Allegorical and figurative symbols are used by Preterists in literal and natural ways. I guess if you take the time statements as literal, I guess you also have to consistently take everything else as literal historic events as Hibbard and Stevens have done. Their view was that the second coming, rapture was literal historic events that actually occurred in 70ad, unlike other Preterist who claim everything was spiritually fulfilled in 70ad. I guess this why they also believe the New Heavens and Earth, or the Age to come were a literal historic post 70ad period. Notice the focus is strictly on mere past events, and natural antitypes. It is a wonder why no inspired writer ever says these things which are spiritual ever occurred in the past. It is like God is saying that spiritual things are not historic events.
Walt Hibbard
This is what the first century believers did. Therefore, it would have come as no surprise to them when they actually saw the Lord Jesus at His parousia, finding comfort in the words that John so poignantly expressed in I John 3:2 “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”(NKJV) No spiritually interpreted view of these magnificent promises could every meet the requirements of these inspired verses when viewed only as a “covenant change” type of “fulfillment.” These passages literally “beg” for a literal fulfillment; they are talking about real bodies, not abstract ideas of collectivism.
http://www.preteristviewpoint.com/id34.html
