What is Preterism.
Preterism is the eschatological, or end times, system that alleges that all end-time prophecies have been fulfilled by AD 70. There are two variations of Preterism: Full and Partial Preterism. Full Preterism teaches that Christ returned in AD 70 during the destruction of the temple. Partial Preterism holds that Christ’s return is future, but that everything else is fulfilled. This paper will have three sections. The first is to examine the verses used to promote this heresy. Then I will present verses that pose difficulties to this system. Finally, I shall expose the damnable, heretical logical implications of this devilish doctrine.
Verses used to promote this heresy.
There are a very few verses whose best reading would seem to favor Preterism on a surface glance. A key verse cited is Matthew 24:34 “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” This is interpreted to refer to the generation of the people who first heard this. Jesus spoke this in AD 30, before His Crucifixion, so a generation (40 years) leads to AD 70. The Temple was destroyed in AD 70
Matthew 24:32-34 KJV Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (24:33) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (24:34) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Preterists always cherry-pick verse 34. Verse 34 exists within the context of the Parable of the Fig Tree, which begins in verse 32. It uses the growth of the Fig tree as an analogy. The emergence of leaves is a sign that summer is near. Verse 33 gives us the clue as to the context of the word “This.” The phrase “all these things” refers to all of the signs in the prophecy of Mathew 24. This includes signs that did not get fulfilled in the first century, such as being hated by all nations for the sake of Jesus’ name (verse ), and the gospel being preached to every nation (verse 14), and the abomination of desolation ( verse 15).
Another verse cited as a support for Preterism is:
Matthew 16:27-28 KJV For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (16:28) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
This passage seems at first to be a smoking gun for Preterism. It draws an analogy between Jesus’ Second coming and His coming in his Kingdom. The assertion that “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death” would seem to lock in a first-century return of Christ.
We see, as we go further into the narrative, an alternative explanation. Less than one week later, Jesus undergoes the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John see Christ in His glory, the same glory He will reveal when He returns to rule as King.
Matthew 17:1-3 KJV And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (17:2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (17:3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
In the Markan analogue to this passage, no reference to Jesus coming, but simply the kingdom of God coming. This reinforces the idea that Matthew 16:28 was not intending to set up an eschatology as much as promising that the Kingdom of god was going to soon be manifest.
Mark 9:1 KJV And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
While some references to the kingdom of God do refer to the establishment of the Davidic Kingdom when Christ returns, many references are to kingdom power being manifested now. There’s both the Kingdom to Come and Kingdom Now emphases in the gospel. The existence of Kingdom Now emphasis weakens the case that Matthew 16:28 necessarily prescribes Preterism.
Matthew 10:7 KJV And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 11:12 KJV And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 12:28 KJV But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 13:41 KJV The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Matthew 16:19 KJV And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Luke 17:20-21 KJV And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (17:21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Verses that pose difficulties to this system.
Numerous passages oppose Preterism. Space does not permit me to mention everything, but I am going into three whole chapters that each rule out Preterism: Second Peter 3, Daniel 2, and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
Second Peter 3 dives into a deep discussion of the end times. It should be noted that the earliest dating for 2 Peter is about AD 64, six years before the destruction of the Temple. Peter discusses skepticism of the second coming of Christ because he hasn’t already come yet. Last days is referenced as a future event rather than something present. Peter reminds us that there will be scoffers, something that would not have been the case in the Jewish context of the Temple. Peter specifically uses language that anticipates modern uniformitarianism, which is a key assumption in modern evolutionary frameworks. These scoffers are said to be “walking after their own lusts.” This anticipated the post-truth era we now live in. Peter was looking into the modern day here, not his near future.
2 Peter 3:1-13 KJV This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (3:2) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (3:3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (3:4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation…
Peter then explains why. He accuses the scoffers of wilful ignorance of God’s intervention in history. Peter instructs us that the heavens and the earth are preserved until the appropriate time for judgment. In saying that “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” the clear implication is that this could be far into the future, rather than AD 70.
2 Peter 3:1-13 KJV …(3:5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (3:6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (3:7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (3:8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day…
Peter here tells us why God delays. He “is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants as many to be saved as possible. He then goes on to describe that judgment is universal to all creation. When Jesus returns, it will be to judge the whole earth. This is why Jesus said that “Matthew 24:14 KJV And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The gospel must be preached in every nation, something that obviously did not happen by AD 70
2 Peter 3:1-13 KJV …(3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (3:11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (3:12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (3:13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
We see other passages in which the return of Jesus Christ is accompanied by global judgment. In Matthew 13, Jesus says this of His second coming: “
Matthew 13:38-43 KJV The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (13:39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (13:40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (13:41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (13:42) And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (13:43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The second coming will be attended by a cleansing of the earth, and the complete removal of sin and evil. This has not happened yet, nor are the righteous shining like the sun. Preterism teaches a secret second coming and no removal of sin. If Preterism is true, then evil will always be among us.
Daniel 2 addresses the problem of evil from a systemic point of view. In chapter 2, he interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue. The statue has a gold head, silver arms and breasts, bronze legs, iron feet, and toes of iron mixed with clay. This represents the power of the world-system, as manifested in key empires throughout history. The key event that falsifies Preterism is described in verses 34-44. The rock made without hands is widely recognized to be Christ. When Christ sets up His earthly Kingdom upon His Second Coming, the Kingdoms of this world will be swept away. In the language of Revelation, “…The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15 KJV)” The second coming of Christ means the violent overthrow of the governmental powers of this world. This did not happen in 70 AD. As Joel Richardson put it, “If Preterism is true, then the stone made without hands exists alongside the statue.“
Daniel 2:34-44 KJV Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. (2:35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (2:36) This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king… … (2:44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Second Thessalonians 2:1-12 is another difficult passage for Preterism. It stands apart from the others in that its condemnation of Preterism is explicit, addressing first-century claims that Jesus had already come back. Paul gives us instruction on things that must happen before Christ returns. Specifically, there must first be (1) an apostasy from truth, and (2) the emergence of a world-leader who demands to be worshiped as god, performs Satanic miracles, and deceives “those who perish.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NKJV Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (2:2) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (2:3) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2:4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2:5) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (2:6) And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. (2:7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (2:8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2:9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, (2:10) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2:11) And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (2:12) that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
First, there would be a falling away. The Greek apostasia (ἀποστασία) exists in one other verse, Acts 21:21, where Paul was accused of trying to get Jews to forsake Moses. Apostasia is the feminine form of the neuter Apostasion (ἀποστάσιον), which occurs three times (Matthew 5:31, Matthew 19:7, and Mark 10:4), and is translated divorce. The text is prophesying a movement where people who were once following Christ divorce themselves from Christ. As this is cast in the future, it is not referring to the background divorce rate, but predicting a great falling away or a great divorcement. We see zero evidence of a mass abandonment of the apostles’ doctrine in the AD 60’s. Think about it. If there was a mass exodus from the Church during the times of persecution and chaos of the first century, there would be no Christians today. Christianity would have become a footnote along with the Ebionites and the Sicarii. There would be no Preterists, and yet Preterism requires this to have happened to be consistent with this passage.
Another development is the emergence of the man of sin, and specifically one who would minister satanic miracles. Preterists appeal to Nero, and while he is one prototype for the Antichrist, he did not perform Satanic miracles. There is zero evidence of anyone performing satanic miracles on a global scale.
We see from the text that he deceives “those who perish,” implying a global scale to his impact. No one in the first century had that audience. We are instructed that “God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (2:12) that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” This is without a doubt a reference to Romans 1:18-32, where a three-stage apostasy is outlined. Verse 18 lays out a universal observation about anyone who pushes back against the gospel.
Romans 1:18-21 NKJV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (1:19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (1:20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (1:21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Notice the universality of the claims here. While all sometimes is relative, we are seeing this framed from the perspective in Heaven looking down upon the earth. Romans presents detailed mechanics of the apostasy projected in Thessalonians. The story of the Antichrist, that is briefly mentioned in Thessalonians, is explained in great detail in Revelation. There is zero evidence supporting the idea that the great apostasy Paul prophesied in 2 Thessalonians occurred in the first century.
The evidence against Preterism is overwhelming. Scripture presents Jesus’ return as (1) removing sin, (2) putting down worldly authority and corrupt systems of man, and (3) immediately preceded by a great rejection of God. None of these happened in AD 70. Preterism is false
The damnable, heretical logical implications of this devilish doctrine.
I want to conclude by parsing out the logical implications of Preterism that are damning. There are four broad implications of Preterism: (1) Preterism is false in the reference-frame of objective reality; (2) If Preterism is systemically true to the Scripture or to Christianity, then it falsifies those; (3) If Preterism is true, then there is no point for modern folks to embrace Christianity, and (4) If Preterism is true, then the world has been abandoned to evil.
(1) Preterism is false in the reference-frame of objective reality. As I have previously shown in this article, Preterism presents an account of the return of Christ that does not match the Scriptural parameters. When Christ returns, He will vanquish evil and rule as King over all the earth. Preterism essentially denies that Christ is King
(2) If Preterism is systemically true to Scripture or to Christianity, then it falsifies those. As Preterism is false in the reference frame of objective reality, it follows that if one can show that it provides the correct description of Biblical doctrine and Christian teaching, then Christianity would be a false religion. This article soundly refutes that notion, but it is a logical consequence of the systemic truth of Preterism. We shall soon see that Preterism is actually a patchwork of ad hoc hypotheses that glues an incoherent system together and forces verses that don’t fit into it. Preterism redefines evil. It also argues that because universal terms like “all” are sometimes contextualized to a limited domain, all instances of them must necessarily be so defined. This leads to them denying that God loves the human race, as I shall show shortly
(3) If Preterism is true, then there is no point for modern folks to embrace Christianity. This implication emerges in response to one particular ad hoc hypothesis to address one difficulty. In Matthew 24, Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” This was simply not possible in the first century. The Chinese, the Mayans, and the sub-Saharan were just a few nations outside the world the apostles knew. The Preterist answer is that all nations and the world are not global, but just the nations known to the apostles in the Roman and Parthian Empires between AD 30 and AD 70. In Preterism, the gospel is simply not applicable to modern folks and modern nations today. Christ didn’t die for us, but just the 100 million people lucky enough to be living during that narrow window who populated the nations known to the apostles. It is true that sometimes “all” and “world” are used contextually to refer to a limited domain, but it does not follow that it is always referent to only a limited domain. When Matthew 28:20 tells us that “all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Me[Jesus],” this grant is not limited just to the nations known to the apostles between AD 30 and AD 70, but every nation that could ever exist anywhere in Heaven or on earth. When Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 NKJV that “…He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet… … (15:27) For “HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET…,” all is not limited to just the nations known to the apostles, but the entire universe.
The Bible teaches that “John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If world means the entire human race, then Preterism cannot be true, as many, many peoples lived outside the world reachable by the apostles during the 40-year window between AD 30 and AD 70. Loving the whole world would necessitate delaying the return of Christ so everyone can hear the gospel. Second Peter 3:9 reinforces this argument – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” If Preterism is true, then God’s love was only for those who lived in the narrow window of the world known to the apostles between AD 30 and AD 70. In Preterism, God only loved 100 million people. If Preterism is true, then everyone alive today is doomed to spend eternity in Hell.
(4) If Preterism is true, then the world has been abandoned to evil. This is because Preterism finished the story while leaving evil essentially in the world. Preterism has formal answers that suggest evil is eliminated by redefining evil, but it is plainly obvious that evil is still very much in the world, and Preterism has declared the story over. Scripture, on the other hand, presents a Messiah who returns to earth to literally rule on the Throne of David in Jerusalem, vanquishing evil from the earth
Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (9:7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah expands on the covenant God made with David, promising here a global kingdom based on Israel and defined by David’s Throne. God had made a covenant with David when David offered to build the temple. God promised that his dynasty would never end, but that disobedience would result in whipping by the stripes of men. David’s Throne could be subject to foreign domination temporarily for disobedience, but never permanently revoked.
2 Samuel 7:1-16 NKJV Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, (7:2) that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” (7:3) Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” (7:4) But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, (7:5) “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? (7:6) For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. (7:7) Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?…’ ” ‘
2 Samuel 7:1-16 NKJV …(7:8) Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. (7:9) And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. (7:10) Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, (7:11) since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. (7:12) “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (7:13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (7:14) I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. (7:15) But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. (7:16) And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ‘ “
The mutual understanding between David and God was that this was to be literally and historically fulfilled. There was no concept of spiritualizing this. While God can ADD spiritual layers, it must include historic fulfillment. The disciples asked Jesus when he was restoring David’s Throne, as they expected a literal historical fulfillment.
Acts 1:6-8 NKJV Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:7) And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (1:8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In verse 6, we see that the apostles asked in expectation that a literal, historical fulfillment of God’s promise to David was set to happen. Jesus says nothing in verse 7 to dissuade them of that notion, indicating that Christ also believes that a future restoration of the house of David was going to happen. He tells them it was none of their business? Why would he do that? One is that the hint is dropped that this event was beyond their mortal lifetimes. Why else would it be none of their business? Verse 8 tells us what their business is: to share the gospel globally. God wants as many as possible to be reconciled to God before He returns. This is the same answer as 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord delays His return to save as many as possible. When He does return, sin will be permanently put down, and just government will be brought to planet earth. No more oppression, and no more sickness or disease. This is the blessed hope, which the Preterist throws away
Conclusion
Preterism throws away the blessed hope, leaving no answer for the problem of evil, and abandoning both the earth and almost everyone who has ever lived (and absolutely everyone alive today) to hell on earth, followed by eternal Hellfire. It denies Christ as king. Preterism is so vile that the majority of its proponents call themselves partial Preterists, because they realize how jacked up their theology is. My critique has been focused on Full Preterism, because the textual supports cited require full Preterism. There is no logical demarcation for partial Preterism, and the line is always drawn arbitrarily. I have concluded that Preterism is a doctrine of demons and damnable heresy. If you are reading this as an adherent of this vile system, then it is time to repent