A Critique of Preterism in Light of the Literal Meaning of Matthew 24-25 and Revelation
The title of this critique obviously indicates that Preterism and thus the Preterist, rejects the literal interpretation of Matthew 24-25 as well as the entire book of Revelation.
The purpose of this critique is not to focus on those who embrace this belief system, but on letting the literal meaning of the inspired content of Matthew and Revelation expose the multitude of inherent errors that are conceived as the result of the arrogant presumption of men who convince themselves that they know better than the Holy Spirit, therefore they have the authority and right to declare God’s literal word to be “symbolic” in order to validate their own preconceived, unbiblical, self-determined opinion. What has just been described is the process necessary for developing a totally different, unbiblical false system that in reality is not New Covenant, New Testament Christianity. As one writer stated it, “Preterism is another religion. The Preterists deny the gospel and deny the very Christ who bought them…….Remember that Preterism is another gospel and a false religion without hope. It is not merely ‘Jesus Christ returned in 70 AD’, but the whole system of Christianity falls apart under Preterism. The whole of Christianity collapses under this hopeless, heretical error.” This same writer asks “Has every tear been wiped away? The lion will lay down with the lamb – do you see that? Are you without sin and is your family perfected in holiness? No!”
In accurately critiquing any belief system it is always wise to consider the historical origins of that system and Preterism is no exception.
Historically there are two usually referenced versions of the origin of formal Preterism. The first and prominent version is that in an effort to combat and refute the Reformers declaring the Pope to be the Antichrist, a Spanish Jesuit scholar, Luis de Alcasar, in a work published in 1614, after his death in 1613, written during the Catholic driven Counter Reformation compiled the doctrine of Preterism into a comprehensive theological system. Alcasar’s sole purpose was to create a system to bolster the Catholic Church’s position against what were perceived to be attacks by Protestants who were proclaiming the Pope to be identified with the Antichrist of Revelation. To accomplish this Alcasar contrived the idea that Revelation was written as a protest by John, on behalf of the Jews, strictly against the ancient Roman Empire and as such was of necessity written before 70 AD, before the end of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. Alcasar determined that this conflict was the tribulation described in Revelation that came to fruition on the Jewish people only, as God’s judgement for their rejection of Christ.
The second version of the origin of Preterism is that purported today by Preterists themselves. In their attempt to validate their unbiblical, thus false belief and teaching they are quick to point out that Alcasar was not the developer of this Preterist system but that early church father’s, and they generally refer to only two, Eusebius and Origen, applied elements of this system in some of their interpretations of Biblical prophecies. One modern Hyper-Preterists (there are two levels of Preterism – Partial Preterism and Hyper-Preterism) has even gone so far in his error as to declare that the Apostle John was himself the father of Preterism. This is heresy!
Regardless of the modern Preterists claims related to the early church father’s, the fact remains that the prominent explanation referred to as the origin of Preterism continues to be that of the Catholic Jesuit priest, Luis de Alcasar.
To ignore the reality of the total and complete inability of a satanic, apostate Catholic Jesuit priest being able to produce anything Biblically accurate (Romans 8:7;
I Corinthians 2:14; II Corinthians 11:13-15) by defaulting to early church father’s, as the Preterist does, is to refuse to acknowledge that early church father’s were just as wrong as this 16th century, ungodly, apostate Jesuit priest who contrived his entire system to defend and preserve the satanic papal system of Roman Catholicism. Concerning the teachings of the early church father’s, Eusebius interpreted the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as God’s direct judgement on that Jewish generation that had rejected and crucified Christ. This is not to claim, as do the Preterist, that Christ returned in judgement in 70 AD. As for Origen, Origen notably held to three particular beliefs that makes his teaching inaccurate and thus unreliable. First, and perhaps most significant, was his life long practice of interpreting much of Scripture as allegorical, proposing that it has various levels of meaning. Secondly, he held to a belief known as apokatastasis, which is a form of Christian Universalism that taught that all humanity would ultimately be saved including the damned and Satan. This Greek term means “restoration” or “restitution”. As such, Origen viewed the fire of hell as a tool for healing and purification, not one of endless torment. Thirdly, Origen held to a belief in the practice of asceticism. Asceticism is the practice of any of a variety of self-imposed physical practices such as poverty, abstinence, the renunciation of material possessions, etc., all in the grossly mistaken belief that these practices will contribute to the pursuit of redemption, greater spirituality, even to the acquiring of salvation. Paul, in Colossians 2:18 clearly condemns all such practices.
Colossians 2:18: 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
So much for the practices and teachings of the early church father’s pertaining to the belief and teaching of Preterism. The fact is, wrong is wrong whether proclaimed by an apostate Catholic priest or by an early church father.
One glaringly unbiblical, humanly conceived belief of the Preterist is that Revelation was written by John specifically as a protest against the tyranny of Imperial Rome, not as a prophecy of end-time conditions and events. It should be needless to have to even say it, but there is not so much as “one jot or one tittle” (Matthew 5:18, KJV) of Biblical support for this belief. Nothing in John’s writings even remotely suggests Revelation being inspired and written as a protest against Rome. Nothing but vain human, entirely preconceived, subjective opinion could be so preposterously (“contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurdly foolish) out of harmony with God’s truth.
Having established this brief history of the origin of this false system (Romans 16:17-18; II John 7-11), the question to be addressed is “what” was and is the primary cause of such error? As with all Biblical error the “first cause” is that, whether ignorantly or knowingly, flawed, undiscerning human beings, professing to be Christians, assume the arrogant position of believing they have the authority to excise selective passages from the Holy Spirit inspired, unambiguous, perspicuous, lucid literal word of God, by declaring those selective passages to be “symbolic” in order to validate their preconceived, subjective agenda. There is a traditional term for this kind of eisegetic (“the interpretation of a text by reading into it one’s own ideas”) interpretation of Scripture. It’s called “proof texting” and consistently produces error. This is the Preterists entire approach to Matthew 24-25 and the entire book of Revelation.
The literal Biblical context of all that Christ prophesied about the signs of His return in Matthew 24-25 is clearly, contextually in future time. In light of this literal truth, it naturally, contextually follows that every event and circumstance Christ foretold is in that same context of future time. Keeping in mind that the literal context is time future, the Preterist’s incessant insistence that Christ’s reference to “this generation” meant within the immediate lifetime of those to whom He was speaking is a major, grossly wrong eisegetic interpretation of our Lord’s meaning. Consider the truth of II Peter 3:8-9 and Romans 9:22-24 and what it reveals about this gross error of the Preterist interpretation of Christ’s meaning in His reference to “this generation”.
II Peter 3:8-9: 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declares a fact about God’s time schedule of the days of human history and our Lord’s return that utterly destroys the Preterist false teaching concerning the meaning and interpretation of time dispensations like “near”, “soon”, and “this generation”.
Romans 9:22-24: 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared before hand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
When properly kept in the literal context of the entire chapter, having, for thirty three previous verses given them future evidences of His return, Christ then, in verse thirty four states “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Again, when properly kept in the future time frame of the entire chapter, Christ is clearly referring to the generation alive at the end of this New Covenant dispensation of God’s plan, this age of the Gentiles, or this church age. These are the “this generation” ones who will witness those things He prophesied in Matthew 24:15,17-22,23-26,27-29,30,31. None of these future events came to pass in 70 AD. And, as of today, August 13, 2026, none of them have yet come to pass. This misinterpreting of time references is a continuous thread of error in this false system.
Although nothing in Matthew 24-25 or all of Revelation warrants it, because of their symbolic interpretation of words and phrases such as “soon”, “coming quickly”, “at hand”, and “near”, the Preterists were of necessity, compelled to have to devise and maintain an explanation of these words and phrases that supports their 70 AD return of Christ doctrinal belief. In light of an accurate study of each of these words and phrases in the Greek, these erroneous interpretations make it evident that such a study was never done or if it was it has been and continues to be ignored. I make this statement because in such a study each of these words and phrases grammatically and contextually have within them one common denominator. That common denominator is the fact that each contains within it the fact of “eminence”, not “immediacy”, which clearly harmonizes with Christ’s “future” meaning. This Preterist subjective defining of these words and phrases is akin to how apostate Roman Catholicism was compelled to satanically conceive a totally, non-existent, unbiblical place called “purgatory” in order to accommodate their false doctrine of praying for the dead to receive “God’s merciful salvation”. Romanism actually foolishly believes and teaches that in the celebration of the Eucharist, dead souls in purgatory are purified before God. This indeed is pure heresy that testifies to the truth of II Corinthians 4:3-4.
II Corinthians 4:3-4: 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
As stated at the beginning of this critique, the purpose is not to primarily focus on those who embrace this false system, but it is to let the literal meaning of the Holy Spirit inspired content of Matthew 24-25 and all of Revelation expose the multitudinous number of inherent errors that have been conceived as the result of the arrogant presumption of men who convince themselves that they know better what the Holy Spirit intended than did the Sovereign Holy Spirit Himself. Herein they obviously believe they have the authority to declare God’s literally inspired word to actually be “symbolic” at their subjectively predetermined points. This all is to validate their own preconceived, unbiblical, self-determined opinion. What has just been described is the process necessary for developing a totally different, unbiblical false system that in reality is not New Covenant, New Testament Christianity. Preterism is a false system.
A fact that the Preterist seem to ignore is that where there is true symbolism in Revelation, the meaning of that symbolism is most often given to John. Revelation 17:15-18 is an example of such.
Revelation 17:15-18: 15 And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 “And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. 17 “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 “The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
That said, as a means of validating the conclusion that Preterism is a false system, we will consider several Biblical, literally prophesied events related to our Lord’s return that the Preterists arbitrarily eliminate the occurrence of. Additionally, we will consider several of those Christ prophesied events that Preterism refuses to acknowledge that did not happen in 70 AD nor to this day, August 13, 2026, have not yet occurred. These Biblical truths will be presented and left to stand on their own authoritative Biblical merit. There will be no effort made to debate the merit of the Holy Spirit’s literal intent and meaning of the Biblical truths therein.
First there are at least three eternally significant events in God’s Holy plan that Preterists, in order to sustain their false system, are compelled to deny and in denying them they inherently eliminate them from their Biblical place on the stage of human history, thus creating a totally false system contradictory to clear, literal, Biblical truth. In declaring Christ to have come in judgment in 70 AD they inherently reject 1) the rapture of the church, the bride of Christ (John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:50-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18), 2) the seven years of tribulation (Revelation 6-18), and 3) our Lord’s glorious Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6). None of these clearly prophesied future events occurred in 70 AD and to this day, August 13, 2026, have not yet occurred.
The second consideration is that of identifying several of those Christ prophesied events that did not happen in 70 AD and have not, at this point in time, August 13, 2026, yet occurred. In addition to the three events listed above that Preterism, by declaring Christ to have returned in 70 AD, doesn’t just ignore, but totally eliminates from human history, consider the following.
Daniel 9:27: 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
These events did not happen in 70 AD.
Daniel 9:15-20: 15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 “O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 “So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18 “O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You, on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19 “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, oh my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” 20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
In these verses Daniel prophecies the first three and a half years of the tribulation and these events prophesied by Daniel did not happen in 70 AD.
Daniel 9:21: 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
The instruction given to Daniel by Gabriel refers to the last three and a half years of the tribulation and these events did not happen in 70 AD.
Daniel 9:27: 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.“
Daniel foretells the Antichrist making a covenant with Jews in Jerusalem and this did not happen in 70 AD.
Daniel 12:1,5: 1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued…..5 Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river.
Daniel, in the Holy Spirits inspiration, foretells the seven years of “a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until this time” (seven years of Revelation 6-18 tribulation) as well as God’s restoration of Israel as evidenced by the truth of John’s description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:12.
Revelation 21:12: 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
None of these events occurred in 70 AD and have not, to this day, August 13, 2026, yet occurred. The Preterist disregards all of these events of the prophecy of Daniel.
Ezekiel 39:7-8,17-20,29: 7 “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 “Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord GOD. “That is the day of which I have spoken…..17 “As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Speak to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field, “Assemble and come, gather from every side to My sacrifice which I am going to sacrifice for you, as a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18 “You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, as though they were rams, lambs, goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 19 “So you will eat fat until you are glutted, and drink blood until you are drunk, from My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 20 “You will be glutted at My table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all the men of war,” declares the Lord GOD…..29 “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.
None of Ezekiel’s foretelling of these literal events occurred in 70 AD.
Matthew 24:15: 15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy place (let the reader understand),
These words of our Lord did not happen in 70 AD.
Matthew 24:31: 31 “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
This did not happen in 70 AD.
Matthew 24:34: 34 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place…”
Christ, in the future context of chapter 24, is clearly referring to the generation alive in the future when all “these things take place”.
Matthew 24:36: 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
It is an arrogant heart and mind attitude that would declare Christ to have come in 70 AD when Christ Himself said that no one knows that moment in time but the Father. This is akin to the “higher knowledge” heresy of Gnosticism that became prominent in the second century AD and has continued to this day in multiple false systems.
Matthew 25:31: 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
This did not happen in 70 AD.
Acts 1:9-11: 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
I Corinthians 15:51-52(50-58): 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
I Thessalonians 4:15-17(13-18): . 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
This “coming of the Lord”, when He does not set His feet on the earth (“in the clouds…in the air”) is the time of the rapture of the church, that serves as the catalyst for the beginning of the prophesied seven years of tribulation and God’s restoring, purifying covenant love of Israel (Revelation 6-18). At our Lord’s second coming, the “Day of the Lord”, He will triumphantly stand on this earth in Jerusalem to inaugurate His glorious Millennial Kingdom on this present earth (Revelation 20:1-6), at the end of which will come that final “great white throne” judgement as revealed in Revelation 20:11-14,15.
As declared in Acts 1:9-11, I Corinthians 15:51-52, and in I Thessalonians 4:17, the future literal rapture of the church is clearly proclaimed. This did not happen in 70 AD, and to this day, August 13, 2026, it still has not occurred.
Acts 2:1-4,36-47: 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.….37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousands souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with singing and gladness of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
This present New Covenant dispensation of the church age as revealed in these Acts passages, was inconceivable to the apostles and disciples of Christ at the birth of the church. This New Covenant, church age, better way (Hebrews 11:39-40) had begun at the time of our Lord’s glorious resurrection and ascension and will conclude at His glorious return to rapture His holy bride, the church.
Romans 14:10: 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
II Corinthians 5:10: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
I Corinthians 3:12-15: 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
These three passages are referencing the Bema seat judgement of every true believer. The “bema seat” was a raised platform in Ancient Greece, from which officials awarded the victors prize to athletes. In God’s economy it is not judgement for salvation or condemnation, but for God’s rewarding grace to His elect children, according to their faithfulness in the stewardship of this earthly life.
This did not happen in 70 AD, nor has it yet happened.
Revelation 6-18: None of the judgements of Revelation 6-18 happened in 70 AD.
Revelation 19:7-9: 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God!”
This glorious event in God’s holy plan, will Sovereignly take place in His Isaiah 6:1-5 uncreated, always existent third heaven world (II Corinthians 12:2), while the prophesied seven years of tribulation are being fulfilled on this earth.
Isaiah 6:1-5: 1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
This gloriously prophesied, literal, future event did not happen in 70 AD and will not happen until our Lord returns to rapture His holy bride.
Beginning with Daniel 9:27 and continuing through Revelation 19:7-9, not a single one of these prophesied, literal, future events took place in 70 AD which, in essence, the Preterist arbitrarily tosses aside as though they don’t exist. Herein is Biblical reason to view Preterism as a false system that in no way conforms to New Covenant, New Testament Christianity.
The Preterist has no Biblical basis or foundation with which he can validate the willful ignoring of these twenty one examples of clear, literally revealed evidences of the soon return of our Lord. To contrive an entire doctrinal system declaring, in this case, the return of Christ to have occurred in 70 AD, based on nothing more than the humanly determined rejection of God’s literal word manifested by their arbitrary eisegetic declaration that Christ is declaring His 70 AD return is a contrived belief, is symbolic, is to devise a system that is unbiblical, subjective, flawed human opinion. Such a system, in a Biblical sense, is another system apart from New Covenant, New Testament Christianity. It is inherently a different false system that proclaims a false gospel, a false Christianity, a false eschatology, and a false christ. The christ of Preterism that supposedly returned in judgement in 70 AD is not the Christ of John 1:1-14; 10:9-11,27-29,30; 14:1-3; 20:11-17***; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-18.
John 1:1-14: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing[+] came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, it of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 10:9-11,27-29,30: 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…..27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me, 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 “I and the Father are one.”
John 14:1-3: 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
John 20:11-17: 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'”
Acts 1:9-11: 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
I Thessalonians 4:15-18: 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
In II Thessalonians 2:1-4 Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives a warning to the church then and now to be on guard against the very thing Preterism is and does. Paul describes exactly what Preterism does in the church today.
II Thessalonians 2:1-4: 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless[+] the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
The Preterist error, as with the Amillennial and Arminian errors, is the result of a willful, humanly determined rejection of the literal reading and interpreting of God’s word. Let it be understood that anytime any individual and group, apart from clear Biblical evidence, determine that God’s word isn’t literal but is symbolic, that individual/group has stepped onto a slippery slope that inherently becomes steeper, plunging further into ever greater error. This fact is manifestly evident across the stage of God ordained, created human history, time and time again – Psalm 9.
Psalm 9: 1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You. 4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously. 5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished. 7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgement, 8 and He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgement to the peoples with equity. 9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble; 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds. 12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; See my affliction from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah. 17 The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.
That said, there is absolutely no Biblical reference to our Lord’s return in 70 AD – not for the rapture of the church (I Thessalonians 4:17; I Corinthians 15:51-52; John 14:1-3 – none of which happened in 70 AD) nor for the establishing of His glorious Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6, which did not happen in 70 AD). That raises a question that no Preterist can answer. If Christ returned in 70 AD, how does the Preterist explain the prophesied “world-wide” awareness of His coming that Christ clearly prophesied in Matthew 24:39-31. No such thing occurred in 70 AD. Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was destroyed. The Jews were temporaily scattered, in God’s Sovereign, providential order, across the entire globe while He continued to superintend His predestined, foreordained, day by day unfolding New Covenant dispensation (this pre-tribulation church age; the age of the Gentiles) wherein He is securing His Holy Sons holy bride (Ephesians 1:3-6; I Peter 1:3,4-5,6a; Colossians 2:9-10; 1:22-23).
Ephesians 1:3-6: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
I Peter 1:3,4-5,6a: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this, you greatly rejoice,
Colossians 2:9-10: 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
Colossians 1:22-23: 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
For the Preterist to declare otherwise is akin to the “private, personal, higher knowledge” claims of the second century, fully developed, evil satanic false system of Gnosticism. To declare otherwise is to inherently claim special insight, directly and personally received from the Holy Spirit, that gives them the authority to declare Christ to have returned in 70 AD. Yet the Holy Spirit, in inspiring the writer of Hebrews, definitively declares in Hebrews 1:1-4 that God no longer speaks directly to men nor is He giving new revelation. Jude further, in the Holy Spirit’s leading, affirms the New Testament record to be complete, “once and for all”, therein refuting any and every individual and group that would claim any special, new insight from God that supposedly authorizes them to change its literal meaning.
Hebrews 1:1-4: 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Jude 1:3: 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
In light of the veracity (truthfulness) and perspicuity (plain to the understanding especially due to clarity and precision of presentation) no true believer would believe that any portion of the New Testament written after 70 AD, inspired by the Holy Spirit, would have made no mention of our Lord’s return had He truly returned in 70 AD. Yet I, II, and III John and Revelation were so written. Written between 90-96 AD, there is nothing written therein by John that even remotely suggests that our Lord returned in 70 AD. Being totally dependent on a pre 70 AD writing of Revelation to validate the supposed 70 AD return of Christ, the fact that Revelation was unambiguously (clearly, precisely) historically documented as being written toward the end of Emperor Domitian’s reign in 94-95 AD completely unravels the entire Preterist system.
Consider the testimony of our Heavenly Father pertaining to His providential fulfillment of His New Covenant plan in these days, 2026, as revealed in Hebrews 11:39-40.
Hebrews 11:39-40: 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
The writer is declaring the glory of our God’s New Covenant, “age of the Gentiles”, His glorious “church age”, the day and time in which we now live, joyfully awaiting with great and wondrous anticipation our Sovereign resurrected, ascended, seated at the right hand of His Father, victorious Holy Savior’s blessed return as revealed in John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:15-17.
John 14:1-3: 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
I Thessalonians 4:15-17: 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
In Matthew Christ repeatedly couches the events of His pre-judgement return (the rapture of the church) in the phrase “the end of this age”, always meaning this present New Covenant, church age dispensation of time.
Matthew 13:40,49: 40 “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.….49 “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,
Matthew 24:3: 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 28:20: 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
II Peter 3:3-13 gives us a clear literal picture of the events, in God’s Sovereign perfect timing, just as in Noah’s day, that will take place at “the end of this age”.
II Peter 3:3-13: 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Consider the following brief Biblical timeline of God’s redemptive plan.
Beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD:
70 AD – Titus of Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of God; God providentially scattered the Jews across this earth (God’s temporary judgement for their rejection of their Messiah); At the resurrection of Christ (John 20-21) 40 years prior to 70 AD, the New Covenant church age began – Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:14; Acts 1:9-11; 2:1-4,36-47;
Hebrews 1:1-4: 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 2:14: 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
Acts 1:9-11: 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
Acts 2:1-4,36-47: 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.….36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this[+] Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren[+], what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The church age continues forward on the stage of human history (Acts – III John); 1948 Israel is regathered as a national entity in God’s providential order – Proverbs 16:1,4,9; 21:1,30-31; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 46:8-10
Proverbs 16:1,4,9: 1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD…..4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.….9 The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 21:1,30-31: 1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD turns it wherever He wishes…..30 There is no wisdom and no understanding and no counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
Isaiah 46:8-10: 8 “Remember this, and be assured, recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Psalm 135:6: 6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
The church age continues, moving always forward, as the worlds focus moves gradually at first (1948) back to the Middle East, Israel, Jerusalem, and the ongoing, long standing Arab/Israel conflict – Genesis 16:11; 21:10-12; 25:23
Genesis 16:11: 11 The angel of the LORD said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.
Genesis 21:10-12: . 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
Genesis 25:23: 23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger.”
The church age continues in present time (2026), while there is a very evident escalation, with greater and greater specificity, of the Arab/Israel conflict.
God is clearly setting the stage of human history for the time present, soon return of Christ as foretold in I Thessalonians 4:17. This event will be “the end of this age” and the catalyst for the beginning of the seven years of prophesied tribulation (Revelation 6-18), that time of God’s judgement on this present world as well as that time wherein He will fulfill His promised final restoration of Israel (Numbers 23:19). At the conclusion of these seven years the second coming of our Lord will take place when He, along with His holy bride, the Old Testament saints, and the martyrs of the tribulation, will establish His glorious Millennial Kingdom to reign for a thousand years. Satan will be bound for these thousand years, whereby this earth, by Christ’s Sovereign power, will for those thousand years, be restored to near Edenic perfection. At the end of the thousand years, the final event of human history on this earth will be accomplished in God’s final “great white throne” judgement – Revelation 20:10,11-14,15.
Revelation 20:10,11-14,15: 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, and the beast and the false prophet were also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and forever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
In closing consider the Holy Spirit’s inspired revelation of God’s Sovereign timing via the literal reading of His Word related to our Lord’s return.
I identified fifteen passages that specifically, literally speak to the return of Christ. However, for the sake of conclusion, I’ve included only six.
Matthew 26:64: 64 Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
John 21:22: 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
Acts 1:11: 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
II Thessalonians 1:8: 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming
II Peter 3:11-13: 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Revelation 1:7: 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
The volume of events prophesied to come to pass at our Lord’s return is voluminous and not a single one of them came to pass in 70 AD and, to this date, August 13, 2026, they still have yet to occur. This being true, there is but one Biblically accurate conclusion that can be determined related to the doctrines of Preterism. Preterism is, as stated earlier, a different, false system that proposes a false gospel that has its own christ, the christ of 70 AD who is not the Christ of John 1:1-5, a false Christianity that at best ignores, but at worst, denies the present church age, a false eschatology that, in reality never occurred, and lastly, a false Christ, in that any christ that returned in 70 AD is not the Christ of John 1:1-14; 10:9-11,27-29; 14:1-3; 20:11-17*; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-18.
John 1:1-14: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing[+] came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 10:9-11,27-29: 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.” 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 27 “My sheep hear My voice and, I know them and they follow Me 28 and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” 29 “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 “I, and the Father are one.”
John 14:1-3: 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
John 20:11-17*: 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'”
Acts 1:9-11: 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
I Thessalonians 4:15-18: 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Preterism is yet another example of the inherent outcome of any system that presumes to, by flawed human reasoning, declare any portion of God’s word to be “not literal but symbolic” — it is a flawed, false system.
God is not unclear about His view of those who would tamper with His Holy Word by declaring it to be what it isn’t – Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22: 18-19.
Deuteronomy 12:32: 32 “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Proverbs 30:5-6: 5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
Revelation 22:18-19: 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Nor is He unclear as to how we as His elect children, the bride of Christ, are to respond to such, as He clearly reveals in Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica.
II Thessalonians 2:1-4: 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
What Paul warns the church about in these verses is exactly what Preterism does – it falsely declares “that the day of the Lord has come”. And the Holy Spirit’s clear and precise command is that we “Let no one in any way deceive you”.
Hear the word of our Lord dear believer, and do not let anyone “deceive you”. Be a faithful, diligent Berean – Acts 17:11.
Acts 17:11: . 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptudaily to see whether these things were so.
Isaiah 43:10-13: 10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. 11 “I, even I, I am the LORD and there is no savior besides Me. 12 “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And I am the LORD. 13 “Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”
Isaiah 42:8-9: 8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images. 9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
Isaiah 40:5-8,12-14,21-26: 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever…..12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has informed Him? 14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and informed Him of the way of understanding?…..21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. 24 Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble. 25 “To whom then will you liken Me that I would be his equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 5:21: 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!
Isaiah 55:8,11: 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.….11 so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Isaiah 46:8-10: 8 “Remember this, and be assured, recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Psalm 50:21: 21 “These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
Numbers 23:19: 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?