This is the first they’ve heard of it

No doubt you have been sharing the concept that Jesus has already come back with someone and the person is floored by the idea. This is the first they’ve heard of it. To them it is outrageous and must be false because it is not supported by any of their favorite preachers.Are we so brazen to be saying that ALL of these preachers missed the boat on this one? Who do we think we are? Sure, sure we can quote the bible all we want but these preachers are actually helping to bring people to salvation with all of their books, TV programs, and multimillion-dollar ministries. Who are we? We are nothing but a "rag tag group of nutcase heretics" that often don’t even attend church anymore. (because it has become discouraging to be relegated to obscurity and sometimes told to outright shut up)




Are you beginning to see the picture? This is how people see us. How do we fix this situation? Do we start a new denomination? (I hope not) Do we secretly infiltrate an existing denomination and take it over? (I hope not) Perhaps we could pool our resources (do we have any resources?) and buy a TV station and call it PBN (Preterist Broadcasting Network). Or maybe we can get a big name movie star to tout our claims. (I don’t think so)




I wonder how the Reformers did it? Did they meet and decide at the “Reformers Board Meeting” that Luther would concentrate on Germany, while Calvin would work on France and Geneva, and Richard Hooker could work with William Tyndale in England? (Quite a feat since these men weren’t all living at the same point)




Before we go any further, perhaps we should assess if our detractors are correct. I mean, if the bible so plainly teaches the preterist concept then why is it that no one else has picked up on it? I wonder how often Luther heard that accusation to the concept of “justification by faith alone”? For justification by faith alone is now a mainstay of evangelicals (loosely, non-Catholics). Today, someone proclaiming justification by faith alone would get yawning “amens” from their fellow Christians. But there was a time when blood was spilt over that simple, and now obvious concept. Flesh was burned and lives were ruined.




Perhaps we are again in the same situation. A situation where the people are happy to follow the Pope without question. But this time the Pope is not only in Rome, the Pope (or rather mini-popes) is behind the pulpit, on the TV screen and writing the books to the masses.




It is wrong to speak of men of God this way some people will protest. For these men intend the best for the “flock” of Christ and serve Him and His interests. Perhaps, but I find it strange that they will not even engage in this discussion. They will not read the “Theses” on the door of the Church. They will simply dismiss the Preterist concept as the ravings of those new “Hussite-like” heretics. I would encourage ANY Christian to try to carry on a prolonged and pointed discussion of the issue with their pastor. I think you will be quite shocked by the response. Don’t let the pastor simply sweep “time” under the carpet with a quote from 2 Peter 3:8. The whole counsel of God speaks more clearly of the imminent coming age and return of Christ than one little verse ripped from its context.




What will eventually determine what is true? Some people say we are the “scoffers” that were to come in the “last days” saying, “Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." --- We most certainly do NOT think everything goes on as it has. Something dramatic happened. Jesus came, saved the world, came back and judged His enemies and conquered death. 2 Peter 3:8 speaks of the Jews of the first century whom Jesus said would behave like those men in the days of Noah, taunting believers even while they themselves were about to be judged. And judged they were, when Jesus appeared on the clouds in judgment in 70 A.D., utilizing the Roman Empire (no need to revive it) to surround Jerusalem, to trample it underfoot for 42 months, to abominably desolate and then throw down every stone from the very Temple Jesus proclaimed would be thrown down. (Any of this sounding familiar?)
Perhaps the people who reject that Jesus already came back will chastise us by saying, “You’ll see! You’ll see!” – thinking the matter will be settled once Jesus comes back in the future. But what if we're right? What if the entirety of the bible’s plain (notice I didn’t say literal) time references do indeed support that Jesus already has come back?
Now how do we settle the issue?




We are back where we started. Let us continue to do as was done in the first Reformation. Continue to pray. Continue to read the bible more completely. Continue to quote Scripture. To ask questions, to challenge ourselves and others to be honest with the Word of God.