Eschatology, What It Means  

 

In this article, I would like to explain what eschatology means to me. In order for me to do that, let’s look at the different types of beliefs in eschatology. In no way am I accusing the people mentioned, but I have to question their motives and actions. They teach one thing, but the Bible says another. Which one are you going to believe?

Futurism

 To me, Futurism denies the Deity of Christ and calls the Almighty a liar. Let me explain. 

In Matthew 24:34, Jesus told the people that “ALL” things would be fulfilled within “this” generation. They have tried to tell us that the word “Generation” really means “Race”, but their argument is very weak. The time that the generation clock started was around 30ad, not 1900 years later. The “ALL” mentioned in Matthew 24 and 25 means “ALL”. Futurists are still waiting for this to happen literally. Futurists teach that Jesus was trying to set up His physical Kingdom, but the Jews killed before He could do this. They also belief that the disciples were wrong when they taught Jesus’ return was imminent. So in essence what they are saying is that Jesus and the disciples were all liars.  

According to Matthew 5:17-18, heaven and earth had to disappear before the law (OC) would be removed. A text can’t more plain and simple that this text. Futurists believe that this has not happened literally. If this is the case, we should be living under the Law of Moses. According to them, there are prophecies waiting to be fulfilled in the OT as well as the NT. Hal Lindsey stated on the TBN network that when Jesus comes, we will go back to some kind of animal sacrifice. He is teaching something that totally goes against scripture. I think he needs to read Hebrews 10. I guess, Mr. Lindsey doesn’t think that Jesus’ blood worked very well. 

Futurists make predictions all the time. Every time that something happens, they are on the airwaves saying that Jesus’ return is near.  

Hal Lindsey in 1977 told everyone that Jesus would return in 1988. In 1955, even Billy Graham told people the same thing. Jack Van Impe told us that Jesus would return in the year of 2000.  He told us of all the chaos that would happen on January 1, 2000 at midnight. Did you see any chaos when Y2K came? If Futurists like to take scripture so literally, why don’t they take Deuteronomy 18:22 literally? 

(ASV)  when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.  

(KJV+)  When⁸³⁴ a prophet⁵⁰³⁰ speaketh¹⁶⁹⁶ in the name⁸⁰³⁴ of the LORD,³⁰⁶⁸ if the thing¹⁶⁹⁷ follow¹⁹⁶¹ not,³⁸⁰⁸ nor³⁸⁰⁸ come to pass,⁹³⁵ that¹⁹³¹ is the thing¹⁶⁹⁷ which⁸³⁴ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ hath not³⁸⁰⁸ spoken,¹⁶⁹⁶ but the prophet⁵⁰³⁰ hath spoken¹⁶⁹⁶ it presumptuously:²⁰⁸⁷ thou shalt not³⁸⁰⁸ be afraid¹⁴⁸¹ of⁴⁴⁸⁰ him.  

(LITV)  When a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah, if the thing does not happen or come about, that is the thing which Jehovah has not spoken; that prophet has spoken it proudly; you shall not be afraid of him.  

(MKJV)  When a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah, if the thing does not follow nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.  

(YLT)  that which the prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, and the thing is not, and cometh not--it is the word which Jehovah hath not spoken; in presumption hath the prophet spoken it; --thou art not afraid of him. 

And Deuteronomy 13:1-5 

(ASV)  If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. 

(CEV)  Someday a prophet may come along who is able to perform miracles or tell what will happen in the future. Then the prophet may say, "Let's start worshiping some new gods--some gods that we know nothing about." You must be completely faithful to the LORD. Worship and obey only the LORD and do this with fear and trembling because he rescued you from slavery in Egypt. If a prophet tells you to disobey the LORD your God and to stop worshiping him, then that prophet is evil and must be put to death. 

 (KJV+)  If³⁵⁸⁸ there arise⁶⁹⁶⁵ among⁷¹³⁰ you a prophet,⁵⁰³⁰ or¹⁷⁶ a dreamer²⁴⁹² of dreams,²⁴⁷² and giveth^{5414, 413} thee a sign²²⁶ or¹⁷⁶ a wonder,⁴¹⁵⁹ And the sign²²⁶ or the wonder⁴¹⁵⁹ come to pass,⁹³⁵ whereof⁸³⁴ he spoke¹⁶⁹⁶ unto⁴¹³ thee, saying,⁵⁵⁹ Let us go¹⁹⁸⁰ after³¹⁰ other³¹² gods,⁴³⁰ which⁸³⁴ thou hast not³⁸⁰⁸ known,³⁰⁴⁵ and let us serve⁵⁶⁴⁷ them; Thou shalt not³⁸⁰⁸ hearken⁸⁰⁸⁵ unto⁴¹³ the words¹⁶⁹⁷ of that¹⁹³¹ prophet,⁵⁰³⁰ or¹⁷⁶ that¹⁹³¹ dreamer²⁴⁹² of dreams:²⁴⁷² for³⁵⁸⁸ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ your God⁴³⁰ proveth⁵²⁵⁴ you, to know³⁰⁴⁵ whether³⁴²⁶ ye love^{157 (853)} the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ your God⁴³⁰ with all³⁶⁰⁵ your heart³⁸²⁴ and with all³⁶⁰⁵ your soul.⁵³¹⁵ Ye shall walk¹⁹⁸⁰ after³¹⁰ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ your God,⁴³⁰ and fear³³⁷² him, and keep⁸¹⁰⁴ his commandments,⁴⁶⁸⁷ and obey⁸⁰⁸⁵ his voice,⁶⁹⁶³ and ye shall serve⁵⁶⁴⁷ him, and cleave¹⁶⁹² unto him. And that¹⁹³¹ prophet,⁵⁰³⁰ or¹⁷⁶ that¹⁹³¹ dreamer²⁴⁹² of dreams,²⁴⁷² shall be put to death;⁴¹⁹¹ because³⁵⁸⁸ he hath spoken¹⁶⁹⁶ to turn you away⁵⁶²⁷ from⁵⁹²¹ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ your God,⁴³⁰ which brought you out^{3318, (853)} of the land^{4480, 776} of Egypt,⁴⁷¹⁴ and redeemed⁶²⁹⁹ you out of the house^{4480, 1004} of bondage,⁵⁶⁵⁰ to thrust⁵⁰⁸⁰ thee out of⁴⁴⁸⁰ the way¹⁸⁷⁰ which⁸³⁴ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ thy God⁴³⁰ commanded⁶⁶⁸⁰ thee to walk¹⁹⁸⁰ in. So shalt thou put the evil away^{1197, 7451} from the midst^{4480, 7130} of thee. 

(LITV)  If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams rises among you, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder which he spoke to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams. For Jehovah your God is testing you, to know if you love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Jehovah your God, and you shall fear Him. And you shall keep His commandments, and you shall hear His voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cleave to Him And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall die, because he has spoken apostasy against Jehovah your God, who is bringing you out of the land of Egypt, and has redeemed you out of the house of slaves, to thrust you out of the way in which Jehovah your God has commanded you to walk. And you shall put away evil from among you. 

(MKJV)  If a prophet rises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder which he foretold to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them, shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For Jehovah your God is testing you to know whether you love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Jehovah your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken to turn you away from Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slaves, to thrust you out of the way in which Jehovah your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put the evil away from the midst of you. 

According to the OC, if predictions they make does not come true,  they should be put to death.  

They even quote scripture out of context in their predictions. They tell us that the 2000 presidential election was prophesied in the Bible alone the hurricane Rita and Katrina. If it was in the Bible, why do they always point it out after the fact? Either the Bible is the inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) or Jesus lied about everything. If He lied about his Second Coming and His kingdom, what other things did he lie about? At least Billy Graham stopped making predictions. He knew when to quit. If Jesus lied, then Jesus is not God, which the scripture tells other wise, (John 1:1,14). 

They preach nothing but doom and gloom and uses fear as a motive to get more money. They call FP (Full Preterist) and PP (Partial Preterist) heretics, but they consider themselves right. If you would just listen to themselves, they just might hear what they are not saying. According to them, Jesus failed in his mission while he was on earth. The disciples also failed and the first century people believed a lie. This Jesus, Son of God, God in the flesh, Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6...See article: Is Jesus Yahweh God Almighty) was a fake.   

Thomas Ice tells everyone that his books, The Left Behind series', are fictional and at the same time he tells Larry King that the books are based from the Book of Revelation, not Revelatoin(s). Mr. Ice the book only has one revelation about one event. Look at verse 1: 

 (ALT)  [The] revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His slaves what [things are] necessary to occur with quickness. And He made [it] known, having sent through His angel to His slave John,  

(ASV)  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;  

(KJV+)  The Revelation⁶⁰² of Jesus²⁴²⁴ Christ,⁵⁵⁴⁷ which³⁷³⁹ God²³¹⁶ gave¹³²⁵ unto him,⁸⁴⁶ to show¹¹⁶⁶ unto his⁸⁴⁸ servants¹⁴⁰¹ things which³⁷³⁹ must¹¹⁶³ shortly^{1722, 5034} come to pass;¹⁰⁹⁶ and²⁵³² he sent⁶⁴⁹ and signified⁴⁵⁹¹ it by¹²²³ his⁸⁴⁸ angel³² unto his⁸⁴⁸ servant¹⁴⁰¹ John:²⁴⁹¹  

(KJVR)  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  

(LITV)  A Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His slaves things which must occur quickly. And He signified by sending through His angel to His slave, John,  

(YLT)  A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify it , having sent through his messenger to his servant John,  

NOT 1900 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING !!!!  You not only deny the Deity of Christ, but you also deny the integrity of Scripture. Don't forget what the Bible says about itself,  

2 Timothy 3:16 

(ALT) All Scripture [is] God-breathed and [is] beneficial for teaching [or, doctrine], for verification [or, reproof], for correcting faults, for instruction in righteousness [or, the behavior that God requires],  

(ASV) Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.  

(CEV) Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.

(ISV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  

(KJV+) All3956 Scripture¹¹²⁴ is given by inspiration of God,²³¹⁵ and²⁵³² is profitable5624 for⁴³¹⁴ doctrine,¹³¹⁹ for⁴³¹⁴ reproof,¹⁶⁵⁰ for⁴³¹⁴ correction,¹⁸⁸² for⁴³¹⁴ instruction³⁸⁰⁹ in¹⁷²² righteousness:¹³⁴³  

(KJVR) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  

(YLT) every Writing is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that is in righteousness,  

Why don't you let God speak for Himself? Just look at some comments that Jack Van Impe teaches.  

Partial Preterism (PP) 

In a sense, I don’t understand how a person can be ½ Preterist and ½ Futurist. PP believe up to a certain point like FP. They have problems with the resurrection, "The" Second Coming, and "The" Judgment. They say that Jesus' came in 70ad was "A" coming, but not "The" coming and 70ad was "A" judgment, but not "The" judgment. While Futurist believes in two comings, PP in a way believe in three comings. Here is an example;they would say that Matthew 24:1-34 is talking about "A" coming in 70ad while verse 35 to Matthew 25 is talking about another coming, "The" Second Coming. That dividing line between verse 34 and 35 is where Jesus switches gears. PP believes that Luke 17 is a parallel passage of Matthew 24, but there is a problem with that view point. Where is the dividing line in Luke 17?

 

 

Forgive me if I am coming too hard on PP. All FP were PP at on time or another. Under PP, you are still under bondage. One half truth still is a lie. The Bible only speaks of two comings and not three. The scripture also have the resurrection and the judgment are all tide together. You cannot have one without the other. In Hebrew 9:28, 

(ALT) so also Christ, having been offered once to bear [or, take away] the sins of many, will appear a second time without [reference to] sin to [bring] salvation to the ones eagerly waiting for Him!  

(ASV) so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.  

(CEV) So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.  

(ISV) so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. And he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.  

(KJV+) So³⁷⁷⁹ Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ was once⁵³⁰ offered⁴³⁷⁴ to bear³⁹⁹ the sins²⁶⁶ of many;⁴¹⁸³ and unto them that look for⁵⁵³ him⁸⁴⁶ shall he appear³⁷⁰⁰ the⁽¹⁵³⁷⁾ second time¹²⁰⁸ without⁵⁵⁶⁵ sin²⁶⁶ unto¹⁵¹⁹ salvation.⁴⁹⁹¹  

(LITV) so Christ having been once offered "to bear the sins of many," Christ shall appear a second time without sin to those expecting Him for salvation. Isa. 53:12  

(YLT) so also the Christ, once having been offered to bear the sins of many, a second time, apart from a sin-offering, shall appear, to those waiting for him--to salvation! 

According to this text, you, just like the Futurist, do not have salvation today. Which coming is this, "A" coming or "The" coming? Look at what is says, "appear a second time". If you claim to have salvation, then you go against your own belief.

God's word is ALL truth, not half and half. The same applies with the resurrection and judgment issues. Is it possible to be a half Christian or 1/2 anything? Half of the truth is still a lie.

Literal Preterism (LP)

This is a new term that is coming out. Literal Preterism is a belief that that Jesus return literal (physically) and a literally rapture happen in 70ad and Jesus is coming back again. You could say it is 1/3 FP, 1/3 PP and 1/3 Futurism. I found 3 web sites on this topic. This is a spin off from Ed Stevens' literal rapture issue. The sites are as follow: www.jesuscameback.com, www.preteristviewpoint.com. I have emailed Lee Howell about this topic. It is a little confusing. The email can be found at my forum. Let's add another belief to the long list of "Preterism"

According to the emails,  Matthew 24 happened literally, in 70ad. What I mean by literally is the "stars" are physically stars that you see a night liberally fell from the sky.

Matthew 24:29

(ALT) "But immediately after the tribulation [or, affliction] of those days, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall down' from heaven [or, the sky], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [cp. Isaiah 34:4; Joel 2:10; 2:31]

(ASV) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

(BBE) But straight away, after the trouble of those days, the sun will be made dark and the moon will not give her light and the stars will come down from heaven and the powers of heaven will be moved:

They also believe that Jesus literally (physically) returned in 70ad and he is coming again literally (physically) in the future (third coming) even thought they have no scripture to prove their point.

Under the links they have listed Ed Stevens site also. I know he believes in a literal rapture that happened in 70ad, but not the other stuff. I'm really getting confused on who believes what.

Go to the forum and add your thoughts. This is a new on for me. 

Full Preterism (FP) also called Modern Preterism (MP) according to the Preterist Archive) 

You thought, just because I'm a FP that I wouldn't say anything about us. I do. FP has it share of problems. There are some FP that are going too far into left field. Here are some examples: 

(1) There are FP that believe that miracles (prophesying, healing, tongues, etc, but mostly speaking in tongues),  are still around. The scriptures say one thing, but the believe another. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. 

(ALT)  Love never fails. But if [there be] prophecies, they will become useless; if tongues, they will cease by themselves; if knowledge, it will become useless. Now we know by part and we prophesy by part. But when the perfect [or, complete] comes, then the [thing] by part [fig., which is partial] will become useless. 

(BBE)  Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end. For our knowledge is only in part, and the prophet's word gives only a part of what is true: But when that which is complete is come, then that which is in part will be no longer necessary. 

(CEV)  Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten. We don't know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn't perfect will then disappear. 

(ISV)  Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.   

(KJV+)  Charity²⁶ never³⁷⁶³ faileth:¹⁶⁰¹ but¹¹⁶¹ whether¹⁵³⁵ there be prophecies,⁴³⁹⁴ they shall fail;²⁶⁷³ whether¹⁵³⁵ there be tongues,¹¹⁰⁰ they shall cease;³⁹⁷³ whether¹⁵³⁵ there be knowledge,¹¹⁰⁸ it shall vanish away.²⁶⁷³ For¹⁰⁶³ we know¹⁰⁹⁷ in¹⁵³⁷ part,³³¹³ and²⁵³² we prophesy⁴³⁹⁵ in¹⁵³⁷ part.³³¹³ But¹¹⁶¹ when³⁷⁵² that which is perfect⁵⁰⁴⁶ is come,²⁰⁶⁴ then⁵¹¹⁹ that³⁵⁸⁸ which is in¹⁵³⁷ part³³¹³ shall be done away.²⁶⁷³   

(MKJV)  Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will be abolished. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.   

(YLT)  The love doth never fail; and whether there be prophecies, they shall become useless; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall become useless; for in part we know, and in part we prophecy; and when that which is perfect may come, then that which is in part shall become useless. 

Now I ask you, what is the "perfect come"? Is it the church, Jesus (70ad), the Bible (1611)? If it is the event in 70ad, then why do you still believe that tongues and prophecies are still around? Why do we still need prophecy if everything is fulfilled? Today, tongues are for the believer, while the Bible tells otherwise. 

(2) There are FP that are Calvinist. Some, but  not all teach that if you are not a Calvinist you are dammed to Hell. Sometime ago I asked a FP Calvinist to put my web site on his links. He replied, "NO !! You are not a Calvinist". What kind of attitude is this? I have talk to David Curtis a while back about this. I know that he is Calvinist and I list a lot of his material on my site. He has some great articles and audio sermons. Do I agree with him on everything, No, but I have great respect for him and what he does. This world would a awful place to live if everyone agree on everything. There are even disagreements between Calvinist and Calvinist, Calvinist and non-Calvinist, Calvinist (FP) and Calvinist (PP) and list goes on, but that should give us the right to have that type of attitude between each other. Differences help us to grow in our relationship between each other and God. Calvinist doesn't have everything all together. In fact, no one does. This includes me.  

(3) There are too many groups (clicks for a better term) in the FP camp. You might put it this way: "I follow Ed Stevens (Calvinist), I follow Don Preston, I follow Max or Tim King. I can remember that there was a time that ALL FP stood together, without so many divisions. PP also falls into this trap. FP has lost it main adjective. Instead of working together, group "A" does this, while group "B" complains what "A" is doing and does something else. Group "C" and "D" works with group "B" while back stabbing group "B". Confusing isn't it. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:10-17. Does division bring us into a better relationship with God and each other? 

(4) There are FP that believes that God approves a man marrying or having more that one wife at a time. The Bible clearly states that a man is to leave father and mother and cleave to his wife, (not wives) and the two shall become ONE flesh.

(5) There are FP (all groups) that believe that we are “gods” and the Bible is nothing put a book of Jewish stories (fables). They say that there is nothing in the Bible that helps us today. 

(6) There are FP (all groups) that believe a literal rapture took place in 70AD and we are the "Left Behinds" I was told that this is part of Preterism called “Literal Preterism”. What ever happened to the phrase, "Speak where the Bible speak and remain silent when the Bible is silent". Silence demands Silence. If the Bible is silent on a topic then God deems it not important period. No questions ask. We should not be in the business to question God in anything. Does Silence demand a Verdict? No !! Who are we in trying to get into God's mind and put words in his mouth that may not belong there?

(7) There are FP (all groups) that believe that everyone will go to Heaven no matter what they did on earth, Universalism. No where does the Bible teach this in any way.

(8) There are FP (all groups) that believe we are free, free, free. Their view is that since we are free, we can do anything our hearts desire. They proclaim that we are FREE, FREE, FREE. Free from any wrong doing. In fact, there is no more wrong or right. Free in a way that we can live and act in any old way.

(9) There are FP (all groups) that are deist . What is a Deist you might as ask? A Deist is a person that believes that God created the heavens and the earth. After the creation, God went on vacation and left everything else up to man. From a Preterist point of view after 70ad, we are on our own and God has nothing else to do, so we can live anyway we want to and it is ok with God. 

(10) There are FP (all groups) that believe marriage between men and men or women and women are fine and are bless by God. They also believe that homosexuality is a disease or God created or something the person cannot help. I heard people say, "It is ok for the gay person to practice the act so long it doesn't hurt me and my family." Guess what it does.

(11) There are FP that believes in reincarnation. When you die you come back as a person or an animal. If you come back person, you are born on a higher level of existence. In another words, you become little "gods". See number 5.

(12) There are so many beliefs within the FP circle that FP have no difference between the other views of eschatology. FP at one time had unity, but now, it is so divided that it is falling into pecies and no one it there to pick them up, because they don't want to play the games.

FP has it share of problems. FP has different grades and you have all of them trying to say they are the only ones that has the truth. So what is so great about FP. They are no better than the others. Full Preterism you could say is a Historist, but the History stopped in 70ad, because there is nothing left to be fulfilled. I have been a FP or believe in Covenant Eschatology for ten years or so and this a small list. I will add more as I go through my many pages of notes.

Conclusion 

Eschatology means freedom. Does that mean we misuse that freedom? By no means. There is responsibility for having this freedom. My views are this. If we are in the presence of God Almighty, then everyday life, we are before him. Things that we do everyday, we  do for His glory. 

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) women wear two piece swimsuits on the beach, but not to work or own the way to Bible class? We are in God’s presence at ALL places. 

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) men talk and see things they shouldn’t? God with us seeing what we see. 

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) teenagers do the things they do in secret? God is still there.

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) that marriages are destroyed by divorce? If God is the head and we remember the "covenant" that we made in His presence and in the presence of others, we would work it out, if we have the conviction toward God and our spouse.

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) believe in creeds than in the Bible? What is the point in creeds? People put too much stock in "their" pastors (the world uses the word as the preacher while the Bible uses the word as a elder), than in the Bible. Creeds are created by man NOT by God. I believe what I believe not by taking someone word for it, but my prayer and asking God to prove that this is true and the more I studied the more God shows me the truth.

Could someone explain why FP (all groups) why we try to be Politically correct instead of Biblically correct?

The Bible is for us. It shows us God's plan and what He did for us. It shows how for us to live and act, but yet we still do the opposite.

How can we as FP do one thing and believe another? How are we going to lead by example? There are some FP sites, if you read their articles they have posted, you can see the hate. There is a FP site the has a article about the church of Christ and it says that they are no better that PP or Futurist and they are call heretics. How can FP teach one thing and do another. It is like the old saying, "Do what I say, not what I do".

FP, PP, Historist and Futurist are all claming to have the TRUTH, while trying to explain why we should believe them. Even the debates are turning into a circus. If you listen carefully, you have FP, PP and others not answering the questions that are being asked and some that tiptoe around the issues trying to push temper buttons to get them off the topic being debated.  

People that believe in Covenant Eschatology, should lead by example. Worship goes beyond the four walls on Sundays and Wednesdays. FP are sending mix signals out. How are we going to get the message out if we really don’t know what we believe and why we believe it. I do struggle on how some FP behave when they are talking to other FP or other people. FACT: We are in God's presence and because of that, we must live in that presence in a way God want us to live. That means Covenant Eschatology is a Covenant between you and God. Our daily lives, the things that we do, the TV programs that we watch, music that we hear, things that we see, books that we read, every aspect of life, we live for Him. There is nothing that we could do that could repay for what God has done for us. Yes, we have freedom, but does that freedom give us the right to live and act anyway we want to? The way we treat our spouses and children, the Bible is very clear on how we should do this. We not training our children in the way they should go?Proverbs 22:6

(ASV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

(BBE) If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.

(YLT) Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

We are giving this job to Youth Ministers or other people while God tells us as, Parents that's our job.

We are living in the results in what happen in 70ad. Eschatology has taught me who God is. This same God today is the same God as in the OT and in the first century. Eschatology is his plan for mankind, which started in Genesis and ended in Revelation. One can now see how His plan unfolds. I took no person’s word for it. I checked them out and be sure they did not take scripture out of context. If God (Jesus) said it, then it must be true. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. The first century longed to have what we have today. Why do we trash it? 

Let it be known.. There are some PP and Futurist that put FP to shame.

Preterism as a whole has failed in its message. It is turning out to be a money doctrine I agree with Virgil Vaduva. To me, me should go back to when it was call "Covenant Eschatology". The "New Covenant" started in 70ad. It is a covenant that God made for us. The first century people long to have what we have today. With Covenant Eschatology, it is pretty hard to have a Partial Covenant Eschatologist. Virgil puts it this way, " So what does all this have to do with Preterism? Quite a bit, I would say. Many Preterists today act as if Preterism is a “God-given movement.” It is not. Preterism is a position one takes regarding Christian eschatology. Preterism is not inspired by God, it does not have popes, inspired authors or apostles. Or perhaps it does have popes, inspired authors and apostles. Regardless, if anyone has ever attended a Preterist “conference” you will notice the lack of young people – they simply are not interested. It is natural therefore to wonder what will happen to Preterism once the popes pass away and the apostles die. As I read articles and papers about Preterism, I am becoming more and more convinced that what has made Preterism great is no longer working. The “I am right, you are wrong” approach is starting to quickly wear out and become fruitless, with the biggest culprit being the lack of the experiential. " What it comes right down to is attitude. Preterism has so many types that we are fighting between each-other and the world is seeing it. Virgil is correct is saying that Preterism in any form have NO interest in young people. Have you ever asked yourself, why?

Here are some possible reasons for this:

1.)  They are hearing words, but our actions are speaking louder.

2.)  We as Parents, have NOT been teaching (training) them for their walk (relationship) with God.

3.)  Preterism or whatever you want to call it, is confusing to them, because there too many type (version) of Preterism.

4.)  They hear all the different views out there and they thro up their hands  and say, "The Bible is too hard to understand." or they don't know how to study.

5,)  They are too busy to worry about God.

6.)  They might view us a money hungry preachers and we are no better off than the ones on TV.

7.)  They have grown up to be Deist.

8.)  They don't want to be called names (labeled).

9.)  They have no convection when it comes to God. They take no stance on anything, eschatology, marriage, relationships, etc.

10.) They don't what they believe or why they believe it. They say, "My Pastor said this so it got to be true". They don't even know the books of the Bible.

The list goes on and on. So when all is said and done, WE have failed and the whole Preterist movement has failed in its mission. It is almost like Sunday worship, there are now two types of worship, one for the young group (Contemporary) and the older group (Traditional). Church services have become a Concert instead of a reverence worship time before God.

Back in the day, a Preterist was a person that believe that all prophecies were fulfilled in 70ad. Time past and the term Partial Preterist was formed. More time has past, now on the term "Preterist was changed to Full Preterist. Under this name, you have the a lot of smaller FP groups that has their own belief system and all claiming to have the truth. This has also happened to PP  and the others as well. After more time, the term Futurist and Historist was formed along with their subgroups. If you tell some one that you are a Preterist, you will have to explain the type of Preterist you are. By that time the person gets through hearing your long speech he is so confused and doesn't know what to believe.  Now we have a new form of Preterism called Literal Preterism. From what I see it is 1/3 FP, 1/3 PP and 1/3 Futurism. So what other forms of Preterism are there?

If we really believe in FP or Covenant Eschatology, why don't we practice it in everyday life?

I am just tired of ALL the bickering that is going on within the Preterist camps ( this includes FP, PP, LP, MP and even in the Futurist and Historist camps) and all the views that are going around. I know that we are human, but it has to do with attitude and motives. Sure, I would love to write and debate like Don Preston and others, preach like David Curtis and others, to have the wisdom like Max King that started Covenant Eschatology. Ever since Covenant Eschatology was changed to Preterism, it has gone down from there.

We need to get back to basic. The only thing that Preterism has done is getting people into the Word. The problem is this, if they don't like what they see the book is closed and that is what is happing now. Preterism has created inconsistency and has caused divisions.

Do I loose sleep over this? Yes, I do a little. I take my relationship with God VERY serious. Forgive me if I am coming on a little righteous. I don't mean to. I am no body and at the same time I am somebody in God's eyes. He has giving me more than I deserve and it is all because of love toward me.

This is from The Parousia. The Bible, Word spoken by God Himself only has 1 meaning and 1 meaning only, not 1000. It is our job to find that meaning and accept it, no question ask.

'First, it must be established that Scripture has one meaning, the meaning which the prophet or evangelist intended when first written. Scripture, like other books, has one meaning, which is to be gathered from itself, without reference to the adaptations of fathers or divines, and without regard to a priori notions about its nature and origin.  The office of the interpreter is not to add another [interpretation], but to recover the original one : the meaning, that is, of the words as they struck on the ears or flashed before the eyes of those who first heard and read them.'    Professor Jowett, Essay on the Interpretation of Scripture, § i. 3, 4. " hold that the words of Scripture were intended to have one definite sense, and that our first object should be to discover that sense, and adhere rigidly to it. I believe that, as a general rule, the words of Scripture are intended to have, like all other language, one plain definite meaning, and that to say that words do mean a thing merely because they can be tortured into meaning it, is a most dishonorable and dangerous way of handling Scripture."

 

The only thing that I am known for is my nickname, "Jimmy Neutron" I just don't know why.  

In His Service,

Richard K. McPherson

www.preterism-eschatology.com