Preterism
Another Prophetic
Deception
by Alan Yusko
To
be honest I have never given Preterism much thought. I have always felt it was a
totally crazy position with very few followers. Therefore, as I rule, I have
ignored this prophetic view. I have gotten the odd piece of email from a Preterist
but have not given them much thought. After all, there are people today who
still believe the world is flat. They think all this stuff with Christopher
Columbus etc is just a big deception and cover-up. To these people the world is
flat and they will not be convinced otherwise. I think the Preterist looks at
prophecy much in the same way as the flat-earthers consider a round earth.
In
this tract, I'll cover some points of Preterism and then list a few reasons why
I reject this position. For most people, just reading what they believe will be
enough to reject this position.
FOUNDATION
OF PRETERISM
The
foundation of Preterism is their use of the allegorical method of Bible
interpretation. This basically means that they will spiritualize any piece of
Scripture that does not fit within their belief system of Preterism. There are
many ways to dismiss Scripture. You could take a pair of scissors and simply
cut out the verses you don't like or that don't fit within your belief system.
Or, you can use the allegorical method to interpret the Bible. Both methods
essentially do the same thing. The end result is the Word of God is nullified
as literal Scripture is spiritualized and then dismissed.
Now
for a definition. What is Preterism?
Preterism:
An eschatological viewpoint that places many or all-eschatological events in
the past, especially during the destruction of
The
above quote pretty well sums up their beliefs. They consider that all prophecy
was fulfilled at A.D. 70. This means there is no need to look for prophetic
events to happen in the future. No point since they already happened in 70 A.D...
Jesus is not coming back in some future date. No, He returned in some kind of a
spiritual way back in A.D. 70. Since then, we have been living in the garden of
Eden here on earth. The Preterist rejects the thought that prophetic events may
yet be future. The Preterist calls those who are looking for future prophetic
events to occur a Futurist. To them that is a very negative label... like a
curse word. I.e. So, you are a futurist eh...! ... you Futurist... you!
So
that is the foundation stone for Preterism. What I've just written so far is
enough for about 95 percent of the readers to already reject Preterism. The
simple fact is that A.D. 70 is NOT the fulfillment of prophecy. There are still
many events (like the Second Coming of Christ) that have not happened yet!
Now
lets look a bit closer at some of the specific beliefs of Preterism:
SPIRITUAL
RESURRECTION
Preterism
defends the bodily resurrection of Jesus. However, they teach the 'spiritual'
resurrection of believers. They claim, Preterism agrees with Paul, that
"it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (I Corinthians
15:44).
This
means the Preterist would agree that when Jesus was raised from the dead that
it was a bodily resurrection. However, they differ in that when a Christian is
raised from the dead. Instead of a body of flesh and bone like Jesus had, they
believe the Christian will be given a nonphysical body. Well I hate to burst
their bubble but a spiritual body in the resurrection will be composed of flesh
and bone - just like the Lord Jesus' resurrection body.
First,
I want to say that as Jesus was raised from the dead... so will the Christian!
We will be given a resurrection body and it will be just like the body Jesus
had! See the following Scripture:
I
John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is.
One
day we will be like Jesus. We will be given an eternal resurrection body just
like Jesus has. Now what are the characteristics of a resurrection body? See
below and it can be seen that a spiritual body is composed of flesh and bone:
Luke
24:37-39
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a
spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in
your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a
spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
For
the Preterist to argue that 'Yes, Jesus was raised in a body... ' and then to
claim the Christian will not, cannot be justified. Jesus is the first fruits of
the resurrection. All God's people will have a resurrection body just like
Jesus. It will be a spiritual body but it will be a body of flesh and bone,
just like Jesus! To argue anything less is pure speculation.
FOLLOWERS
OF THE HERETIC - ORIGEN
While
surfing through a Preterist web site, I saw positive references to the heretic
by the name of Origen. This man wrote late in the 2nd century. He used the
allegorical method of interpreting Scripture. Origen denied the Bible's
historicity, eternal punishment, and salvation by grace. God, to Origen was
abstract, inconceivable, and incomprehensible. Perhaps if Origen was saved then
he may have understood a bit more about God and His nature. For more
information on this false teacher, see "Final Authority" by William
P. Grady. Here is a question.. why then would the Preterist's think so highly
of such a false teacher such as Origen? Food for thought.
The
Preterist has adopted the allegorical method to interpret Scripture as did
Origen. The end result of this method of Bible study causes literal pieces of
Scripture to be treated as figurative and thus nullified. Quite simply if the
Scripture does not fit into the Preterist belief formula then it is considered
a figurative or a spiritualized piece of Scripture. Therefore, the Scripture
does not really mean what it says! Instead, it means something in a figurative
manner. An example of this would be used by the Preterist or the amillennialist
where they spiritualize Revelation chapter 20. In this chapter, the 1000 year
kingdom is mentioned many times. As previously stated, the allegorical method
actually nullifies the Word of God by denying this Scripture is literal. They
teach Revelation 20 is only figurative and dismiss the chapter as irrelevant.
They deny there will be any 1000 year kingdom and dismiss Revelation 20 in the
same breath. You see the 1000 year kingdom is not literal to the Preterist (or
the amillennialist). So by using the allegorical method the Preterist have
successfully dismissed Revelation chapter 20, which clearly teaches a literal
1000 year kingdom. They would have been just as effective if they took their
scissors and physically cut out Revelation chapter 20.
SECOND
COMING OF JESUS
The
Preterist believes that Jesus' second coming occurred in 70A.D. It was not a
literal physical coming but rather some kind of a 'spiritual' return. Here is
some of their reasons why:
1) The Second Coming of Christ is directly stated as occurring in the space of
the men then living
2) The Second Coming of Christ is implied as being very near (meaning the
lifetime of the disciples)
3) The Judgment is also declared and implied as being within a short space
To
believe that Jesus has already returned requires a great deal of usage with the
allegorical method of Bible study. You see there is all kinds of
spiritualization required in order to claim Jesus actually returned to earth in
A.D. 70.
Lets
look at a few Scriptures:
Below
we have a description of when the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven:
Acts
1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and
a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two
men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner,
as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Notice
verse 11 where it says He shall come back in 'like manner' as he went up to
heaven. This means as Jesus went to heaven bodily and visibly, one day when He
returns, it will also be bodily and physically.
Here
is another verse that supports when Jesus returns, it will be very visible. (of
course, we are not talking about the rapture.. but rather the revelation or
second coming of Jesus at the climax of the battle of Armageddon)
Matt
24:29-30
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun 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:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in
the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Notice
above. Everyone will see Jesus return. It will not be some kind of 'spiritual'
or 'hidden' thing that only the Preterist can discern. Rather when Jesus returns,
everyone will clearly see Him! As a result, the people of earth (who reject
God) will mourn. Obviously, this didn't happen in 70 A.D.! Next, we look at something
else that will happen when Jesus returns:
II
Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all
them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
When
Jesus returns it will not be a happy day for the unsaved. They will perish for
all eternity. This has not yet happened!
Finally
lets look at a description of the Lord Jesus returning to earth.
Rev
19:11-21
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he
had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called
The Word of God.
14 And the armies, which were in heaven, followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh
of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the
flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of
the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into
a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse,
which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with
their flesh.
Again
when the Lord Jesus returns it will be a very visible event. The bottom line is
this: The physical and visible return of Jesus certainly did not happen in
70A.D. as the deception of Preterism claims!
THE
BOOK OF REVELATION (Written 30+ years AFTER 70 A.D.)
The
book of Revelation was written by John late in the first century. Why did he
write the following?
Rev
1
1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his
servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it
by his angel unto his servant John:
Why
would John write about things, which must shortly come to pass if they already
happened in A.D. 70? It really doesn't make any sense for John, under inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, to write in such a way. If Jesus had already returned and
set up His kingdom and the earth was now a spiritual
SEVENTY
WEEK PROPHECY FROM DANIEL
Dan
9:24-27
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to
seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end
of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst
of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation,
and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Above
is the 70 weeks of year’s prophecy for the nation of
1) to finish the transgression
2) to make an end of sins
3) to make reconciliation for iniquity
4) to bring in everlasting righteousness
5) to seal up the vision and the prophecy
6) to anoint the most Holy (Jesus)
Sorry
Mr. Preterist. The above has not yet happened! We still await the return of
Jesus who will return in a physical manner (not a spiritual one). Jesus will
reign on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Preterists
teach that paradise has been restored NOW in Christ. We are now living in the
eternal Garden of Eden and we are able to directly communicate to God the Father.
Remember the kingdom is a 'spiritual' one!...they say! Here is a thought: Can't
the Kingdom be both a spiritual one and a literal one?
Well,
what else can I say: WE ARE NOT LIVING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN! We are living in
a Christ rejecting, sin filled planet called earth. God is saving souls and
soon Jesus will return to setup His 1000 year LITERAL kingdom. To me the claim
that we are now living in
Preterism
believes the physical
I
want to show you the verses in Revelation chapter 20. These verses do not mean
what they say to the Preterist (or amillennialist). Instead, they are simply
dismissed as 'figurative'. This will give you an example of how those who
spiritualize Scripture actually deny Scripture. As you read the below verses,
take note every time reference is made to the 1000 year kingdom. I count the
term 'thousand years' occurring 6 times. That is pretty clear now isn't it.
Rev
20
1: And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
2: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a THOUSAND YEARS,
3: And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND YEARS should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS.
5: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were
finished. This is the first resurrection.
6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a THOUSAND YEARS.
7: And when the THOUSAND YEARS are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison,
8: And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of
the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom
is as the sand of the sea.
9: And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the
saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven,
and devoured them.
10: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented
day and night for ever and ever.
The
bottom line is this: Everyone who uses the allegorical method to pervert
Scripture, has a price to pay. That price is a loss of doctrine as anything can
be proved if some Scriptures are accepted and others are dismissed as being
figurative. The proper way to read and understand the Bible is to use the
'literal' method of interpretation. What does this mean? Well it is very
simple. All Scripture is to be taken literally, unless direct figurativeness is
implied. The Preterist does not do this. He takes all Scripture as being
figurative if it disagrees with his false theory of Preterism. You will see the
Preterist say that the book of Revelation is figurative, and then out of the
other side of his mouth quote a verse from Revelation if it fits into the false
teaching of Preterism. However, Revelation Chapter 20 totally disproves Preterism
so they will NEVER accept the fact that the 1000 year kingdom is a literal one.
Lets
look a bit deeper at literal vs figurative Scripture: Here is an example of
some literal Scripture:.. notice the literal 1000 year time period:
Rev
20
2: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a THOUSAND YEARS,
3: And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND YEARS should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Now
here is some example of figurative Scripture: Notice the 'feathers'. Of course
God does not have feathers...it is figurative.
Psalms
91
4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
It
is not a hard concept to grasp! However, the Preterist will make literal
Scripture figurative if it does not agree with Preterism. That is deception and
dishonest!
WORD
REDEFINITION: AN EXERCISE IN SCRIPTURE TWISTING AND PERVERSION
How
does the Preterist or amillennialist twist, pervert and spiritualize the precious
Word of God to come up with such a warped doctrine? They do it by the process
of word redefinition and then using that redefined word elsewhere in Scripture
where it suits their false doctrine.
A
classic example of word redefinition can be found in the book of Revelation.
The Bible clearly teaches that once the Lord Jesus returns the devil will be
bound for 1000 years. When I say 1000, I mean 999 + 1 = 1000. During this time
period (1000 years) God's Kingdom will be on the earth. It will be a literal
1000 year kingdom. Revelation chapter 20 is very clear on this fact.
Have
a look at the following:
Revelation
20
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a THOUSAND years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND years should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
It
is very clear from the above Scriptures that we are talking about a thousand
year period. Does a thousand years mean 999 + 1 to the Preterist/amillennialist?
Unfortunately not. The Preterist/amillennialist has twisted Scriptures to
redefine the meaning of thousand. It does not mean 999 + 1 = 1000, instead it
means something else. They have devised a twisted 'spiritual' meaning for the
literal thousand (999 + 1) time period. That time period is also known as the
Millennium when the Lord Jesus will reign on earth. These people deny that the
1000 year
What
does the Preterist/amillennialist say concerning the 1000 years found in the
book of Revelation chapter 20.
They
believe it is symbolic and is not a literal time period. They use the verse in
Psalms that states "The cattle on a thousand hills are mine". By
using that verse they state that 'thousand' does not mean 1000 (999 + 1) but
rather it means something else. They take the word 'thousand' to mean eternal
or including all, instead of 1000 years.
Pretty
crazy isn't it! I look at the above and just shake my head. The Preterist/amillennialist
is stating that because the verse in Psalms uses 'cattle on a thousand hills',
the word 'thousand' may be redefined to mean something else. Because of this verse,
they redefine the use of one thousand (999 + 1) to mean something other than
what it really means. I would agree that the above verse is indication ALL
hills, but I get that from the CONTEXT in how it is used. However, I would
never be so crazy to take that verse and apply it to the book of Revelation,
which clearly uses thousand to mean 999 + 1. But that is what the Preterist/amillennialist
does! Lets look closely because this demonstrates the concept of word
redefinition that is used by the Preterist/amillennialist. This is also
spiritual deception!
Lets
look closer at the verse in Psalms:
Psalms
50:10
10 For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand
hills.
This
one verse is used in word redefinition. Yes, I would agree that due to the
context of the verse that the term 'a thousand hills' would mean all hills.
However does it make sense to take the word 'thousand' and take that same
meaning and use it in other places where the word 'thousand' occurs. No that
would be quite foolish. However, anything is possible with the allegorical
method of Bible perversion. This is what word redefinition is. Take a word,
redefine it, and use it elsewhere. The redefinition is not used everywhere the
word 'thousand' occurs, but just where it is needed to 'prove' the Preterist/Amillennialist's
warped doctrine. What we have here is Scripture twisting and outright
deception.
I
mentioned this to a friend and he indicated that another problem the Preterist/amillennialist
has ignored. It is that the above verse in Psalms was written in Hebrew and the
one in Revelation was written in Greek. I guess their word redefinition crosses
language barriers.
Keep
the word redefinition in mind and read the verses from the book of Revelation
Chapter 20. Just use your common sense and see if the redefined word fits in.
Should the word 'thousand' mean eternal/includes all, or should the word
'thousand' be used as it is intended..... (999 + 1) or 1000! Myself, the only
logical conclusion is the word 'thousand' means what it says... one thousand!
Now
is the Preterist/amillennialist consistent with their word redefinition of the
word 'thousand'? Well the answer is NO. You see they only redefine the word
where it suits their purposes. Revelation chapter 20 totally disproves their
heresy so it must be dismissed, ignored, or thrown out. However, there are
other Scriptures that have been left alone because they do not interfere with
the Preterist teachings.
Here
is a question: Why do Preterist/Amillennialists only redefine the word
'thousand' in the book of Revelation? Why not do it in other places in the
Bible? They could at least be consistent and redefine the word 'thousand' in
every occurrence in Scripture? Well the reason is Revelation chapter 20 does
not fit into their belief system of Preterism. In fact, it refutes it
completely. Therefore, the whole chapter must be spiritualized and treated as
figurative. At that point, it may be ignored and dismissed. Again, I say, this
is deception and it is evil.
Lets
look at another Scripture that uses the word 'THOUSAND' and see if the word
redefinition works here.
Genesis
20:16
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a THOUSAND [pieces]
of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are]
with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved.
Should
the meaning of 'thousand' be redefined in the above verse? Would it make sense
to say that 1000 pieces of silver were NOT given but rather ALL silver.... The
'silver on a thousand hills' ... if you get my drift! Why doesn't the Preterist/amillennialist
be consistent and use his redefined word everywhere the word 'thousand' occurs
in the Bible. They don't because they only need to use word redefinition is
where the Scriptures contradict their pet false doctrine.
Here
is another verse that uses the word 'thousand'.
Exodus
32:28
28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell
of the people that day about three THOUSAND men.
Should
the redefined meaning for the word 'thousand' be used here also. Would it make
sense if we interpreted the above verse to mean 'all men' or the 'men on a
thousand hills'? It wouldn't make sense to me. I think three thousand means three
thousand! It also makes perfect sense that Revelation chapter 20 is referring
to a literal 1000 year period and not some 'spiritual symbolic' thing like the Preterist/amillennialist
would have you to believe.
I
have a saying that I made up about people who twist Scripture and turn literal
things in Scriptures into spiritual things: 'They spiritualize the literal
which makes them oblivious to the obvious!' What a evil, spiritually dangerous
thing to do!
I
hope my examples show that the concept of word redefinition is quit deceptive
and dangerous. The word 'thousand' cannot be redefined in Revelation chapter 20
to mean something other than 999 + 1 or ONE THOUSAND! However, against all
reason the Preterist/amillennialist has done such a thing. Please re-read the
above if you don't understand the concept of word redefinition and do not let
yourself be caught in such a demonic trap.
CONCLUSION
I
leave you with this final thought. Stay away from the allegorical method of
Bible perversion. It really has not done the Preterist or the amillennialist
any good. They have been so busy spiritualizing and making literal Scripture,
figurative, that they have totally confused their teaching. An entire set of
incorrect prophetic doctrines have been based on allegorical confusion.
8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Preterism is nothing more than satanic deception, Scripture twisting, and wrongly dividing God's prophetic Word. These people will quote and misquote Scripture as good as any Jehovah Witness to teach about their error. Be warned and remove your self from such deception.
as of 7-2005