Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2002 11:40 am Post subject: The Preterist Chimera is Easily Refuted
To refute Preterism, you only need the presence of mind to see that three verses are parallel and then be able to exegete these verses correctly.
1. Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:29-30.
2. “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28.
3. “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36.
Item number 1 points to Matthew 25:31-46. In brief, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.” The words, “when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near” doesn’t mean that we’re talking about the mount of transfiguration.
Item number 2 points to redemption. When does that arrive? “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:22-23.
Not wanting to see the consummation or the end in point number 2, one Preterist actually interpreted Luke 21:28 as saying, “When the apocalyptic end-time disasters begin to fall, straighten up and lift up your heads, because Christ’s death on the cross is about to happen.”
Item number 3 refers to “standing before the Son of Man.” This too is Matthew 25:31-46. “We will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10). This judgment isn’t a limited, temporal punishment as in 70AD. It’s the final judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
No other conclusions are possible. The Olivet Discourse reaches to the consummation of all things. The kingdom of God and the final judgment didn’t arrive in 70AD.
Preterism leans very heavily on the "this generation" line in Matt 24:34. This is a problematic statement. Preterists argue that in every case "this generation" refers to the generation of the listeners. Therefore, the entire prophecy of Matt 24 MUST take place within a generation. They identify a generation as 40 years, based on the experience in Sinai.
Do you have a clear presentation of a direct response to this argument?
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 4:56 pm Post subject: Contextual Realism
Ted,
It can’t be said that Matt 24:34 is problematic because there are so many strikingly similar statements in the New Testament. Click here for a list of “equally problematic” (I mean similar) time texts. The answer is a whole new paradigm of prophetic interpretation. The thread Multiple Scenarios is a good introduction to the proper response. Before you go there, try wrestling with the time texts. Preterists are correct in saying that, in every instance, “this generation” is the generation of the listeners.
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