King Preterism Following

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="040c8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B><U>Timothy King</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>is an elder and teacher for Restoration Ministries.  He lives in Grand Junction with his wife, Debbie, and their three daughters, Hannah, Sarah and Bekah.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>Restoration Ministries</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" > |</FONT>     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Restoration Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14df8900.jpg" border=0 width="504" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>by Timothy King</B></div> <div> <B>________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <div> I’ve discovered a new distraction connected to the Internet.  It’s called PalTalk.  For you who have never heard of this, it’s the next step in the ever popular chat room craze.  The twist here is that it now allows for both instant messaging <B>and </B>vocalizing through your computer’s microphone.  You can join the insanity by downloading free software from <A HREF="http://www.PalTalk.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.PalTalk.com"><U>www.PalTalk.com</U></A>. </div> <bR> <div> In my visits I go in and out of the rooms under the “Christian Groups” wing.  It’s a diverse stew of assorted meat and potatoes, some good, some mediocre and some near gag-inducing.  I’m in the latter for about five seconds (that’s how long it takes my slow, dial-up line to break off).  A lot of these sites are fixated on discussing the second coming of Christ, the Rapture and other assorted end-times issues.</div> <bR> <div> I dropped in on one recently where there was a lively discussion going on about Bible prophecy.  In the midst of it, they (uncompromising dispensational premillennials) began to bash preterists with the usual litany of naughty names – heresy, false gospel, other gospel, cult, <I>ad nauseum</I>.  I take this in stride and have even made a light mockery of it (my online handle is TheHeretic).  I intervened in the conversation on occasion to put in my quarter’s worth (inflation, you know), and was pelted with the aforementioned sneering monikers.</div> <bR> <div> After I resigned from the brouhaha, I began to reflect on the ever-growing popularity of the eschatological position known as “preterism” (of which I are one).  I don’t think this is an illusion on my part.  Preterist literature is coming out at an astounding rate.  Preterist radio programs and web sites are now plethora.  <A HREF="http://www.searchingtogether.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.searchingtogether.org"><U>Searching Together</U></A> held a conference last year on eschatology in which the major positions were all represented.  Preterism was in the line-up.</div> <bR> <div> Anti-preterist literature is also appearing by some very high-profile authors.  The likes of John MacArthur, Tim LaHaye and Tommy Ice have weighed in with challenges to the position of fulfilled eschatology.  Admitting that the number of preterists is growing, Messrs. LaHaye and Ice co-authored “The End Times Controversy” which boasts no less than ten premillennial contributors to refute a position that is, in Mr. LaHaye’s words, “unscriptural and inconsistent.”  </div> <bR> <div> A number of debates have taken place in the public forum through a variety of media — books, tapes, videos, radio, web forums — where the issues are placed in the public arena, sometimes with grace, sometimes with venom.  The bottom line is that futurists can no longer let the issue go unanswered.  Too many are apostatizing to the heresy called preterism and the gate must be closed.</div> <bR> <div> I would like to offer at least four reasons why preterism, in my opinion, is gaining in popularity.  I do so mainly for the enlightenment of any futurists out there who can’t seem to figure out why folks would endure your hostility, name-calling, ostracizing and excommunication.  Please understand that I want to paint this with a narrow brush.  Not all futurists wish to tar and feather those who believe all prophecy is fulfilled.  I know a good many who are gracious and with whom I maintain a loving relationship in Christ.  But for all you others, here goes.</div> <bR> <div> 1.  I think preterism is gaining popularity <B>because it makes more sense than any other eschatological position I’ve encountered</B>.  I realize this statement is subjective, but I believe it’s a point shared by an ever-growing number. Understanding the overall prophetic message of the Bible through a preterist lens has caused heretofore obscure and baffling passages to become understandable.  Time statements using “soon,” “at hand,” and “near,” become unambiguous.</div> <bR> <div> Preterism has made an earnest effort to take seriously such principles of interpretation as usage of language, culture, audience relevance, history and use of speech and idioms of the Hebrew mind.  It has seriously sought to understand what the people and culture of the centuries from Moses to the apostles were thinking about Yahweh’s plan of redemption.  Whether or not one agrees with the preterist’s conclusions, they have gone boldly into history and linguistics where no premillennial has gone before.</div> <bR> <div> For me, understanding the scriptures from the point of preterism has caused the grace of God to be magnified multiple times over.  The words of Jesus have become reliable words because He did <B>what</B> He said He would, <B>in the way</B> He said He would, <B>when</B> He said He would.  His destruction of the temple left no doubt about what He thought of outward ritual and empty faith.  </div> <bR> <div> I must add further comment here.  Anytime we get an insight into the scriptures that sheds more light, we get excited.  In my college days when I rejected premillennialism, I would have said that amillennialism, to which I turned, makes more sense than anything else.  I think preterism is gaining ground, not just because it makes sense, but because, upon close scrutiny, dispensational premillennialism doesn’t.  Folks who are questioning the status quo of eschatology are finding this out.  Tim LaHaye's accusation against preterism as being “unscriptural and inconsistent” is hemorrhaging irony. </div> <bR> <div> 2.  I think preterism is gaining popularity <B>because many are fed up with the failed predictions of doom and glory that the current end-times pundits have made</B>.  For anyone not caught up in the premillennial tradition, it should not be considered odd that preterism is becoming popular.  What is peculiar is that end-times prognosticators like Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffreys, Jack Van Impe, and others still have any credibility after their date-setting (or “date-suggesting” as some have called it) and subsequent failures.</div> <bR> <div> Frank Gummerlock has documented centuries of men and women predicting the time of the end, who is the Antichrist, who is the Beast, when is the millennium, etc. (see <B>“The Day and the Hour,”</B> available through <A HREF="http://www.americanvision.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.americanvision.org"><U>American Vision</U></A>).  These prophets all have one thing in common; for two millennia they have been wrong, <I>wrong</I>, <B>wrong </B>in their predictions.  It seems to be an undeniable fact of history that someone is always there to think that their particular time in history holds the favored generation ripe for the Rapture.</div> <bR> <div> Eventually, people get fed up with the kid who’s always pulling the eschatological fire alarm.  I and many others who have abandoned dispensational premillennialism for preterism (or futurist eschatologies that are less sign-of-the-times-oriented) are embarrassed by the date-setters who — let’s just say it plainly — look stupid and make the rest of us look stupid by evangelical association.  I’m sure not everyone wants you to go away; where would lampoon literature like <A HREF="http://www.thedoormagazine.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thedoormagazine.com"><U>The Door Magazine</U></A> get fresh material?  </div> <bR> <div> 3.  I think preterism is gaining in popularity <B>because Christians are weary of the fears and depression that accompanies a soon-to-happen Rapture and Great Tribulation</B>.  Like it or not, people are driven by purpose and a want to experience the good gifts of God for our pleasure in this life.  I, for one, am ecstatic about being free from the flagellation given by certain circles that it is a sin to enjoy the gifts of God available in this life.</div> <bR> <div> Personally, I’ve seen many dear people unnecessarily anxious with fear over Rapture-soon theology.  While it is hyped by the prophecy industry as a glorious event, many of the common folks I know are scared of it.  “I don’t want Jesus to come until I’ve had time to marry and raise a family” (one of my personal fears while under its influence).  “I have too many lost family members who aren’t ready for the Lord’s coming,” some will tearfully say.  Dispensational premillennialism has no key to unlock this prison.  It only offers more guilt for being too worldly-minded.</div> <bR> <div> It could be argued (and has been) that the Rapture-soon teaching has been a vital reason for the moral slump in America.  "If the end is near and the Rapture is soon, if the tribulation is at hand and sin will increase before The End, then what’s the use," Christians say, "of trying to change anything?"  Why take responsible, compassionate action in a culture that’s about to undergo the ravages of the Antichrist (“after we Christians are — ka-ching! — snatched away”)?  As J. Vernon McGee is credited with saying, “Why polish the brass on a sinking ship?”</div> <bR> <div> 4.  I think preterism is gaining in popularity <B>because of the abuse received when someone tries to question the eschatological </B><I><B>status quo</B></I>.  I am quick to mention that this does not apply to <B>every</B> futurist, and it does not apply to <B>every</B> dispensational premillennial.  Further, I will not push to say that this spirit is exclusive to the realms of eschatology; it has invaded almost every system, tradition and denomination.  Let me also warn that preterists are not immune from being abusive themselves.  But back to the issue at hand.  </div> <bR> <div> I am a firsthand participant and witness of Religious Institutional abuse.  I questioned the established creeds and was soundly reproached for it.  Any hope that those who disagreed with me might have had to turn me from preterism was scuttled when they started pasting me with demeaning labels and moved to oust me from their association.  </div> <bR> <div> It seems to be a universal principle in modern evangelicalism that cruel alienation is much easier than and preferable to loving persuasion.  Your unwillingness to listen as a loving friend and brother spoke to me that you had more of a tradition to defend than you had a truth to be shared.</div> <bR> <div> Listen, all of us: We cannot love the truth of God unless we are also willing to love the people of God.  Whether I was a preterist or not, I think it speaks far more of grace to hear preterists I know refer to their opponents as “our futurist friends” and “our premillennial brethren.”  I'm not saying that preterists have cornered the market on grace.  As I mentioned, there are a host of futurists out there who preach the gospel of grace and are also full of grace.  These I consider brethren though we do not necessarily see eye to eye on the end times.</div> <bR> <div> I believe that it is this principle, beyond any eschatological position that will cause <B>Jesus Christ</B> to gain a following in this modern age.  “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  To those who cry "heretic" in the presence of a preterist: It is ironic that your vitriol has contributed to the rise of preterism.  </div> <bR> <div> I have heard of many who have been encouraged in the study of preterism because futurists sought more to bitterly malign their beliefs rather than to lovingly restore the brother.  You don't like what preterists believe, but your sneering attitude convinces them that you don't have anything worth having.  So, why not preterism since your futurism appears to be without any redeeming grace?</div> <bR> <div> So, there you have it.  I think preterism will increase in its following as people continue to become dissatisfied with the obvious sham of the date-setting, Rapture-hungry, fiction-novel-driven eschatology of today.  I think the gospel will gain more of a following in fellowships -- whether preterist or futurist, or both -- that drop the hostilities and divisiveness and learn to love one another in Christ.  Those that won't do this . . . well, you'll probably still hear them on PalTalk.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>