Biblically Optimistic and Gospel-Based
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
Get out the huge AD70 shoehorn, and use it to fit the headlines from the AD70 Jerusalem Times into the text of Matthew 24 and Revelation, sprinkle in a little Josephus, mix well and pour into your drinking glass.
"Don't ask whats in this ... just drink it, it will make you feel warm and nice all over. Thats it ... forget about all those cosmic signs that didnt happen in AD70, pay no attention to the missing tribulation such as has never been; ignore the absence of Jesus Christ visibly coming back to earth in the clouds of heaven for all to see; thats it ... drink up ... and say to yourself ... 'it all happened already' ... "
There is so much wrong with this guys interpretation one doesn’t know where to start. I read up to his interpretation of Math 24 and stopped. How can he come to the same conclusion if he starts reading at v15?
To describe all the faults in his interpretations would fill an entire book.
By the way. I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church. I am familiar with who Gary DeMar is. Having gown up in the Church and having studied extensively I can tell you that there are some severe problems with their Biblical interpretations.
Interestingly, interpreters like DeMar, who advocate a continuous fulfillment view of all 70 weeks without a break, are required to put both the crucifixion of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem some 40 years later into the final week of years, which is only seven years in length. Yet DeMar accuses those who see a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week as exercising “silly-putty exegesis,” of stretching out this Biblical time frame in a manner not supported by the text itself.
DeMar argues that Christ’s death took place in the middle of the final week, which would then draw to a conclusion in A.D. 33 with the conversion of Paul (an event which in no way is even remotely alluded to in Gabriel’s prophecy). What DeMar fails to tell his readers is that while he argues vehemently against a gap, he is very silent about how to cram two events separated by 40 years into a seven-year period. Perhaps his approach should be called “shoehorn” exegesis!
A closer look at DeMar’s problem reveals a grave contradiction in his understanding of Daniel 9: 24-27 and his view of Matthew 24: 15 as having been fulfilled in A.D. 70. “The abomination of desolation is mentioned in one Old Testament book (Daniel 9: 27; 11: 31; 12: 11),” declares DeMar. He then states that “there was no doubt in the minds of those who read and understood Jesus’ words in Matthew 24: 15 that the abomination of desolation prophecy was fulfilled in events leading up to the temple’s destruction in A.D. 70.”
Clearly DeMar links the fulfillment if the abomination of desolation in Daniel 9: 27, which will occur in the middle of the week, with the Roman destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 some 40 years later. The problem is that the numbers clearly don’t add up. There is absolutely no way to jam events that occurred 40 years apart into a mere seven years.
Verse 5 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: (Genesis 1:2) Peter is NOT talking about Noah's flood, as he already instructed the subject of Noah's flood back in Chapter 2 and had NO difficulty in using Noah's name to tell the reader the 'time' frame. And unless the reader has read with understanding the Genesis 6 account as to WHY God sent a flood, and WHY Noah and his family were 'elected' to be saved from that particular flood then they are willingly ignorant.
Verse 6 Whereby the world that then WAS, being overflowed with water, perished:
Verse 7 BUT the heavens and 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.
Verse 8 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.... (How many 'days' of creation were there???)
How long did Methuselah live, not quite ONE day with the LORD.
Interestingly, interpreters like DeMar, who advocate a continuous fulfillment view of all 70 weeks without a break, are required to put both the crucifixion of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem some 40 years later into the final week of years, which is only seven years in length. Yet DeMar accuses those who see a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week as exercising “silly-putty exegesis,” of stretching out this Biblical time frame in a manner not supported by the text itself. DeMar argues that Christ’s death took place in the middle of the final week, which would then draw to a conclusion in A.D. 33 with the conversion of Paul (an event which in no way is even remotely alluded to in Gabriel’s prophecy). What DeMar fails to tell his readers is that while he argues vehemently against a gap, he is very silent about how to cram two events separated by 40 years into a seven-year period. Perhaps his approach should be called “shoehorn” exegesis!
A closer look at DeMar’s problem reveals a grave contradiction in his understanding of Daniel 9: 24-27 and his view of Matthew 24: 15 as having been fulfilled in A.D. 70. “The abomination of desolation is mentioned in one Old Testament book (Daniel 9: 27; 11: 31; 12: 11),” declares DeMar. He then states that “there was no doubt in the minds of those who read and understood Jesus’ words in Matthew 24: 15 that the abomination of desolation prophecy was fulfilled in events leading up to the temple’s destruction in A.D. 70.” Clearly DeMar links the fulfillment if the abomination of desolation in Daniel 9: 27, which will occur in the middle of the week, with the Roman destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 some 40 years later. The problem is that the numbers clearly don’t add up. There is absolutely no way to jam events that occurred 40 years apart into a mere seven years.
One of the characteristics of modern-day Preterism, is its bold assertion that the prophecies contained in the Book of Revelation have all been fulfilled, with the exception of the last two chapters. Unfortunately, this belief facilitates a number of subtle heresies, including the denial of the physical resurrection of believers.
Let me explain. In Revelation 19, it is said that the marriage of the Lamb has come. All orthodox Christians agree that this is none other than Christ’s marriage to the church. But Paul equates this marriage to the glorification of believers. See Ephesians 5: 27. Moreover, he says: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife: and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery. But I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5: 31-32).
Very well. Christ is now at seated at the right hand of the Father. According to the ecumenical creeds, He will not leave His Father until He returns to judge the quick and the dead. Then He will be joined unto His wife; and they two shall be “one flesh” — that is, they will be glorified together, via physical resurrection. See Philippians 3: 20-21.
For Preterists to say that the marriage occurred in A.D. 70, is to imply that either — 1): the physical resurrection of believers took place in the first century; 2): there was no physical resurrection, and that therefore the bride and Bridegroom did not become “one flesh;” which would mean that the marriage was never consummated; or 3): if they did become one flesh, apart from physical resurrection, then the physical resurrection of believers is not necessary.
Modern Preterists who affirm that the Apocalyptic prophecies have already been fulfilled, teach that the 7th trumpet has already sounded, therefore implying that the dead have already been judged (Rev. 11: 18). Paul corroborates the Apocalypse, saying that the resurrection of believers will happen at this “last trump” (1 Corinthians 15: 52). And since the last trumpet sounds at the close of the 42 months of Great Tribulation, it must be parallel to that resurrection mentioned in Daniel 12: 2.
But here’s the rub. Both Gary DeMar and Kenneth Gentry state that the resurrection of Daniel 12: 2 happened in A.D. 70. And both of them make it a spiritual (non physical) resurrection. So what they are really teaching, is that some entered into eternal life, and others into eternal contempt, without resurrection bodies! My only question: If that be the case, what theological necessity is there for the raising of dead bodies??
Preterism lol