Kindred, you are a preterist. There are two major problems with preterism. First, in order to support the notion of an A.D. 70 fulfillment of the large number of details surrounding the tribulation, preterists must use an unwarranted allegorical interpretative approach. Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 19:11-21 must somehow be understood to represent Christ coming mysteriously through the Roman army which conquered Jerusalem in A.D 70.
A second major error of preterism is the confusion of judgment and salvation in relation to the nation of Israel. Preterism sees only judgment toward Israel in passages that speak of the tribulation, such as the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17:20-37) and Revelation 4-19.
Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 19:11-21 must somehow be understood to represent Christ coming mysteriously through the Roman army which conquered Jerusalem in A.D 70.
Why is that a stretch? God sent the Assyrians and Babylonians against Samaria and Judah.
I think you meant to address grumpa.
There are two major problems with preterism. First, in order to support the notion of an A.D. 70 fulfillment of the large number of details surrounding the tribulation, preterists must use an unwarranted allegorical interpretative approach.
al•le•gor•i•cal (ăl'ĭ-gôr'ĭ-kəl, -gŏr'-) also al•le•gor•ic adj.Preterism is not based on allegorical interpretation. Anyone who asserts that it is either a) doesn’t understand preterism, or b) doesn’t understand allegories (or both).
- Of, characteristic of, or containing allegory: an allegorical painting of Victory leading an army.al•le•go•ry (ăl'ĭ-gôr'ē, -gōr'ē) n., pl. -ries.
1.
a. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
b. A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's Moby Dick are allegories.
2. A symbolic representation: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.
What confuses most people is some variation on definition 2 above, symbolical interpretation. But few people deny symbolical interpretation in the Bible, e.g., the beast and great whore of Revelation are both symbolical representations of something else.
A second major error of preterism is the confusion of judgment and salvation in relation to the nation of Israel.
This has nothing to do with preterism per se. All non-dispensational/futurist views of the end times deny the dispensational view of the Church and Israel, and that there is still some future catastrophic judgment awaiting national Israel where 2/3 of those Jews living in Israel will be killed. That is merely an interpretative fantasy that some folks get to by ignoring the significance of the events of AD70 in God’s covenant program for the nations.