Hello Dave-- I just wanted to make mention of a few things where you may have gotten the wrong impression when it comes to preterism and preterists. You suggest that preterists see all Scripture from an eschatological standpoint, yet the group of preterists that I identify with are mostly Calvinists, people who stand for the great soteriological truths that were recovered at the time of the Reformation. The sovereignty of God is utmost in the theology of these Calvinistic preterists.

But having said this, it is undeniable that preterists see an overruling eschatological slant to many Scripture portions that non-preterists overlook. For one, preterists in their understanding of the Second Coming of Christ, see this great event significantly as a deliverance of the saints from the Hadean realm, given their glorified, incorruptible spiritual bodies like unto Christ's glorious post resurrection body, and taken into the very presence of Christ in Heaven. Soteriology and eschatology merge in a very real way, especially at the consummation or "time of the end" by A.D.70. So you, Dave, are at least partially correct when you say that preterists see much Scripture from an eschatological standpoint, but they certainly don't see all of Scripture in exactly that light, of course.

On your next statement, I have to put on the brakes and say "WHOA, BROTHER!" You say that things like "church, baptism and the Lord's Supper" are denied which simply are not true. Oh, sure, you may find a couple prets (or should I call them 'hyper-prets') that have abandoned these things, but hold it, Dave! The vast majority of preterists that I know hold securely to church, baptism and the Lord's Supper as being fully applicable for today. All of us believe that we are in the body of true believers which constitutes the church, and yes, God is still dealing with people through covenants (we are in the New Covenant, to be sure!) and yes, He always maintains a sign and seal of the covenant which is in effect. No, neither the church nor baptism is out for preterists.

And neither is the Lord's Supper. Christ meets with believers in a very precious and close relationship (now that He has returned) each Sunday that we partake of the Lord's Supper. His presence is in the sacrament which He uses as a means of grace for His people today. You may have become confused by the term in I Cor. 11 where it speaks of observing the Lord's Supper "til He comes." This does not mean that after He comes we are no longer to practice it. This phrase is merely a "point of reference" (as I often state it) relating to Christ's Coming. Many of the people who were observing the Supper in I Cor. 11 would be taken to be with Christ at His Second Coming and hence would not be there beyond that time. Others would continue to exist until their death. The use of this language "til He comes" reminds me of the mother who is getting ready to go to the grocery store telling her son to be a good boy until she gets back. Does anyone think she was intending to allow her son to be a bad boy after she gets back?? Not at all did this mother imply that and neither did Christ in connection with the Supper. It is certainly for today as well.

Neither is preterism a completely different religion. Maybe you have been listening to some of the same critics of preterism that I have, who accuse me of "trying to reinvent Christianity" or "destroying the base upon which every other generation of Christians built," but these are criticisms coming from the creedalists who come very, very close to believing that the ancient creeds are inspired by God! No one who understands preterism would call it a new religion. Just the opposite, Dave. It represents a return to the faith of the contemporary followers of Jesus and His Apostles of the first century. Those believers recognized that the prophetic events were imminent TO THEM, first century people, and fulfillment had to take place before all of these people died, in THAT generation. Preterists today believe exactly that message, the "same religion" if you will. Others, such as futurists, really do not accurately believe what Jesus and those first disciples understood and taught to others. Emphatically, preterism represents a return to the foundational Christianity of the first century, as perhaps no other movement can claim. It is true, when reading our Bibles, that preterists "pick up" a lot of insights that they were previously blind to in the light of their new understanding of eschatology. But this is an enrichment of the Christian faith "once for all delivered to the saints."

I'm so glad, Dave, that you are willing to consider criticism of your statements, as the last thing I would want to do would be to offend you or belittle your views. I just strongly disagree (in a nice way, I hope!) with a couple of your statements. Your entire post contained so much that I agree with, but I won't be redundant by re-echoing your many good statements. :-)

--Walt Hibbard

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