I am not sure if this is a misprint "it has nothing to do with redemption in the spiritual sense" or if Simon meant to say this.
Preterist continue missing the mark on saying the OLD ended in 70ad and the NEW began in 70ad. They are trying so hard to think spiritually, but stumble over the use of the physical non-spiritual things which are said to really be spiritual. What is funny is Preterists can tell you it is spiritual, but don't really understand what that means. It is JUST SPIRITUAL, DUH! And that means what to me? How does just saying something is spiritual become a blessing to you or to me. How does it transform our lives into the image of Christ? If you are calling natural things (which are really just shadows) call them by what they really are, natural things. But don't call spiritual things natural things without doing some better explaining.
I would agree with Simon "The changeover from old covenant to new covenant is so significant, it forms the crux of the entire gospel message." But I disagree if he places this transition in 70 AD rather than a transition in Christ from the old man to the new man.
Greg Simon
The changeover from old covenant to new covenant is so significant, it forms the crux of the entire gospel message. There is no need for a global destruction - it has nothing to do with redemption in the spiritual sense. Only destruction of the old covenant has any real meaning for Christians. For the Jews (Israel after the flesh), their entire world, their 'heavens and earth', would be judged and destroyed. For the Christians (Israel after the spirit, the true Israel), a new 'heavens and earth' were to be created. Physically speaking, the Jews of that generation were to take the punishment on behalf of all mankind (Matthew 23:34-36). Physically speaking, the temple as the centre of worship and Jerusalem as the focus of the covenant were to be destroyed, left desolate (Matthew 23:37-39). But spiritually speaking, the way was paved for all mankind for a new creation, a new heavens and earth.
http://www.geocities.com/newearthcs/main.html
