Adherents: Most modern evangelicals

1. Three types of Millennialism: • Amillennialism: Belief there will be a continuous parallel of good and evil in the world between the 1st and 2nd Coming of Christ. The Kingdom of God is now present in the world through the Word, His Spirit and His Church. • Postmillennialism: Belief the Kingdom of God is now extended through teaching, preaching and evangelism. The world is to be Christianized resulting in a long period of peace and prosperity, followed by Christ’s return. • Premillennialism: Belief in the concept of two-stages in the Coming of Christ. He will come for His Church (Rapture) and then with His Church (Revelation). There is a consistent distinction between Israel and the Church throughout history. A free CD of this message will be available immediately following the service • Adherents: Most modern Reformed theologians, “Christian Reconstructionists” • Adherents: Church of Christ, Church of God (Anderson, IN), many Reformed theologians, Roman Catholic Church • Adherents: Most modern evangelicals “The problems with Preterism”

2. Preterism: From Latin word meaning past “A Christian belief system in which some or all of the end-time events specified in the New Testament are believed to have already been fulfilled. They were accomplished in the past, particularly during the Roman-Jewish war of AD 66 to AD73” “The problems with Preterism”

3. Four possible ways to relate to time: Past: Present: Future: Timeless: Preterism Historicism Futurism Idealism Reformed, Presbyterian Some Reform-ers, SDA, Lutheran Most Modern Evangelicals RCC, Some Reformed, Liber-al Theology “The problems with Preterism”

4. The Preterist believes that most, if not all prophecy has already been fulfilled. The Historicist believes that prophecy has been and will be fulfilled during the current church age. The Futurist believes that prophetic events will be fulfilled in the future. The Idealist does not believe that the Bible indicates the timing of events. Therefore, idealists see prophetic passages as teaching great truths about God to be applied to our present lives. “The problems with Preterism”

5. Three kinds of Preterism: • “Soft” or “Mild” Preterism teaches the Book of Revelation was fulfilled in the first 3 centuries of the Church age (from the fall of Jerusalem to the Edict of Milan – AD 313) • “Partial” or “Moderate” Preterism teaches most prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70. All that is left is Jesus’ 2nd Coming • “Full” or “Extreme” Preterism teaches that even Christ’s 2nd Coming was fulfilled by AD 70 “The problems with Preterism”

6. Jesus’ prophecies in the Olivet Discourse: • Wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes • Persecutions, betrayals, tribulations • False messiahs, lawlessness, “abomination of desolation” • Matt. 24:34 ~ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (also 10:23 and 16:28) “The problems with Preterism”

7. Matt. 23:33- 36 ~ 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. “The problems with Preterism”

8. Rev. 1:1 ~ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. Rev. 22:12 ~ “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” “The problems with Preterism”

9. Some of the conclusions held by most Preterists: • The “Great Tribulation” = Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 • The “Last Days” = “last days of Israel” • The “Antichrist” = any apostate teacher • The “Beast” = Nero • The “False Prophet” = the Jewish leadership • The “Great Harlot” = Jerusalem • “Israel” = Church “The problems with Preterism”

10. When was the Book of Revelation written? • It is crucial to the Preterist position for it to have been written prior to AD 70 • Irenaeus says it was at the end of Domitian’s reign (AD 81-96) • So do Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian • Laodicea was destroyed in AD 61 • Polycarp states in his letter to the Philippians (chapter 11) that his city of Smyrna had not even heard the Gospel in Paul's day (d. AD 64) “The problems with Preterism”

11. 2 Thess. 2:8 ~ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. • How could Nero be the Antichrist when he committed suicide in AD 68 – two years before the Fall of Jerusalem? “The problems with Preterism”

12. Matt. 24:34 ~ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place • “All these things” did not take place in AD 70 • No “abomination of desolation” (24:15) • Son of Man didn't appear (24:27) • Sun wasn't darkened (24:29) • The Jews were not rescued (24:31) “The problems with Preterism”

13. Matt. 24:32-33 ~ 32 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! “The problems with Preterism”

14. Problems stemming from Preterism: • No warning of apostasy • Tends to arbitrary allegorizing of other Scriptures • Blurs the “Blessed Hope” of Christ's appearing • Obscures the exhortation to “watch therefore” • Can even affects our view of salvation • Affects our view of God's plan for Israel today “The problems with Preterism”