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[1] NT PROMISES: 
(a) Mat.10:23 - You disciples will not have gone through Israel before “I” come. (b) Mat.16:28 - There are some of you disciples standing here who will not die before “I” come. (c) Mat.24:34 - This generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (d) John 21:21-23 - If I will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? (e) Rom.13-11-12 – The Day is at hand. (f) Phil.4:5 – The Lord is at hand. (g) Heb.8:13 – The first covenant is ready to vanish away. (h) Heb. 10:37 – He is coming and will not tarry. (i) Jas.5:8 – The coming of the Lord is at hand. (j) 1Jn.2:17 - The world (old covenant+old H&E) is passing away. (k) Rev.1:1 – Things which must shortly take place. (l) Rev.1:3 - The time is near. (m) Rev.3:11 – Behold I come quickly. (n) Rev.22:6 – Things which must shortly take place. (o) Rev.22:10 – The time is at hand. (p) Rev.22:12 – Behold I am coming quickly.

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WHY PRETERISM? (Part Two)

M. A. Nichols 7-13-2013

A Christian friend recently asked me: "If Preterism is true, it would not change my standing with my Lord, or my love for my Lord, or my sure salvation. I can’t think of a single thing it would change for me, can you?"

LOVE: God’s truth is an essential ingredient for Christian love (1 John 3:18; 2 John 1:6).

Truth matters to God. Not just some truth, but all truth. We need to respect that! God knows that we do not know all biblical truths. However, He expects us to continually seek His kingdom truths as found in His Word. He grants us grace as we set aside our pride and study the Bible with a humble and learning spirit. (James 4:6; 1 Pet.5:5).

When the Holy Spirit brings a biblical issue across our paths, as He is doing for believers today regarding the eschatological view of fulfilled prophecy (ie: Preterism), we must not simply ignore it as if we do not care. "If Preterism is true" and we continue to teach (for 2000 years and counting) that the Lord is returning soon (any moment now); are we showing true love to our family, our friends, and others?

By refusing to study a new and different biblical teaching than what we have always believed, are we not just thinking of ourselves? – "It would not change MY standing with my Lord!" Dear brethren, we do not live in a vacuum. When we continue to teach and influence others to believe in Futurism; while discouraging some others from learning about Preterism, especially in our churches; are we glorifying God in that one area of our Christian walk?

The doctrinal error of a future return of Christ with its unknown assumptions and guesses has been perpetuated for fifty generations and counting. When Christians are only concerned about themselves, are they lovingly encouraging others to grow? This surely does not help their children and grandchildren, who may continue to believe an incorrect doctrine about Christ’s second coming.

Instead of bringing the church together around the fulfilled light of His second coming in the first century as Christ and the Apostles taught (Matt.16:27-28; Matt.24:34; Heb.10:37; Rev.1:1-3, etc.); the doctrinal error of a future return of Christ and its speculative nature just continues to divide the church with various millennial views of futurism eschatology. Isn’t it time that we Christians study fulfilled prophecy, not just for ourselves and our own standing with the Lord, but for the love of other brethren, who God brings into our sphere of influence?

Finally, beloved, the most flagrant problem with rejecting the truth of Preterism in my view is the love, honor, and glory that it takes away from our precious Lord and Savior. He has accomplished many amazing things for us believers in His kingdom. He has fulfilled all prophecies. Not just some, but all! He has consummated our salvation and all is finished (Heb.9:28). We need to study that, recognize that, be excited and motivated by that, and thank Him for it. It really is about Him!

WHAT OTHER PRETERISTS ARE SAYING:

 "Preterism opened my understanding of the Scriptures to make it more clear and interesting. It makes more sense to me and the Bible is more realistic."

 "Preterism makes what Jesus said much less confusing for me. It is much more logical."

 "Preterism has allowed me to see that Jesus is not coming soon. I have wondered about this for 30 years. I know now that He has already come and I can trust His word."

 "Preterism has been very enlightening for me to be able to understand eschatology. It is like my learning Sovereign Grace in past years. Both of these teachings have helped me to know God and His Word much better."

 "Preterism has made me discover that scripture is not as cryptic as I had supposed. The veil of darkness over prophecy is removed."

 "Preterism lets me know that God is not trying to conceal prophecy in His word. In fact He has spoken quite clearly to us about the timing of His 2nd coming, as a loving and wise Father would be apt to do."

CONTINUED – Part Three

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Why Preterism?

WHY PRETERISM? (Part One)

M. A. Nichols 7-9-2013

The answer to this question may surprise some Christians. If it was just about us, it might not matter so much if we continued to believe in a future return of Christ. We would still be saved and go to heaven when we die. But it is not just about us! It is about Christ, His kingdom, and His glory.

TRUTH: Christ commands us to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).

What is this truth? It is His Word, the Bible, which must be rightly understood. God grants His (spiritually) born-again believers special grace as we continually learn and grow in the knowledge of His Word (2 Tim. 2:15).

Just like a physical child needs food to properly develop physically, so it is with Christians. We need the Word of God to properly develop spiritually. The scriptures would gradually make Timothy (and all believers) complete and thoroughly equipped to serve the Lord.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We should never think that we have reached the point where we have attained enough biblical knowledge to last the rest of our lives. Consider that if you had stopped studying His Word when you were a baby Christian; or an Arminian Christian; or just beginning to learn about God’s Attributes; that would not have changed your standing with the Lord when it comes to your salvation. But your effectiveness in His kingdom would have been different in my judgment.

I believe that God wants us to continually study the Scriptures to learn deeper truths until the day we die. Will we learn it all? Of course not! But to say that we will not even try to understand a biblical doctrine like Preterism is certainly not pleasing to the Lord. "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth!"

Someone may ask: "Why is your Preterism doctrine any more valid than my Futurism doctrine?" In considering this question, I suggest that we take into account that at least most Preterists (including me) have studied Futurism for years. They have examined both views of eschatology. God has graciously caused them to realize the truth of fulfilled prophecy in the first century during that unique historical time period of Christ and the Apostles.

On the other hand most Futurists have not even studied Preterism. They have simply rejected it out of hand based upon their Futurist paradigm. If they would at least study basic Preterism, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit with a humble and learning spirit, and afterwards then conclude that it is not reasonable; it would make their position much more credible, in my opinion.

CONTINUED – See Part Two

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WHY PRETERISM? (Part Three)

M. A. Nichols 7-15-2013

HOPE: A hope in a "future" return of Christ leads to wasted works in His kingdom.

Christians are "spinning wheels" in that part of their personal ministry that is based upon an incorrect hope. It multiplies that wasted energy to others by teaching it to them and having them do the same thing over and over again throughout human history going forward.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." (Prov.13:12).

Having a hope that is deferred for 2000 years and counting makes the heart confused. But a fulfilled hope by Christ’s return in the first century is a completed victory for Christians. We do not need to wait for His second coming return to have our salvation finalized. He has already returned in 70ad and we have our salvation fully consummated.

"28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Heb.9:28 NIV).

"28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." (Heb.9:28 NASB).

The writer of Hebrews promised those first century saints in c.62ad that Christ would come soon and would not tarry.

"For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry." (Heb.10:37).

Christ did not tarry! He returned at His second coming Parousia in 66-70ad. Those first century saints had been under extreme Neronic persecutions and many were tortured and killed. Christ returned in 66ad; He raised the dead saints; and rescued (raptured) those then living saints who were all eagerly waiting for Him to come (1 Thess.4:14-18).

There is nothing that we must hope to receive in the future. It has all been fulfilled for us. All judgments have been completed by Christ. We are in Christ and there is no judgment awaiting us believers after 70ad. We have a completely realized "hope", not an unfulfilled future "hope". When we die in this human life, we instantaneously "put on" our new immortal, incorruptible, glorified, visible, spiritual, individual, heavenly, body. (1 Cor.15:53-54). We immediately enter the physical presence of Christ in the New Jerusalem for eternity.

QUESTION: "WHAT WOULD CHANGE FOR ME IF PRETERISM IS TRUE?"

If Preterism is true and the Lord already returned in the first century, fulfilling all prophecies, completing all judgments, and fully establishing His New Covenant spiritual kingdom; what changes would you make in your life?

If Preterism is true:

 Would you change what you teach others about His second coming?

 Would you change how you interpret passages that talk about His return?

 Would you still tell your children that Christ will rapture them shortly?

 Would you tell Christians - "don’t worry, Christ is coming soon"?

 Would you shrink from teaching Preterism out of fear of conflict with others?

 Would you be able to handle the rejection that you will receive from many Christians?

 Would you understand that your life on earth ends when you die, not when raptured?

 Would you redeem the time that God has decreed for your life on earth?

 Would you praise Christ for what He has accomplished for us at His second coming?

 Would you change verses of those hymns that speak of His future coming?

 Would you waste money and time promulgating incorrect futurism teachings?

 Would you stand stronger for religious freedom for us and for future generations?

 Would you be more concerned for the future church and what it will be teaching?

 Would you see John’s Revelation as referring to things that "shortly" took place?

 Would you see world events as a "need for the gospel", instead of "signs of the end"?

 Would you glorify Christ for the fulfilled N.T. promises of His 2nd coming in 70ad?1