Many Christians don't know
this, but there are really three major "prophetic schools" of
interpretation now in conflict - Preterism, Historicism, and Futurism. Each of
these schools view the prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation differently. In this "Prophetic Perspectives" series, I
will attempt to simplify and clarify the issues.
Let's start with Preterism.
It's root word is "preter," meaning
"past." Some of its key proponents are David B. Curtis, J. Stuart
Russell, John L. Bray, Max King, John Noe, and Gary DeMar. Basically, the idea
is that most or all of the prophecies found in Daniel, Matthew 24, 2
Thessalonians 2, and Revelation have largely been fulfilled in the past in
connection with the fall of
Modern Preterists tend to
view other Christians who believe in a future mark of the beast, return of
Jesus Christ, resurrection, day of judgment, etc. as totally deluded. Gary
DeMar's book, Last Days Madness, published in 1999 by American Vision reflects
this viewpoint. DeMar believes: (1) No signs today point forward to Christ's
return (p. 158); (2) Jesus "came" in 70 AD (p. 71, 123-125); (3) All
of Matthew 24 is behind us; (4) Nero was the "beast" (p. 258); (5)
"The man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:4) has come and gone (p. 280); (6)
Revelation's primary focus is events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem
(p. 217); (7) The "end" of the world refers to the end of the Jewish
world in 70 AD (p. 189).
Although Preterists rely on
different arguments, their main contention is that when the New Testament says
the Day of Christ is "at hand" (Rev. 1:3) or "near" (James
5:8), and that Jesus is coming "quickly" (Rev. 22:10) in "a
little while" (Heb. 10:37) - these words must have meant exactly that to
their original readers. In other words, "near," "at hand,"
"quickly," and "a little while," must mean a short time
after they were written.
I believe that Preterists,
although sincere, are wrong for the following reasons.
1) The words and phrases -
"at hand," "quickly," "near," "a little
while" - are from God's perspective, not man's.
In the context of this exact issue of the timing of the return of Christ, Peter
said, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter
3:8). Thus, to God, time is relative. To Him, a thousand years are like one
short day. Peter said we should "not forget this one thing." As we
shall see, "this one thing" is the key to Preterism's failure. Two
verses later Peter continued, "But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works
that are in it will be burned up" (vs. 10). Preterists argue for
literalism. But honestly, did this literally happen in 70 AD?
2) A "little
while" of over 500 years: The book of Haggai was written around 500 BC,
"in the second year of Darius," a Persian king (vs. 1). Notice
carefully: "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet
once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the
sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all
nations shall come..." (2:6,7). The phrase - the
desire of all nations - is clearly a prophecy of Jesus Christ. Not only was
Christ's coming to be "in a little while," but so was the shaking of
the heavens and the earth. First of all, Christ didn't come for another 500
years; and secondly, Hebrews quotes the "end of the world" aspect of
Haggai 2:6 as definitely still future! (See Hebrews 10:27; 12:26,27). Thus Haggai 2:6,7 is biblical
proof that "a little while" doesn't mean only a few days or years
from man's perspective.
3) The return of Jesus
Christ will be global, not local: Preterists believe the "coming" of
Jesus took place in 70 AD when
Revelation 22:11 says that
when Jesus Christ does finally come "quickly," He will reward
"every man" (not just Jews) according to their works. In addition,
prior to this return, the solemn announcement will be made in heaven, "He
that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which
is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be
righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come
quickly ..." (vs. 11, 12). Notice carefully that right before Jesus really
comes the destiny of every human being will be
decided. The lost, having rejected Christ's cleansing blood, will remain filthy
still; while those who are blood-washed and prepared will be ready for this
holy event. Dear friend, this deciding of all destinies did not take place in
70 AD! It is yet to come.
Where did Preterism come
from? In the next article of "Prophetic Perspectives" I will prove
that during the time of the Reformation, all Protestant scholars were
Historicists. This means they interpreted the prophecies about the
"falling away" (2 Thess. 2:3), the "beast," (Rev. 13:2) and
the "little horn" (Daniel 7:21) as being fulfilled in the history of
Christianity - especially in the rise and development of the
The following quotations
are common knowledge to those who have researched this important topic:
“The Preterist
School, founded by the Jesuit Alcasar in 1614, explains the Revelation by the
Fall of Jerusalem, or by the fall of Pagan Rome in 410 A.D” (G.S.
Hitchcock, The Beasts and the Little Horn, p. 7).
"The praeterist view
found no favor and was hardly so much as thought of in
the time of primitive Christianity. Those who lived near the date of the book
of Revelation itself had no idea that its groups of imagery were intended
merely to describe things then passing, and to be in a few years completed.
This view is said to have been first promulgated in anything like completeness
by the Jesuit Alcasar, in his 'Vestigatio Arcani Sensus in Apocalypsi' (1604).
Very nearly, the same plan was adopted by Grotius. The next great name among
this school of interpreters is that of Bossuet the great antagonist of
Protestantism." From Bulletin for Biblical Christianity Today by Dr.
Ronald Cooke (see
www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=twaddle).
"Accordingly, towards
the close of the century of the Reformation, two of her most learned doctors
set themselves to the task, each endeavoring by different means to accomplish
the same end, namely, that of diverting men's minds from perceiving the
fulfillment of the prophecies of the Antichrist in the Papal system. The Jesuit
Alcasar devoted himself to bring into prominence the Preterist method of
interpretation, which we have already briefly noticed, and thus endeavoring to
show that the prophecies of Antichrist were fulfilled before the Popes ever
ruled in
In light of September 11,
world events, and the signs which now point forward to "the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him" (2 Thess. 2:1), it
is this writers deepest conviction that all prophecy-minded Christians should
abandon Preterism. And we should do it "quickly."
as of 4-2005