Preterism

The term preterism derives from the Latin praeter, which denotes that something is ‘past’ (or ‘beyond’). In theology it refers to the view sustaining that certain biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled in the past, i.e. in history.

In a wider sense, all Christians are preterists, at least to some extent. All would concur that the prophecies about the Messiah coming into the world and about his death, have already been fulfilled with the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

In the narrower and proper sense the term preterist is applied to adherents of preterism who interpret certain prophecies preteristically, that are commonly instead read futuristically; passages such us the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation.

They have a point. Futurists sometimes pride themselves with taking the Bible literally. But this raises the question what the scriptures actually mean with certain passages like the these:

(Venice)_La_distruzione_del_tempio_di_Gerusalemme_-Francesco_Hayez_-_gallerie_Accademia_Venice copia

The Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

by Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)

“Truly I [Jesus] tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (Matthew 24:34) (NIV)

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) (NIV)

Two different types of preterism must be distinguished: Partial-Preterism and Full-Preterism. Contrary to what the similarity of the terms might suggest, the two views differ in kind rather than degree.

Partial-Preterism

Partial-preterists interpret the scriptures according to their historical-grammatical context. When the disciples once approached Jesus to direct his attention to the magnificence of the temple and its buildings, Jesus replied that not one stone of them would be left on another. Some forty years on (in 70 AD), the temple and Jerusalem were indeed destroyed by the Roman army. This occurred within a generation, just as Jesus had predicted. Partial-preterists view these events as judgment comings, along similar comings of the Lord in the Old Testament.

Besides these temporal comings, partial-preterists are nonetheless still looking forward to Christ’s Second Coming in glory, when He will hold the Final Judgment and inaugurate the New Heavens and the New Earth.

With this expectation Partial-Preterism is firmly in line with the historic tenants of the Christian faith.

Full-Preterism

Full-Preterism on the other hand is a fairly recent theological view. It originated around 1970 and affirms that all Bible prophecies (including the resurrection of the dead and the Final Judgment) have already been fulfilled in the first century in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Although a fringe movement, Full-Preterism has gained some ground in more recent times, mainly thanks to the internet.

The theology of Full-Preterism is mainly based on the so-called “time-texts”. This a priori paradigm of Full-Preterism forces the application of any given passage into a first-century fulfilment.

By denying the future bodily return of Jesus Christ, the general resurrection and Last Judgment, Full-Preterism is squarely outside Christian orthodoxy.