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Preterism is a doctrinal belief proclaiming that all of Scripture prophecy was fulfilled by 70 A.D. While most Messianic and Christian believers do not accept the doctrine of preterism, and rightly consider it absurd, Preterists do twist some Scripture verses to uphold their doctrine, confusing believers, and many are not sure how to adequately refute Preterists’ alleged Scripture-based claims. This article will analyze Preterism, declare it a false doctrine, and equip believers with a proper understanding of the verses used by Preterists in order to aid them in responding to this false theology.
The origin of Preterism began with Luis de Alcazar (1554-1613), a Jesuit priest, whose purpose in proclaiming the doctrine was to defend the Catholic Church from Christian reformers who rightly began to identify the Roman Catholic Church as Mystery Babylon of Romans 17. The term ‘Preterist’ is Latin for ‘past.’ Preterists proclaim Scripture prophecy all occurred in the past, having all been fulfilled by 70 A.D.
THE BASIC TENETS OF PRETERISM AND REBUTTALS TO THEM:
1. ANTIMESSIAH (ANTICHRIST):
There will be no future Antimessiah (Antichrist). Nero fulfilled that role.
Nero was the 5th Roman Emperor whose reign was from 54 to 68 A.D. Many tyrannical acts have been attributed to Nero, including starting the Great Fire of Rome and setting Christians on fire, which would make him an antichrist, but not the Antichrist. The Antichrist will cause all to receive a 666 computerized mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and no one will be able to buy or sell unless they receive the mark (Revelation 13:16-18).
2. THE GREAT TRIBULATION, THE FALL OF BABYLON, AND ARMAGEDDON: Preterists say these events occurred when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem between 66-70 A.D.
The destruction of Jerusalem did occur in 70 A.D, but there was no great tribulation period preceding its destruction, Jerusalem is not Babylon, and Rome did not represent the king(s) of the Earth and world’s armies that are prophesied to one day gather at Armageddon (Revelation 16:14-16). The 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem did not fulfill Yeshua’s (Jesus’) prophecy of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Western Wall of the second Temple still remained standing after 70 A.D. Yeshua (Jesus) said, regarding the Temple, “Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2; Luke 19:44; Luke 21:6).
3. THE RETURN OF MESSIAH (CHRIST):
Preterists say that Messiah (Christ) ‘returned’ to witness the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army in 70 A.D.
Preterists claim that Messiah (Christ) returned and appeared before some of His followers who He spoke to. They cite Matthew, Mark, and Luke:
MATTHEW 16:28; MARK 9:1; LUKE 9:27 (NKJV):
“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, and Luke 9:27 are similarly worded verses, but they are not verses concerning the return of Messiah (Christ).
The verses should be understood in the following manner:
MATTHEW 16:28; MARK 9:1; LUKE 9:27 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in [TO] His kingdom.”
Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, and Luke 9:27 are verses that Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of regarding Him coming into His kingdom at His Ascension, not His return to Earth. Some of those standing there with Him when He spoke those words were prophesied to be witnesses to His Ascension, if they had not yet died when His Ascension was soon to afterward take place.
MARK 16:19 (NKJV):
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
LUKE 24:51 (NKJV):
Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
4. REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY:
God replaced Israel as God’s chosen people with the [Catholic] Church, and this is a subsequent adopted belief by the Protestant churches.
God does not break or ‘replace’ His covenant promises. God has not cast away His people Israel, whom He foreknew. Israel is God’s chosen people by His word (Exodus 6:7,19:5). The Gentile peoples are to be grafted into Israel; they are not to be a replacement for them (Romans 11).
5. THE MILENNIUM KINGDOM:
Preterists proclaim that the [Catholic] Church age is the literal millennium kingdom and that the 1,000-year period is figurative, not literal.
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) must be ruling Earth during the millennium kingdom. The Catholic Church is not His millennium reign and the Catholic pope is certainly not the Vicar of Christ, or God’s representative on Earth. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) millennium reign will be for a literal 1,000-years of which there will be world peace and no deceptions from Satan, among the nations, as Satan will be bound during the millennium (Revelation 20).
6. SATAN BOUND:
Preterists declare that Satan has already been bound to his hell prison and cannot hinder the spread of the Gospel.
When Messiah’s (Christ’s) millennium reign begins, Satan will be bound. The purpose of binding Satan is not so the Gospel can go forth; Satan could never prevent that. Satan will be bound during Messiah’s (Christ’s) millennium reign so that he cannot influence the nations to sin or make war (Revelation 20:3). After the 1,000-year millennium reign period comes to its conclusion, Satan will be released and lead the defiant hostile nations in one final rebellion against God’s kingdom and His saints (Revelation 20:7-8). Satan will be defeated again and then will be forever imprisoned (Revelation 20:10).
Preterism is a false doctrine conjured up by a Catholic Jesuit priest. Sin and death are still ongoing in this world and when Yeshua (Jesus) comes, they will be no more (1 Corinthians 15:54-55; Revelation 21:4). Many Preterists apparently take comfort in Preterism due to personal security reasons, as they are unwilling to face the truth of the horrors that are prophesied to occur in the end times and would rather cling to the idea that there is nothing to worry about, as all Scripture prophecy was fulfilled all by 70 A.D.
