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05/28/2003 Archived Entry: "Preterism again"
This page at Planet Preterist has a pretty good explanation of preterism.
This view offers a much more positive and realistic worldview. It is conservative, consistent, optimistic, responsible and accountable. And it robs us of no motivation for either living the Christian life, or evangelizing the world. In fact, it's the only view which gives us a consistent reason for being constructively involved in making the world a better place for the long-term, unlike the short-term escapist and withdrawal mindset of most futurists.
Bible prophecy absolutely makes sense when approached from this past-fulfillment (preterist) perspective! It puts emphasis on the spiritual nature of God's Kingdom, not on the physical, materialistic, sensual, and sensational. It teaches a realized spiritual salvation in Christ and the Church now, instead of a frustrated hope for a postponed sensually-gratifying paradise way off in the future. It has an optimistic worldview that gets involved, makes a positive difference, and lights a candle, rather than cursing the darkness, longing for a rapture-escape, or retreating from society. It doesn't engage in wild-eyed speculation like futurist views. It's just simple, straight-forward Bible interpretation.
My friend Bruce, in a conversation last Saturday on this subject, asked if the preterists believe that Jesus has already returned. When I said "yes", he immediately stated that he could not accept it if this world is as good as it will get after Jesus' return. He seemed to think that preterism offered no hope. In fact, although I was unable to articulate it well, there is a great hope. If Jesus is reigning now, we are free to try to improve the world. It is an optimistic viewpoint, rather than a pessimistic one, on this current age. We are living under the new covenant. The old covenant has been fulfilled. Cool.
I can see Bruce's point. The one thing that makes me pull back from my enthusiasm for full preterism is the strongly held tradition that Jesus will (or may) return "soon". This is apparently a common phenomenon.
I want to give this matter plently of thought and study and prayer. I don't want to be guilty of misinterpreting the scripture. Right now I have a strong feeling that the ones most guilty of misinterpretation are the futurists.
Replies: 3 comments
Seems to me that a strong Futurist stance leaves one with "no hope." From my experience, the belief that Christians shouldn't waste time with such things as environmental and social activism etc. is because Jesus is coming back soon to destroy the whole thing and take us to heaven, so why bother? Collect as many souls as you can so God's score comes out higher than Satan's when the Judgement count is made. Seriously, I have heard that view articulated so many times in circles that believe a strong futurist stance.
On the other hand, if Jesus already "came back" and is now reigning through his ambassadors...US...then maybe we need to get our lazy butts off our pews, toss out our copies of "Left Behind," and start making the world a better place.
Lots to think about with this issue...
Posted by Jonathan Fox @ 05/28/2003 03:26 PM EST
From almost 30 years of the studying the Bible, I have found that Realized Eschatology is a breath of fresh air. When I came into this understanding, of course I was shell-shocked. But once I settled into the reality of the kingdom, it occured to me that all the dangers of the entire planet going up in a mushroom cloud was totally uncalled for. The peace I felt and feel had never waned. All those scare tactics I used to employ in my preaching have also proven to have been in vain. I remember warning people about the Soviet Union invading Israel--so-called 'Gog and Magog.' By the time the USSR fell I had already come to the Truth. I used to parrot that stuff about the planets lining up and pulling the earth apart, the so-called "Jupiter Effect" by the time that astronomical phenomenom hit, I already realized what the Truth was. There are a number of other ways I can say, that having the faith of Jesus, and not just faith in Jesus, has saved me from great personal embarrassment.
Posted by Markos Mountjoy @ 10/30/2004 01:16 PM EST
From almost 30 years of the studying the Bible, I have found that Realized Eschatology is a breath of fresh air. When I came into this understanding, of course I was shell-shocked. But once I settled into the reality of the kingdom, it occured to me that all the dangers of the entire planet going up in a mushroom cloud was totally uncalled for. The peace I felt and feel had never waned. All those scare tactics I used to employ in my preaching have also proven to have been in vain. I remember warning people about the Soviet Union invading Israel--so-called 'Gog and Magog.' By the time the USSR fell I had already come to the Truth. I used to parrot that stuff about the planets lining up and pulling the earth apart, the so-called "Jupiter Effect" by the time that astronomical phenomenom hit, I already realized what the Truth was. There are a number of other ways I can say, that having the faith of Jesus, and not just faith in Jesus, has saved me from great personal embarrassment.
Posted by Markos Mountjoy @ 10/30/2004 01:17 PM EST
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