The Problem of Preterism
I believe the supporters of preterism have been short sited and overly optimistic in their evaluation of what they call a movement or new reformation. It seems today that any group that is promoting some unorthodox or non-traditional doctrine sees themselves as some new movement bringing new light to the Christian community. These groups are optimistic of spreading their newfound doctrine, which is not new, for others to follow. Let’s understand that Preterism is not new. It has been around longer than any of us have.
Some have declared that Preterism will be the uniting factor to bring the body of believers together. This too is a mistake caused by not understanding Preterism. It is seen by many as another view of eschatology but upon close inspection, that too is suspect. Eschatology deals with the last things, the end of the world and man’s final destination in the traditional sense. Preterism does not actually fall into that category like Amillennium, Postmillennium, Premillennium and dispensational doctrines. They all deal with the same topics yet the approach and outcome are quite different. Preterism views life after Christ’s return and all the others view life before. One deals with the present and the others deal with the future.
I think Preterism is more related to a hermeneutic, the method of interpretation, than the outcome of interpretation. To argue if one is Preterist or not reveals a shallow understanding of what Preterism is. Preterists interpret the Scriptures from the standpoint that Christ has already returned. It is a different method of looking at the Scriptures than other eschatological approaches and yet they can continue to keep their theological background they had before. Most of us know all of the different groups within “Preterism”. The fracture continues to grow monthly. The battles within the Preterist community are no longer with those that oppose it but among themselves. They bite and devour one another and eventually they will be consumed. There will be no agreement and unity among Preterists anymore than other groups. All of the different theological backgrounds can use a preterist hermeneutic but that does not make them united. An Arminian may remain an Arminian and so a Calvinist. Their age-old battles will remain and will never change. The only uniting factor is the view that Christ has already returned but after that, anything goes. Therefore, to claim to be Preterist is in the most basic form to say that Christ returned. That is the one and only recognizable belief they have in common.
If Preterism does not wake up it will only show the Christian community how cruel and mean dogmatism can be. This arrogance did not start with Preterism but has been fueled by the proponents over their long held theological positions.
I believe the supporters of preterism have been short sited and overly optimistic in their evaluation of what they call a movement or new reformation. It seems today that any group that is promoting some unorthodox or non-traditional doctrine sees themselves as some new movement bringing new light to the Christian community. These groups are optimistic of spreading their newfound doctrine, which is not new, for others to follow. Let’s understand that Preterism is not new. It has been around longer than any of us have.
Some have declared that Preterism will be the uniting factor to bring the body of believers together. This too is a mistake caused by not understanding Preterism. It is seen by many as another view of eschatology but upon close inspection, that too is suspect. Eschatology deals with the last things, the end of the world and man’s final destination in the traditional sense. Preterism does not actually fall into that category like Amillennium, Postmillennium, Premillennium and dispensational doctrines. They all deal with the same topics yet the approach and outcome are quite different. Preterism views life after Christ’s return and all the others view life before. One deals with the present and the others deal with the future.
I think Preterism is more related to a hermeneutic, the method of interpretation, than the outcome of interpretation. To argue if one is Preterist or not reveals a shallow understanding of what Preterism is. Preterists interpret the Scriptures from the standpoint that Christ has already returned. It is a different method of looking at the Scriptures than other eschatological approaches and yet they can continue to keep their theological background they had before. Most of us know all of the different groups within “Preterism”. The fracture continues to grow monthly. The battles within the Preterist community are no longer with those that oppose it but among themselves. They bite and devour one another and eventually they will be consumed. There will be no agreement and unity among Preterists anymore than other groups. All of the different theological backgrounds can use a preterist hermeneutic but that does not make them united. An Arminian may remain an Arminian and so a Calvinist. Their age-old battles will remain and will never change. The only uniting factor is the view that Christ has already returned but after that, anything goes. Therefore, to claim to be Preterist is in the most basic form to say that Christ returned. That is the one and only recognizable belief they have in common.
If Preterism does not wake up it will only show the Christian community how cruel and mean dogmatism can be. This arrogance did not start with Preterism but has been fueled by the proponents over their long held theological positions.
1 Corinthians 13:2 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
This is what the so-called Preterists need to go back and learn.
Fred Robbins March 2007
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