What Is Preterism?

Answer: Karen, thank you for the question.

Unfortunately, “preterism” is yet another flavor of Christianity.

In fact, within “preterism” there are several different belief systems, just like the rapture doctrine. With that said, we are not going to discuss all preterist beliefs, just the basic ones.

So what do preterists believe?

The Preterist Belief

Preterism is a Biblical theory that contends all (or most) Bible prophecy including those of the Last Days, has already been fulfilled. Yes, including the book of Revelation.

Preterists believe all Bible prophecy concluded in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem fell to Roman General Titus. They believe Jesus returned at that date. They believe the Antichrist appeared long ago, and the Great Tribulation has long since passed.

Preterists also believe the Millennium and Judgement Day has “been fulfilled in Christ”.

To make matters worse, preterists believe Satan has been cast into the Lake of Fire, God’s Kingdom has arrived, and the new Heavens and earth happened long ago. Their belief system means, we just keep on keeping on.

I must add, preterists also believe the book of Revelation was written around the year 50 A.D. Preterists have to make this claim, otherwise, if Revelation was written after the fulfillment of all prophecy in 70 A.D. as they contend, then what would be the purpose of the book?

For the record, Christianity commonly believes Revelation was written in 90-96 A.D. This obviously shoots gaping holes in preterism.

So what’s the problem with all of this?

Just about everything.

If preterists were right, what exactly would be the point of life?

There would be no point at all.

In fact, the preterist belief system erases our purpose, which is to accept Christ, and then share His message with the entire world. Again, if all prophecy has been fulfilled, then what the heck are we doing here?

All right, now let’s open the Bible to prove preterism is simply not true.

An End Of Sins?

Turn your Bible with me to,

Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

This prophecy concerns the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 weeks. Now there are various forms of this belief.

However, notice the two key takeaways here.

• “To make an end of sins.”
• “Bring in everlasting righteousness.”

Now let’s just stop right there.

Take a look around.

Sin is everywhere in the world and finding righteousness is like playing hide and seek these days. So we know without a doubt, these verses have not been fulfilled as preterists claim.

Now to be clear on this verse, when Jesus returns, sin will still exist. During the Millennium, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for the 1,000-year reign of Jesus, (Revelation 20:3-4). However, at the end of the Millennium, Satan is loosened from his prison and even more sin ensues, (Revelation 20:7-9).

So when we read Daniel 9:24, we should not come away with the idea that when Christ returns all sin ceases. Instead, we must understand the word “end” in this verse means “to seal up”.

You will note, this same Hebrew word was translated “to seal up” in this very same verse. So, once Christ returns, that will begin the process of “sealing up” sin and bringing in everlasting righteousness. That only becomes a reality once the Eternity begins.

We Are Changed Into Our Spiritual Body

Turn your Bible with me to,

1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

When are we all changed?

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

There are Seven Trumpets mentioned in the Bible. The Seventh Trumpet is “the last trump”.

What happens at the Seventh Trumpet?

Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Once the Seventh Trumpet sounds, Jesus has returned, and we are instantly changed into our true spiritual bodies along with being gathered together with Christ.

If all Seven Trumpets have sounded, then why do we exist in our flesh body, instead of the spiritual body being discussed?

Moreover, what do we know about the spiritual body?

1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Your body today is corruptible, it will perish as it is flesh. Yet, at the last trumpet, the Seventh Trumpet, your mortal body will be transformed into an immortal body.

That only occurs when we die and return to God, or when Jesus returns, (Ecclesiastes 12:7, 2 Corinthians 5:8).

1 Corinthians 15:54-55
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

My friends, death still exists to this very day.

Death will only be destroyed at the end of the Millennium.

However, on the first day of the Millennium, those who take part in the “first resurrection” will have an immortal body like everyone else, but they also obtain an immortal soul as well, (Revelation 20:6).

We are not there yet, so it’s impossible for preterism to be true.

The Devil Is Cast Into The Lake Of Fire

Now let’s turn to the book of Revelation, and see what happens at the end of the Millennium.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Does anyone really believe Satan the Devil has been cast into the Lake of Fire, (Revelation 12:9)?

Today, we know “the whole world lieth in wickedness,” (1 John 5:19).

Why is that?

“The prince of the power of the air” is Satan, “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience,” (Ephesians 2:2). The children of disobedience are those who will not adhere to what God has told us. They lead the world to ruin, and they are also petty thieves. They cover a wide swath.

Moreover,

Revelation 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Satan, death, and hell have not been destroyed. The grave still has a “sting” that continues until the end of the White Throne Judgement which concludes the Millennium, (Revelation 20:11).

Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

That verse right there concludes the Millennium, which initiates the Eternity…

Again, I will ask, if this already occurred, then what are we doing here?

Alright, let’s see what really happens after the White Throne Judgement.

A New Heaven And Earth

Turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 21:1-2
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

While preterists simply spiritualize these verses away, or deem they belong to the Heavenly realm. Scripture will make it clear these verses belong to the future, after the Millennium, on the first day of the Eternity.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

I shouldn’t have to tell anyone, God does not literally walk among us today. Those who would spiritualize or alter the meaning of such a simple passage are stealing God from the hearts of people.

Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Jesus has not returned, God does not literally live with us. If they lived with us today, we would see them and we would occupy our true spiritual bodies that never get sick, old, or die.

Not only does death still exist, so do sorrows, crying, and pain. We all shed tears when we lose a loved one, or see sin continue to run rampant in our world.

By saying these passages have already occurred or spiritualizing them is to steal hope from the people. By removing such core Biblical principles from our minds, what exactly do we have to look forward to?

Summary

From just these few passages in the Bible, we can see that preterism is yet another church tradition. While it seeks to answer some questions, it creates far more problems, introduces confusion, and it removes our hope for the future.

Worse yet, it leads to unbelief.