Redemptive History = Natural AntiTypes. Stevens again shows by this statement that prophetic fulfillment are temporal in nature. It is really amazing how Stevens believes that 70ad constitutes "verifiable history" when not one inspired writer documents any fulfillment to have ever occurred in 70ad. Most Preterists disagree with Stevens on this point, because they maintain 70ad was a spiritual fulfillment, as if historical events constitute spiritual fulfillment. Stevens focus is strictly on the natural events, which he says he can see with his own eyes (as if he was a personal witness). He is one who says "see . . . here it is . . .there it is. . . " when the reality is, it is neither. Redemptive history is really another way of saying that patterns are really more important than the true substance. Redemptive history is just another way to look on the outside visible things (ie the temple = type) and not see them for what they really are spiritually (our temples = antitype). So when the term redemption is used by Preterists, all of the spiritual things like being release from bondage to sin is really just being resolved through historical events. As Steven maintains are mere past events. So if you are personally struggling with an addiction, or realize you are a sinner, there is great hope for you to know that the destruction of Jerusalem took away your sin. Right?
Ed Stevens Article: Redemption—The “Big Picture”
Ten thousand years from now it will be even more tempting for humanity to dismiss Christianity as mere superstition of a pre-enlightened age. But the Bible relates a story which was developed inside verifiable history over a span of four thousand years. The story is too interrelated and systematic to be the product of deceivers or lunatics. God did it this way so that His redemptive plan could not be falsified on historical grounds, no matter how many years pass. For the redemptive plan to stand the test of time for all ages to come, it needed to be revealed and consummated inside history over such a long period (and in such a historically verifiable way) that there could never be any question about its authenticity.
Fulfilled Magazine Volume 2, Issue 2
