Heya (My Brother in Christ),
Thanks for the letter.. it is great to hear from
you. Thanks also for sharing the RaptureReady article with me. I am not
sure who wrote it, but it is on another site under the name "Nearing
Midnight Ministries". Not sure who that is, but I'll check later..
The article is a very quick and cursory look at
Pret, but touches on some key points of interpretation. Unfortunately,
this article (like many) based a number of points on misrepresentations
of the view. This is probably accidental, or as a result of the author
trying to ignore the view.
Listed below are some key statements of the
article and quick answers from my point of view, with links to my site
where available. Feel free to respond in writing or person. I'm not
uptight or passionate about the issues, so we can be relaxed if it ever
comes up. Having been a Dispensationalist Rapture pastor in the past, I
know that a lot of times information is all that is lacking -- not a
desire the know the truth.
1) "This theory argues that all Bible prophecy has
been fulfilled; it states that nothing remains on the prophetic
calendar"
Prets don't believe that all *prophecy* has been
fulfilled, but that all *eschatology* has been fulfilled. The Old
Covenant was about to end when the New Testament was written and had its
end when the temple was destroyed. (Heb 8:13 "in that he saith a new
covenant, he hath made the first old. now that which waxes old and
decays is ready to vanish away") The New Covenant has no end. ("Eph 3:21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
world without end. Amen.")
Many prets see prophetic fulfillment every day, on
a scale much larger than Rapture Ready does (it is the fundamental
position of Dispensationalism that the next event on the prophetic
calendar is the second coming)
2) "They believe that they are part of a special
group that has discovered a hidden truth."
We aren't special. It is not hidden at all. Here
is a link to over 100 passages in the New Testament which speak of the
nearness of fulfillment:
http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/green-david_p_2002.html
3) "When was the Gospel preached to all the
nations?"
Here are just some of the passages in the New
Testament which show how quickly the gospel was spread.
Colossians 1:5-6 "For the hope which is laid up
for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of
the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and
bringeth forth fruit"
Colossians 1:23 "This is the gospel that you heard
and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of
which I, Paul, have become a servant."
Romans 1:8 "I thank my God through Jesus Christ
for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. "
Romans 10:18 "Their sound went into all the earth,
and their words unto the end of the world"
Romans 16:16:26 "But now is made manifest, and by
the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the
everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith"
1Timothy 3:16 "He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world, taken up in glory."
http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/m/matthew_24-14_oikoumene-world.html
4) "When was the Mark of the Beast implemented?"
Nero was the Beast. 666 is him. Once the
Christians were blamed for the fire in Rome in 64, authorities required
sacrifice to the emperor in the name of Lord Nero to test suspects.
Christians who refused to sacrifice or submit were killed by the
thousands, including apostles.
http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/n/nero_emperor-beast.html
5) "What about China's 200-million-man army?"
The word China is not in the Bible
6) "When did 100-pound hailstones fall from the
sky?"
During the Roman-Jewish war, the Romans used
catapults to wipe out Jews. They weighed 100 lbs and were relentless.
The usage of symbolic terminology in Revelation is accepted by all. Here
is a passage from Josephus:
‘Admirable as were the engines constructed by all
the legions, those of the tenth were of peculiar excellence. Their
scorpions were of greater power and their stone-projectors larger, and
with these they not only kept in check the sallying parties, but those
also on the ramparts. The stones that were thrown were of the weight of
a talent, and had a range of two furlongs and more. The shock, not only
to such as first met it, but even to those beyond them for a
considerable distance, was irresistible. The Jews, however, at the
first, could guard against the stone; for its approach was intimated,
not only to the ear by its whiz, but also, being white, to the eye by
its brightness. Accordingly they had watchmen posted on the towers, who
gave warning when the engine was discharged and the stone projected,
calling out in their native language, "The son is coming," on which
those towards whom it was directed would separate, and lie down before
it reached them. Thus it happened that, owing to these precautions, the
stone fell harmless. It then occurred to the Romans to blacken it; when,
taking a more successful aim, as it was no longer equally discernible in
its approach, they swept down many at a single discharge.’---Josephus,
Jewish Wars, bk. v. chap. vi. 3."
7) "And what date was it when the Euphrates River
dried up?"
Though I have never done a definative study on
this vial passage, it seems that others have. Here is an excerpt from a
free online book at the site:
"Translated into historical terms this symbol
represents the mobilising of the forces of the Empire and of the kings
of the neighbouring nations for the Jewish war. The drying up of the
Euphrates seems plainly to signify its being crossed with ease and
speed; and this, taken in connection with the corresponding symbol under
the sixth trumpet, viz. the loosing of the four angels bound at the
Euphrates, points to the drawing of troops from that quarter for the
invasion of Judea. This we know to be a historical fact. Not only Roman
legions from the frontier of the Euphrates, but auxiliary kings whose
dominions lay in that region, such as Antiochus of Commagene and Sohemus
of Sophene, most properly designated ‘kings from the east,’ followed the
eagles of Rome to the siege of Jerusalem. The name given to the
approaching conflict decisively determines the event to which reference
is made:---it is ‘the battle,’ or ‘war of that great day of God
Almighty’---an expression equivalent to ‘the great and terrible day of
the Lord.’ That this day was now at hand is plainly intimated by the
warning in ver. 15, ‘Behold, I come as a thief.’ The scene of the
conflict also, ‘Armageddon,’---a name that is associated with one of the
darkest and most disastrous days in the history of Israel, the field of
Megiddo, the emblem of defeat and slaughter, lies in Jewish territory.
That name of evil omen was meet to be the type of that final field of
blood on which Israel as a nation was doomed to perish." (by the way,
the valley of Megiddo is where the full strength of the Roman army
assembled -- the main general Titus having arrived in Caesarea by ship,
which is just west of there.)
http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1878_russell_parousia/russell_parousia_03f.html
8) "Why did we have the rebirth of Israel?"
The New Testament writers went to great lengths to
display that the Body of Christ is, and always has been, the true
Israel. Here are just a few of the many passages:
Galatians 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which
are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."
Galatians 3:16 "to Abraham and his seed were the
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ."
Galatians 6:15-16 "For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,
and upon the Israel of God."
Romans 2:28-29 "For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit."
Romans 9:6-8 "..they are not all Israel, which are
of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all
children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which
are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but
the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Jesus Himself told this to the Pharisees: Matthew
21:43 "The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation
bringing forth the fruits thereof."
9) " They say that although the "resurrection"
happened in 70 AD, the bodies of Christians were left in the grave."
This is because, using Paul's statement, "it is
raised a spiritual body" (I Corinthians 15:44). Being born of the spirit
and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb is to be "made alive". Jesus
called this being "born again" in John 3, clarifying by saying "that
which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit
is spirit." (v.6)
10) "The new heaven and new earth, they say, is
the New Covenant, and the "elements," which Scripture says will burn
with fervent heat when this happens, are the "elements of the law."
The temple was indeed burnt to the ground on the
9th of Av, 70.. and has never been rebuilt -- though there have been
attempts. Jesus Christ has forever superseded any animal sacrifices by
the shed blood of the eternally perfect sacrifice. The words "elements"
as referring to the law has New Testament precedent (stoicheia sometimes
translated rudiments):
Heb. 5:12 - "For even owing to be teachers,
because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what [are]
the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become
having need of milk, and not of strong food."
Gal. 4:3, 9 - "So also we, when we were babes,
under the elements of the world were in servitude...and now, having
known God -- and rather being known by God -- how turn ye again unto the
weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude?"
Col. 2:8, 20-22 - "See that no one shall be
carrying you away as spoil through the philosophy and vain deceit,
according to the deliverance of men, according to the rudiments of the
world, and not according to Christ, ...If, then, ye did die with the
Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are
ye subject to ordinances? -- thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor
handle -- which are all for destruction with the using, after the
commands and teachings of men."
http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/hochner-donald_p_04.html
Regarding New Heavens and Earth, Here is some good
material to help your study:
Gary Demar: "The New Covenant replaces the Old
Covenant with new leaders, a new priesthood, new sacraments, a new
sacrifice, a new tabernacle (John 1:14), and a new temple (John 2:19; 1
Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21). In essence, a new heaven and earth.
The darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars, coupled
with the shaking of the heavens (24:29), are more descriptive ways of
saying that "heaven and earth will pass away" (24:35). In other
contexts, when stars fall, they fall to the earth, a sure sign of
temporal judgment (Isaiah 14:12; Daniel 8:10; Revelation 6:13; 9:1;
12:4). So then, the "passing away of heaven and earth" is the passing
away of the old covenant world of Judaism led and upheld by those who
"crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8). "
William Burkitt (1650-1703) Commentary on Hebrews
12:26:
As if the apostle had said, "The voice of God, at
the promulging of the law on mount Sinai, shook the earth; but he
promised after this to shake all nations, and that Christ, the expected
Messias, the desire of all nations, should come, which is now
fulfilled."
Question. But what means our apostle by God's
shaking not the earth only, but also heaven?
Answer. He means thereby all the Mosaical worship,
all the Judaical state, those were shaken at the coming of Christ, in
order to the introduction of the immoveable gospel-state, which was
perpetually to remain. Learn hence, That the coming of the Messias was
to be the last dispensation of God for the salvation of mankind, and
consequently was to be perpetual and unchangeable. The apostle argues
from the words, once more, that the former dispensation should be
removed to make way for that which should perpetually remain. Several
things are here asserted by our apostle,
1. That there were some things which were intended
by God to be shaken, namely, the Levitical priesthood, and all the
Jewish sacrifices and services; these things were to be shaken, moved,
yea, altogether removed out of the way.
2. That there were things that could not be shaken
or removed, but remain; these were the gospel-state, the Christian
religion, which shall continue until time shall be no more.
3. That the former things were removed, that the
latter might be introduced and established; the law and the gospel were
inconsistent; the legal and evangelical administration could not stand
in force together, therefore there was a necessity for the nulling of
the one, in order to the establishing of the other.
4. That the removal of the law, to bring the more
perfect administration of the gospel, doth prove the stability and
immutability of the gospel, that it stands fast forever; there shall be
no more shaking, no farther alteration in matters of religion to the end
of the world. For thus it follows."
To answer the article in short, the first century
work of Christ included both the installation of the New System in A.D.
30, and the Disestablishment of the Old in A.D.70 -- all in one
generation according to His promise:
"Truly, Truly I say to you, this generation shall
not pass till all be fulfilled" (Luke 21:32 cf. Matthew 24:34)
Hope this helps! Thanks again.
Todd
