When Torpedoes Take a U-Turn
I have been wrestling with the subject of Biblical
eschatology for quite some time now. Some of you
may remember that I submitted a series of articles
on this site entitled “Sinking the Ship of Hyper-Preterism”
(Full-Preterism). - by Joe Puckett Jr.
When Torpedoes Take a U-Turn
In this series I claimed to have shot some “torpedoes”
which were supposed to have sunk the Preterist view.
But since that time the “torpedoes” have taken an unexpected
u-turn. While I have been tossed “to and fro” in times
past, my studies have now led me to what I believe is
the truth of Covenant Eschatology. But, like everyone
else who becomes convinced of fulfilled eschatology,
all sorts of issues and questions consequently come up.
Questions like, “If Jesus has already come and is now
present with His church, and if the resurrection is an
accomplished reality, then what is left for us? What are
the implications of fulfilled eschatology?”. The answer
to these questions is where many Preterists differ the
most. Frankly, there are many things that have not
changed since my coming to Preterism. But there are
many things that have changed. Additionally I don’t
have to be a prophet to know that more things will
change as I continue to study and grow. But in this
short piece I would like to explain some implications
that have arisen since I know understand that Christ
has come.
Since Christ has come I view my baptism differently.
It is sad to hear that some people who have taken a
Preterist view of Scripture have taken the view that baptism
is no longer needed as it once was in the first century.
But instead of thinking that baptism is no longer valid
after AD 70, I view it as all the more significant.
The first century church was being baptized in eager
anticipation of the imminent completion of God’s promises.
Today we are baptized in view of God’s fulfilled promises.
While they were being baptized into a Spiritual Temple that
was being built (Eph. 2:19-22) we are baptized into the
Spiritual Temple that has been finished, Revelation 21-22!
While their resurrection out of baptism was in the process
of being perfected (Rom. 6:1-5), since the coming of Christ,
our resurrection out of baptism has been perfected,
Phil. 3:10-21.
The difference between the pre-AD 70 church and now is not
that we are two separate churches entering in the Kingdom
through two different ways. Rather, the difference is that
the House was then being built, and has now been finished.
We enter the same Spiritual Temple through the same way
they did, i.e. faith and baptism, Acts 2:38, Gal. 3:26-28.
But after AD 70 the Spiritual Temple simply has all the
stones in place.
Some have argued that baptism was a part of that which was
passing away as in the case of the many symbolic “washings”
of the Law of Moses, i.e. Hebrew 9:10. But while many of
these washings were typical of forgiveness and baptism,
Christian baptism itself was not a part of these washings.
Baptism “into Christ” is included anti-typical work of
redemption, Gal. 3:26-28. It was part of the “substance”
not the “shadow”. If we have time right now we could
compare the obvious contrast Paul makes between the
role of “baptism” in Col. 2:11-13 and the passing elements
of the Law in Col. 2:14-17. But right now I will only
ask you to turn there a see the contrasts yourself.
Nevertheless, just as the church itself did not end in
AD 70, neither did it’s terms of admittance end there
either, Acts 2:38-47, 1 Cor. 12:13.
I view my salvation differently. Some Preterists have
unfortunately concluded that since death has been defeated,
everyone is unconditionally raised to Life with God.
Universalism is the view that no one will be lost. But
the truth of the matter is that the Bible says that only
those “in Christ” will be saved. All “spiritual blessings
in heavenly places” are found only “in Him”, Eph. 1:3.
There is no salvation outside the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:8.
Yes, death has been defeated, 1 Tim. 1:10. But it is only
“in Christ” that this defeat is appropriated in the life of
the individual. So we must be baptized “into Christ” to
be raised to walk the New Life given to us, Romans 6:3-4,
Gal. 3:26-27. While being the pinnacle of man’s separation
from God (1 Cor. 15:56), the Law of Moses was not the
only thing that caused death. Death reigned well before
the Law was given, Romans 5:14. So mankind does not
need the Law of Moses to be lost. Today, death still reigns
over the one who does not have Christ. But “in Christ”
death is fully and finally defeated.
But while my view of who will be saved has not changed,
I now view the salvation I have differently. While I used
to think salvation was still incomplete until some future
day, now I know that God has completely, fully, and finally
forgiven my sins and saved my soul. While Paul could say
that salvation was “near” for him in Romans 13:11, we can
confidently affirm that salvation is here for us now! While
the redemption of the pre-AD 70 saints was drawing near
(Luke 21:28, Eph. 1:13-14) our redemption is already here
(Gal. 5:5)!!
I view biological death differently. For so long I believed
that after I die I would have to wait in Hades for, who
knows how long, until I could go to Heaven someday.
Now I know that after death, I will enter Heaven itself.
Sure, I am already in God’s presence and fellowship here
on earth. And yes, Heaven and Resurrection Life are mine
even now. But after biological death those of us in Christ
will experience Heaven with all its beauty and joy forever,
Phil. 1:21-23.
When Jesus entered into the Holiest of Holies He became
our “forerunner”, Heb. 6:19-20. This means that His word
enabled us to follow Him into Heaven itself. The time when
mankind could actually enter Heaven after Jesus did was
when He returned a “second time” for salvation, Heb. 9:28.
It was only when the “first tabernacle” no longer stood that
the way into the Holiest of Holies was made manifest,
Heb. 9:8. When God’s vengeance was met on Old Covenant
Israel then man was allowed to enter into God’s Temple,
Revelation 15:8. It was those days of vengeance when all
things which were written would be fulfilled and when full
redemption came, Luke 21:22, 28. The fulfillment of these
things is what we enjoy today.
I view my fellowship with God differently. In connection
with the last point, I never really thought about the fact
that if we still wait in Hades after we die, then we are
still not in God’s full presence and fellowship yet. Never
did it dawn on me that if I have to wait in Hades, then
my sins were not yet forgiven. According to Paul the
sting of death (Hades) is sin, 1 Cor. 15:55. If I am still
a citizen of Hades, then I am still bound to its sting
(sin). But if I am fully forgiven, then I am no longer
bound to sin. But if I am not longer bound to sin,
then Hades has no hold on me. But if Hades has no hold
on me, then I have full fellowship with God now and am
truly Heaven bound!!
I view the church differently. While the first century
church was the “New Exodus” community, we are the
“Promise Land” community. Just as Israel had to wait
for the promise land for forty years, so did the church
have to wait for her promises for forty years (AD 30-70).
But after those forty years, Israel (along with Joshua)
finally entered the land of promise. So also after AD 70,
we too (along with Jesus) enter the real and spiritual
Land of Promise, Hebrew 4. But just as Israel was the
same Israel before and after they walked through to
Canaan’s land, so also the church is still the same church
before and after AD 70. The difference is that just as
Israel received what God promised them after they entered
the Land, so also God has finished His work for all those
in the church after AD 70.
So, as you can see, a lot of things have opened up for me
since my understanding of eschatology has changed. But
there are a great many things that have still remained the
same. But I thank God so much for keeping His promises
and for giving us Life with Him. And I thank God for the
riches that are yet to be found in His Word as I continue
my search for His truth!
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