secondly, the world or does not have
a "form of godliness" so it has no pretense to use biblical arguments.
Apostasy thus clearly applies to those who are
"...ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" 2
Timothy 3:7.
and in the process having a FORM of godliness but since their theology is
false and powerless, they essentially deny the power of the scriptures.
WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
Preterism, derived from a Latin word meaning "past", holds that the time of
Jesus' second coming("parousia" in the Greek) was A.D. 70, or at the time of
the Roman destruction of Jerusalem.
To the preterist, AD 70 was the "end of the ages" prophesied by Scripture;
Christ returned then; the dead were raised then; the final judgment took
place then; creation was renewed then. The preterist believes we are now
living in the New Heaven and New Earth.
"Since the coming of Christ, as predicted in the New Testament documents,
has already taken place, little scriptural basis exists for perpetuating the
doctrine that it still lies in the future".
Page 216 - "The Promise of His Coming: interpreting New Testament Statements
concerning the Time of Christ's Appearance". Laudemont Press, 1996, R.C.
Leonard and J.E. Leonard.
In the Preterist's theology, to expect a visible, bodily return of Jesus, a
future resurrection of the dead, a final judgment, and a cataclysmic
destruction of the present creation(heavens and earth) on the basis of any
prophecy of Scripture is therefore incorrect. According to the preterist,
all of this has taken place in the past, at the time of destruction of the
Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
"We have presented the evidence that the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70
represents the fulfillment of what the apostolic church knew as the promise
of Jesus' coming and the end of the age. The future hope of today's church,
therefore, lies in another direction".
Same reference as above - page 219
In their intellectual rush to support this thesis, both the Old and New
Testament prophecies regarding Israel, the Church and when all these
prophecies are to come about, has been turned upside down. In short,
preterists have been turned to fables and to the apparent "wisdom of men"
versus the Word of God.
The preterist of course denies this and screams bloody murder that they have
properly interpreted the Scripture. One needs only to look at the basic
elements of orthodox Christian beliefs to find the preterist theology as
completely bogus and without merit.
One writer, in reviewing this AD 70 heresy, commented recently that dealing
with preterism is like cleaning the kitty litter box; one hates to fool with
it, but it has to be done. In this context, one needs to be thankful that
cats aren't larger than they are!
SOME DEFINITIONS REGARDING INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY
There are four approaches to interpreting prophecy, and all related to time:
past, present, future, and timeless. These are known as preterism (past),
historicism (present), futurism (future), and idealism (timeless).1 We would
add a fifth approach known as eclectic (mixed).
Preterist - the events prophesied in the New Testament were fulfilled by 70
AD.
Full/Consistent Preterists believe this includes all prophecies, including
Jesus second advent, which they claim happened in 70 AD.
Historicism: Describes major events of Christian history spanning from
John's time to the Second Coming of Christ.
Futurist - the events prophesied in the New Testament are in the future
(perhaps having some partial fulfillment in past events) with notable the
exception of the siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple which
occurred in 70 AD.
Idealism: Describes spiritual truths. Good will eventually prevail over
evil. Readers are encouraged in their current trials.
Ecclectic: Typically favors idealism while borrowing some elements from
other systems.
Amillennialism - the doctrine of no "earthly" millennial reign, or no
"earthly" 1000 year reign. It identifies the belief that Christ established
His Kingdom by His Death, Resurrection, and ascension to the throne of God
in heaven, and thus that the kingdom of God is now being extended throughout
the world through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. this doctrine does
not hold that Christ must come to a worldly throne in earthly Jerusalem.
Rather, it teaches that Christ reigns now and that after this present
kingdom reign is over, Christ will return in judgment of the quick and the
dead.
Postmillennialism/Reconstructionism - the belief that the kingdom of God is
now being extended throughout the world through the preaching of the Gospel
of Christ. In this respect only is it similar to historic Amillennialism.
But in contrast to Amillennialism, the belief is that the world will
eventually become Christianized, and that the Millennium (1000 years) is
this golden age or period of righteousness, peace, and prosperity on earth.
Post-millennial, meaning that they believe Christ comes "after" this golden
age or millennial period.
Premillennialism - the doctrine that sometime in the future Christ will
return to establish a literal political and earthly Kingdom in Jerusalem and
will reign 1000 years on earth. Pre-millennial, meaning that Christ comes to
establish this Kingdom pre or "before" the millennium.
There is much room for crossover between Amillennialism and
Postmillennialism. And because of this, Preterists may consider themselves
members of either camp. Because of the intricacies of Preterist doctrine, it
is difficult for Preterists to accept a literal return of Christ to the
earth FOLLOWED BY a literal 1000-year reign here (i.e. Premillennialism.)
VARIATIONS OF PRETERISM
For Full Preterists, Premillennialism is impossible because they believe the
second advent occurred in 70 AD and we know that no literal 1000-year reign
followed. If we imagine one did, then we are now living almost 1000 years
post-millennially into eternity.
For Partial Preterists, Premillenialism is possible but unlikely. For the
same reasons they reject a future fulfillment of most New Testament
prophecy, they are likely to reject any literal 1000-year reign of Christ on
earth.
THE ROOTS OF PRETERISM
Preterism had its foundation early in the church age and periodically rears
its head by way of postmillennial thought and more recently by way of
Reconstructionists who have been pressing their theology through the
Presbyterian and Reformed movements as well as vocally through the late John
Roushdouny, Y2K' s Gary North and the late David Chilton.
Preterism's theology is so far off the wall that it finds little pulpit
support even amongst mainline Protestantism. Thus, it relies on the
Internet, study fellowships and the like for expansion. One notable
exception is Preterism's subtle incursion into the Reformed and Presbyterian
churches. That this occuring is largely due to postmillennial Christian
Reconstructionism.
Early scholars such as Origen and Augustine did great damage to the early
beliefs of the Church Fathers, the immediate successors of the apostles, by
taking extensive liberties in applying Gnostic and Greek philosophy to the
interpretation process.
The result was dramatic and had the effect of throwing the world into the
Dark Ages and the bible text into confusion with private interpretation by
way of spiritualizing or allegorizing certain texts which did not mesh with
Origen and Augustine's predetermined beliefs.
Modern day preterism has bought into this misdirection lock, stock and
barrel and has amplified it through extensive publishing and Internet
activities, soundly denouncing any and all who would dare to question its
confused hermeunetics and resultant eschatological views.
IS PRETERISM HERESY OR SIMPLY FALSE DOCTRINE?
Hermeunetics, the process by which interpretive techniques were applied to
scripture, in the preterist's view, now rested in an individual's personal
viewpoint as to whether a particular scriptural statement were to be taken
literally as stated in the original text or as a spiritual happening or a
simple allegory.
In short, the Bible's direct statements as preserved by the original church
fathers, were now at the mercy of any individual who didn't agree with a
particular phrase or concept and which now could be interpreted in any
manner suitable to that individual.
"...no prophecy is of private interpretation". 2 Peter 1:20.
So began in the late 1800's the process of what can today be defined as
"higher criticism"; a process whereby what the originally penned scripture
said is questioned and in most cases changed to a watered down or private
interpretation. This destructive process has not been lost on preterists who
appear to take great joy in finding fault with literal translations of the
original texts.
As a result, an entirely "new gospel" has evolved, one which essentially
denies the basic tenants of orthodox Christianity.
This type of "its already happened" treatment of bible prophecy is so off
the wall, scripturally speaking, that one wonders how anyone ever falls for
it. But they do. (teachers having itching ears) And, preterists gleefully
point to converts from other eschatological beliefs, such as
premillinialists, who have renounced orthodox beliefs and have slid into the
mire of apostacy with the preterists.
Tough words? Perhaps so. But the proof that you can see without being a
latin or greek scholar will follow below.
Preterists have an uncontrollable penchant for parsing various scriptural
words and phrases, relying on what they believe are relevant greek or latin
translations which support a prior assumption. Former President Bill Clinton
was a master of this parsing process in his evasive testimony regarding his
fornication activities in the White House and other locations. Preterists
don't seem to be able to grasp the entirety of the Holy Scriptures, rather
looking for isolated proof texts upon which to create an entirely new Gospel
and eschatology.
WHAT IS THE BASIS OF THE PRETERIST VIEW?
Much of what motivates preterists boils down to what Christ meant in his
Olivet Discourse in Matthew
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these
things be fulfilled" Matt. 24:34
The preterist claims that Christ was referring to those living at that time
(or that generation standing with him) and they thus claim that all end
times activities which were described in the earlier verses of Matthew 24
occurred and concluded at the destruction of Jerusalem. Having made that
assumption, they proceed to destroy the literal translations of any
contradictory textual reference in both the New and Old Testaments which is
remotely related to the description of future fulfillment of prophetic
events beyond AD 70.
Matthew 24:33(immediately preceeding) says:
"...when ye shall see ALL these things, know that it(My second coming) is
near, even at the doors"
A reading of the entirety of Matthew 24 indicates the future occurrance of
worldwide cataclysmic events, which clearly did not happen prior to AD 70.
This fact alone completely destroys the preterist position. Many other,
equally devastating arguments can be made which demonstrates the false
gospel of preterism.
Present-day preterism draws heavily from a book by the 19th century
Congregational writer, James Stuart Russell. The book is The Parousia: A
Critical Inquiry into the New Testament Doctrine of Our Lordís Second
Coming. In one of the more recent editions,, according to Russell, on page
362, the entire book of Revelation, with the embarrassing exception of the
millennium of Chapter 20, found its complete fulfillment in the destruction
of Jerusalem.
Russell states on page 549:
"... we are compelled to conclude that the Parousia, or second coming of
Christ, with its connected and concomitant events, did take place, according
to the Saviour's own prediction, at the period which Jerusalem was
destroyed, and before the passing away of "that generation"".
Preterists firmly believe this!
Like the Reconstuctionists who have followed in his footsteps, Russell
marginalizes the Jewish people and their prophetic future as well as denying
a future "new heaven and new earth" on pages 222-223 by stating:
"... the (future) renewal of creation is not a coming deliverance of the
irrational and inanimate creation but the liberation of groaning, suffering
and down-trodden humanity when the whole visible fabric and frame of Judaism
were swept away in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70."
So, the entirety of the preteristís theology rests on a portion of one verse
in Matthew 24 and the words of a Congregational writer!
WHAT DOES THIS FALSE THEOLOGY MEAN TO US TODAY?
Preterism destroys the Christian hope; the soon-coming of Jesus Christ our
Lord in the body to raise our bodies from the dead and to take us unto
Himself in a perfected fellowship.
With the scoffers of 2 Peter 3:4, preterism asks.
"...where is the promise of His coming"
and with Hymenaeus and Philetus, it says that the resurrection is past
already. 2 Timothy 2:18.
Preterism is an outright rejection of the Christian hope with a vengeance.
The preteristís hero, James Stuart Russell, admits as much. Having
annihilated the expectation of Christ's coming on the part of the church and
the Christian, he imagines his readers asking.
"Whether are we tending? What is to be the end and consummation of human
history? What are our prospects" What wre the prospects of the believers and
their children after A.D. 70?"
And, what is Russell's answer to these questions?
"Scripture prophecy guides us no further(page 549) and "Where nothing has
been revealed it would be the height of presumption to prognosticate the
future(page 550)."
The preterist has to deal with many questions which their theology simply
cannot answer. They either deny that the scripture in question had any
literal meaning or they simply skip over it in their rush to create a
private interpretation.
ADDITIONAL HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRETERISM
Premillennialism and literal scriptural interpretation dominated the first
two centuries of the Church Fathers.
As noted above, the existing Gnostic and Greek philosophic thinking at that
time strongly influenced Origin and his protoges, including Augustine and
later Calvin and today through the Reconstructionist movement which
considers themselves Calvinists for the most part.
This Gnosticism led the early church away from what originally was a
strongly pre-millennial eschatology into a process which ultimately allowed
the Roman Catholic church to remove the bible from the hands of the laity
and place it instead in the hands of the Magisterium where subsequent
interpretations were more closely aligned with church traditions, thus
placing tradition on an equal or higher authoritative level than scripture.
The Reformation succeeded in reorienting scriptural interpretations away
from the personal interpretation activities of the Catholic Church and
reinstituted a resurgence of pre-millennial eschatology.
Allegorical and spiritual interpretation did not die easily, as it was
essentially the bread and butter of the Roman Catholic church which still
refused to allow the Holy Scripture to establish the Church's theology.
About this time, postmillennial(preterist) thinking came into focus as a
result of this long hibernation period of spiritualization and allegorical
interpretation. As noted earlier, present day preterism, and its many
variants, draws heavily from a book by a 19th century Congregational writer,
James Stuart Russell entitled "The Parousia: a Critical Inquiry into the New
Testament Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming".
The book, first published in 1878, has provided fodder for the
Reconstructionist and Kingdom Now(Dominion) followers and "My kingdom is not
of this world" John 18:36.
Preterists do not have a hope for an eternal reward, since they do not
believe in the future judgement of believer's works and the rewards of the
various crowns promised in Scripture.
They are led to believe this because they do not expect that bodily return
of Christ and hence, as Paul said to Timothy:
" Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of rightenousness, which the
Lord, the righteous juge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing".
2 Tim. 4:8.
"... Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Spirit". 2 Peter
1:20.
Preterism as well as Reconstructionism(and postmillennialism) has admittedly
come from private biblical interpretation as clearly stated by Coalition on
Revival publisher(for the Reconstruction and preterist movement) Dr. Jay
Grimstead(Crosswinds, Fall 1992, pp2-3):
"The biblical view of the Kingdom of God recent has been REDISCOVERED by
many of us who HAD TO LEARN ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON OUR OWN, with the
help or encouragement from our churches or denominations. We discovered this
view BY READING CONTROVERSIAL LITERATURE ALMOST PRIVATELY.
"All of us STUMBLED ON THESE BURIED AND FORGOTTEN TRUTHS. We are attempting,
THROUGH ORGANIZED DEBATE, EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND PUBLISHING to apply these
principles".
Incredible! Here, we have a group of supposedly intelligent individuals who,
on their own, with admittedly private interpretation and group discussions
have succeeded in creating a new prophetic outlook for all mankind.
The use of "controversial literature" is apparently key to this new and
apparently "hidden" information. And, what does "organized debate" provide
to the end product other than a further dilution of scripture,
"...once delivered unto the saints" Jude 3.
Scripture says that when Jesus ascended into Glory after the resurrection,
his disciples and followers watched him physically lifted up into the
clouds. An angel stood near them and said
"...This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven". Acts 1:11.
The preterist cannot provide the proof that Jesus physically returned to
earth in the same physical manner that the disciples witnessed his ascension
into heaven.
How much more proof is needed that the Preterist viewpoint is heresy?
THE PRETERIST/RECONSTUCTIONIST LINK TO NEW EVANGELICALISM
Although these two ideologies had different origins, they are subtly
converging in several areas which should be of concern to bible believing
Christians.
New Evangelicalism had its beginning in 1948 when Harold Ockenga declared
its inception in a Fuller Theological Seminary convocation message delivered
in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Sparing the details here, Ockenga
basically declared that Christian separation from the secular world was
unacceptable and that a strong social involvement in civic and governmental
affairs was the goal of New Evangelicalism.
In other words, fundamentalism, dispensationalism and their related
eschatology represented a harsh, strife-filled doctrine and was to be
discarded and replaced with a new, man-oriented "work" that would result in
a worldwide conversion or salvation process.
On the road to Jerusalem one day, one of the disciples asked about this
issue and the Lord answered:
"...Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, strive to
enter in at the narrow gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter
in, and shall not be able." Luke 13:23.
In this process, the New Evangelicals thus viewed themselves as "honest
scholars, repentant liberals, compassionate social activists and great
preachers" who were to intellectually seek a middle ground in theological
controversies where things moral and spiritual were previously considered
either right or wrong. This strategy of infiltration of the social culture
rather than one of separation where error is identified and biblically
rebuked was the new marching order.
Preterists and Reconstructionists simply took a different route to
essentially the same theological view and together with most New
Evangalicals contend that the Bible and faith must be defended
intellectually in meaning according to intellectual arguments and secular
standards. This is pure and unadulterated Gnosticism.
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