Replies

I don't know everything about preterism, but one thing I am fairly certain of is, they do not believe such morbid things as the world being destroyed. It takes a very morbid mind to believe that, considering all the scripture pointing in the opposite direction, beginning with John 3:17: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)

You write that the world will not be destroyed and you offer John 3:16 as evidence. Peter writes that it will be. John writes that the world is passing away in 1John 2:15-17. Yes, they use the same Greek word for "world"

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

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

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.

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:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

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.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

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.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

>>>Its focus is the judgment on the Jews and the destruction of Jersualem.<<< That takes a lot of the heat off of us. What is morbid about that? That places all general (national) judgements in the past. Futurism is the truly morbid doctrine: from their literal interpretations of "all green grass is burnt up," to a "third part of men slain," to the "great tribulation" which they miraculously escape from!

It is morbid to focus on the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD as the culmination of all prophecy and the end of earthly Israel. It was neither. You ignore the larger revolt in 132-135 where the Romans sent twice as many soldiers (120,000 vs. 60,000 in 68AD). Jewish casualties were possibly twice as many too. Josephus' estimate of 1.1 million is disputed to be as low as 250,000. Cassius Dio estimated the 400,000 to 580,000 Jews killed in the second war. The nation of Israel still exists on this earth with a future from God. There they are about 6 million Jews in the Land of Israel, with about half a million of those Jews living in Jerusalem. Their return to the Land of Israel after 18 centuries of dispersion throughout the world is a modern, historical miracle. Against incredible statistical odds the Jews have returned to the land before your very eyes. They were almost completely eradicated just last century. They had no army to speak of, no allies. They were invaded by the armies of five Arab countries. How did it happen they were not driven into the sea and annihilated ? How were the Jews in Jerusalem, cut off and surrounded, not destroyed in 1948 ? It was razor thin. You do not attribute that massive movement of Jews to God. To whom do you attribute it ? The adversary ? the spirit of man ?

>>>You write that the world will not be destroyed and you offer John 3:16 as evidence. Peter writes that it will be. John writes that the world is passing away in 1John 2:15-17. Yes, they use the same Greek word for "world"<<<

You didn't give a reference for Peter. I will assume are not referring to 2 Peter 3.

What do think these mean?

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph 3:21)

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47)

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev 11:15)

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Mat 5:5)

"Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever." (Ps 104:1-5 KJV)

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever." (Ecc 1:4 KJV)

"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." (Isa 45:18 KJV)

Philip