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BOOKS: BIBLICAL STUDIES (1500BC-AD70) / EARLY CHRISTIAN PRETERISM (AD70-1000) / FREE ONLINE BOOKS (AD1000-2008)
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Doctrinal
Classifications The Method of Presentation at PreteristArchive.com By Todd Dennis (todd @ preteristarchive.com)
JEWISH SOURCES - Comments from Josephus,
the Talmud, Midrashim, and Apocalyptic Literature. Contemporary
Jewish literature is also collected under the classification.
Though many early Christians are Jewish, they are classified
under "Early Church".
DEAD SEA SCROLLS - Materials Unearthed From Judean Wilderness (From roughly second century B.C. to A.D.68 - Color coded with Jewish Soures)
FUTURIST - A) Umbrella term covering all systems of nonfulfillment-based theology, including most contemporary forms of Historicism and Premillennialism, and some Postmillennialism. B) This class, though represented by authors throughout the centuries, wasn't systematized until the Reformation era. C) Generally believes that some bible prophecy may have been fulfilled in the first century, but only in a primary sense, which foreshadowed ultimate fulfillment "in the future." Dispensationalism specifically believes that "the rapture" might be any moment now, leading to the Great Tribulation and ultimately ushering in the Millennial Age.
EARLY CHURCH (EC) - A) Views espoused by all Christian sources during the first thousand years of church history, during which the only systematizing being done was in Catholic and Orthodox circles. B) This class includes all the earliest church fathers, historians and pseudepigraphic writers, dating back to the writings of the New Testament. C) Sources could be considered "Historicist" or "Futurist" but very rarely "Preterist" in any developed way (Eusebius would be the most likely to be considered Preterist) (Broadest in Years, Broadest in Doctrine - First Thousand Years of Church History - Pret-related comments color-coded with "Historical Preterism" due to similarities)
HISTORICAL PRETERISM (HP) - A) Umbrella term covering all those who believe that only a slight amount of Bible prophecy was totally fulfilled in the early centuries of the Christian era. Determined by looking at where authors find a "transition" from the past to the future using the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24/25 and the Apocalypse of John. B) This class has roots dating back to the first century, such as in the writings of Barnabus and Clement, and finds greater development in the writings of Justin Martyr and Eusebius. The Catholic and Orthodox churches maintained HP through the Middle Ages. Today's contemporary forms were largely developed in the writings of Calvin, Luther, Grotius and Lightfoot. C) Teaches that some of the Bible's eschatology was fulfilled by AD70, but that a large portion is yet to be fulfilled at the "last day." Transitions in the Middle of Matthew 24, or in the Middle of the Apocalypse of John.
MODERN PRETERISM (MP) - A) Umbrella term covering all those who believe that the majority of Bible prophecy was totally fulfilled in the early centuries of the Christian era. Determined by looking at where authors find a "transition" from the past to the future using the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24/25 and the Apocalypse of John. Differs from Full Preterism in that it does not make the Parousia, the General Judgment, nor the General Resurrection events solely of the past. B) According to known literature, this class emerged during the Reformation and can be seen in a fully developed form at the beginning of the 17th century in the writings of the Jesuit Alcasar -- although it can be seen as the natural progression in Christianity's theological development (particularly anticipated in "Theophany" by Eusebius and certain writings of Origen). This classification includes many who were formerly classified as partial preterists (such as Gary DeMar and Dr. John Brown of Edinburgh) -- as their views are a much more complete presentation of the prophetic fulfillment than those classified in Historical Preterism. C) Teaches that the bulk of Bible eschatology has sole application to ancient Israel, but that some regards the "last day" -- sometimes that "end" being personal, not historical, in nature. Transitions somewhere in Matthew 25, or near the end of the Apocalypse of John.
FULL PRETERISM (FP) = A) That view, which teaches that the year 70 was the consummation of the ages, and the utter terminal date for all Bible prophecy B) According to known literature, this class did not emerge until the middle of the 19th century, though it could be said to have been anticipated in the writings of certain Modern Preterists, and the writings of the American Universalists. The earliest known undeniably Full Preterist book was written in 1845, though the author later abandoned the view. C) Believes that all Bible prophecy was totally fulfilled by AD70, including the Parousia, General Judgment and General Resurrection (which places this view outside of general church "orthodoxy." (Narrowest Range in Time and Doctrine - Earliest Known Representatives (Townley and Desprez - who both later left the view) are from the middle of the 19th Century)
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