Hyper-Preterists often place the bible in a context of a single historical generation and often places terms like WE, US, YOU, to refer solely to the first century generation. Another trick of horizontal models. Hyper-Preterism seems focused on the literal context of who the book was written to, which they call a "audience relevance point of view". What they seek to prove with this "audience relevance point of view" is redefinition of the bible as solely speaking to a single referent point effecting a single 40 year generation. However, if WE, US, and YOU is to be understood solely to have the first century generation in mind, then so much is lost in interpreting the bible. By using a horizontal line of "that generation" to interpret the text, it not only limits the power of the WORD toward those living beyond that time, but creates a very very narrow focus toward the bible as a whole. Either the entire bible was written to them (First century generation ONLY) or it was written to us, "all generations in Christ." A timeline does not have to be placed on every single text of the bible to understand the meaning behind it. This is part of the trickery Hyper-Preterists like to play making the bible about them (horizontal) and not us in Christ (vertical).
Lets look at one example how using a Preterist reading takes away the power of what is written.
(Ephesians 1:3-14) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed US (First century generation ONLY) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose US (First century generation ONLY) in Him before the foundation of the world, that WE (First century generation ONLY) would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined US (First century generation ONLY) to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on US (First century generation ONLY) in the Beloved. In Him WE (First century generation ONLY) have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on US (First century generation ONLY). In all wisdom and insight He made known to US (First century generation ONLY) the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. IN HIM ALSO WE (First century generation ONLY) have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, TO THE END THAT WE (First century generation ONLY) again who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. IN HIM, YOU ALSO, (First century generation ONLY) after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, YOU (First century generation ONLY) were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
OR
(Ephesians 1:3-14) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed US (all generations in Christ) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN CHRIST, just as He chose US in Him (all generations in Christ) before the foundation of the world, that WE (all generations in Christ) would be holy and blameless before Him. In love HE predestined US (all generations in Christ) to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on US (all generations in Christ) in the Beloved. IN HIM WE (all generations in Christ) have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on US (all generations in Christ). In all wisdom and insight He made known to US (all generations in Christ) the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. IN HIM ALSO WE (all generations in Christ) have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, TO THE END THAT WE (all generations in Christ) again who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. IN HIM, YOU ALSO, (all generations in Christ) after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, YOU (all generations in Christ) were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Paul specifically places WE, US, YOU as a IN CHRIST issue and not a "this generation" or "that generation" issue OR "them" verses "us" situation. Paul clearly lays out a vertical model based on inclusion/separation which clearly defines how we should interpret the bible. Paul does not present a horizontal model distinguishing "them" from "us" which shows a MAJOR weakness to the "audience relevance point of view" which a Hyper-Preterist uses to define their ENTIRE hermeneutic. Paul's audience is to Christians of all ages, and that is the last qualifier a Preterist will point out because they are obsessed with making the bible completely irrelevant to Christian's living after 70AD. Either the audience was relevant to them which is the Hyper-Preterist hermeneutic, or the audience relevance was to all men in Christ. HYPER-PRETERISM WANTS IT TO BE BOTH, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE BOTH. You can not have a horizontal model and when it is convenient change to a vertical model. The two are opposing views and imply two completely different things.
