Examining the Soteriological Implications of the “Already/Not Yet” Construct

Christian History: End of the Jewish Age

Roderick Edwards put a very good / short youtube video together.

Christian History: End of the Jewish Age

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeBSdty_T6E&eurl=http://www.thekingdomcome.com/

Matthew 24

1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Luke 21

5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 20“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.  27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

So what is the preterist hope?

I always liked this response by Ed Steven’s IPA site.

Question: With all that preterists are saying about the “end of the age” and Christ’s return already happening in the past, I am wondering, what next? What’s left for us in the future?

Answer: Prov. 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Jesus promised to return in the first century. Because many of us think he hasn’t returned yet, our hearts are indeed made very “sick.” The Preterist view is a tree of life to those who hope to enjoy the blessings of Christ’s Kingdom. We have that Kingdom now. It arrived in its fully established form when it was taken away from the unbelieving Jews of Jesus’ generation and given to the Church. All of Jesus’ parables about the nature and growth of that Kingdom apply now. Isaiah 9:7 says, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” Daniel 2 talks about the little stone that becomes a huge mountain and fills the whole world. But I believe the best Biblical description of that on-going spread of the Kingdom’s influence in the world is found in Revelation 21-22, where it says,

The nations will WALK BY ITS LIGHT, and the kings of the earth will BRING THEIR GLORY INTO IT. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will BRING THE GLORY AND THE HONOR OF THE NATIONS INTO IT; and NOTHING UNCLEAN, AND NO ONE WHO PRACTICES ABOMINATION AND LYING, SHALL EVER COME INTO IT, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. (Rev. 21:24–22:2)

Notice the words I have put in ALL CAPS above. These are things that indicate the world is still in existence after the New Jerusalem has come down out of heaven to dwell among men. Nations are still walking by its light and bringing their glory into it. The unclean, abominable and liars are still in existence, but are outside and unable to come into this city. The nations are still in existence and continually being healed by the leaves of the tree of life. This passage clearly describes the on-going Kingdom and its healing effects on the nations and cultures of this planet.

Ezekiel 47 talks about the little trickle of water that comes out of the new temple and eventually becomes a flooding river that baptizes all the nations. There is nothing said about that river of water ever diminishing back down to a trickle again. This is a very positive, optimistic and eternally long-term future for humanity. The futurists have nothing to compare with it.

Which gives God more glory? A finite number of people in heaven after the end of human life in the universe? Or a constantly growing number of saints coming into heaven throughout an eternity of human existence? The Kingdom will keep on spreading. Our children will grow up and become leaders in the next generation. They will raise godly children who will become leaders in the generations after that. They will continue taking the Gospel to every nation, saturating the whole world with Biblical principles and Christian culture, so that eventually Christian principles will “take every thought captive” in all the nations of the world the same way it did here in America. (2 Cor. 10:5) No culture can resist it forever. Christ will conquer every stronghold for His Kingdom, just like Ezekiel 47 envisioned. The Church will continue winning souls, multiplying disciples and filling the whole earth with the knowledge of God “as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

Same Events & Can Not Be Future

Luke 21 5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life. 20“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.  32“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Hebrews 9 1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 28so 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. Hebrews 10 1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 30For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 37For in just a very little while, ”He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved

Covenant Eshatology – William Bell

Covenant Eschatology

Covenant eschatology also spelled Covenant focuses on the transition from the Old and the New Covenants, from a ministration of death to one of life. In contrast to futurism, it differs in that it holds all prophecy to be fulfilled. It ascribes the endtime or last things of the Bible to the consummation of the Old Covenant in connection with the event known as the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, versus a future destruction of the physical universe. The New Covenant being an endless eternal covenant (Hebrews 13:20), having no end.

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The Framework of Covenant Eschatology

The Framework of Covenant or realized eschatology is the Old Testament. All prophecies which were to be fulfilled in the endtime are rooted in the Old Testament. This is true for each category we will discuss: The fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, the Holy Spirit, the imminent time statements, the first century generation, all serve as pieces of the framework to understand the resurrection and related themes.

Covenant eschatology implies that the last days can only apply to the Old Covenant for it was temporary. The New Covenant having no end, has no last days. It is a world without end.

Covenant Eschatology and the Resurrection.

Covenant eschatology has implications for the resurrection of the dead. The nature of the resurrection is determined by the covenant. The subject of resurrection begins in Genesis. God threatened Adam with the punishment of immediate death for eating of the forbidden fruit. “For in the day you eat, you shall surely die.” Covenant eschatology honors the nature and time of Adam’s death.

Adam died the day he ate which resulted in his separation from God. God defines spiritual death as a severed relationship between God and man. (Isaiah 59:1, 2).

Although Adam continued to live physically, his relationship with God was broken resulting in his being cast out of the garden of Eden, (Genesis 3). As is said of the widow who lived in pleasure, Adam was dead (spiritually) while he lived physically.

God did make it possible for Adam to commune with him through an atoning sacrifice providing a temporary covering for his sins. God made coats of animal skills to cover his and Eve’s nakedness, (3:21). The shedding of animal’s blood however, could never take away sins, (Hebrews 9:22).

Therefore, Adam’s hope lie in the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).

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Paul wrote concerning the transgression of Adam resulted in condemnation. This means his stance before God was affected. Sin-death and resurrection is not about “substance,” but one’s “stance” before God. Are we condemned or justified is the question.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of of the transgression of Adam, who is a type f Him was was to come.” (Romans 5:12-14) See “mello” on “about to come” for Romans 5:14.

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Covenant eschatology demonstrates the resolution to the problem of sin-death introduced by Adam in the garden. This death fell upon all men, both Jew and Gentile alike. It continued through the Law of Moses, as it was but a shadow of the “about to come” good things in the New Covenant.

Hence the need to dismantle the Old Covenant due to its ineffectiveness against sin, (Hebrews 7:18, 19) that God might establish the New Covenant, (Hebrews 8:6-13), through the death of Christ, shedding his own blood (Matthew 26:28) and offering it up to the Father in the heavenly tabernacle, (Hebrews 9:24-27), to accomplish what could not be effected by the law, (Romans 8:1-4; Hebrews 10:1-4)

The law entered that the offense might abound, (Romans 5:19, 20) but it did not remedy the problem, hence it became a ministration of death that killed its subjects, (2 Corinthians 3:6, 7), through their own self-deception into believing they could live by perfectly obeying it, (Romans 7:10-12; 10:5).

All who served under it were confined to death through sin, (Romans 3:19, 20). The removal of that covenant is for Paul the “deliverance from the body of this death,” (Romans 7:24), the true goal of covenant eschatology, resulting in the New covenant or “body of life.” “For if there could have been a law which could have given life, verify righteousness would have been by the law.” (Galatians 3:21)

Covenant eschatology is the term used to illustrate the passing of the Old Covenant. It was a temporary arrangement until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:8-11) and the fulfillment of the promise under Christ, (Galatians 3:23-26).

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Complete covenant change is tied to the fulfillment of all things spoken and written by the prophets, (Acts 3:21) which events were fulfilled in the first century generation in connection with the fall of Jerusalem and overthrow of the Jewish temple signifying the end of the era of Moses, (Luke 21:20-22).

Now, in Christ, life is freely given to those who believe for he has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (2 Timothy 1:9, 10).

Covenant eschatology therefore forms an important interpretive paradigm in understanding the endtime message of the prophets. It honors the time statements, the audience relevance of the first century generation and their expectation of nearness, and the eschatological role of the Holy Spirit in the end of that age. Click any of the links above for further studies on these elements of covenant eschatology and fulfilled bible prophecy.

Sovereign Grace Preterist – Rap Samples

My Friend “Kingneb” has some great / fun rap samples – take a listen.  Also – this is one of my favorite websites / ministries.  Take a look at some of their great articles.  For the advanced theologian.

http://www.thereignofchrist.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=298&Itemid=153

John the Baptist’s Message

Elijah had to come again before the great day of the Lord.

Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

Jesus said that John the Baptist was the Elijah to come.

Matthew 11:13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

John the Baptist’s message was this.

Matthew 3:1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Which is the same event as this.

Luke 21:20″When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Which is the same event as this.

Matthew 25:31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Therefore – it had to have already happened – The Great White Throne Judgment was the judgment at AD70 – the Kingdom is here.

Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5, Daniel 12

Borrowed from Don Preston’s site www.eschatology.org

A comparison between 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Daniel 12, and Matthew 24 is fascinating.

As we keep in mind that Jesus uses apocalyptic language in Matthew 24: 29-35 which all Partial Preterists say is past, we can’t expect the same language to be literal in 1 Thessalonians 4-5.

Those who believe the coming in Matthew refers to the spiritual events surrounding Jerusalem’s fall would insist that we not literalize the clouds, the angels or the trumpet blast. If they are not literal in Matthew why would they be in Thessalonians?  

These events had to occur before the generation passed away (Matthew 24:34) so no futurist view makes sense.

Matthew 24 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
 

1. Christ Himself Returns	Matt. 24:30	I Thess. 4:16
2. From Heaven	Matt. 24:30	I Thess. 4:16
3. With a Shout	Matt. 24:30 (in power)	I Thess. 4:16
4. Accompanied by Angels	Matt. 24:31	I Thess. 4:16
5. With Trumpet of God	Matt. 24:31	I Thess. 4:16
6. Believers Gathered	Matt. 24:31	I Thess. 4:17
7. In Clouds	Matt. 24:30	I Thess. 4:17
8. Time Unknown	Matt. 24:36	I Thess. 5:1-2
9. Will Come as a Thief	Matt. 24:43	I Thess. 5:2,4
10. Unbelievers Unaware of Impending Judgment	Matt. 24:37-39	I Thess. 5:3
11. Judgment Comes as Travail upon Expectant Mother	Matt. 24:8	I Thess. 5:3
12. Believers to Watch	Matt. 24:42	I Thess. 5:4
13. Warning Against Drunkenness	Matt. 24:49	I Thess. 5:7

 The chart below shows that Daniel 12 and Matthew 24 are the same events.

Daniel 12	Matthew 24
time of the end, v. 4	end of the age, v. 3
Great Tribulation, v. 1	Great Tribulation, v. 21
Abomination of Desolation, v. 11	Abomination of Desolation, v. 15
Resurrection, v. 2, 13	Gathering of elect within that generation, v. 31, 34

The Impossibilty of a Future Second Coming

Daniel 12 1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. <= Resurrection of the dead 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” <= How long until the resurrection of the dead 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. <= The Jewish War was 42 months When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” <= AD70 destruction of Jerusalem

Matthew 24 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. <= Quote from Daniel 12 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect <= Resurrection from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened <= Resurrection before the generation passes away