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
