Recently an article was written by Larry Siegel in response to this blog called “Why History Matters.” I do appreciate Siegel’s response, and his openness to address the issues that have been addressed on this blog. I hope there will be much benefit for those who read this correspondence and seek to understand the issues being addressed.
The key issue in this discussion with Siegle is identifying the primary focal point, or ways God reveals himself to man, and for what purpose. Siegle, in his article, charges me with “displacing historical events,” and I likewise charged him and others with displacing the spiritual events and making them secondary to the historical shadows, figures, and patterns, which God has used throughout time to reveal his true purposes. Hand in hand with this de-prioritizing of the spiritual substance to which the figures looked is considering these timeless spiritual things to be “mere past events.”
Timeless Spiritual truths ARE NOT synonymous with, and SHOULD NOT be confused with the historical events which God uses as lessons to teach them.
Historical events are shadows and types pointing to spiritual realities in Jesus Christ – notably the effectual workings of transitioning from the old to the new in Him.
The consequences of making the natural events consisting of historical timelines/events (as Siegle and preterists do) and making them really “SPIRITUAL SOMETHINGS IN THAT GENERATION” are many – but none so bad as the consequences in our own personal lives.
The revelation of this work of transition in Him is the focal point of the Word of God, and must remain the focal point. To reduce the intent of the Word to being the telling of historical events limited to a single generation entirely misses its purpose.
1.) It assumes that BOTH the types and the antitypes are representative of historical things limited by a historical period of time, in which the old things pass away (pre-70ad period) and the new things begin (post-70ad period).
2.) It assumes that ALL MEN are now partaking of the new things, since the old passes away in 70ad and the new things began in 70ad. This consistently means that ALL MEN are in the Age to Come, the New Heavens and Earth, and the New Covenant Age.
3.) It also assumes that the visible and historical transition from old to new as seen in the historical period between 30-70ad is a mere fulfilled historical event, as opposed to seeing that visible picture as even now pointing to the actual substance of Christ's work within His people, which is personal and individual.
4.) It also assumes that there are no other legitimate alternatives to the narrow, historical view. So views with a similar but different framework are quickly discarded, including the views which are not heretical or unothodox, unlike their own. Sadly, this often results in a wholesale rejection of Christianity, including church attendance and participation in a local assembly.
Siegle’s article demonstrates the many problems within preterist systems which seek to confuse the revelatory historical events with the actual spiritual truths to which they point, which cannot be limited to, or constrained by any particular time.
Siegle’s preteristic system of confusing external and historical events with the internal and spiritual work to which they point continues to obscure the true focal point and spiritual substance of the living Word by substituting it with historical events cataloged in the written word.
This is shown by Siegle’s naïve suggestion that by “devoting more time to studying and discussing the “what now?” aspect of accomplished salvation” can be profitable without “displacing historical events” from their position of primary focal point to that of rather being the “mere past events” which point to the salvation which is EVEN NOW being accomplished.
If keeping historical events as the focal point of prophecy could really “bring a genuine sense of spirituality into.. lives” it would have done so for the Jewish nation. THIS HAS NOT WORKED YET; NOR WILL IT EVER!!! In fact, to suggest such a thing seems to miss the ENTIRE PURPOSE of the historical and visible elements of the Old Covenant system – which is intended to be seen as inferior and unable to bring righteousness or proper focus. Therefore, the natural, visible and historical MUST BE DISPLACED from its primary position.
That is not to say that – when vigorously kept in its proper place – it isn't highly profitable for instruction and contrast with the true substance. Take the historical, physical bodies of believers as an example. Which true Christian would say that we must not displace it? Which glorified believer wouldn't look back and regard the unglorified body as a mere historical matter? That is not to say that we are to despise our natural bodies ; however, it MUST be vigorously kept in its place.
In Siegle’s response it seems that calling something spiritual is good enough, although any claim that I have made that historical picture reveals the spiritual transitional process from old man to new man, from earthly to heavenly is faced with harsh objection. And it is funny, that in my view the “what now?” seems to mean post-regeneration process, rather than what does the bible really mean after 70ad. So the obscure notion that historical lines somehow promote my ability to be a better Christian seems to dissipate by knowing that this process is being fulfilled within me, and is continuing to be fulfilled within others who are being born again and live in the spirit, while remaining in the flesh.
Thus while in the flesh physically, it is not a matter of something I have already obtained, or that the world at large has obtain after a historical past event occurs, but something obtained, when “that which is growing old and ready to disappear” does just that. We die!
Siegle confirms my point when he states “From a physical standpoint alone, what could a dying man hanging on a piece of wood actually accomplish for the benefit of anyone? . . . “It was the spiritual aspect of the Cross that had meaning then and now. It was the spiritual aspect of the destruction of Jerusalem that had meaning then and now.” And I echo this statement. Unless a Preterist system can properly define how the singular historical is utterly subservient to the limitless spiritual, then by this statement their system will remain worthless, and unprofitable for anyone!!! And the funny thing is, one can not answer this question with a Preterist hermeneutic!!! Their own framework prevents seeing this transition from old to new outside of one particular moment in history, hence the name “Preterist”. One can not seek the spiritual and understand its power by continuing to make a golden calf of its historical shadows and continuing to make it the primary focal point of bible prophecy. Siegle may think he gets a grace card, by calling something spiritual which is actually just “natural”, but the funny thing is he doesn't seem to really know what this means, and how it fits into what has been revealed in the history of natural Israel. If he did, he would not hesitate calling historical shadows what they really are. Shadows!
Larry Siegle Article "Why History Matters"
It is the historical event that sets the stage for those who benefit from the fulfillment of that event. If Jesus did not die at some point in time, then the event never occurred at all. Does the event save us? The redemptive event provides the basis upon which every believer obtains his or her salvation. The emphasis on the historical nature of the event is not meant to overshadow the purpose of the event, only to draw attention to the fact that God keeps His promises and fulfills His word. The history and the accomplished purpose are not mutually exclusive in nature.
Negating the historical importance of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 for the sake of imagined spirituality is not a valid solution. Devoting more time to studying and discussing the “what now?” aspect of accomplished salvation will bring a genuine sense of spirituality into the lives of preterists everywhere. The corporate aspect of salvation does not negate the necessity of individual response. Salvation is a group plan with individual benefits!
It was the spiritual aspect of the Cross that had meaning then and now. It was the spiritual aspect of the destruction of Jerusalem that had meaning then and now. Without the spiritual aspect, history is just history–nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
http://preterist.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/why-history-matters/
