James Gall (1887) - Second Coming ALSO refers to DEATH?

Wherein millenarians are wrong
By James Gall (1887)


"The form in which the question was put enabled our Lord to give an answer, more to their and our edification than they intended ; and, as it was conveyed in a prophetic style, that is to say, a highly figurative and poetic form, it was, like prophecy in general, capable of more than one application. We need not be surprised, therefore, to find three different Comings alluded to, all of them Comings of the Son of Man to Judgment — First, Christ's coming at the destruction of Jerusalem ; Second, Christ's coming to judge the world at the last day ; and Third, and most important of all, Christ's coming at death ; and these are so blended together that it is neither very easy nor very important to separate them. It cannot be objected to this, that there is a mingling of subjects which are widely different in the same prophecy, because that is characteristic of prophecy in general. CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMENT is the subject of the prophecy, and He refers to three of them. If Millenarians refuse to admit this, and insist on the prophecy having only one application, they destroy their own argument, because, in that case, the "Coming" referred to must be the destruction of the Temple and the end of the Dispensation, not His Second Coming to judge the world. If Christ did not answer that question, He answered none at all, because that was the only question that was put to Him. But, although it is evident that much of the prophecy referred to the destruction of the Temple, and, therefore, was a fair answer to their question, it would be impossible to apply the whole prophecy, either to the destruction of the Temple, and the close of the Levitical dispensation, or to the Second Coming. For example, the compassing of Jerusalem with armies, and its being trodden down of the Gentiles, cannot apply to the Second Advent, but only to the destruction of the Temple. " (Page 178)

The only possible reference is to the coming of Christ at death. "Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming ; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour when he is not aware of ; and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth " (verse 48-51). This parable cannot possibly refer to the destruction of Jerusalem, because preparedness for it did not consist in being a good servant, but in readiness to run away.” (Page 185) “But it does not follow that because, an event, when it does take place, may be sudden and unexpected; therefore, it may take place before its predicted time. In regard to death, there may be no warning given, and it may take place at any time ; but in regard to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Lord's Second Coming, there were certain events that were to happen before they took place. (page 186)


Hyper-Preterism - A Damnable Heresy

William Price "The Hymenaen heresy known as preterism is one of the damnable heresies being promoted within the Church today. This resurrected heresy, which has renewed roots within Roman Catholicism, has been creeping unaware in many Apostolic churches, and so long as liberal and apathetic pastors are in the pulpit, this heresy will continue its destructive path.

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:17-18)

This full preterist doctrine is heresy personified, because it removes our faith, and overthrows the beliefs of many. The early apostles condemned this teaching, a teaching that men have chosen to go to Hell over. Men who have decided that the hope of Christianity is not their hope, but their hope is only in this life. This is a damnable heresy, to say the least, one that is hopeless, faithless, and futureless."

http://acts238newcovenant.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/the-lack-of-hope-full-preterist-heresy/

The power of comparing words...

Hyperpreterist Propaganda

The Truth

We [hyperpreterists] try to draw off of as much Evangelical theology as possible. There is so much good stuff from first rate scholars like Joel B. Green, J. Christian Beker, N.T. Wright, James Dunn, F. F, Bruce, etc. None of these men are full preterists, but their eschatology is so close it is scary. (Hyperpreterist – Samuel Frost)

"You may be allowed to eat meat offered to idols, but you cannot deny the future bodily resurrection and claim that denial as an allowable Christian option." N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, pg 331



Source
preterism.ning.com/forum/topics/what-do-i-do-now?page=1&commentId=1632544%3AComment%3A27122&x=1#1632544Comment27122

John Stevenson: Hyper-Preterism's "This Generation" is WRONG

John Stevenson“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35 that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:34-36).

Notice that it was “this generation” that murdered Zechariah, the son of Berechiah. The problem is that this murder took place 400 years earlier as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21. This tells us that Matthew’s use of the term “generation” means something different than a mere life span of the people who were living at that time."

http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/preterist.html

Lewis Todd (1834) How we USE TO Kick Hyper-Preterism to the curb, back in the day!!!! ROFL

A Defence Containing the Author's Renunciation of Universalism Explained and Enlarged: The Notices and Aspersions of Universalist Editors Answered and Repelled ; Arguments and Principles of Universalists, Examined and Exploded and Religion and Revelation Vindicated Against Skepticism and Infidelity
By Lewis C. Todd (1834)

"Again when "all nations were gathered together before him," and the King said to them on the left hand, "depart from me ye cursed," &c. who and what did he mean? Why the wicked persecuting Jews. Well, let these stand for the wicked of all nations. How did they depart into (aionion) everlasting fire; and go away into (aionion) everlasting punishment? Why, they were slain by the sword and by famine, and went to the everlasting joys of heaven! MONSTROUS ABSURDITY! Let us see the absurd thing once more, in form of a paraphrase."

When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, (when the Roman army shall besiege Jerusalem,) then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory (invisible and unknown both to Jews and Romans,) and before him shall be gathered all nations ; (the Jews and Roman army shall come together,) and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats. (The believers shall be separated from the rest of the Jews.) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand ; come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Come ye blessed of my father, ye shall escape the sword and the famine now at the destruction of Jerusalem ; and ye shall live to suffer all the horrors of persecution — to be sawn asunder, imprisoned, and burned to death, by the Roman Emperors, after they get through punishing the Jews, and sending them to glory !) For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat, &c. (For you Christianize Jews did this to one another.) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Depart from your country and lives, ye cursed, unbelieving Jews, into death and immediate everlasting happiness in the kingdom of glory, prepared for the Jewish nation, the enemy of Christ, and the high priests, and Judas, and all his adversaries!) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal. (And these shall most of them die, which all must do soon, and go away into age-lasting punishment, a state of immortality and bliss; but the righteous into life age-lasting, the enjoyment of the gospel of Christ, by which they shall be persecuted from city to city, bleeding under the lacerating scourge, during life, and at last they shall come to the same place,) or if that will not do, say, (these shall die and go to heaven, and a remnant of them shall be scattered abroad in the earth ; and their posterity shall not come to a knowledge of the gospel for many ages ; but the disciples shall continue to enjoy the gospel which they have enjoyed before.)" (PAGE 263)

Lewis Todd (1834) More DUMB Hyper-Preterists Assertions

A Defense Containing the Author's Renunciation of Universalism Explained and Enlarged: The Notices and Aspersions of Universalist Editors Answered and Repelled ; Arguments and Principles of Universalists, Examined and Exploded and Religion and Revelation Vindicated Against Skepticism and Infidelity
By Lewis C. Todd (1834)

"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." - 1 Cor. 9:22. Saved from what? Not from the destruction of Jerusalem? for he refers to those, who did not live at Jerusalem as well as those who did. Was it from their sins, that they might enjoy the comforts of Christianity in this life? Did the apostles toil, and bleed, from land to land, and labor with such intense anxiety, to convert people to Christianity; knowing that all their converts would drink the cup of affliction to its very dregs, would be deprived of every earthly comfort, and suffer every kind of persecution; knowing too, that all would be saved in the next state, whatever they might do here?" (Page 207)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ ; that every one may receive the things (done) in ( his) body according to that he hath done, whether (it be) good or bad." — 2 COR. 5:10. — Were the apostle and his brethren then appearing in judgment, and then receiving the things according to their actions? Or was this judgment " the destruction of Jerusalem?" The "destruction of Jerusalem" is a VERY ACCOMMODATING CIRCUMSTANCE FOR UNIVERSALISTS (AKA Hyper-Preterists); but how the destruction of Jerusalem could be a judgment for Paul, in this life, who died before that event took place, and especially, for the Corinthians, who lived in a city at a great distance from Judea and Jerusalem, we have not learning enough to see!" (PAGE 207-208)

"And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" — Verse 18. — Did Peter mean, they should appear in heaven? Was Peter a universalist? Some have said that Peter here was alluding to the judgment that was to come upon Jerusalem. But he was writing to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. In what danger were these people of the judgment of Jerusalem? If this judgment was in his mind, he might have preached it to Judea and Jerusalem, but why speak of it in a warning style to people of other countries?" (Page 212)

Walter Balfour (1833): THANKS TO MOSES STUART, I BECAME A UNIVERSALIST

Letters to Rev. Moses Stuart
By Walter Balfour (1833)

(Note: Moses Stuart is a beloved Preterist among most Hyper-Preterists. They sell his books and glorify his writings in every sense of the word. This book consists of letters written to Moses Stuart to convince him that the very views he holds to, are the SAME as that of the Universalists; aka 19th Century Hyper-Preterists. Balfour blames Moses Stuart for converting him to Universalism.)

"I deemed Universalism a great error, sometimes discussed the subject with Universalists and always thought I had the best of the argument. The first thing, which STAGGERED MY FAITH IN THE DOCTRINE OF ENDLESS PUNISHMENT, WAS READING THAT PARAGRAPH OF MR. STUART'S LETTERS TO DR. CHANNING QUOTED IN MY FIRST LETTER. HIS STATEMENTS, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROVERT, AND THE TEXTS ON WHICH THEY WERE FOUNDED, SEEMED TO SUPPORT THEM." Whether my books, have done any good or evil to the world, they have Mr. Stuart to thank for them. When I wrote those letters, I had as little thought of writing a book in favor of universal salvation, as of creating a new world. All my prejudices, and habits of thinking, as well as my honor and interest, were strongly in favor of the doctrine of endless punishment. TO MR. STUART OF ANDOVER, I AM INDEBTED FOR MAKING ME A UNIVERSALISTS, AND TO HIM THE WORLD ARE INDEBTED FOR MY BOOKS. IF I HAVE EMBRACED AN ERROR, AND HAVE PUBLISHED IT TO THE WORLD, LET ALL WHO THINK SO, KNOW, THAT HE IS THE MAN WHO LED ME ASTRAY; WAS URGED TO GIVE SOME EXPLANATION, BUT DECLINED IT AND THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID BY HIM OR ANY OTHER PERSON, TO SHOW ME MY ERROR." PREFACE

Parsons Cooke (1834) 19th Century Universalists are the Hyper-Preterists of Today

Modern Universalism Exposed
By Parsons Cooke (1834)

"IT IS NOT CALLED THE GOSPEL "EVERLASTINGLY PREACHED", "BUT THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL." . . . IF IN EVERY SENSE OF PERISHING IT WERE ALREADY PAST IN THE MOMENT OF BELIEVING, AND THERE WERE NO ESCAPE FROM A DEATH YET TO COME UPON THE UNBELIEVING. AND WHEN PAUL TO TIMOTHY SAYS FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, HE WAS GUILTY OF OF AN ABSURDITY ON (MR. HYPER PRETERIST) HYPOTHESIS. FOR TIMOTHY MUST HAVE ALREADY GOT HOLD OF ETERNAL LIFE, IN SUCH SENSE THAT IT COULD NOT BE REGARDED AS A THING YET TO BE TAKEN HOLD OF BY HIM. For in the very verse next preceding, Paul calls him a man of God. If he where then a man of God, he had spiritual life, and could with no propriety be exhorted to lay hold of what he already had. He then proceed to direct Timothy to charge them that are rich to do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life. HERE ETERNAL LIFE IS SPOKEN OF AS WHAT IS TO BE PROVIDED FOR BY GOOD WORKS, LAID IN AS A PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE, A THING NOT NOW IN COMPLETE POSSESSION, BUT TO BE SECURED AGAINST THE TIME TO COME."

(Luke 20:35, " But they which shall be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage." Instead of good works..."being found in Christ at the judgment seat". Here's the irony.. they are making the downpayment the full payment...and saying that what the apostles had in part we now have in full and yet, we the miraculous powers ceased when the fullness was supposed to come! We have LESS now, yet it is more full???! As soon as a hyper-preterist can raise the dead, then I'll believe them that we have the fullness of the downpayment now)

"But here the Universalist (Hyper-Preterism) says that the phrase "this world" means only "this age," before the destruction of Jerusalem. Then the passage reads- He that surrenders life in this period, before the destruction of Jerusalem, shall have eternal life BY LIVING THROUGH THAT DESTRUCTION. That is, by suffering himself to be killed before, he shall escape being killed then. . . this interpretation then is miserably lame in every limb and joint."

"And then, what meaning has the word eternal as qualifying spiritual life, IF THAT LIFE BE CONFINED TO THIS WORLD. . . Our author (Mr. Hyper-Preterist) repeatedly, and with an air of triumph, remarks that the exact phrase, eternal death, is not used in the Bible. But if it had been, and had been used in forty instances, what would it avail with such an interpreter? Forty instances of the use of eternal life in every variety of forms, cannot convince him that the writers meant eternal life; and no more would as many repetitions of the phrase eternal death, satisfy him that eternal death was meant. THE ONE COULD AS EASILY BE MADE TO EVAPORATE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AS THE OTHER."

Parsons Cooke (1834) No Greater Event in the History of the World than the Destruction of Jerusalem

Modern Universalism Exposed
By Parsons Cooke (1834)

Page 189 "Again, the Universalists (aka Hyper-Preterism) make the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead to be the leading doctrine of the gospel. And there is a sense in which it is truly so. But they exalt this doctrine more than any other class of religionists, in that they find in it the restoration not only of the life of the body, but also of the soul... And yet they pretend that they can believe that a doctrine so important to them, as that of the resurrection, it but seldom mentioned in the discourses of Christ, while the DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IS ON ALL OCCASIONS THE THEME OF REMARK. . . AND YET THEY WILL HAVE US BELIEVE THAT AN EVENT OF NO MORE IMPORTANCE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, which he came to save, THAN THAT OF JERUSALEM'S DESTRUCTION, CAN OCCUPY THE GREATER PART OF HIS DISCOURSES, recorded in the evangelists."

"If I would be a Universalist (HP) after the model of these writers, I must furthermore believe that Paul being now ready to be offered, and the time of his departure at hand, had his soul filled with emotions unutterable, in anticipation of a crown that he was to receive at the time of Jerusalem's destruction."

"Having shown that these words a shadow of proof they have that meaning here, he (Mr. Hyper-Preterist) then assumes further that to come forth to a resurrection of life, means to come into the happiness enjoyed by the believer in this world, and to come forth unto the resurrection of damnation means the experience of the temporal judgments, which came upon the unbelieving Jews at the close of their dispensation. . . And then it seems that all who are in their graces, that is spiritually dead, in all parts of the wold and in all ages, are to come forth-are to experience this moral resurrection, and be made to believe, and then those of them who did not do good before they believed, were to have their belief one of damnation, and die in the destruction of Jerusalem. NOW WHERE IS THE SOBER MAN WHO CAN DIGEST ALL THIS FARRAGO, AND CALL IT FAIR INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD OF GOD!

(1850) WHY IMAGINE THAT THEY WHERE ALWAYS THINKING OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM?

The Christian Examiner and Religious Miscellany (1850)By Alvan Lamson, Ezra Stiles Gannett, George Putnam, American Unitarian Association, George Edward Ellis

When the Apostle said, in any way, "Brethren, the time is short," we suppose they meant very much the same that we mean when we say the same thing. WHY IMAGINE THAT THEY WHERE ALWAYS THINKING OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, OR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD? Christ came in these, but not in these only. He came in the whole power of his religion, AND IS COMING NOW, in the spread of his truth, and the blessings of his kingdom. (AKA. The visible coming was just the outward show of his spiritual comings. The whole advent was a revelation of that which is spiritual.)

ONE MAJOR FLAW OF HYPER-PRETERISM NOTED. "But for this very reason, partly, we include to give it a large spiritual signification, rather than a local and temporary one. Suppose all such language to refer only to an outward event, and one that has long since passed, it deprives the Epistle of half their interest and efficancy." page 306 (Hence Hyper-Preterism forsakes the individual, for the outward historical shadow.)

"Let it first be noted, that it is not a question as to the truth of the resurrection or judgment, but only the time and mode. No truths are more clearly taught, no facts more indisputable established, by the Christian revelation than there will be a resurrection from death, and "after this the judgment." But are these to be distant, material, visible, and all at one time, or instant, spiritual, and individual? This is the single and simple inquiry, - whether the resurrection and judgment are connected with the close of life, or with the end of the world." Page 310

Another Early Universalist insisting on Hyper-Preterist Truths

The Universalist and Ladies' Repository. The Universalist and Ladies' Repository Published by B.B. Mussey, 1843

Many pastors who has learned his people to hate the Universalists mode of interpreting prophecies, is now reaping his reward in the desolations over which he is called to mourn. . . Christ's second coming was at, or about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D., 70. This we can easily prove . . . and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished," - not merely fulfilled, but finished. . . and thus you see how we can get along when we start right - by making Scripture explain Scripture, and making Scripture measure its own time, too, without putting us to the trouble. (AKA. To Them, Not To Us) The abomination of desolation refers to the Roman army besieging Jerusalem.

David Lord (1850) The Price of Tea in China

David N. Lord (1850) These views which were entertained by the apostles and their disciples of the place which their resurrection holds in their salvation, thus furnish an explanation of their waiting and looking for the coming of Christ, as the great epoch of their hopes and expectations ; while, on the other hand, on Professor Crosby's theory, it is wholly inexplicable. There was nothing in the fall of Jerusalem, and slaughter, dispersion, and captivity of the Jews, to excite so profound an interest in the believers of Thessalonica, Galatia, or the seven churches of Asia, and prompt them to watchfulness and desire. The supposition of their watching for it is indeed preposterous, asset was an event that did not in any respect affect their personal safety and well-being. Men watch for events that directly concern them, not that simply respect others who reside in remote countries, and whose misfortunes are confined to themselves. It would be absurd to exhort the people of the United States to watch and be ready for an earthquake in Chili, or the eruption of a volcano in Italy. The passages which Prof. C. alleges on this subject, thus confute his theory instead of supporting it. To this series of propositions which form the basis of Proofs' system, he adds two others, which embody the conclusions which he regards as their necessary result.

(The Theological and Literary Journal, Vol. III, October 1850, p. 262-287)

Andrew Perriman - Sectarian Rhetoric of Preterism At Arms Length


Andrew Perriman "The polemical origins, continuing controversialism, and sectarian rhetoric of Preterism make it a difficult movement to evaluate - and I have to admit, my instinct is still to hold it somewhat at arm’s length."

Virgil Vaduva - Emerging folks like Andrew Perriman have pointed out the lack of dynamism and contemporaneous substance in Preterist theology; without the work of people like Ken Gentry those of us full preterists would not be as far along as we are, and here in Dayton we are making very good progress on a "new kind of Preterism" which gives substance and meaning to the lives of Christians rather than just theology with no practical meaning.

planetpreterist.com/news-5198.html#29518

The hoax believers as a whole simply make themselves unaproachable with logic of any sort. They live in their own world with their own rules and truths, and don't let anyone in to rain on their parade. Like I said before, they cling to incorrect or invisible evidence. But when it comes to evidence that DOES exist, "Can't see it, won't hear it!" Scholars are turned off by the dogmatic insistence upon non-scholarly appeals. No amount of insistence can get a true scholar to agree. In fact, the more dogmatism they see, the more certain they become of the instability of those who must rely upon emotion to get their points across.

Roderick Edwards: Hyperpreterism like homosexuality is a distortion of what is true

Roderick Edwards "Hyperpreterism is a distortion of Christianity as much as homosexuality is a distortion of human sexuality. Oh sure, both groups speak of “love”, “tolerance”, “acceptance”. Both groups whine about being rejected & persecuted & that they just want “equality” when in fact over & over you will see both of these groups have an agenda to force & supplant. Both groups want to revise what has been the “traditional” with their “new paradigms” — be it homosexuality or hyperpreterism, both are disgusting distortions of the NATURAL & INTENDED. (Romans 1:26-27)"

Hosea Ballou - "Father of American Universalism" & "Father of Full Preterism"

Hosea Ballou - "Father of American Universalism" & "Father of Full Preterism"

(On the Resurrection)
"The arguments now designed will go to show that the scriptures make use of words signifying a resurrection, in a figurative sense, when nothing beyond this mortal state is intended, that the passage under consideration is of this description ; and that it is proved to be so by comparing it with other passages which evidently have their application in time, and also by comparing it with passages which speak of a resurrection into an immortal state, by observing the difference there is between the two classes. (A Series of Lecture Sermons, p. 339) "Will the hearer now say that all this may be, and that both Daniel and the Saviour were speaking of the resurrection of mankind to a state of immortal happiness and misery in a future world ? To this we reply, when Jesus spoke to his disciples of the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the calamities which should shortly come on the Jews, he uses the words of Daniel nearly verbatim when he speaks of the time of trouble. By this circumstance we are instructed that both Daniel and the Saviour spake of the same time, and of the same events, and that that time was when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.

"The true meaning of the words of Jesus and of the passage in Daniel appears to be this : those Jews who listened to the mild voice of the gospel, proclaimed by Christ and his Apostles, came forth from spiritual death to the life of faith in the new covenant; but those Jews, who rejected the doctrine of salvation, crucified the Saviour, and persecuted his apostles, were those who had done evil, and they were roused from the dormant state in which they lay, as in a covenant of death and a refuge of lies, by the voice of judgment, and come forth to the resurrection of that condemnation which is so particularly pointed out in the 24th and 25th chapters of Matthew ; and which was illustrated in our lecture on that subject." (ibid., p. 342) (1804 - Notes on the Parables of the New Testament: Scripturally Illustrated and Argumentatively Defended)
"In Matt 12:31, 32 (neither in this world nor in that which is to come), "world" means dispensation; "this" world, the legal priestly dispensation; and "that which is to come," the gospel.” "Nothing can be more evident than that what Jesus and his disciples meant by the end of the world was the end of the Jewish polity and their destruction by the Romans.” (p. 81)

“The wrath to come,’ of which John spake, when he said ‘who hath warned you..’ is speaking of the destruction of the Jews and their city, he said ‘For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (p. 17)

(1811 - A Treatise on the Atonement)
“If Christ is to be understood as he said, if his words explain his meaning, it is clear, that his coming in his glory.. was some time in the life-time of those to whom he spake. "If this be true, which my opponent with his eyes open, will not dispute, then no objection can be stated, from this parable, against the final holiness and happiness of all men." “We are informed, that Christ came once in the end of the world, to put away sin. The world, of which Christ came in the end, was undoubtedly the dispensation of the legal priesthood." (1820 - A Series of Letters in Defence of Divine Revelation)

"Nor need I speak of Moses who foretold the dealings of God with the house of Israel as if he had lived now and had written their history. But I must insist on your paying some nice attention to the prophesies of Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. This prophesy is recorded very circumstantially in the 24th of Matt. Be so good, sir, as to compare this prophesy with the history written by Josephus and let candor decide whether the author of that prophesy was divinely inspired, or whether he was a poor deceived enthusiast."

"What you say on the subject of prophecy, does not appear to me, either to reflect any light on it, or to call up any question of importance. Your query whether the books of the New Testament were not written after the destruction of Jerusalem, which would suppose that the prophecy of the destruction of that city was written after the events took place of which the prophecy speaks, is an old suggestion in which I am unable to see any thing very reasonable. And I will remark here, that men who seem to lay an uncommon claim to reason, ought to make use of it when arguing on such momentous subjects. What difference would it make whether St. Matthew wrote his gospel before, or after the destruction of Jerusalem, as it respects the prophecy which Jesus delivered concerning it? You allow St. Matthew to be an honest man. You do not doubt then but Jesus did deliver such a prophecy before his death, which was certainly before the destruction of the city. Then surely it makes no difference whether the prophecy was committed to paper before, or after the fulfilment of it. Besides, you seem to urge the _silence_ of St. John on the subject as unfavourable to the account, because he wrote his gospel after Jerusalem was destroyed. As to interpolations which you think might have found their way into the gospels, it appears to me, sir, that a candid consideration of this subject would issue in this conclusion; if any important interpolations had been admitted, they would have produced such a disagreement as to effectually destroy the validity of the books; for if one heresy could be indulged, it is reasonable to suppose that another would be, and so on, which in room of allowing us the scriptures in their present consistent form, would either have destroyed their existence altogether, or have varied so as to confound their ideas."

http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/b/ballou-hosea.html

What opened the door? Jesus or 70 AD?

Larry Siegle "The complete removal of the Old Covenant system and the establishment of the New Covenant system opened the door (Note: Larry believes without 70AD the door would STILL be shut. Jesus own statements about "I am the door", was not in effect until 70AD according to Larry. Without 70 AD, people would still be in their sins and could not have salvation today.) for those willing and obedient to enter into salvation “in Christ” and to once again allow the covenantal blessings of heaven to be poured out upon them."

Source: preterist.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/when-paradise-is-restored-at-last/

Dan Parker's Positive Words of Life

Dan Parker writes "I am sure it has all been explained to you but you are even less likely to understand the written word than the first Century Jews were, you know the ones that killed the Christ because he was a heretic. You are an enemy of God same as they were and have made yourself so by your willful blindness. John said "my people die for lack of knowledge" you are doubly as dead as they because you are without excuse. Jesus said on the cross "forgive them for they know not what they do" but he is not here to say that for you."

Source: Email


Thanks DAN for those KIND WORDS. It is people like you that keep this blog alive!!! Your Preterism made all the difference!!! You make your "KIND" so very proud!!!

Brian Simmons: "This Generation" is the ENTIRE Generation of Evil-Doers

Brian Simmons "To restrict such fulfillment to the events of A.D. 70 results in Universalism, for it teaches that the wrath of God has already been exhausted, and therefore can no longer be applied to the enemies of God. But if we simply keep in mind the true meaning of the term "this generation" (Matt. 23: 36) all difficulties will be cleared up. It is the generation of evil-doers to whom our Lord is speaking; and he sets these grievous woes over against special promises offered to the saints: that the people of God, while called to lay down their lives, will ultimately prevail through their Savior JESUS CHRIST."

http://preteristmuseum.blogspot.com/2008/05/this-generation-continues.html

The "Forty Years" WITHOUT Christ's Presence

Rev. Josiah Litch (Millerite)

Christ Yet to Come: A Review of I.P. Warren's Parousia (1880) "He speaks of the fact that the Parousia was 'near'.' If, as the Doctor so strenuously contends, parousia signifies "presence," not "coming" what does he mean by "was near" ? Was there an interval of some forty years after Christ left his disciples on the mountain in Galilee, saying, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," to the time of Jerusalem's overthrow, when Christ's presence was not with them ? I press this point and urge an answer. Was there forty years, more or less, when they had to work without his omnipresence ? If there was not, and the time of his presence was still future when Paul wrote, where had been his omnipresence ? Either Dr. Warren or his reviewer is confused in his mode of apprehending and expressing this great theme. Does not the word near imply not yet here but coming : and if parousia is near, is it not coming ? How is this ?"

Source: Preterist Archive

Jean-Pierre: Hymenaeus and Philetus condemned for wrong timing (3 Years?)

Jean-Pierre:
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker(gangrene): of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

These guys where wrong on the timing of the resurrection. Not the nature of it. Paul did not reproach them about the fact that the resurrection was a spiritual event but that these guys where teaching that it was already in full force already. Wrong timing, that's all. But enough to get people upset then since Christ had not come back yet.

Source: YouTube Comment