My
Journey to Fulfilled Eschatology
Part 2
In
my previous part of this study I mentioned that there was a discovery that
totally changed my mind about Preterism, also know as Fulfilled Eschatology. In
essence, there is a composite of many thoughts, ideas, and historical
statements that gave merit to the Preterist view. Originally this was going to
be a three-part paper on the topic. However, since many of you have requested
me to “get rolling” and put more information on the site, I condensed
everything into this second part. Also, all Scriptures in this study are out of
the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
In
this study I hope to help you get a grasp on the paths that led me to
Preterism. I pray that these words that you are reading will give you
encouragement to seek the wisdom of God in all things, and not just in
Eschatology.
First,
I noticed that there seemed to be some statements in the Bible that appeared to
contradict the ideas I had held fast to for many years. I've heard it said that
if our ideas do not line up with Scripture, then we need to do one of two
things. Either change the Bible (a bad idea!) or change our ideas. I'm sure
that every one of you has met with this dilemma in days past. You are
completely certain of something, then find that the
Bible has something totally different to say about the matter.
I
took the time to think long and hard about the things I had read. Over a
two-and-a-half year period I tried to reconcile my ideas against what the
Scripture clearly had to say. A number of passages stood out to me. There were
the two passages that I talked about in the last Logizomai,
which by themselves seemed to lead me to a crisis of decision. But there were
others as well. Like II Timothy 4:1-5:
“I
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the
living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach
the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort,
be unfailing in patience and in teaching. 3For the time is coming
when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will
accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, 4and
will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. 5As
for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
For
all my life I had heard it preached that “a time is coming” when these things
will take place. Yet it seems that Paul was vehemently declaring that the time
was going to happen soon – meaning that it would happen in Timothy's lifetime.
But did it?
History
will reveal that a great disaster befell the early church. During the Roman
siege of
But
there was more that I needed to contend with. Apparently Paul wasn't speaking
to 21st century Christians, but what about Peter?
II
Peter 3:8 - “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The
Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing
toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach
repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and
then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be
dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be
burned up.”
In
this passage I thought for sure that I had found my proof that Preterism was
off-base. But we need to remember one thing; prophetic language needs to be
interpreted in a different way than we may be accustomed. First, did Peter
really say that the “heavens” will pass away? If that was what was literally
meant by this passage, then what did it mean in this one?
Jeremiah
Jeremiah
isn't speaking of the “end times” here, but a judgment upon
But
what about the “elements” that are going to be destroyed? Are those the
elements of the periodic table? Are they the fundamental elements of life; i.e.
Earth, Water, Fire, Air? Or is it something totally different? Here is what
Strong's has to say about the word:
4747
stoicheion stoy-khi'-on
neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4748; something
orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental,
initial) constituent (literally), proposition
(figuratively):--element, principle, rudiment.
see GREEK for 4748
And
the word from which this is derived:
4748
stoicheo stoy-kheh'-o
from a derivative of steicho (to range
in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e. (figuratively)
to conform to virtue and piety:--walk (orderly).
So,
as we look at the definitions of the word for “elements” what can we see? The
word appears to be used as a reference to some kind of law or rule. But what kind? The best way to find that out is to look for
that word in other contexts and see how it's used there:
Galatians
4:1 - “ I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a
slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; 2but he is under
guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3So with
us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the
universe. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under
the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians
4:8 - “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that
by nature are no gods; 9but now that you have come to know God, or
rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly
elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10You
observe days, and months, and seasons, and years!”
There
are other examples as well, but these will serve our purpose of defining what
is meant when the Bible speaks of “elements”. It should be plain to see that
the word means an earthly law or rule. It is something that is imposed upon us,
often against our will. They cause us to be “legalistic” and “rigid” in our
observance of the rules. Notice in Galatians 4:8 Paul speaks of being in
bondage. Even though it might seem right to hold fast to certain laws, it does
nothing but cause us to get wrapped up in a me-centered
gospel. That leads us to try and make other follow the same rules as we are
trying to follow.
What
does that have to do with Preterism? It would certainly appear from Peter's
tone that those things, the destruction of the elements and the vanquishing of
heaven, would happen quickly. He was writing as if this was something that was
going to happen very soon, and he needed to get the word out! So, if we believe
II Peter 3:10, then all those rules were destroyed. We now live under perfect
Grace, given by God the Father Himself. We can forget about trying to “do
what's right” because we can't. I love that song by Michael Card called “I Have
Decided”. He makes this point perfectly:
“I
have decided I'm gonna live like a believer; turn my
back on the deceiver. I'm gonna live what I believe.
I have decided being good is just a fable, I just
can't 'cause I'm not able. I'm gonna leave it to the
Lord.”
Here
is another Scripture that made me think again about Preterism. See if you can
understand how this shatters the myth of a future coming of Christ:
Hebrews
1:1 - “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the
prophets; 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom
he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
Do
you see it? God in days past spoke through the prophets, but in these last
days He speaks through His Son. “These” last days.
Read that again... THESE LAST DAYS.
The
last days were then, not now. And, if those were the last days, then Christ had
to have returned in those days. But, before I go on I want to share one other
verse:
I
Peter 4:7 - “The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep
sane and sober for your prayers. 8Above all hold unfailing your love
for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Practice
hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.”
The
end of all things is at hand. Then, not now! Peter exhorted the
Christians of that day to hold fast, because the end was “at hand”. Doesn't it
make more sense to see that the end occurred in the first century, and not
continue to wait in vain for an event that shall never happen in the
future?
Is
there any proof that Christ returned? Of course there is, but most Christians
dismiss it. After all, if it ain't written in the
Bible, it ain't reliable! Amazing how many of these
Christians read the newspaper every day, or listen to radio, or watch TV. Get
my drift?
A
first century historian by the name of Josephus chronicled the entire war that
was fought between the Romans and the Jews. This was a war that lasted 3 ˝
years – exactly the length of the second half of the tribulation spoken of in
Revelation.... Interesting!
What
about the first half of the tribulation? Interestingly, Nero's reign over the
Jewish state lasted 3 ˝ years. From 63 until sometime in 66 A.D. Nero was the
ruling authority for
Josephus
also records, in great detail, the battles that raged between the Romans and
the Jews. There are times when he describes the rocks that are being hurled
toward the city, which fit the description of the “hailstones” recorded in
Revelation 16:21. There is a description of a time the sea was filled with
blood, as spoken of in Revelation 8:9, 11:6, and others. And there are
descriptions of people eating their own children because they are without food!
I encourage you, if you are serious about learning more, to get a copy of the
works of Josephus and read them for yourself. It is an eye-opener.
I
hope this has helped you to understand more about the Preterist view. I used to
believe the same way that many of you believe, thinking that there is a future
coming of Christ. It held me in bondage to a way of life that was unfruitful
and unfulfilling. I urge you to prayerfully consider the things I've written
here, and test them for yourself.
Sola Gratia!