Video: Introduction to Preterism

You Tube ^ | 2011 | Alan Bondar

[grumpa]

It is suggested that the viewer not change his mind about Bible prophecy based on this video. But as preterism is probably the fastest growing view of eschatology in the church, we are going to be hearing more and more about it. This video might encourage the viewer to do more study. It is by a young pastor in Florida:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWHiykrDzGo&list=UUeL-YuC4w5ZryACp5B-DWzQ&index=6&feature=plcp.

[grumpa]

Millennialism, the view that Christ will come again to establish a political utopian kingdom on earth is the dominant view of eschatology among American evangelicals. Billy Graham (bless his heart) began in 1934 telling the world to expect the soon return of Christ. He is just one in a long line of questionable prophets as indeed some Christians throughout history have been falsely predicting various eschatological events. What’s wrong with this picture? Perhaps futurists are making the same mistake about the Second Coming that the Jews made in the first century concerning the First Coming. After a 2000 year string of prophetic failures by Christians who think the end of the world is just around the corner, many Christians are re-examining what the Bible really has to say about this topic.

Millennialism was effectively rejected by the church at the Councils of Constantinople (381 AD) and Ephesus (431 AD). John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (3.25.5) said that millennialism (“chiliasm”) is a “fiction” that is “too childish either to need or to be worth a refutation.” Lutherans also formally rejected millennialism in The Augsburg Confession (Article XVII), as did Martin Luther himself. But the church just cannot seem to get over its fascination with Armageddonism.

Young people especially are fed up with many questionable doctrines and practices in the church: slaying-in-the-spirit, transubstantiation, left-behind rapturism, etc. They are no longer satisfied to accept carte blanche what is being fed to them and are ready to re-examine church teaching. They want solid biblical answers unfettered by sectarian tradition or weak exegesis. With the internet, it is now difficult to hide behind questionable doctrine.

We are called to test all things and hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so (Acts 17:11). Given these commands, we ourselves have a few questions for questions on matters of eschatology:

http://prophecyquestions.wordpress.com/.

[sinanju]

What’s “eschatology”?

Is it related to the “eschaton”?

(as in: “don’t immanetize”).

[BipolarBob]

Billy Graham (bless his heart) began in 1934 telling the world to expect the soon return of Christ. He is just one in a long line of questionable prophets as indeed some Christians throughout history have been falsely predicting various eschatological events. What’s wrong with this picture?

The Rev.Graham is not a questionable prophet. He is doing what he is supposed to be doing. Telling people to get ready for the Lords imminent return, because we don't know the day or the hour, and we don't want to be caught unprepared. How soon is imminent? A couple of thousand years is a just a blink in geologic terms. But Billy ain't as questionable as the questioner.

[Linda Frances]

We are called to test all things and hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so (Acts 17:11). Given these commands, we ourselves have a few questions for questions on matters of eschatology:

The Bereans.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

So are you advocating partial preterism or full preterism?

[Recovering_Democrat]

I believe preterism is the best explanation for most eschatology...but I also believe eschatology is a branch of theology wherein we ought to have lots of charity...one’s view of the end times, whatever that means, isn’t as crucial as man’s view of sin, Christ’s death and resurrection, and salvation by faith.

[Recovering_Democrat]

James Stuart Russell’s “The Parousia” was the book that really got me to think openly about preterism.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I do object to the denigration of Billy Graham. He is a man of God.

[Migraine]

I’ll admit that preterism was a defensible position prior to 1948; but when in 1948, over 50 specific prophecies of the return of Israel to its rightful homeland were fulfilled “in a day”, I would think it would be hard to spiritualize those prophecies any longer.
Since the usual way to spiritualize the prophecies of the return of Israel is to ascribe them to the “coming home” of the Gospel into the heart of a believer, rather than interpreting them as an actual physical return to the physical geography of “Palestine” by actual descendants of Jacob, this position is referred to by dispensationalists as “Replacement Theology”. In its essence is the claim that God no longer has any plans for Israel in particular.
I am very much enthused by the return of Israel, and by God’s sustaining them, as He promised to do in the last verse of the Prophet Amos. This is very faith-building for me. And I am appalled that a Christian could believe that God is finished with Israel.

[Bellflower]

And I am appalled that a Christian could believe that God is finished with Israel.

For any Christian who is an avid reader of The Bible it is or at least borders on delusional.

[Bellflower]

2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2Peter 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.

[.45 Long Colt]

Romans 2:28-29

King James Version (KJV)

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

For many years I believed much as you believe. I was raised in dispensationalism and graduated from a Southern Baptist University where I had formal training in dispensational theology. But my views began to change when God opened my eyes on the matter of Divine Sovereignty. I didn’t want to believe any of it because it went against so much of what I had been taught. I could see how it called into question dispensational eschatology. Eventually, however, I was simply overwhelmed with the truth. And it radically changed my life.

I really hope you will take the time to either watch or download the MP3 or PDF (for free) of the sermon entitled “He is a Jew” by Brother Henry Mahan, an old Baptist pastor from Kentucky. That sermon was preached in the mid-80’s, but I bet it will make you think hard about this topic. You will be challenged in a good way.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=41107162134

A few other favorites:

“Jacob Have I Love, Esau Have I Hated.”
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=4100621136

“Wherein Do We Differ?”
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=711062196

“They Cry Peace When There is No Peace”
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=140617590

[runninglips]

Bookmarked for later perusal.

[Anti-Hillary]

Yours is the most thoughtful answer. I dare say if Jewish leaders at the time of Christ had recognized prophecy of His first coming, not as allegorical, but rather literal and had been looking for that babe in a manger, a savior, and not a conqueror, they would have recognized Him in greater numbers, just as Nicodemus did. The same holds true for His second coming. While God holds many mysteries, His word is living, breathing and LITERAL!!! The fulfillment in 1948, just as the fulfillments 2012 years ago were LITERAL, those yet to be fulfilled are also LITERAL!

I implore any and all to study the 7 feasts. There you will find keys to unlock prophecy. Christ was a literal fulfillment of the true meaning of of the first 4 and will be the LITERAL fulfillment of the last 3 in His second coming.

DO NOT be like the “religious” during the time of Christ's birth who did not see because they did not seek and SCOUR the text. Prophecy is yet to be fulfilled and this time it is going to be a doosy! Do not be caught off guard be because you swallowed what was spoon fed to you, but rather seek on your own. The Holy Spirit will be faithful to guide into all truth!

Shalom

[StonyBurk]

And one might consider the parable of the ten virgins? Where
Jesus of Nazareth was teaching about ten virgins some wise and some foolish. Some came prepared —with oil for their lamps—For none know when He will come for His Bride.I am sorry if I offend any —but I do believe we are called to be
ready -to watch —and to wait for His return. I was taught that the church had replaced the Jew-But that doctrine does NOT reflect what Paul wrote to the Believers at Rome. As as the Revelation of Jesus Christ anticipates a new Jerusalem—so do I.Where there will be neither Jew ,Nor Gentile,and No more tears. No man can know ,not even the bridegroom ,and this too reflects Jewish tradition-I am told.The promise of His coming remains as sure as the sun rising in the morning.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

the key is understanding who the Israel of God is.

is Israel all those that are saved, those “ in Christ”

OR is Israel those people sharing a certain DNA.

of course God isn’t thru with Israel, He is thru with those that reject Jesus Christ.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

The Church is Israel, this is orthodox Christian doctrine for 2,000 years.

the dispensational nonsense did not appear on the world until the 19th century ( same with mormonism, seventh day adventists and jehovah witnesses, what a century for heresy! )

[Lee N. Field]

So are you advocating partial preterism or full preterism?

From the YooToob link: "In this video, Pastor Alan Bondar provides an explanation and a defense of full preterism."

Google on Alan Bodnar.

Readers might want to peruse "Two Dozen (or so) Orthodox Arguments Against Hyper-Preterism ".

It's rather disingenuous to bring up Luther's and Calvin's, and the patristic, rejection of chiliasm, as though that were a support for hyperpreterism.

[circlecity]

You are, of course, correct.

[.45 Long Colt]

Amen!

It ought to give every dispensational Christian pause that Mormons and Jehovah’s Witness and 7th Day Adventists share their basic eschatology.

Something else I am really thankful for, as I type this, my elderly parents are attending their first class on the Doctrines of Grace and basic reformed theology. They have been in dispensational free will Southern Baptist congregations all of their lives, so this class will really challenge their beliefs.