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Refuting Preterism - Conclusively - (Page 1 - 2)

 

(from a letter written to friends of Preterists)

 

1. Your new friends are most likely Preterists. So here are some thoughts for them, regarding their primary beliefs, if you choose to address the issue with them. Preterist views will be in this colour.

 

2. Preterists believe that Jesus is the one who confirms the Covenant for one week (possibly Abrahamic covenant) described in Dan 9:27. They believe that he caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when he was crucified. Conversely, I believe it is the Antichrist who confirms this covenant. (reason is in para 5 below).

 

3. If Jesus caused the sacrifice to cease, why did the desolation of the temple not occur until thirty-some years later in 70 A.D. when the Roman General Titus destroyed both Jerusalem and the temple? There is a "gap" here in their 70th week, and preterists accuse "us" of arbitrarily imposing a ~2000 year "gap" between the 69th and 70th weeks. Where is the consistency?

 

4. I have found no historical evidence to prove that the sacrifice ceased upon Jesus' crucifixion. It didn't cease until the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Some Preterists argue that it did cease. Others suggest that it became "meaningless" after Jesus' crucifixion, and therefore "ceased" as being a useful ritual of redemption. Conversely, I believe it will cease when the Antichrist sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (II Thess 2:4) and thereby places the abomination of desolation described by Daniel (Dan 9:27) that launches the Great Tribulation described by Jesus (Matt 24:15)

 

5. Dan 11:21-32 clearly is describing the Antichrist. Verse 31 says that the Antichrist will have an army and they will pollute the sanctuary and take away the sacrifice. It can't be Jesus that pollutes the sanctuary and takes away the sacrifice; it clearly must be the Antichrist.

 

6. This passage continues by saying that they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries. Jesus obviously would not place the abomination, nor would he corrupt by flatteries.

 

7. In Matt 24:15-21, Jesus says, when ye therefore see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet .... then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains ..... for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. If the Preterists are correct, the cessation of sacrifice and abomination of desolation (Dan 11:31) occurred thirty-some years before the Jews had to flee in 70 A.D., as Jesus said they must in Matt 24. That doesn't make sense. There are other attempts at making these verses fit Jesus' crucifixion, but they don't work either. Dan 9:27, Dan 11:31-32 and Matt 24:15-21 just don't harmonize if a person believes Jesus is the prince of the covenant. The Antichrist must be the prince of the covenant, the one who confirms a covenant with many for one week (Dan 9:27).

 

8. In Matt 24:29-31, Jesus said IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days ... they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds .... [and] gather together his elect from one end of heaven to the other. Have the Preterists explain when this happened. The tribulation lasts for 3 1/2 years (= 1260 days = time, times and dividing of time) Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7, Rev 11:2, Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, Rev 13:5 and possibly others. No matter how you cut it, the great tribulation and "rapture" immediately subsequent to it are both still future events.

 

9. So what's the danger with believing preterism, if they are simply wrong on these things? Consider this:

a. The Preterists with whom I am currently engaged believe that prophecy is already completely fulfilled, either literally or allegorically, and are only expecting the return of Christ. This makes them perfect candidates for believing the deception of the real Antichrist and accepting him as Messiah (because they believe the Antichrist has come and gone).

 

b. Jesus said in Matt 24, take heed that no man deceive you ..... He also said, "watch therefore ...." etc, etc. What are we to "watch" for. Answer: the SIGNS of His Coming. And when we see the Signs of His Coming, then we are to look up for our redemption draweth nigh.

 

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR, YOU'RE SURE TO TRAVEL DOWN THE WRONG ROAD.

 

Mike.

 

For Conclusive Reasoning, Continue to Page 2