When Torpedoes Take A U-Turn

We are happy to present for your consideration an article by Joe Puckett. Like most, Joe struggled with accepting Covenant Eschatology, actually writing against it at times. However, after considerable study and consideration, he has now become an advocate! Read what he has to say about how, and why he overcame his objections.

Welcome Aboard, Joe!

Don Preston

When Torpedoes Take a U-Turn

By Joe Puckett

I have been wrestling with the subject of Biblical eschatology for quite a series of articles on a Preterist site entitled "Sinking the Ship of Hyper-Preterism". In this series I claimed to have shot some "torpedoes" which some time now. Some time ago, I submitted were supposed to have sunk the Preterist view. But since that time the "torpedoes" have taken an unexpected u-turn. While I have been tossed "to and fro" in times past, my studies have now led me to what I believe is the truth of Covenant Eschatology. But, like everyone else who becomes convinced of fulfilled eschatology, all sorts of issues and questions consequently come up. Questions like, "If Jesus has already come and is now present with His church, and if the resurrection is an accomplished reality, then what is left for us? What are the implications of fulfilled eschatology?" The answer to these questions is where many Preterists disagree the most. Frankly, there are many things that have not changed since my coming to Preterism. But there are many things that have changed. Additionally I don’t have to be a prophet to know that more things will change as I continue to study and grow. But in this short piece I would like to explain some implications that have arisen since I know understand that Christ has come.

Since Christ has come I view my baptism differently. It is sad to hear that some people who have taken a Preterist view of Scripture have taken the view that baptism is no longer needed as it once was in the first century. But instead of thinking that baptism is no longer valid after AD 70, I view it as all the more significant. The first century church was being baptized in eager anticipation of the imminent completion of God’s promises. Today we are baptized in view of God’s fulfilled promises. While they were being baptized into a Spiritual Temple that was being built (Eph. 2:19-22) we are baptized into the Spiritual Temple that has been finished (Revelation 21-22)! While their resurrection out of baptism was in the process of being perfected (Romans 6:1-5), since the coming of Christ, our resurrection out of baptism has been perfected (Philippians 3:10-21).

. It is sad to hear that some people who have taken a Preterist view of Scripture have taken the view that baptism is no longer needed as it once was in the first century. But instead of thinking that baptism is no longer valid after AD 70, I view it as significant. The first century church was being baptized in eager anticipation of the imminent completion of God’s promises. Today we are baptized in view of God’s fulfilled promises. While they were being baptized into a Spiritual Temple that was being built (Eph. 2:19-22) we are baptized into the Spiritual Temple that has been finished (Revelation 21-22)! While their resurrection out of baptism was in the process of being perfected (Romans 6:1-5), since the coming of Christ, our resurrection out of baptism perfected (Philippians 3:10-21).

The difference between the pre-AD 70 church and now is not that we are two separate churches entering in the Kingdom through two different ways. Rather, the difference is that the House was then being built, and has now been finished. We enter the same Spiritual Temple through the same way they did, i.e. faith and baptism, Acts 2:38, Gal. 3:26-28. But after AD 70 the Spiritual Temple simply has all the stones in place.

Some have argued that baptism was a part of that which was passing away as in the case of the many symbolic "washings" of the Law of Moses, i.e. Hebrew 9:10. But while many of these washings were typical of forgiveness and baptism, Christian baptism itself was not a part of these washings. Baptism "into Christ" is included anti-typical work of redemption (Galatians 3:26-28). It was part of the "substance" not the "shadow". If we have time right now we could compare the obvious contrast Paul makes between the role of "baptism" in Col. 2:11-13, and the passing elements of the Law in Col. 2:14-17. But right now I will only ask you to turn there a see the contrasts yourself. Nevertheless, just as the church itself did not end in AD 70 neither did it’s terms of admittance end there either (Acts 2:38-47, 1 Cor. 12:13).

I view my salvation differently. Some Preterists have unfortunately concluded that since death has been defeated, everyone is unconditionally raised to Life with God. Universalism is the view that no one will be lost. But the truth of the matter is that the Bible says that only those "in Christ" will be saved. All "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" are found only "in Him", Eph. 1:3. There is no salvation outside the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:8. Yes, death has been defeated, 1 Tim. 1:10. But it is only "in Christ" that this defeat is appropriated in the life of the individual. So we must be baptized "into Christ" to be raised to walk the New Life given to us, Romans 6:3-4, Gal. 3:26-27. While being the pinnacle of man’s separation from God (1 Cor. 15:56), the Law of Moses was not the only thing that caused death. Death reigned well before the Law was given, Romans 5:14. So mankind does not need the Law of Moses to be lost. Today, death still reigns over the one who does not have Christ. But "in Christ" death is fully and finally defeated.

. Some Preterists have unfortunately concluded that since death has been defeated, everyone is unconditionally raised to Life with God. Universalism is the view that no one will be lost. But the truth of the matter is that the Bible says that only those "" will be saved. All "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" are found "in Him", Eph. 1:3. There is no salvation outside the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:8. Yes, death has been defeated, 1 Tim. 1:10. But it is only "" that this defeat is appropriated in the life of the individual. So we must be baptized "into Christ" to be raised to walk the New Life given to us, Romans 6:3-4, Gal. 3:26-27. While being the pinnacle of man’s separation from God (1 Cor. 15:56), the Law of Moses was not the only thing that caused death. Death reigned well before the Law was given, Romans 5:14. So mankind does not need the Law of Moses to be lost. Today, death still reigns over the one who does not have Christ. But "in Christ" death is fully and finally defeated.

But while my view of who will be saved has not changed, I now view the salvation I have differently. While I used to think salvation was still incomplete until some future day, now I know that God has completely, fully, and finally forgiven my sins and saved my soul. While Paul could say that salvation was "near" for him in Romans 13:11, we can confidently affirm that salvation is here for us now!! While the redemption of the pre-AD 70 saints was drawing near (Luke 21:28, Eph. 1:13-14) our redemption is already here (Gal. 5:5)!!

I view the Lord’s Supper differently. There are some Preterists who believe that Paul taught that once Jesus came in AD 70, we would no longer have to participate in the Lord’s Supper. But this idea comes from a mistaken view of 1 Cor. 11:26. There are two things with this passage to keep in mind. First, the word "until" does not always identify a time when an event is to stop after a certain other event takes place. Cf. 1 Tim. 4:13. 2) Even if "until" implies cessation this does not mean the Lord’s Supper would cease. Paul doesn’t say "continue to take the Lord’s Supper until He comes." Paul does say that they were proclaiming "the Lord’s death" until He comes. It might be that after AD 70 the church would no longer be "proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes", but they (we) would certainly be celebrating the Lord’s Presence because He came! Just as Israel ate the Passover before they entered the promise land, so they also ate of it afterward. The difference was that, in the wilderness, they were eating it as a people anticipating God’s finished work for them. Similarly, the early church ate in anticipation of God’s final work. Once Jesus came, He would eat and drink with them in the Messianic Kingdom, Luke 22:16-18, Matthew 26:28-29. The church no longer eats in His absence. We eat in His presence!!

. There are some Preterists who believe that Paul taught that once Jesus came in AD 70, we would no longer have to participate in the Lord’s Supper. But this idea comes from a mistaken view of 1 Cor. 11:26. There are two things with this passage to keep in mind. First, the word "until" does not always identify a time when an event is to stop after a certain other event takes place. Cf. 1 Tim. 4:13. 2) Even if "until" implies cessation this does not mean the Lord’s Supper would cease. Paul doesn’t say "continue to take the Lord’s Supper until He comes." Paul say that they were proclaiming "the Lord’s death" until He comes. It might be that after AD 70 the church would no longer be "proclaiming the Lord’s death ", but they (we) would certainly be celebrating the Lord’s Presence ! Just as Israel ate the Passover before they entered the promise land, so they also ate of it afterward. The difference was that, in the wilderness, they were eating it as a people anticipating God’s finished work for them. Similarly, the early church ate in anticipation of God’s final work. Once Jesus came, He would eat and drink with them in the Messianic Kingdom, Luke 22:16-18, Matthew 26:28-29. The church no longer eats in His absence.

I view biological death differently. For so long I believed that after I die I would have to wait in Hades for, who knows how long, until I could go to Heaven someday. Now I know that after death, I will enter Heaven itself. Sure, I am already in God’s presence and fellowship here on earth. And yes, Heaven and Resurrection Life are mine even now. But after biological death those of us in Christ will experience Heaven with all its beauty and joy forever, Phil. 1:21-23.

. For so long I believed that after I die I would have to wait in Hades for, who knows how long, until I could go to Heaven someday. Now I know that after death, I will enter Heaven itself. Sure, I am already in God’s presence and fellowship here on earth. And yes, Heaven and Resurrection Life are mine even now. But after biological death those of us in Christ will Heaven with all its beauty and joy forever, Phil. 1:21-23.

When Jesus entered into the Holiest of Holies He became our "forerunner", Heb. 6:19-20. This means that His word enabled us to follow Him into Heaven itself. The time when mankind could actually enter Heaven after Jesus did was when He returned a "second time" for salvation, Heb. 9:28. It was only when the "first tabernacle" no longer stood that the way into the Holiest of Holies was made manifest, Heb. 9:8. When God’s vengeance was met on Old Covenant Israel then man was allowed to enter into God’s Temple, Revelation 15:8. It was those days of vengeance when all things which were written would be fulfilled and when full redemption came, Luke 21:22, 28. The fulfillment of these things is what we enjoy today.

I view my fellowship with God differently. In connection with the last point, I never really thought about the fact that if we still wait in Hades after we die, then we are still not in God’s full presence and fellowship yet. Never did it dawn on me that if I have to wait in Hades, then my sins were not yet forgiven. According to Paul the sting of death (Hades) is sin, 1 Cor. 15:55. If I am still a citizen of Hades, then I am still bound to its sting (sin). But if I am fully forgiven, then I am no longer bound to sin. But if I am not longer bound to sin, then Hades has no hold on me. But if Hades has no hold on me, then I have full fellowship with God now and am truly Heaven bound!!

. In connection with the last point, I never really thought about the fact that if we still wait in Hades after we die, then we are still not in God’s full presence and fellowship yet. Never did it dawn on me that if I have to wait in Hades, then my sins were not yet forgiven. According to Paul the sting of death (Hades) is sin, 1 Cor. 15:55. If I am still a citizen of Hades, then I am still bound to its sting (sin). But if I am fully forgiven, then I am no longer bound to sin. But if I am not longer bound to sin, then Hades has no hold on me. But if Hades has no hold on me, then I have full fellowship with God now and am truly Heaven bound!!

I view the church differently. While the first century church was the "New Exodus" community, we are the "Promise Land" community. Just as Israel had to wait for the promise land for forty years, so did the church have to wait for her promises for forty years (AD 30-70). But after those forty years, Israel (along with Joshua) finally entered the land of promise. So also after AD 70 we too (along with Jesus) enter the real and spiritual Land of Promise, Hebrew 4. But just as Israel was the same Israel before and after they walked through to Canaan’s land, so also the church is still the same church before and after AD 70. The difference is that just as Israel received what God promised them after they entered the Land, so also God has finished His work for all those in the church after AD 70.

. While the first century church was the "New Exodus" community, we are the "Promise Land" community. Just as Israel had to wait for the promise land for forty years, so did the church have to wait for her promises for forty years (AD 30-70). But after those forty years, Israel (along with Joshua) finally entered the land of promise. So also after AD 70 we too (along with Jesus) enter the real and spiritual Land of Promise, Hebrew 4. But just as Israel was the same Israel before and after they walked through to Canaan’s land, so also the church is still the same church before and after AD 70. The difference is that just as Israel received what God promised them after they entered the Land, so also God has finished His work for all those in the church after AD 70.

So, as you can see, a lot of things have opened up for me since my understanding of eschatology has changed. But there are a great many things that have still remained the same. But I thank God so much for keeping His promises and for giving us Life with Him. And I thank God for the riches that are yet to be found in His Word as I continue my search for His truth!