ERROR: 30-70AD MILLENNIUM Hyper-Preterism, Full-Preterism, Covenant Eschatology

 

30-70AD MILLENNIUM  Hyper-Preterism, Full-Preterism, Covenant EschatologyThis view holds that the Millennium (1000 years) of Revelation 20:1-7

  • BEGAN NEAR THE CROSS AROUND 30AD.
  • ENDED NEAR OLD JERUSALEM'S DESTRUCTION AROUND 70AD.

It incorporates the following errors:

 Are you not throwing the baby out with the bathwater?
No. I am only throwing out the bathwater. I am only throwing out the theories that have Rev 20:1-10's "Thousand Years" ending around 70AD. I am firmly holding on to "the baby," that is, the realization that: the Nero-Beast Tribulation is history; that Jesus has Returned long ago; the "Day of the Lord/Millennium/Thousand Years" is a past event; the New Heavens, New Earth, and New Jerusalem arrived at old Jerusalam's 70AD departure; the Saints have reigned with Jesus ever since; God's dwelling has been with men ever since and will remain forevermore! Emmanuel, God with us! The Saints have been made heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus who has received all authority in Heaven and Earth!

 
There have been many concepts that have come out of Preterism that are disagreeable…
True.
 
...do we therefore cast aside the entire view?
We only cast aside the theories that do not fit Scripture such as:
I) Theories that posit the ending of Rev 20:1-10's "1000 Years" at 70AD.
A) Resultant theories that posit the beginning of Rev 20:1-10's "1000 Years" prior to writing of 2 Tim 2:18
1) Resultant Hymenaen heresies timing "the first resurrection" of Rev 20:4-6 prior to writing of 2 Tim 2:18
a) Resultant Gnostic-like heresies that make the Resurrection out to be
i) Resultant Universalist-Lawless heresies that add to the Word of God pronouncing:
"Since the blessed & holy martyrs 'came to covenant life' at start of the 1000 years, Rev 20:4,
then the 'rest of the dead come to covenant life' too, at end of the 1000 years, Rev 20:5."
 
 
For example you espouse that the Millennium concluded in 1070 yet even though I disagree, I do not cast aside the view of past fulfillment.
Exactly. You have just answered your own question. Even though I reject the theories that posit the ending of Rev 20:1-10's "1000 years" at 70AD, I do not cast aside the view of past fulfillment, either.
 
So you assert that a 30-70AD Millennium leads to universalism?
I have not merely asserted this, I have proven and documented it. Follow the links in the post to which you responded and you will find ample support for my statements. If you need still more, I am prepared to provide it. For the purpose of keeping this post easy to follow, I have left off the links I am prepared to provide to substantiate my statements here.
 
Well why can not the same be said about a Millennium ending in 1070?
NO. Because the 70-1070AD Millennium begins AFTER 2 Tim 2:18 was penned, so does the Resurrection of the Saints at Rev 20:4. This means that the Saints' Resurrection was a "coming to life" of their bodies as was the "coming to life" of "the rest of the dead" at Rev 20:5. The righteous are bodily resurrected as are the unrighteous, (albeit at different times). But since the unrighteous had NOT received "eternal/covenant life" in their souls prior to their judgment, (ie. their names were not written into the Lamb's Book of Life prior to their judgment), they are eternally condemned to the Lake of Fire ("Second Death") per Rev 20:15. This distinction at judgment between those who had and those who did not have eternal/covenant life gives no place to Universalism. But, as stated above, the 30-70AD Millennial theories lead to the conclusion that: "After the 1,000 years, 'the rest of the dead come to covenant-spiritual-eternal life' (Rev 20:5) as did the Saints (Rev 20:4)" - and that is Universalism & Lawlessness.
 
 
Scripture does not declare universalism regardless of what others put forth.
True. Scripture does not support universal salvation and nor do I.
 
Therefore, if it is shown a Pre-70 Millennium and universalism is unscriptural, your argument must be revisited.
I agree. And I thank you for your congenial attitude here that is rare in the discussion. My argument for a 70-1070AD Millennium is really the way to preserve the past fulfillment view through the withering attacks to come. My opponents do not yet realize it, but I have been pointing out to the them the way of escape and preservation rather than the destruction of the past fulfillment (Preterist) view of eschatology. When the withering attacks come down like unstoppable acid rain, those who who have read with an open heart will know where to find refuge.
 
 
See also: Resurrection-transformation of the mortal-natural body at Judgment
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Revelation 20:4-6 ~ foreseen around 62AD in the predictive vision by Christ's exiled Apostle John
And I foresaw THE SOULS OF those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
NASB
 
The Rev 20:4-6 passage is talking about:
Two groups of "SOULS."
A) The first group of souls are faithful martyrs of Jesus who rejected the Mark of the Beast (Nero).
B) The second group of souls are identified simply as, "the rest of the dead"
implying that both groups of SOULS are of people who are dead, (Christ's martyrs versus the rest).
It is their bodies that are dead since Christian martyrs (the first group) can never have dead souls.
Again, it is their bodies that are dead since Christian martyrs (the first group) can never be described as "spritually dead."
Therefore, Rev 20:4-6 is talking about the coming to life of bodies after death, "resurrection."
Both groups of SOULS were each coming to animate bodies again after death, "resurrection."

 

ERROR I: "The 1000 years of Rev 20:1-7 starts before Christ's Return"

.

 

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:1-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. The Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones of Rev 20:4 = 1 Thess 4:16's Rising of the Dead in Christ. Otherwise would mean the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4), was an event distinct & prior to 1 Thess 4:16, that it was a past experience in the lives of the Apostles, thus driving the conclusion that Rev 20:4 was a "coming to covenant life," (being born-again). This, in turn, would drive the conclusion that the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead of Rev 20:5a was a "coming to covenant life," as well, since it uses the same words in an adjacent verse. The implication, then, would be that whether one lives & dies as "Blessed & Holy" or as "the Rest of the Dead," he still eventually "comes to covenant life," making faith & obedience to Christ irrelevant to one's eternal fate. That conclusion is Universalism, a cancerous doctrine at odds with Scriptures' command to obey to the Word of God the Judge of all men. Note also, Rev 20:5a ≠ 1 Thess 4:16 because there is no mention of non-Christians, ("the Rest of the Dead" of Rev 20:5a), being raised up alongside "the Dead in Christ" in 1 Thess 4:16.

  3. The Rising of the Dead in Christ, (1 Thess 4:16 & Rev 20:4), cannot begin before the Return of Christ since 1 Thess 4:16 teaches these events happen in the same moment.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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, shall 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 shall rise first 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 5 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that THE DAY OF THE LORD will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that THE DAY should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of DAY. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of THE DAY, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB
 

I b.  ERROR: Theories starting the "1000 years" Millennium before 2nd Timothy was written. (Hymenaeus)

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:1-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. The Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones of Rev 20:4 = the Resurrection that Paul insisted was still future to the time 2 Timothy 2:18 was penned, (around 62AD). Otherwise would mean the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones was a past experience in the lives of the Apostles equating it with the error of Hymenaeus & Philetus.

  3. Therefore, the "1000 years" Millennium of Rev 20:4-6 cannot begin before 2 Tim 2:18 was written around 62AD because that would support the error of Hymenaeus & Philetus that the apostle Paul condemned as a cancerous doctrine.

2 Timothy 2:17-18
Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place [prior to the writing of this epistle], and thus they upset the faith of some.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB
 

I c. ERROR: Theories starting the "1000 years" Millennium before the New Testament was completed. (Satan)

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:1-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. Following their resurrection, the Blessed & Holy ones reign with Christ throughout the "1000 years" Millennium, (Rev 20:4-6), while Satan remains sealed into his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:1-3 & Rev 20:7).

  3. The "1000 years" Millennium ends with the release of Satan from his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7), and with the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, (Rev 20:5a, the second of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  4. The New Testament records more harrassment from Satan against God's People, (Christians), during the 30-70AD period in which the New Testament was written than all other history combined, describing Satan fittingly as "a roaring lion walking about, seeking whom he may devour," LINK, hardly bound & imprisoned into the Abyss below. Additionally, there is no credible hermeneutic by which to construe the casting out of individual demons from individual men by Jesus in the Gospels as the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into the Abyss below as foreseen over 20 years later in Rev 20:1-3, LINK. If the period recorded by the New Testament, about 30-70AD, describes the state of affairs during the "1000 years" Millennium when the Devil/Satan is bound, cast & sealed into his prison in the Abyss below as Rev 20:1-3 describes, and yet, despite this Satan was still able to perform all his activities against Christians the New Testament so abundantly records, then it is fair to conclude from Scripture that the Devil/Satan is able to keep performing among us today and into the future much the same activities recorded by the New Testament since not even that prison could stop him, if the Millennium had indeed begun prior to the completion of the New Testament writings c. 70AD.

  5. The New Testament anticipates the reign of the Saints to begin no sooner than Christ's anticipated Return, the good & faithful servants each receiving delegated authority from the Lord Jesus as their reward for their service while He was away, There is no credible hermeneutic by which to construe that reigning had already begun prior to the completion of the New Testament corpus, LINK. If the period recorded by the New Testament, (c. 30-70AD), is what we experience whenever, (per Rev 20:1-6), the Saints reign with Christ then we should expect life under the reign of the Saints & Christ to continue to be the same as during New Testament times: singles should be advised not to marry because of the distress & darkness of the times whenever Saints rule and the Devil/Satan is imprisoned; God's ministers should expect to be hounded from town to town and treated like the scum of the earth and have messengers of Satan sent to buffet them, etc., just like Paul & the rest of the Apostles during the time the New Testament was written, (30-70AD), if the Saints indeed reigned then, the "1000 years" Millennium having supposedly already begun.

1 Peter 5:8-11
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB

I d. ERROR: Theories starting the "1000 years" Millennium before the arrival of the Beast & his mark.

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:1-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. The Blessed & Holy Ones are the dead who refused to worship the Beast and receive his mark, Rev 20:4.

  3. It is not possible to be awarded the Blessed & Holy Resurrection, (the first resurrection of Rev 20:4-6), before being beheaded for refusing the Beast & his mark before the Beast & his mark even arrive to test Christians.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB

 

 

ERROR II: "The 1000 years of Rev 20:1-7 is not an actual 1000 years"

.ERROR II: Counting the "1000 years" Millennium not an actual 1000 years

The Millennium, (Latin for "1000 years" as are the Bible's actual words), is a finite period of time with epoch events marking its start and end points:

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:1-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. Following their resurrection, the Blessed & Holy ones reign with Christ throughout the "1000 years" Millennium, (Rev 20:4-6), while Satan remains sealed into his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:1-3 & Rev 20:7).

  3. The "1000 years" Millennium ends with the release of Satan from his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7), and with the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, (Rev 20:5a, the second of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB

 

ERROR III: "The 1000 years of Rev 20:1-7 ends at Christ's Return"

.III a. ERROR: Theories ending the "1000 years" Millennium at Christ's Return. (Paul)

  • If the Apostles believed the coming of the Lord Jesus was at the end of the "1000 years" Millennium of Rev 20:1-7 and 2 Peter 3:8-10, Paul could not have taught the likelihood of himself being among those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord as he plainly does in 1 Thess 4:16-17. A Postmillennial eschatology would have forced him to plainly place himself among those "fallen asleep" at the coming of the Lord. Futher, all apostolic alarm of Christ's "soon" return would have been replaced by the comforting doctrine of a "1000 years" Millennium countdown to Christ's coming. (That's a long snooze button). Read more ...

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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, shall 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 shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

III b. ERROR: Theories ending the "1000 years" Millennium at Christ's Return. (Universalism)

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium ends with the release of Satan from his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7), and with the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, (Rev 20:5a, the second of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. The Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead of Rev 20:5a ≠ 1 Thess 4:16 the Raising of the Dead in Christ because that would mean the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4), was an event a "1000 years" Millennium prior to 1 Thess 4:16, that it was a past experience in the lives of the Apostles, thus driving the conclusion that Rev 20:4 was a "coming to covenant life," (being born-again). This, in turn, would drive the conclusion that the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead of Rev 20:5a was a "coming to covenant life," as well, since it uses the same words in an adjacent verse. The implication, then, would be that whether one lives & dies as "Blessed & Holy" or as "the Rest of the Dead," he still eventually "comes to covenant life," making faith & obedience to Christ irrelevant to one's eternal fate. That conclusion is Universalism, a cancerous doctrine at odds with Scriptures' command to obey to the Word of God the Judge of all men. Note also, Rev 20:5a ≠ 1 Thess 4:16 because there is no mention of non-Christians, ("the Rest of the Dead" of Rev 20:5a), being raised up alongside "the Dead in Christ" in 1 Thess 4:16. However, there is mention in 1 Thess 4:13 of "the rest who have no hope" which does, in fact, correspond to Rev. 20:5a "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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, shall 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 shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB

III c. ERROR: Theories ending the "1000 years" Millennium at Christ's Return. (Satan)

  1. Along with the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, (Rev 20:5a), the "1000 years" Millennium ends with the release of Satan from his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7).

  2. Satan cannot be released at Jesus' "soon" Return since Jesus promised to "soon crush Satan under your feet," (Rom 16:20), not "soon release Satan from the Abyss beneath," (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7).

  3. Satan cannot be released as Jesus Returns. Therefore, the "1000 years" Millennium cannot end as Jesus Returns.

Romans 16:17-20
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. 20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS. 7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...
NASB

 

30-70AD Millennialism: Foundation of Preterist Universalism

"9) 40 year Millennium? Mt.23, Rev.20, Revelations Recapitulation Structure

 
Hank a 40 year millennium seemed to bother you, and Steven you said it was “possible.” Please see my section on Peter’s 1,000 years and John’s in Rev.20 on (pp.46-52). Also, note my quotes of Rabbi’s who understood (Ps.90) to teach a 40 year millennium."

My Response: UNIVERSALISM and the 30-70AD MILLENNIAL VIEW

 

Blue = those martyred for the Word of God, for refusing to worship the Beast (aka Nero Ceasar), rejecting the Beast's mark.

Brown = those who accepted the Mark of the Beast (aka Nero Ceasar), that is, “the rest of the dead” of Rev 20:5.

 

 

Rev 1:9 (penned circa 62-66AD at beginning of the Tribulation to encourage rejection of the Beast and his mark)
I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
...
Rev 13:16-18 (penned circa 62-66AD at beginning of the Tribulation to encourage rejection of the Beast and his mark)
16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
...
Rev 20:1-7 (penned circa 62-66AD at beginning of the Tribulation to encourage rejection of the Beast and his mark)
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, …
NASB.
 
Virtually all Bible students agree that
Rev 20:4’s “came to life” = “resurrection” of Rev 20:5.
No argument there.
 
 
But those who insist that Rev 20:1-10 describes the 30-70AD situation are seduced to suppose that
Rev 20:4-5’s “came to life" = "resurrection" = "have everlasting life" of John 3:16
Thing is,
Rev 20:4’s “came to life” must equal “come to life” of Rev 20:5
 
That is,
Rev 20:4’s “came to life” reward to those beheaded & Martyred from the Tribulation who rejected Beast & his mark
= Rev 20:5's “came to life” reward to the rest of the dead at the end of the "thousand years" (of 30-70AD supposedly).
 
So,
IF Rev 20:4’s “came to life” = "have everlasting life" John 3:16
AND Rev 20:4’s “came to life” = “come to life” of Rev 20:5
THEN Rev 20:5’s “come to life” = "have everlasting life" John 3:16
THEREFORE,
Rev 20:5’s
“The rest of the dead did not "come to life" until the thousand years were completed.”
= “The rest of the dead did not "have everlasting life" until the thousand years were completed.”
 
THAT IS,
The "life" rewarded the Martyrs from the Tribulation for being beheaded for the Gospel and for rejecting Beast & his mark,
= the same "life" automatically granted freely to the rest of the dead, ie, everybody else, after the “thousand years,”
("Really just 40, but not really, probably only 14, possibly less, Claudius to Nero, but it was enough nonetheless, it was “perfectly complete” ")
 
SO,
What do we normally call it when
The dead, Beast-accepters get to “come to life" = "have everlasting life" as the beheaded, martyred Beast-rejecters?
 
(Remember, we all agree that Rev 20:4’s "came to life" = "resurrection" of Rev 20:5).
 
What do we normally call it when
dead, Beast-marked sinners automatically receive “resurrection" = "have everlasting life" as the Saints?
 
 
WE CALL IT "UNIVERSALISM."

THEY CALL IT "UNIVERSAL SALVATION."

THEY CALL IT "COMPREHENSIVE GRACE."

 
So we see that Pre-70AD Millennialism has an inescapable connection with Universalism via its Gnostic-style deviation from orthodox resurrection. Remember, it was Hymenaeus & Philetus who were saying things like, "Since the 1st Resurrection of the Just that is already past was all about people "coming to covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:4), then the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead when Jesus comes back will be about everybody else "coming to covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:5), too: nobody but the Devil is going to Hell! Yippee!" (2 Tim 2:11-18). But Paul strongly affirmed that he had not yet attained to the Resurrection of the Just because it had not yet occurred as of his writing of Phillippians 3:10-13 around 62AD.
 
 
 
Note: It should not be overlooked that
the first man to champion The 30-70AD Millennial View in 1971
= the same man around whom is celebrated "The Transmillenial View," often identifed as Preterist Universalism, today.
 
 
 
 
And for those "Full" Preterists who oppose Universalism, I find it highly ironic that those who vigorously oppose Preterist Universalism should just as vigorously cling to the very eschatological & soteriological foundations that provide the support for it. Eventually, one would think that a reasonable mind would put 2 & 2 together and realize they've been defending the very foundations of what they attack.
 
 
 
 
 
 
And this is love, that we walk after Christ's commandments ~2 John 6

 

Timeline: 
` AGAINST ERROR

Consistent Full Preterist conclusions lend themselves to Universalism

By Todd Dennis, a relevant excerpt from his' PreteristArchive.com website:
http://preteristarchive.com/Preterist/Idealism/dennis-todd_06-03.html

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT TODD DENNIS USES THE TERM "FULL PRETERISM"
TO REFER TO THE SAME THING CALLED BY PROPHECYHISTORY.COM AS "30-70AD MILLENNIALISM"
THAT IS: "FULL PRETERISM" = "30-70AD MILLENNIALISM"

INVESTIGATING THE "HYMENAEAN CHARGE"

I hope this page helps explain why I'm personally making the move as far away from full preterism as possible. It is recognized that dogmatic full preterist "true believers" will always take issue with the points on this page; however, my intent is really only to show the open-hearted that there is a need to question the legitimacy of full pret assumptions and seriously evaluate all its claims to the point of registering the consequences. This applies to all doctrinal shifts during our lives, which process will hopefully never end. Having promoted the view for over a decade, though, I feel a real sense of responsibility to point out the errors discovered.
We can often find ourselves in trouble when we build unproved assumptions upon assumptions. It is easy enough to get so far ahead of facts, that what was left unproven quickly turns into a fundamental point upon which layers of further assumptions are built. Please take, for instance, the following line of reasoning from the earliest known full preterist author. Notice that between his 'if' and 'then' logical argument lies piles and piles of assumptions -- all of which are taken as a whole, and treated as settled and obvious :
Now, if at the destruction of Jerusalem there was a taking away of the first covenant; a removing of .the old heaven and earth, and a burning up of the same ; and if sin, Satan, death, and hell have their true and scriptural meaning in reference only to the two covenants of Sinai and Sion, as consequent upon the Adamic transgression - and proof to the contrary is defied - if these things be so, then are we warranted in concluding….
By attempting to make the fulness of the consummation of the ages fit into the historical year of AD70, full preterist systems build upon a fundamental truth which is very much still a matter of debate. Accordingly, those systems seek to find natural imagery in that period which answers to the prophecies of the Bible according to that fundamental, unassailable presumption.
When those settled issues are challenged, the systems are so committed to what lies far ahead -- generally unwilling to investigate the critical principles which lay far behind -- that the objections are typically dismissed with a wave of the hand and treated with scorn. This is a problem.
This anti-Berean approach yields many negative consequences, doctrinally and interpersonally.
Doctrinally, the trend of using natural people and events to explain spiritual and eternal realities in Christ results in the declaration that the shadows are actually the substance (It is upon this basis that full preterism is being investigated as actually being "Hyper Preterism" after all). As noted, the substance is regarding "things not seen" -- AD70 best being seen as the confirmation perhaps.. but not as the actual substance of the promises and inheritances to God's people -- which are spiritual in nature, and much more glorious (II Cor. 1:20). (It is helpful to consider the "Land Promises to Israel" in this regard. More details regarding this hermeneutical method are listed here)
The consequences to interpersonal communication and intrapersonal behavior are apparent enough, and are displayed on message boards from every Christian system around the Internet. It seems axiomatic that the sowing of absolute self-certainty in one's own position yields a sense of superiority and pride. If it gets frustrated and frantic, this "magical thinking" quickly turns into narcissism and can even be deadly to people and marriages.

In regards to the "hyper preterist" charge, it appears that upon both of these grounds - doctrinal and personal - those who claim that the resurrection is "in AD70" actually do fulfill the charges against the heretic Hymenaeus: 2 Timothy 2:18: "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. ." (by the way, this doesn't mean that the resurrection is to be expected at some historical point in the future either, so the charge of my view being partial preterism is mistaken).
Without any regard for the argument that Paul was merely stating that he was a little ahead of his time (the resurrection coming within 10 years), this is not germane to the point in question. Whether stating that the resurrection was in AD60 (Hymenaeus), 70 (Full Preterism), or 2006, if one is teaching that the resurrection of all the dead is past already, then they are placing themselves underneath the consideration of this statement by Paul.
There are also other aspects of Paul's problem with the teaching of Hymenaeus besides simply his timing of the resurrection, as well. By seeking to "overthrow the faith" of sincere people, the heretic was treating the body of Christ destructively and with disrespect -- placing his love for his beliefs above his love for his brother. This same 'scalping' tendency can be seen among many full pret "true believers," who openly relish overthrowing the faith of Futurists in order to establish their own. No longer is the focus on leading the lost to Christ; instead, evangelistic zeal is given over to 'teaching the truth of Covenant Eschatology' and overthrowing the beliefs of brothers and sisters in Christ. This is no small issue, particularly considering the violence and venom that is associated with a lot of that work which pits itself against the Body in a wholly divisive way. This methodology is explicitly condemned in the Word.
In addition to the previously mentioned "hymenaean hallmarks" of teaching that the resurrection is over, and in seeking to overthrow the faith of believers, there is a third significant reason why this view is being investigated as "hyper-preterism" -- the common teaching that there is no longer need for faith at all. The reasoning is that, since AD70 brought the fullness, and, no longer seeing through a glass darkly we now see face to face, our faith has been turned to sight. This is akin to the common teaching that since believers were given all of Christ in AD70, there is no more need for the Holy Spirit. By believing that the fullness came in history, it is often taught that there is no longer place for those things in part. Therefore, by teaching that there is no more need for faith, that view would indeed "overthrow the faith of some" -- and I have seen it happen many times.
The claim from a former full preterist that the hymenaean charge rings true (in both the error and the overthrow of faith) would hopefully raise serious flags of warning. And yet, those who are "true believers" in the view reflexively dismiss the hymenaean charge with a wave of the hand, and will say something like "this charge is nothing new, and has been dealt with before." Regarding this infamous "oh-so-certain" self-assurance of certain Christians, ignorance is bliss. As a result of the hobbyist approach to theology, which is in large part a child of the World Wide Web, systems are typically sculpted in a very shoddy manner. That which doesn't support the predetermined result is typically put aside pending further study -- or ignored altogether. Perhaps there is a legitimate reason why certain arguments against the view are used time and again.
CONSISTENT FULL PRETERIST CONCLUSIONS LEND THEMSELVES TO UNIVERSALISM
Despite the appearance of broad consensus, there are really precious few areas of general agreement among (or even within) the various full preterist hybrids. It has been joked that there are as many full preterist leaders as there are full preterists, but it is not far from the truth to say that each has their own unique spin on doctrine.
Regardless of the differences from one system to another, however, what may be most important to observe is the level of consistency presented within themselves. It seems that all full preterist approaches can be seen as falling within varying degrees of consistency in application of their fundamental hermeneutic of AD70 consummation.
Those who are relatively new to the view tend to think that they know what is all about based upon a cursory reading of Matthew 24:34, but it really does take a few years to get past the initial burst of re-discovery in order to recognize the logical and scriptural conclusions of the hermeneutic itself. Without waiting on the Lord and patiently learning as the Spirit provides, we may learn the errors of our ways through negative experience. This is one reason why it is important to resist the impulse to "know everything overnight."
Consistency within the system is really what sets the newbies apart from the more experienced, generally speaking. Just like with Dispensationalism, one can believe that Jesus is King now, but if the system will not allow it, then they are just inconsistent, and inexperienced within their own hermeneutic, not really representing it for what it teaches. The same is true, in my opinion, with that form of full preterism which teaches that everything was fulfilled historically by AD70, and yet that not everyone in the world enjoys its benefits.
By assuming a fundamental hermeneutic which applies the blessings of prophecy to all people in history post AD70 -- not making the important clarification IN CHRIST -- the errors start to compound, and a particular trend of doctrine starts to emerge. This particular stream has been recognized by a large number of people who are now embracing doctrines of Universalism, or comprehensive grace and redemption.
It is often said in full preterist circles that one's eschatology directly effects their doctrine of salvation.. and this is certainly the case. Forms of Universalism, as a result of a more consistent application of the completely fulfilled eschatology, are being increasingly recognized, from with and without, as the true face of full preterism. Though a trend within a system cannot disprove a system, the fundamental hermeneutic can.
There are a number of uniquely full preterist conclusions which, though they may not naturally lead to doctrines of Universalism, certainly do lend themselves to this view. And though I do not embrace Universalism myself, I absolutely recognize that to them belongs the progressive banner of full preterism, and that they are correct to declare themselves the most consistent preterists.
With the basic assumption (which I do not share) that the passing of the Mosaic Law was the focus of eschatology, a number of Universalist-friendly conclusions emerge. Though not all systems embrace every one of these conclusions, they are all certainly representative of general full preterist views :
· Satan was utterly destroyed in AD70
· "The Sin" was utterly destroyed in AD70
· "The Law" totally passed away in AD70 (Covenant Eschatology in particular)
· Everyone is in the "New Heavens and Earth" post AD70
· Everyone is in the "Age to Come" post AD70
It must be clearly stated again that the charge is not that full preterism or covenant eschatology leads to Universalism, but that this trend of thought lends itself to those conclusions. For instance, there are views of "Comprehensive Redemption" and "Comprehensive Grace" exploding throughout the movement, and finding wide exposure at the leading websites. Although some disclaim any direct connection to Universalism, there seems little point in denying that they are just a pace or two away... perhaps even walking up to the edge of the cliff, if not taking the fatal step. From the founder of Covenant Eschatology himself, to vocal contributors on many websites (pro and con), to numerous private individuals with whom I correspond, the direction of inquiry relates to how the destruction of sin and the law relates to the broad application of redemption in the post ad70 world. The numbers do not lie, and point directly to the intimate relationship between all forms of full preterist eschatology and Universalism. In the coming months, the two hundred year history of Preterist Universalism will be presented here. For now, notice that the earliest known Full Preterist book was written by a man who shortly thereafter adopted Universalism:


EARLIEST KNOWN FULL PRETERIST BOOK, WRITTEN SHORTLY BEFORE HIS CONVERSION TO UNIVERSALISM!

The Second Advent of Jesus Christ: A Past Event
(1845)


HERMENEUTICAL INCONSISTENCIES (AND NOVELTIES) WITH NON-UNIVERSALIST FORMS OF FULL PRETERISM
I recognize that full preterist Calvinists absolutely reject the broadening of redemption to every last person in the world, but I believe this fact is based more on their commitment to Reformed soteriology than to their determination for absolute full preterist consistency. Clearly, a Calvinist would never embrace Universal redemption, regardless of how consistent it may or may not be with their chosen eschatology. This is akin to Pentecostal Preterism maintaining the continued applicability of the Apostolic administration, despite have passed beyond their consummation in AD70, as their full preterist eschatology teaches. Not being willing to leave the greater aspect of their theology, yet wishing to hold to full preterism, a happy (though inconsistent) median is found, and the rest is "winked at" in regards to consistency.
In light of the question of consistency, it should be considered how a consistent full preterist view, which acknowledges that the law, the devil, sin, and such were utterly destroyed in AD70, could not be considered lending itself to Comprehensive Redemption?
Considering the sweeping nature of the fundamental assumption of world-wide New Covenant / New Heavens and Earth application in the post-AD70 environment, the answers given to that question demand intense scrutiny. Though particular answers to that dilemma have been offered, they usually require the creation of a previously unknown damning "law of Christ" or some other "doctrinal patch" to cover this hole -- such as a redefinition of "second death," or the creation of a brand new laws which secure for them the balance between particular atonement with universal eschatology. Obviously, the Reformed answer will be that Adam's death still applies to those not in Christ -- which is precisely the point of this article.. that the consummation is to be found IN CHRIST, and not in history. To say that the "consummation of the ages is in ad70" in a universal fashion, and then to make the reception of atonement individually in Christ regardless of that consummation is the inconsistency with which the "historical corporate consummationism" of the Reformed (all limited atonement full preterist systems) are forced to live.
To frame the consistency issue in terms of the Consummation of atonement itself the question must be asked : how many "consummations" are there? Is AD70 the only consummation.. or are there multiple consummations - with a second one which takes place when the person in Adam is "dead and raised in the likeness of Christ", as per certain full preterist systems? Those FP systems which teach "Immortal Body at Death" seem to suggest three different consummation: first in AD70, then in being "born again", and then after physical death. Universalism, on the other hand, typically teaches that there is but one consummation - that in AD70, which settled the issues of Adam and Christ. Preterist-Idealism, on the other hand, though likewise teaching that there is but one true consummation, focuses it as being in Christ, which settles the matter of death, atonement and consummation - AD70 being the outward show of that work of Christ as likewise revealed in AD30.
For now, suffice it to point out just two other dilemmas regarding the consistency of the Reformed approach. Consider the destruction of death and the devil. It is taught among Reformed full prets that death was defeated for all, yet that one must be in Christ to receive its benefits. This is unlike the teaching regarding Satan, though, who is said to be destroyed regardless of one's status in Christ. The issue of consistency with the Reformed also plays itself out in recognition of the limitation of the term 'world.' On one hand, a rightful limitation to being 'in Christ' is seen in terms of "first things," but when it comes to "last things" these limitations are discarded in favor of an end that effects absolutely all. These points will be given a fuller presentation in the months to come.
At the very least, it should be considered that Max King, the founder of Covenant Eschatology, and the man most experienced in the view -- therefore the most likely to have developed a consistent approach -- has developed a Universalist-friendly message of "Comprehensive Grace" to maintain consistency between his eschatology and his soteriology. It appears that countless other full preterists have walked down the path created by the Reformed preterists into the Universalist camp. Certainly, the most vocal and visible -- if not fastest growing -- group of full preterists are the Universalists... whereas the Calvinist influence and numbers appear to be diminishing.
So just as Apostolic / Pentecostal Full Preterism accepts the message of complete fulfillment in that generation up to a point (stopping short of the apostolical gifts), Limited Atonement Full Preterism accepts the message of absolute consummation of all things in AD70 up to a point (stopping short of the effects of Adam's fall). I don't begrudge them their right to do it.. I completely understand and would expect nothing else ; however, so far as consistency goes, they are challenged in my opinion. My point being that in order to truly judge Full Preterism, it must be done using the most consistent approach.
HOW FULL PRETERISM FAILS THE INDIVIDUAL
In spite of this critical look at the trends within Full Preterism and Covenant Eschatology to Universalism, theology is not the motivational factor in this article's call for a much closer re-evaluation of the consequences of looking to history for ultimate prophetic consummation. Having been a church pastor, the consequences of theology upon the hearts and spiritual lives of listeners is known to be of primary and most urgent concern.
For those who have left churches, or found themselves experiencing intense isolation, the personal costs of separating based upon "last things" are clear enough. What is ironic is that, after having left previous fellowships due to disagreements with "last things" find themselves experiencing even more intense isolation due to disagreements with "first things" among those whom they generally agree in the "last things." Having attempted for a decade to forge a unified fellowship of Preterist using the Internet, I realize that the sense of isolation can become even more intense even with the new technology. I've often seen this lack of unity (and oftentimes intense divisionism) lead to grievous disillusionment -- with many walking away from Christianity altogether, as there seemed to be nowhere else to go.
By making "last things" the primary basis of fellowship, there is an inherent consequence of isolation. This trend of compounding isolation and subsequent disillusionment is no fluke. This trend is probably very similar in other sects, but it is certainly true in full preterism. This isolationism seems to gradually increase hopelessness and dissatisfaction. And even if it doesn't effect the "believer" the house, it can very much have an effect on spouses and children. This might be the reason for the massive turnover in full pret. Certainly, there are natural consequences in uniting around something besides the cross of Christ.
For those who wonder why more people do not embrace full preterism, one answer lies in its coldness. Not only doesn't that theology reach within the hearts of people, it doesn't even try. Though those in positions of leadership may tend to think that convincing the minds of people is the critical part of their work, no amount of head knowledge can cover for heart suffering. The dramatic turnover in full preterism has been particularly noticeable over the last 10 years, and the inability of the logical "mind" to satisfy the spiritually hungry "heart" is what I think leads most people to seek better answers -- or, rather, to embrace any eschatology, so long as the more important aspects of that theology are able to minister deep within to the very real tensions and tears that are experienced today.
This appeal is meant to be a recommendation to the authors and teachers within the movement , to search within and see if the "head" certainty that full preterism provides sufficiently provides the peace and rest that are promised for God's people.
FORSAKING THE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE CORPORATE
The most common complaint against the full preterist view is its inability to answer the "what now?" questions... but there is a concern that runs much deeper. By identifying the corporate "consummation of the ages" as having been settled for all time in AD70, the individual believers' "transition period" is removed from today, being made a first century reality alone. This error neglects the importance of the "glory to glory" process at work in the life of the believer, (as they pass from old to new within themselves) and chooses rather to accept that there is no sin, death, or devil to be contended with today. In short, full preterist doctrine chooses the corporate over the individual, and this betrayal results in much suffering for those left grappling with the very real transition process within their lives.
By insisting that the devil, law, sin and death have been utterly destroyed for all in AD70, it leaves a sense of failure within those who find themselves still very much under the chains of law and sin in their own lives. Though many teachers may think that a proper doctrinal explanation of the victory we have in Christ should be sufficient to overcome this internal crisis, it is not nearly so effective; in fact, when your heart is suffering, the last thing that is needed is a pep talk or a mind game. No amount of head knowledge can heal heart suffering... rather, it makes the pain even more acute, and the situation seem even more hopeless.
This plight has been the reality for countless simple students, who don't have the luxury of the self-certainty displayed by many of the more convinced leaders and teachers. And what is striking is that even as many of those in leadership positions in the past have dropped out as a result of their own inability to find rest and peace within the full preterist framework, the fundamental problem is left unaddressed. Dismissing the applicability of the tensions displayed in the New Testament, I believe, has a lot to do with this. By assuming perfection and total completion, we lose the results that come from the tension between old and new, and are only left with confusion as to why things aren't better than they are. Consequently, some have left the faith altogether, believing that full preterism -- representing gospel truth -- exposes the failure of the gospel. Clearly, this line of thought does not reflect a large percentage of those who have fallen away from the movement. Nor is the dropout trend intended to be portrayed as inevitable. There are those in every movement, such as the true believers in the last days of Jerusalem, that will never turn from their certainty in the cause, no matter how much struggle is happening within them, or how many people are suffering around them.
It is my sincere message to any "true believer" full preterists who are in crisis personally, to consider that there is an explanation within the context of fulfilled eschatology that will comfort the heart, while providing understanding for the tensions of your circumstance.
FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL HERE AND THE CORPORATE THERE
Part of this answer is recognizing that what is accomplished corporately in the spiritual realm plays itself out in the process of time. Like the work of the cross of Christ, what is a corporate reality in the eternal state must be applied to each individually in time. We would not say that we received the benefit of the shed blood in AD30, not having yet been born (or born again), even though Christ died in that historical day. Rather, we would tend to see that corporate fulfillment dispensed to each sinner saved this day and beyond. The redemption purchased for the entire Body of Christ is given when you "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead -- then thou shalt be saved." Likewise, focusing solely on a corporate consummation in AD70, placing it as settled for all time in the natural realm, without individual application today, denies the "transition period" within the individual, and the importance of the "glory to glory" process at work in the life of the convert today.
If we can contemplate what the personal imagery of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ means, besides just one man coming back to life (as had been done before), then we begin to see what spiritual reality that event signified, and how it all points straight into the deepest part of our hearts. Approaching the cross of Christ from a purely natural mindset, however, cannot help but yield a lower view of just what was accomplished then.

Likewise, the fall of natural Israel in AD70, which has been given as an banner to bespeak the same reality -- only this time using national imagery -- should be approached with the same view towards internal realities. For a closer examination of this concept, read aboutJerusalem as a picture of the Heart.

EXTERNALIZING VS INTERNALIZING SCRIPTURE
Another consequence of embracing the view of a consummation of the ages as a past event in history is that felt within the heart of the individual. By removing that prophetic imagery which speaks of our walk in Christ into the very distant past, we are left looking outward for revelation, as opposed to inward. The lessons of the Word which are meant for today, are limited to time and place, and restricted to the past.
The Word of God is indeed written TO us.. and not just FOR us. It is meant to be deeply internalized, and taken to refer to our day.. not that now-extinct world leading up to the fall of the temple in Jerusalem in the historical year 70.

SCRIPTURES "NOT FOR TODAY" WHEN SEEING AD70 AS THE CONSUMMATION OF THE AGES
Another consequence of the assumption that AD70 was the "consummation of the ages" is that all the writings of the Bible are understood as having a context of the old age, seeing as how all scriptures are believed to have been written prior to the coming of the new administration. At the very least, all scriptures are made suspect, pending further review. In most cases, the purpose of the Bible is limited to the "Old Covenant age" and are considered to represent an entirely different administration of God. With this "AD70 terminus" view, many passages of Scripture as not seen as being for today. In fact, there is a great debate as to which passages actually do apply to the New Covenant age. A few, such as Revelation 21 and 22, with the leaves of the tree of life being used for the healing of the nations, are generally accepted as referring to the "historical New Covenant age". However, numerous key passages, such as Christ's prayer "thy kingdom come," are seen as referring to the era "before AD70".
This trend of thinking slices and dices the Word, eliminating, in some cases, the need for prayer, the need for faith, and the existence of the Holy Spirit -- as well as the applicability of the Gospel of Christ itself !
At the very least, all scriptures are made to pass through the "AD70 Filter" to see how the historical consummation might effect the outcome of the passage in question. It is this wary eye which crosses over key verses such as "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment," seeing as how the judgment is taken as a past event in AD70.
To state that we are in a completely different administration than they were is a fundamental presupposition which yields much of the conclusions under review here. The first generation of Christians cannot be cut off from all subsequent generations, as though they lived in a different dispensation than we do today. We mustn't let the external particulars of history turn us away from the fact that the gospel was being preached, and that the tensions they faced in their day are precisely those we feel in ours. As noted above, Paul wrote that if any was in Christ, they were already a new creation -- well before AD70. Instead of seeing the New Testament as revealing the way things were, I believe it reveals the way things are.

FULL PRETERISM : WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING
It is my hope with the latest direction of the website that partial preterism can be employed as the primary means of reaching the truth of shadow and substance. Though full preterism is a bit more precise with the external fulfillments of prophecy (by not looking the future history for end-times fulfillment) whatever advantage this may provide is more than nullified by the vast amounts of damaging doctrines reached as a result of embracing its fundamental conclusions.
Though many might get upset with me characterizing full preterism as dangerous, it is an issue that must be addressed squarely and honestly. Is it dangerous to one's faith to say that the Holy Spirit is no longer for today, having been marginalized by the parousia of Christ? Absolutely. It is an overthrow of people's faith to claim that faith itself is not for today, having been superseded by sight? Certainly. Is it destructive to teach that the gospel is not for today as many do, having been a specific message to the Jews of the approach of the kingdom? Without question. (I am in the process of archiving the many different Full Preterist definitions of "hyper-preterism")
Obviously, those who embrace the full preterist view have no desire to believe or propagate dangerous doctrine. However, it is not enough to say this, while icily dismissing critical commentaries which come out against the view as being "nothing that we haven't heard before." Considering the seriousness of the charges (and I hope also considering the credibility of the source), dogmatism and self-certainty should be set aside in favor of a sober and humble approach.
Those who find themselves agitated at the content of this letter have missed my sincere call for healing and growth. I am not demanding that anyone else see things the way I do -- and I am certainly not expecting others to repent of full preterism, as I have been led. I would hope that a serious re-evaluation be considered, at least. And this reflection need not be based solely upon the points that I have presented, but should also include whatever nagging heart feelings may have always been around, yet which have been dominated and overthrown by an unhealthy certainty of mind.
This study is the result of more than a decade of intense study on the doctrines of all forms of Preterism. I pray that it has been helpful to you in some way.
mercy and truth,
todd
Timeline: 
` AGAINST ERROR

The Nature of Resurrection

Phillip - I actually arrived this type of view on my own, when I started comparing scriptures with scriptures then later learned that others taught that already. I am not a very good writer, but there are others much more well studied, such as Don Preston, Sam Frost, and Max King that would take a similar view. While I would not say that I have nailed it. I do think that this is closer to Paul's idea of the "body of Christ" and resurrection.
MichaelB’s view, the 30-70AD Millennium view, that the resurrection that Paul and the Apostles looked forward to was the spiritual/covenant life they already had via faith in Christ, is fatally flawed, (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13). It leads directly to Universalism, the kind of preterist Universal Salvation that rallys around Max King aka “Comprehensive Grace” that goes "Beyond Salvation" as presented by Jesus and His Apostles in the New Testament record. This is forthrightly explained at this link: http://thekingdomcome.com/sullivans_interaction#comment-2077 .
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Let us remember that it was Hymenaeus & Philetus who were saying things like, "Since the 1st resurrection of the just that is already past was all about people "coming to spiritual/covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:4), the resurrection of the rest of the dead when Jesus comes back will be about everybody else "coming to spiritual/covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:5), too: nobody but the Devil is going to Hell!" (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13). This is how Pre-70AD Millennialism's Gnostic-style "spiritual/covenant resurrection" leads directly to Universalism.
If resurrection was simply "re-animated bodies" etc then
A) Those that say Eijah and Enoch went straight to heaven and were "raptured" got resurrection before Jesus.
B) People were resurrected long before Jesus was, so he would not be the first-fruitts from the dead.
C) Therefore: Even Jesus "resurrection" is more than just his re-animation. It is more significant than that. His physical rising from the grave was simply a sign of something greater.
Kenneth Perkins wrote this in regards to the futurist view...I thought it was worth sharing. Very solid.
My answers, straight answers, no dancing:
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A) TRUE. Elijah and Enoch were caught up to heaven. Let’s see how that conclusion is inescapable when one actually looks at the Scriptures. Gen 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:11
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B) FALSE. While it is true that people were resurrected long before Jesus was, (Elijah & Moses ~ Mat 17:3-4, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob ~ Mark 12:26-27 and John 5:21), it would be false to conclude that Jesus was not the First Fruits offering from the dead just because He was not the first to be resurrected from the dead. Per Lev 19:23-25, the first fruit offered from a tree were NOT the first fruit it ever produced.
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C) TRUE. So, MichaelB admits that Jesus’ “resurrection” was his bodily re-animation. And all the further significations of Christ’s resurrection are all derived from this fact. One of the significations is this: Jesus' bodily re-animation is the very definition and demonstration of “resurrection,” and “come to life” (Rev 20:4-5) that the New Testament writers eagerly anticipated following their new birth into the New Covenant at water baptism. (2 Tim 2:17-18, Philippians 3:11-12).
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MichaelB goes on to expound his position further:
(1) Jesus' resurrection was after three days; according to this logic, the believer's resurrection should also be after three days. (Even those who believe in a future resurrection obviously deny this.)
(2) Jesus' body never decayed in the grave; according to this logic, the believer's body should not decay in the grave. (Objective observation disproves this notion.)
(3) Jesus was resurrected with the wounds inflicted during His lifetime; according to this logic, the believer will spend eternity with the wounds and impairments of physical life.
My responses:
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(1) FALSE. Jesus preached that those who heard him preaching would have to wait til He came back to execute Judgment before they would be raised, John 5:26-29. This was obviously to take longer than 3 days but would occur later at Jesus’ Return. Those who died before He Returned would have to wait, wait longer than 3 days, til He Returned before they all died.
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(2) FALSE. Though Jesus’ biological body never decayed in the grave, this does not mean that the believer’s biological body should never decay in the grave. Jesus’ biological body was a notable exception as a prophetic sign (Acts 13:22-38). Should the death&resurrection of each Christian be the cause of preaching the forgiveness of sins, too, just like Jesus’? Further, following Christ’s resurrection of His flesh & bone body, a body He made a point to demonstrate was no ghost (Luke 24:36-43) by actually eating fish and honey before their very eyes, Jesus ascended and was glorified. Now, whether Jesus received His glorified, spiritual body upon presenting His flesh & bone body as a sin offering for Mankind to the Father in Heaven OR Jesus’ resurrected, flesh & bone body was “changed/exchanged in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” per 1 Cor 15:52, we do not know. But we do know that following Christ’s ascension, He does not appear in flesh & bone form ever again, Acts 22:6-8 and 1 John 3:2 and Rev 1:10-18). Throughout the period in which the New Testament was being written 30-70AD, born again believers looked forward to their resurrection at Christ’s Return with eager anticipation. But Christ’s Return brought a blessed change in the resurrection process, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth” (Rev 14:13). What blessing? There is no longer an interval between their death, resurrection, and glorification. From Christ’s Return circa 70AD and onward, God’s Chosen People are resurrected, ("exchanged in a twinkling of an eye" per 1 Cor 15:52), straight from their old biological, natural bodies into their spiritual bodies without delay: this is the blessing of Rev 14:13 and the reason we do find discarded biological bodies in the graves of Christians ever since.
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(3) FALSE. See answer number (2) above.
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BONUS:
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IF "resurrection" is the answer to "death,"
THEN we might gain some insight into the meaning of "resurrection" by reviewing some facts about "death."
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FACT: God warned Adam that he would "die" the "day" he ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil. "Day" had already been defined in this context by saying "there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day," etc., (Gen 1:31), the period between "evening&mornings" in which Adam was made. Since God cannot lie, (Heb 6:18), Adam "died" that very day, (no poetic or prophetic or figurative license taken). And yet, Adam's biological body remained animated unitl he "died" (same exact word whether Hebrew or Greek Text), 930 years later, Gen 5:5, when Adam's biological, natural body ceased to be animated. Adam "died" 2 times: Adam "died" the very day he ate the fruit per Gen 2:17 AND Adam "died" 930 years later, as well per Gen 5:5 : "died" is the same exact word in both cases, (whether Hebrew MT or LXX Greek Old Testament texts). Add to this the entirety of the Biblical record of uses of the word "died." (There is a very powerful reason why God kept Adam from eating from the Tree of Life after Adam's soul died that day he ate the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, Gen 3:22-24).
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Evidently, Bible teaches that there are 2 distinct dimensions to "death," (Mat 10:28, Rev 2:11, Rev 20:6, Rev 20:14-15):
1) "Death" when the inner man, the soul of man, "dies" when separated from intimate fellowship with Life, ie, God Himself.
2) "Death" when the outer man, the biological, natural body, "dies" when separated from its animating soul.
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THEREFORE,
God's answer to this "Death" with 2 distinct dimensions.
must be a godly "Resurrection" with 2 distinct dimensions.
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2 Distinct Dimensions of godly Resurrection:
1) "Resurrection" of the soul of man via being Born-Again per John 3:16 and
2) "Resurrection" of the body of man via the resurrection that all the New Testament writers eagerly anticipated with Christ's Return per encouraging promises in passages such as 2 Tim 2:17-18, Philippians 3:11-12, and Rev 20:4-5. But woe to the man whose body is resurrected while his soul remain dead, separated from fellowship with God. Such is the fate of "the rest of the dead who come to life" in Rev 20:4-6, Rev 20:11-15. There is a very powerful reason why God kept Adam from eating from the Tree of Life after Adam's soul died that day he ate the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil (Gen 3:22-24) and it wasn't to keep Adam from being born again. It was to keep Adam's body from living forever while his soul remained dead. God wanted to bring about the redemption/resurrection of Adam's soul BEFORE granting him immortality of body, a spiritual body, a spiritual body that would be glorified at judgment rather than condemned.
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But those who obtain "resurrection" of the inner man via being born again in obedience to John 3:7 obtain one dimension of the "everlasting life" of John 3:16 immediately. Their inner man can no longer die. When such an individual's outer man, his biological, natural body, goes on to physically die, the Christian is described as being not "dead" but "asleep" (1 Cor 15:16, 1 The 4:13-15, 2 Pet 3:4). His outer man is dead but his inner man remains very much alive. So sure is this promise within that remains remains alive, this promise that the outer man will be resurrected, come to life per Philippians 3:11-12 & Rev 20:4, that the experience is rightly described as "being asleep." One whose inner man has been resurrected via the New Birth has more certain confidence that he will awake again into an animated body than the confidence he had that he would wake up every morning throughout his biological experience. The Christian has within him the promise that the 2nd Death will not affect him (Rev 2:11). But when he "sleeps," (biological, natural death), this time, he awakes into a spiritual body (1 Cor 15:44), his old, biological, natural body being "exchanged in twinkling of an eye" for his new, glorified, spiritual body (1 Cor 15:50-55). Hallelujah! Glory to God through Jesus Christ, the Firstborn from the Dead who is now the Judge of the Living and the Dead! Hallelujah!
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Job 19:25-27
25 I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes — I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
NIV
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It really is unwise
to confuse the two dimensions of "death"
as well as
to confuse the two dimensions of "resurrection"
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The 30-70AD Millennium view, that the resurrection that Paul and the Apostles looked forward to was the spiritual/covenant life they already had via faith in Christ, is fatally flawed, (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13). It leads directly to Universalism, the kind of preterist Universal Salvation that rallys around Max King aka “Comprehensive Grace” that goes "Beyond Salvation" as presented by Jesus and His Apostles in the New Testament record. This is forthrightly explained at this link:
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Let us remember that it was Hymenaeus & Philetus who were saying things like, "Since the 1st resurrection of the just that is already past was all about people "coming to spiritual/covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:4), the resurrection of the rest of the dead when Jesus comes back will be about everybody else "coming to spiritual/covenant life" in Christ (Rev 20:5), too: nobody but the Devil is going to Hell!" (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13). This is how Pre-70AD Millennialism's Gnostic-style "spiritual/covenant resurrection" leads directly to Universalism.
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And this is love, that we walk after Christ's commandments. ~2 John 6

First Fruits offered were not the first fruit produced

Some wonder: "How can Christ be 'The Firstfruits from the Dead' if other people have been raised from the Dead first?"

One way to answer that is to recall how a tree's first offering of fruit was actually its fourth year of producing fruit as described below:

Lev 19:23-25

23 'And when you enter the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it shall not be eaten. 24 'But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 'And in the fifth year you are to eat of its fruit, that its yield may increase for you; I am the Lord your God.
NASB
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Don't worry, Jesus is still "The Firstfruits from the Dead" even though He is not the first person to be raised from the dead.
Even as, Jesus is still "The Firstborn of All Creation" even though He is not created nor the first to be born into Creation.

As "The Firstfruits from the Dead," Jesus is the select representative of those raised from the Dead.
As "The Firstborn of All Creation," Jesus is the select representative of all born into Creation.

Let us remember that "select" = "chosen"
and that the oil of anointing signified that God had chosen the one anointed
and that "The Anointed One"(English) = "Christ" (Greek) = "Messiah" (Hebrew)
When we say, "Jesus Christ" which is the same as saying "Jesus is the Christ"
we are saying all of the above.

*Feel FREE to claim as your own anything I write - while I retain the right to do the same the same with it.*

Former Pret?

More than one former "Full" Preterist has felt drawn to publically list me (at least briefly) as a "Former Preterist." That may be accurate, afterall, since I dropped the word "Preterist" a lot from my websites because of the negative associations the term has come to take on. ("ProphecyHistory.com" used to be "TulsaPreteristAssociation.com")

But the fuller record is that my eschatology has not changed significantly since around this time in 1996 when it dawned upon me after reading my One-Year Bible (December always ends with Revelation) that the putting in of the 2 different sickles in Revelation must have been the climaxes of the tribulation of Saints (rapture) and the destruction of the wicked (slaying of Jews throughout the Roman world during Rome's war against the Jews 66-73AD).

Since early 1997 I've held, (like Augustine & most of the Church during the Middle Ages & Martin Luther & Reformers that followed), to a 1000-year Millennium encompassing the 1000-year period of the Middle Age(s). This was followed by the challenging age in which Satan was released, (as Martin Luther & other Reformers taught concerning the times in which they lived). That period of Satan's release, in turn, terminated as the heavenly fires of the Reformation stoked the fires of holy enlightenment once again and ushered in the subsequent age of Discovering the New World; Modern Science; and Government by all the People, for all the People and of all the People, etc. in which we ourselves now live. God has been faithful to keep His every promise and has guided Mankind into paths of modern marvels & conveniences. "By the goodness of God are men drawn to repentance." To the appreciative heart, we are all surrounded by expressions of God's love for the common man, calling him to repentance, to faith in Christ Jesus.

When I first began to fellowship with "Full" Preterist folk, the above paragraph is what I imagined they were also embracing. But I was sadly disappointed, finding their brand of Preterism, that of a 30-70AD Millennium, lends itself to a whole host of errors, notably Universalism & lawlessness. And once "Full" Preterists learned what I stood for, they quickly labeled me a Partial-Preterist.

Ironically though, Partial-Preterists would reject me as a "Full" Preterist because I declare the Resurrection of the Just (the first Resurrection of Rev 20:4-6) to have begun with Christ's circa 70AD Return/Rapture and that the resurrection of "the rest of the dead" began 1000 years later circa 1070AD.

So my position is kind of a hot potato rejected by both "Full" and "Partial" Preterists who are too busy casting anathemas at each other to give my view proper consideration: I get caught in the crossfire between "Full" and "Partial" Preterists. That's okay, though, I present my view as a sacrifice of incense to God - I only care that He be pleased with it and really do not feel threatened for my ego's survival when they turn their noses away from it.

Todd Dennis (http://PreteristArchive.com) went back and forth trying to categorize me until he settled in on Modern Preterist but not "Full" Preterist. The reason being this: I hold that all the major prophecies have all been fulfilled in our past - just not at those times decreed by "Full" Preterists. I start with historical, "Partial" Preterism and boldly end the Millennium an actual 1000 years after its 70AD start; no funny math. Satan is released as the Millennium ends around 1070AD and he is cast into the Lake of Fire as the heavenly fire of the Reformation comes into flame. I cannot say when, exactly, but that heavenly fire may actually have begun before Martin Luther's appearrance. I see Wycliffe as very monumental, perhaps the beginning of that heavenly fire that continued for centuries and, continuing into our times, vanquishes every high thing that attempts to organize evil again into an idol-worshipping, saint-subjugating superpower empire of the pre-Christian age.

I am not sure that my view of a 70-1070AD Millennium, which remains unchanged, properly places me as a "Former Full Preterist" since I never adhered to any form of the 30-70AD Millennium advocated by them. Since I was never a "Full" Preterist I am not now a "Former Full Pret." Since I have not changed my eschatology since I began to share it in 1997, I cannot be labeled a former anything. The truth be known, I had inklings that the Bible's Millennium was the Middle Age(s) since I made an adult decision to follow Christ back in 1986. And I carefully followed up on that hunch over the years until it culminated in a Bible-supported conviction early 1997. It both tickles and annoys me that certain out there label me alternately as Partial-Preterist, Hyper-Preterist or Former Preterist. I just do not understand those who profess Christ but focus so much upon denouncing others who profess Christ. I suppose they would quiet if I just parroted their views, paying them intellectual homage akin to what a schoolyard bully seeks when he yearns for the moment you say, "uncle," and fall in line under his pecking order. I just firmly believe Christ has called us higher to a higher way. We have one Teacher, one Master, one Rabbi, and He is the Christ Jesus, and we are all brothers.

Take care and may God guide your studies and your steps through Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior.

I am very pleased by the current wave of critical scrutiny debunking the awkward & forced conjecture called "Full" Preterism which in no wise provides basis for the smug conceit which too often accompanies the propagation of "Full" Preterism.

"Better a faithful nobody than a famous fool."

Mythbusting "All Things Fulfilled by 70AD"

A certain "Full Preterist", (aka 30-70AD Millenialist), argued saying:

"Please allow me to go back to the basics for a minute. As Jesus was explaining to His disciples sitting around Him in Matt 24 what the signs of the end would be, Jesus established the "time frame". Matt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. As Preterists we believe all these things came to pass with the fall of Herod’s temple in AD 70."

What the 30-70AD Millennialist writes here is accurate enough IF we confine his statements strictly to the actual events described in Matt 24. But he does not. The very fact that his comments were in response to my rejection of his 30-70AD Millennium is evidence that he, (as those he studies), mentally insert Rev 20:1-10's events into the text of Matt 24. Simply nowhere to be found in Matt 24 is any mention of a 1000, 40, or 13 year "Millennium" which:

  1. Starts with Satan being bound/Abyssed/sealed while Nero-Beast-Martyred Saints "come to [spiritual] life" & ruling with Christ (pre-Parousia) and then
  2. Ends with Satan's release as the wicked "come to [spiritual] life" as Jesus comes back. Its just not there. Look again, Mat 24.

What the "Full Preterist", (30-70AD Millenialist), is really getting at here as "The Basics of Preterism," (as has been presented to him), is 30-70AD Millenialism's overarching notion for Bible interpretation:

#1) "Not just Matt 24's events, but ALL LAW & PROPHETS MUST BE FULFILLED BY 70AD."

A great expose' of this error may be found here: http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/Progressive/2001_mckenzie_not-fulfilled-ad70.html by Duncan McKenzie. For the sake of brevity, I will go on to add to Duncan McKenzie's arguments with the following:

[Take particular note of how different Greek words, (significantly different Strong's #'s), still find connection between Prophetic Utterance & Historic Fulfillment. Why? Because the connections of word-meaning are every bit as strong as connections of word-grammar, if not more so]. CONTEXT.

Matthew 5:17-20 (around 27AD, at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry)
Think not that I am come to destroy the Law [of Moses], or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Strong's #4137). 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law [of Moses], till all be fulfilled (Strong's #1096). 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Pre-70AD Millennialism, (a la Max King-era preterism), would have us to believe that this statement by Jesus means that the Old Testament Law of Moses was to remain binding and in full effect until all the Law & Prophets are fulfilled; and that this fulfillment did not occur until 70AD. This notion is what drives them to insist that whatever is found in pages of the Bible MUST be fulfilled before 70AD because the Law of Moses remains binding until all is fulfilled. But let's consider something else Jesus said:

John 19:28-30 (around 30AD, at the ending of Jesus' public ministry)
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished (#5055), that the scripture might be fulfilled (#5048), saith, "I thirst!" 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished!" (#5055): and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Whatever Pre-70AD Millennialism may say this means, here's what "It is finished! (#5055)" meant to Paul back around 58AD, long prior to 70AD's "all things fulfilled," (so-called).

Romans 10:3-4 (around 58AD, when Paul departs from Corinth, well prior to 70AD's supposed "fulfillment of all [Bible] things")
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end (#5056) of the Law [of Moses] for righteousness to every one that believeth.

And here's a glimpse of how Peter & Paul's understanding of "It is finished! (#5055)" worked out into the daily lives of Christians back around 49AD, long before "all things fulfilled" (supposedly) in 70AD.

Galatians 2:11-21 (around 49AD, Paul, the new guy, publically confronts veteran leader Peter at one of the first Christian conferences ever)
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, "If thou [Peter], being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law [of Moses], but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law [of Moses]: for by the works of the Law [of Moses] shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the Law [of Moses] am dead to the Law [of Moses], that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the Law [of Moses], then Christ is dead in vain!"

Paul, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a (former) Pharisee son of a Pharisee, (Philippians 3:5-8), was so certain that "all be fulfilled" already to retire the Law [of Moses] per Mat 5:18 that he considered obedience to the commandments of the Law [of Moses] entirely optional. Paul would freely obey or discard the Law [of Moses] depending upon the cultural concerns of whatever people group he was trying to reach for Christ. Obeying even the least of those commandments was for Paul strictly a cultural concern of sensitivity towards reaching followers of Old Testament Judaism for Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:18-23 (around 57 AD, Paul writes to the church at Corinth)
When I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the Law [of Moses], as under the Law [of Moses], that I might gain them that are under the Law [of Moses]; 21 To them that are without Law [of Moses], as without Law [of Moses], (being not without law to God, but under the Law of Christ,) that I might gain them that are without Law [of Moses]. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

So, did Christ, the churches, and Paul and Peter themselves consider themselves "the least in the kingdom of heaven" because they broke the commandments of the Law of Moses and "lived after the manner of Gentiles"? I dare any Pre-70 Millennialist to say that they were. No, it was the Judaizers who went around saying things like, "All things have not been fulfilled yet, so Jesus says you need to keep obeying the Law [of Moses] until they are!" So we see that Pre-70AD Millennialism has something very much in common with the Judaizers, the NT enemies of the Gospel. (Not to mention again the inescapable connection with Universalism via Pre-70AD Millenialism's Gnostic-style deviation from orthodox resurrection). Remember, it was Hymenaeus & Philetus who were saying things like, "Since the 1st resurrection of the just that is already past was all about people "coming to spiritual life" in Christ (Rev 20:4), the resurrection of the rest of the dead when Jesus comes back will be about everybody else "coming to spiritual life" in Christ (Rev 20:5), too: nobody but the Devil is going to Hell!" (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13).
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Evidently enough, Christ, the Apostles & the churches of the 30-70AD period believed and taught that all things necessary to retire the Old Testament Law & Prophets, all the things Jesus had been talking about in the Matt 5:17-20 context, had already been fulfilled at Jesus' death shout from the Cross, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

Colossians 2:13-17 (around 62AD, Paul writes to the church at Colossae)
...Having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ... 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Below here is what the Apostles & the churches thought of those still teaching that the Law [of Moses] must still be kept up "until all things be fulfilled" someday, (supposedly) at 70AD.

Galatians 3:9-15 (around 49AD, Paul still recounting the meaning behind his public confrontation of Peter's hypocrisy)
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law [of Moses] are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law [of Moses] to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the Law [of Moses] in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the Law [of Moses] is NOT of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law [of Moses], being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ...

Acts 15:5-35 
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. … 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they [Gentile converts to Christ]. … 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, … 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, Cilicia: and 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, … 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; … they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced …

So again, In review here: Did Christ, the churches, and Paul and Peter themselves consider themselves "the least in the Kingdom of Heaven" because they broke the commandments of the Law of Moses and "lived after the manner of Gentiles" per Gal 2:14? NO. (I dare any Pre-70 Millennialist to say that they were). No, it was the Judaizers who went around saying things like, "All things have not been fulfilled yet, so Jesus says you need to keep obeying the Law [of Moses] until they are!" So we see that Pre-70AD Millennialism has something very much in common with the Judaizers, the New Testament enemies of the Gospel. (Not to mention again the inescapable connection with Universalism via Pre-70AD Millenialism's Gnostic-style deviations from orthodox resurrection). Remember, it was Hymenaeus & Philetus who were saying things like, "Since the 1st resurrection of the just that is already past was all about people "coming to spiritual life" in Christ (Rev 20:4), the resurrection of the rest of the dead when Jesus comes back will be about everybody else "coming to spiritual life" in Christ (Rev 20:5), too: nobody but the Devil is going to Hell!" (2 Tim 2:11-18 Phillippians 3:10-13). Nowhere to be found in Matt 24 is any mention of a 1000, 40, or 13 year "Millennium" which 1) starts with Satan being bound/Abyssed/sealed while Nero-Beast-Martyred Saints "come to [spiritual] life" & ruling with Christ and then 2) ends with Satan's release as the wicked "come to [spiritual] life" as Jesus comes back. Its just not there.
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The Scriptures cited here above show plainly enough what the Apostles & the churches thought of those still teaching that the Law [of Moses] must still be kept up "until all things be fulfilled" (supposedly) at 70AD. Evidently enough, Christ, the Apostles & the churches of the 30-70AD period believed and taught that all things necessary to retire the Old Testament Law & Prophets, all the things Jesus had been talking about in the Matt 5:17-20 context, had already been fulfilled at Jesus' death shout from the Cross, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

Evidently enough, understanding phrases "all things fulfilled" requires more than a few connect-the-dots Greek word associations that 30-70AD Millennialism puts so much, too much, stock into. Understanding requires we look at what the Apostles understood it to mean, as well, comparing Scripture-Text with Scripture-Text, Scripture-Meaning with Scripture-Meaning, considering date/place/time/audience/expectations CONTEXT as well as well-informed, external confirmations from objective historical evidences, ie, unimaginary, real, live Scripture-History connections. This is not a religion that's all in the head.

Again, a great expose' of the 30-70AD Millennialism: "All Things Fulfilled 70AD" error may be found here: http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/Progressive/2001_mckenzie_not-fulfilled-ad70.html by Duncan McKenzie. I differ with him in that I actually name an ending date to the Millennium that started at Christ's circa 70AD Return. I place it an actual thousand years later. /node/506

Timeline: 
` AGAINST ERROR

3 Questions for every 30-70AD Millennialist

A "Full" Preterist once wrote:
"Some see the millennium starting in Jesus’ earthly ministry where He bound Satan “the strong man” and began taking the spoil (AD 26 – AD 66). Others see it between Pentecost to AD 70 roughly a 40 year period. These are minor details to me because Jesus’ time frame of “this generation” and the recapitulation structure of Revelation along with the time statements at the beginning AND END of Revelation necessitate that the millennium ended in AD 70."
The above describes some very loose reasoning:
  • Jesus did NOT bind Satan during His earthly ministry - He was simply describing the process by which a demon is cast out of man so that he can be saved, (Matthew 12:25-29 and Mark 3:22-27 and Luke 11:17-26). Whether in a vision or otherwise, Jesus relates in Luke 10:17-20 that He saw Satan fall from Heaven: Jesus did NOT say He had already cast Satan into the Bottomless Pit and Seal him in there per Rev 20:1-3. The plain fact is that Luke 10:17-20 simply communicates that Jesus saw Satan fall from Heaven to Earth, NOT from Earth to the Bottomless Pit, bound and sealed.
  • The urgent reminders of Christ's impending Return placed at the beginning and middle and end of the vision recorded in Revelation in no wise dictate that everything described in the vision must end at His Return. Jesus is simply reminding of the timing of that key event around which the vision is organized. Sullivan's logic, when not applied selectively, necessitates that the New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem must end at Christ's Return, as well. Please reference the actual time statements listed for that last Revelation portion of Dave Green's Preterism 101 and see how they look forward to the blessings about to begin, not end, with Christ's Return.
Some reasonable questions about the view advocating a 30-70AD fulfillment of Rev 20:1-10 are fair to ask here, no?
1) YES or NO. (Then explain)
The Bible records more activity of the Devil/Satan among men during the 30-70AD period than all other Bible history put together. (Compare abundance of New Testament references to "Satan" and the "Devil" to the Old Testament's).
2) YES or NO. (Then explain)
IF from 30-70AD, (the virtual entirety of the period recorded by the New Testament), Satan/Devil were taken out by being bound, cast into the Bottomless Pit, (Abyss), and sealed as Rev 20:3 describes, and yet, despite this binding/Abyssing/sealing, Satan was still able to perform all his activities the New Testament so abundantly records,
THEN is it fair to conclude from Scripture that the Devil/Satan is also able to perform among us today much the same activities recorded by the New Testament?
3) YES or NO. (Then explain)
Likewise,
IF the 30-70AD period as recorded by the New Testament is what we get when, per Rev 20:1-10, the Saints reign with Christ,
THEN should we expect to experience life today just as the Saints of New Testament times, since the Saints are likewise reigning today? AND singles should be advised not to marry because of the distress & darkness of the times whenever Saints rule and Satan/Devil is taken out? AND God's ministers today should expect to be hounded from town to town and treated like the scum of the earth and have messengers of Satan sent to buffet them, etc., just like Paul & the other apostles were in New Testament times, (30-70AD), when the Saints, according to your view, were reigning with Christ per Rev 20:1-10?
And, of course, supporting details to any answer to my opening question are still left wanting:
Can we get specifics about this declared 30-70AD fulfillment of Rev 20:1-10?
  • Which exact passage of Scripture tells us that Satan was bound, cast & sealed into the Abyss around 30AD?
  • Which exact passage of Scripture tells us that Satan was released a full 40 years later around 70AD?
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Just so we don't lose sight of the actual verses that the 30-70AD Millennium view insists were fulfilled between 30-70AD:

(red = before Christ's Return blue=after Christ's Return)

Revelation 20:1-10 (penned circa 62-65AD at beginning of Tribulation to encourage rejection of the Beast & his mark)
20:1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will [future to 62AD] be priests of God and of Christ and will [future to 62AD] reign with Him for a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satanwill be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NASB
You don't get a kingdom without a king, and you don't reign with Christ 'til Christ Returns to reign.
Luke 19:11-20 (circa AD 30, just before entering Jerussalem on colt, ~ 1 week prior to the Crucifixion)
11 And while they were listening to these things, He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 "And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.' 14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15 "And it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done. 16 "And the first appeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has made ten minas more.' 17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.' 18 "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.' 19 "And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
NASB
Mat 25:14-23 (circa 30AD, days prior to Crucifixion, Olivet Discourse - Parables section)
Note again: the faithful servants were to be "made rulers over many things" AFTER their Lord Returns.
Timeline: 
` AGAINST ERROR

When exactly was Satan bound, cast & sealed into Bottomless Pit for even 40 years between Romans 16:20 and 70AD?

 

"And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."

~ The Letter of Christ's Apostle Paul to Christians living in Rome around 56-58AD, (Rom 16:20)

 

 

ONE QUESTION for those who insist that Revelation 20:1-10's

"The 1000 Years"+"The Little Season of Satan's Release"

all took place in the less than 14 years between Romans 16:20's "soon" fulfillment and A.D.70:

(Much less than 14 years unless we assume that God crushed Satan beneath their feet the very day after Romans was written).

 

DURING WHICH OF THESE VERSES BELOW WAS SATAN BOUND, CAST & SEALED INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT?

 

Every attempt to posit The 1000 Years+The Little Season of Satan's Release into period between the fulfillment of Romans 16:20 and 70AD presents a self-refuting credibility problem: It demands one lay aside the very hermeneutic that deduces the A.D. 70 Return of Christ in the first place, "Take all the time texts strictly serious."

 

First, a quick review of the Text in question, Rev 20:1-10:

1) "The 1,000 Years" is demarked by epoch events which define distinct beginning and ending points.

2) "The 1,000 Years" begins with Satan being bound, cast & sealed into the Bottomless Pit (Abyss) so that he could deceive the nations no more.

3) "The souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" - those who were beheaded during the Beast's reign for refusing the mark of the Beast are made to live and reign with Christ while Satan is bound - the reward of their faithfulness.

4) "The 1,000 Years" ends with Satan being released for "a little season" to deceive again the Nations (the Gentiles).

5) After "The 1,000 Years," and after "The Little Season," and after the Satan-led armies are destroyed by fire from Heaven, Satan is then cast into the Lake of Fire where the Beast & the False Prophet have been awaiting his arrival.

 

 

Revelation 20:1-10

20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

 

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [ie during "The Tribulation"]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

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.

 

 

 

 

Here it is now,

BETWEEN WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING VERSES WAS SATAN BOUND, CAST & SEALED INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT?

FOR 1,000 OR 40 OR EVEN 5 YEARS?

FOR EVEN 5 MINUTES?

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And if you are gutsy enough:

1) Which exact verse shows Satan being bound, thereby demarking the beginning of "The 1,000 Years"?

2) Which exact verse shows Satan being released, thereby demarking the end of "The 1,000 Years"?

3) Can you organize these verses into 3 categories: a) BEFORE, b) DURING, and c) AFTER "The 1,000 Years" that Satan was bound & cast in the Abyss?

 

 

Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles
58 AD  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.  Romans 16:20 ~Christ's persecuted Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome

61 AD  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world [kosmos], according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  Ephesians 2:2 ~Christ's imprisioned Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus

61 AD  Neither give place to the devil.  Ephesians 4:27 ~Christ's imprisioned Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus

61 AD  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Ephesians 6:11-13 ~Christ's imprisioned Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus

 

James the Lord's brother
Before 62 AD  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil , and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 ~before Jerusalem Church pillar James was martyred for the Faith

 

Peter the Apostle to the Circumcision
62 AD  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil , as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  1 Peter 5:8 ~Christ's soon-to-be-martyred Apostle Peter wrote to the dispersed churches about their fiery trial

 

John the Apostle whom Jesus loved
62 AD  Love not the world [kosmos], neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world [kosmos], the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world [kosmos], the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world [kosmos].17 And the world [kosmos] passeth away , and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ...22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist , that denieth the Father and the Son.  1 John 2:15-18, 22 ~Christ's soon-to-be-exiled Apostle John wrote

62 AD  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  1 John 4:3-4 ~Christ's soon-to-be-exiled Apostle John wrote

62 AD  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world [kosmos] lieth in wickedness.  1 John 5:19 ~ Christ's soon-to-be-exiled Apostle John wrote

62 AD  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.  2 John 7-11 ~Christ's soon-to-be-exiled Apostle John wrote

 

Jesus in the vision of Revalation
63 AD  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  Revelation 2:9 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia

63 AD  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.  Revelation 2:13 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia

63 AD  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan , as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.  Revelation 2:24 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia

63 AD  Behold,I will make them of the synagogue of Satan , which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  Revelation 3:9 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia

 

Jesus revealed to John the Apostle by the vision of Revelation
63 AD  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan , which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Revelation 12:9-17 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia

63 AD  Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.  Revelation 20:1-3 ~Christ's exiled Apostle John foresaw in the predictive vision (Rev 1:1 & Rev 4:1) for the 7 Churches of Asia
NKJV

 

 

Conclusion:

27-67AD: The New Testament documents more of Satan's interactions against godly men -Christians- during the 27-67AD period than all other history combined. Satan, the god of that age per 2 Cor 4:4, was walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8.

 

 

RELEVANT LINKS:

Honestly, does the Bible really teach that Satan was bound, cast & sealed into the Deep (Abyss) while Christians ruled with God & Christ throughout the bulk of the 30-70AD period? (Actually, wasn't such blessings what they were expecting to arrive with Christ's soon Return?)

When exactly was Satan bound, cast & sealed into Bottomless Pit for 1000 years between 30-70AD?

When exactly was Satan bound, cast & sealed into Bottomless Pit for even 40 years between Romans 16:20 and 70AD?

3 Questions for every 30-70AD Millennialist

30-70AD: Matthew 23-25 Last Days Tribulation - They knew which GENERATION, their GENERATION

30-70AD: SATAN walked about freely as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is love, that we walk after Christ's commandments ~2 John 6

 

Timeline: 
` AGAINST ERROR

Was All The Prophecy in the Bible Fulfilled by A.D.70?

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"If a full preterist violates the meta-hermeneutic of "all fulfilled by AD 70" they are, by definition, no longer a full preterist. So while full preterists use other rules of interpretation for a given passage, ultimately the fulfillment of a passage has to fit in before AD 70. If it doesn't then a full preterist would have to change his or her paradigm."
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By far the most frequent question I am asked in relation to my articles that have appeared on this web site is, "What about Luke 21:22?" "Doesn't it say all the prophecy in the Bible would be fulfilled by AD 70?" The reason I am asked this question is because, although my position sees AD 70 as being the time of Jesus' Second Coming, I still look for certain events to be fulfilled in the future. For example, I see the end of the millennium when Satan is cast into the lake of fire as being in the future.
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Luke 21:22 is the corner stone of the full preterist hermeneutic that all the prophecy in the Bible was fulfilled by AD 70.
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Luke 21:20-22 is as follows:
20. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
21. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
22. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. All Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
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Full preterists maintain that the "all things" referred to here means that all the prophecy in the Bible was fulfilled by AD 70. While I have a great deal of agreement with full preterists, I disagree with their interpretation here. Let me emphasize, however, that I am in total agreement with my full preterist brothers and sisters that the Second Coming of Jesus happened at AD 70.
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My short answer to the question of what Luke 21:22 means is that it is saying all things written about the days of vengeance that would come upon the Jews when they violated the covenant would be fulfilled by AD 70. It is not saying that all prophecy in the Bible would be fulfilled by AD 70.
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There are many passages that speak of God's vengeance on His Old Covenant people if they broke the covenant. The two major passages are found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-32.
.Leviticus 26:14&15
14. But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments
15. and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I will also do this to you.
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God goes on to list a number of plagues and punishments He would bring on the Jews.
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Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant...
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Deuteronomy chapters 28-32 also talk of God’s vengeance on the Jews if they broke the covenant.
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Deuteronomy 32:40-43
40. For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, As I live forever.
41. If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me.
42. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.
43. Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.
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If I may digress for a moment, notice how in both of these passages that speak of God's judgment on His Old Covenant people for breaking the covenant, the judgment is associated with a sword. With that in mind consider the following quote from Josephus. Talking about the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem, he wrote the following:
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"This is how the unhappy people were beguiled at this stage by charlatans and false messengers of God, while they disregarded and disbelieved the unmistakable portents that foreshadowed the coming desolation, and, as though thunderstuck (sic), blind, senseless, paid no heed to the clear warnings of God. It was like this when a star that looked like a sword stood over the city and a comet that continued for a whole year." Josephus, War of the Jews (6,5,3).
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A star in the shape of a sword loomed over Jerusalem in the days preceding its desolation! This was a sign of God's coming judgment, His sword to "execute the vengeance of the covenant."
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Jesus said that the vengeance for all the righteous blood shed on the earth would be visited on the generation that rejected him.
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Matthew 23:32-36
32. Fill up then, the measure of your father’s guilt.
33. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
34. Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
35. that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the temple and the altar
36. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
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God's Old Covenant people had been judged before for breaking the covenant (Daniel 9:10-13) but the ultimate judgment would come in AD 70, on the generation that rejected and killed Jesus. This was because the Jews rejecting and killing Jesus was the ultimate act of breaking of the Covenant (Luke 20:9-16). In killing Jesus the Jews were killing their husband, God (see Hosea chapter 2). This is why Babylon, the harlot city, is said to be a widow (even though she denies it Rev. 18:7&8). This left the Lord free to marry another people (Hosea 2:19-23), which of course He did! (Rev. 19:1-10)
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In Revelation chapter 6 we see the souls of those killed for the word of God crying out for God's righteous vengeance. They are told to wait just a little while longer.
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Revelation 6:9-11
9. When He opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying "How long, O Lord, holy and true until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" ("earth" should be translated "land" here.)
11. Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
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Vengeance for the blood guilt of those who rejected Jesus was about to be poured out on the dwellers on the land in the book of Revelation. It is the subject of most of the book. This is no doubt the reason that David Chilton named his commentary on Revelation "The Days of Vengeance". Let me interject here that the Greek word "ge" which is translated "earth" in most of Revelation, is often better translated "land" (i.e. the promised land). Compare Revelation 1:7 with Zechariah 12:10-14. It is the tribes of the land who were to mourn at Jesus’ Second Coming not the tribes of the earth. In Revelation 13:11-18, the second beast doesn’t come out of the "earth", he comes out of the "land" (of Israel). That is, he was Jewish, the false prophet. (Rev. 19:20). This distinction becomes very important in a verse like Rev. 6:8 where a fourth of the population of the earth (land) is killed. A fourth of those living on the earth where not killed around AD 70, a fourth of those on the land (and more) were. For a more thorough treatment of this subject see the following: K. Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell pgs. 127-131; J.S. Russell, The Parousia pgs. 380-381, 392-393; D. Chilton, The Days of Vengeance pgs. 129-130.
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The prophet Isaiah also wrote about God's days of vengeance. Isaiah 35:3&4
3. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4. Say to those who are fearful-hearted "Be strong, do not fear!" Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.
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See also Isaiah 61:2 and 63:1-6
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There was much written in the Old Testament about God's days of vengeance on His Old Covenant people when they broke the covenant. All these scriptures would be fulfilled in their ultimate sense on the generation that killed Jesus. These were the days of vengeance and all that was written about them would be fulfilled in the days leading up to AD 70. This is not the same, however, as saying that all the prophecy in the Bible would be fulfilled by AD 70.
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For those who need more convincing (which would probably be most of the full preterists reading this article) consider Luke 18:31.
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Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, Behold we are going up to Jerusalem, and ALL THINGS which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. emphasis mine
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Jesus tells His disciples that "all things" written about Him by the prophets would be accomplished at Jerusalem. If we used the logic that full preterists are using on Luke 21:22 we would say that ALL the prophets said about Jesus was fulfilled at the cross. Well of course the Second Coming of Jesus wasn't fulfilled at the cross (Luke 21:27). If one tried to make the "ALL THINGS" in Luke 18:31 include the Second Coming they would be making a big mistake. One would end up trying to fit the Second Coming in with, or before, the crucifixion. What Luke 18:31 is saying is that all that was written about Jesus suffering, dying and rising in victory on the third day would be fulfilled in His death and resurrection at Jerusalem. That is, all the specifics that were written about these events would be fulfilled, not all things written about Jesus. To make the "all things" refer to all the prophecies in the Bible about Jesus being accomplished by that time would be flat out wrong. Yet this would be the exact same logic that full preterists are using on Luke 21:22. This should be cause for full preterists to reconsider the emphasis they put on Luke 21:22 necessitating the fulfillment of all prophecy by AD 70.
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Now consider Luke 24:44-48. Jesus, after His resurrection, said the following to His disciples:
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Luke 24:44. Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."
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Once again did this mean all the prophecies in the Law, Prophets and Psalms about Jesus were fulfilled by the time of His resurrection? Of course not, Jesus’ Second Coming and millennial reign still awaited fulfillment. What Jesus meant was that everything that happened at Jerusalem had to have happened to fulfill all the prophecies about Him dying and rising again. He didn't mean that all the prophecies in the Bible regarding Him were fulfilled at that time. This is made clear as He continues in the following verses.
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Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46. Then He said to them "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47. and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48. And you are witnesses of these things."
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Another "all things" verse is found in Luke 21:32:
Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
29. Then He spoke to them a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30. When they are already budding you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
31. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32. Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
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Once again Luke gives us an "all things" taking place statement. Does this mean all the prophecies in the Bible were to be fulfilled by the end of that generation or does it mean all the things Jesus had mentioned (the great tribulation, abomination of desolation, Second Coming, etc.) would take place in that generation? Looking at the parallel passages in Matthew and Mark helps to answer this question.
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Matthew 24:32. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the very doors!
34. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled.
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Mark 13:28 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
29. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near-at the doors!
30. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
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Looking at the parallel passages helps to answer the question as to the meaning of "all things" taking place, in Luke 21:32. According to Matthew and Mark the "all things" in Luke 21:32 means "all these things", the things Jesus had been talking about, not all the prophecies in the Bible being fulfilled by that generation.
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To summarize, Luke 21:22 is saying that all things that were written in the Old Testament about the days of vengeance would be fulfilled by AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem. To say the "all things" of Luke 21:22 means that all the prophecies in the Bible were to be fulfilled by AD 70 is unwarranted. This becomes clear when one examines other passages in Luke that speak of "all things" being fulfilled or accomplished (Luke 18:31, 24:44, 21:32). Luke's use of "all things" speaks of all the specifics of a given prophetic event being fulfilled, not all the prophecies in the Bible being fulfilled.
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Having said that all the things Jesus spoke about the days of vengeance (not all the prophecy in the Bible) happened by AD 70, a logical question would be "So what is left to be fulfilled?" Allow me a somewhat lengthy digression to address this by talking about the judgment of the nations. This was one of the things Jesus had said would happen before the generation that was listening to Him had passed away (Matthew 25:31-46). Full preterists posit that this judgment, that happens at Jesus’ Second Coming, happens at the end of the millennium. Since Jesus came at AD 70 their reasoning is that the millennium must have ended at that time. I of course agree that the Second Coming happened at AD 70 but I believe that the judgment of the nations happened at the beginning of the millennium not the end.
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In looking at the resurrection at the beginning of the millennium (Rev. 20:4), notice that one of the categories of people that come alive are the souls of those "who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands" (Rev 20:4). The beast and his mark had to do with events that happened around AD 70. Whoever a full preterist may say the beast was (most say he was Nero), all would say he existed around AD 70. This is because he was destroyed around the time of the Second Coming of Jesus (Rev. 19:11-21). To make the time of the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4) AD 30 and the time of what appears on the surface to be the second resurrection (Rev. 20:11-15) AD 70 (the usual full preterist proposal) does not fit. If the first resurrection happened at AD 30 what mark of the beast had the martyrs who came alive for the 1000-year reign overcome? And why were Christians just finally being warned about this mark some 35 years after AD 30? Rev. 14:8-13 (Revelation was probably written around AD 65). Once again, to try and make the resurrection at the beginning of the millennium happen around AD 30 simply does not fit. Full preterists have to try to make it fit because they need to have the millennium end by AD 70 (all prophecy fulfilled by AD 70). Thus they end up trying to fit the 1000-year reign into the forty-year period of AD 30 to AD 70. The 1000-year reign didn't end at AD 70 it began at that time. One reason God was revealing it was to provide encouragement to those who would face the beast and his mark (Rev. 13:7-10). That is, He was encouraging those who were about to face the beast to be faithful until the Second Coming by showing how they would reign with Him at that time (Rev. 2:25-27; 3:20& 21; 20:4).
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At the resurrection of Revelation 20:4 (which I maintain happened at AD 70) John saw "thrones, and they sat on them and judgment was committed to them" (Rev 20:4). The word "judgment" here (Greek, "krima") has to do with "the power and business of judging" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon). In other words it is talking about believers being involved with God in the decision making process and verdict as He judged the world. This was the judgment that Jesus told His disciples they would participate in at His Second Coming (AD 70).
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Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
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The resurrection at the beginning of the millennium shows the thrones, the judging and the eternal life that Jesus had promised to His disciples at His Second Coming.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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Those who would want to say the regeneration of Matthew 19:28 refers to AD 30 run into a very big problem. Matthew 19:28 says the time when the disciples would sit on thrones judging Israel would be "when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory." Matthew chapter 25 clearly puts the time of Jesus sitting on the throne of His glory at His Second Coming (AD 70).
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Matthew 25:31&32
31. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
32. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
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The time when Jesus had promised His disciples they would sit on thrones judging Israel referred to the time of His Second Coming (AD 70).
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At the beginning of the millennium (which I maintain began at AD 70) John saw "thrones, and they sat on them and judgment was committed to them" (Rev. 20:4). This judgment was the same one that Paul said would be committed to believers at Jesus’ Second Coming (AD 70).
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1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
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The Lord’s judgment began at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Thus I see the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), when believers were judged in terms of rewards (1Cor. 3:10-15) taking place right before the saints participated in the judgment of the world at AD 70.
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Jesus judged the world at His Second Coming (AD 70), when He sat "on the throne of His glory" (Matthew 19:28 & 25:31). The souls that came alive to rule in the millennium (Rev. 20:4) were the same ones that were told to wait just a little longer (until the Second Coming) for God to avenge them (Rev. 6:9). Believers participated in the judgment of the world and are now sharing in the Lord’s rule over the nations (Rev. 2:25-27; 2 Timothy 2:10-12; Rev. 5:9&10). Once again this rule, the 1,000-year reign (the 1,000-years being symbolic of the Day of the Lord, 2 Peter 3:8) didn't end at AD 70 it began at that time. It was the kingdom coming with power that some of those listening to Jesus would still be alive to see (Mark 9:1, Matthew 16:27&28). The start of the millennium was about to happen at AD 70, but the end of the 1,000-year rule was, by necessity, in the distant future. The end of something that lasts a 1,000 years would have been understood by the original audience as something in the distant future. Thus the end of it would have been seen as being outside of the things that were about to take place.
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My position sees the resurrection and judgment at Jesus' Second Coming (AD 70) as the resurrection of Rev. 20:4-6. Originally I had posited that the judgment in Rev. 20:4 and Rev. 20:11-15 were two different judgments separated by the millennium. This is the same sequence that full preterists propose but my view of the timing was different. Full preterists see a resurrection (believers coming alive spiritually) at AD 30 (Rev. 20:4) and one at AD 70 (Rev. 20:11-15) with the millennium in between. I had seen a resurrection at AD 70 (Rev. 20:4) and one at the end of time (Rev. 20:11-15) with the millennium in between. I have now come to agree with J.S. Russell that Rev. 20:4 and 20:11-15 aren’t two different judgments separated by the millennium but one judgment with a parenthetical statement of future things (Rev. 20:5-10) in between. Thus Revelation 20:11-15 is not a separate judgment, but a continuation of the description of the judgment of Revelation 20:4. Russell said the following regarding this:
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"The result of the whole is, that we must consider the passage which treats of the thousand years, from ver. 5 to ver. 10, as an intercalation or parenthesis. The seer, having begun to relate the judgment of the dragon, passes in ver. 7 out of the apocalyptic limits to conclude what he had to say respecting the final punishment of ‘the old serpent,’ and the fate that awaited him at the close of a lengthened period called ‘a thousand years.’ This we believe to be the sole instance in the whole book of an excursion into distant futurity; and we are disposed to regard the whole parenthesis as relating to matters still future and unfulfilled. The broken continuity of the narration is joined again at ver. 11, where the Seer resumes the account of what he beheld in vision, introducing it by the familiar formula ‘And I saw.’"
J.S. Russell The Parousia pg. 523
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What Russell was saying was that the description of the judgment in Rev. 20:4 is continued in Rev. 20:11. Revelation 20:5-10 (the millennium, the release of Satan from the abyss for a season, the Gog and Magog invasion, Satan cast into the lake of fire) forms a parenthesis of things that happen during and at the conclusion of the millennium. If one puts aside the parenthesis of Revelation 20:5-10 for a moment the following description of the judgment appears:
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Revelation 20:4-12
4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years
(Verses 5-10, parenthesize of things future to AD 70)
11. And 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… NASB
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Russell saw the parenthesis of Revelation 20:5-10 (the millennium, the release of Satan from the abyss for a season, the Gog and Magog invasion, the casting of Satan into the lake of fire) as the only part of Revelation that projected into the distant future (future to AD 70). I have come to agree with him that Revelation 20:5-10 is the only part of Revelation that deals with post AD 70 subject matter. My previous position had seen Revelation 20:5-15 as dealing with things that were to happen after AD 70. I now view my previous extension of Russell’s parenthesis (extending it from Rev. 20:5-10 to Rev. 20:5-15) as untenable.
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Getting back to the original subject of my paper. The second most common argument used by full preterists for saying all prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70 would probably be the imminency of the time statements in the book of Revelation. That is, the many statements of the nearness of the things predicted in Revelation. J.S. Russell, the author of The Parousia and one of the biggest influences on modern preterism was one of the staunchest spokesmen for the imminency of the time statements in Revelation.
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"If there be one thing which more than any other is explicitly and repeatedly affirmed in the Apocalypse it is the nearness of the events which it predicts. This is stated, and reiterated again and again, in the beginning, the middle, and the end...
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As this is a point of the highest importance, and indispensable to the right interpretation of the Apocalypse, it is proper to bring forward the proof that the events depicted in the book are comprehended within a very brief period of time.
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The opening sentence, containing what may be called the title of the book, is of itself decisive of the nearness of the events to which it relates:
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CHAP. 1:1 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants what things must shortly come to pass.' J.S. Russell, The Parousia, pg. 367
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As vehement as Russell was about the nearness of the time statements of Revelation necessitating an AD 70 fulfillment, he made an exception in the case of the millennium and the subsequent casting of Satan into the lake of fire. As I have stated, Russell saw the millennium as beginning in AD 70 and extending into the future. Thus he saw Revelation 20:5-10 as a parenthetical passage of things not yet fulfilled. He saw the rest of the book (the new heaven and new earth, the new Jerusalem etc.) as going back to things that were about to happen (around AD 70). Thus Russell saw Revelation 21 and 22 as being fulfilled at AD 70. He said the following about those who would try to fit the millennium in before AD 70.
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"Some interpreters indeed attempt to get over the difficulty by supposing that the thousand years, being a symbolic number, may represent a period of very short duration, and so bring the whole within the prescribed apocalyptic limits; but this method of interpretation appears to us so violent and unnatural that we cannot hesitate to reject it. The act of binding and shutting up the dragon does indeed come within the 'shortly' of the apocalyptic statement, for it is coincident or nearly so, with the judgment of the harlot and the beast; but the term of the dragon's imprisonment is distinctly stated to be for a thousand years, and thus must necessarily pass entirely beyond the field of vision so strictly and constantly limited by the book itself. We believe, however, that this is the solitary example which the whole book contains of this excursion beyond the limits of 'shortly'." J.S. Russell, The Parousia, pg. 514
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What Russell was saying was that those who were trying to fit the millennium in before AD 70 were very wrong. Current day full preterism is trying to do just that. The usual full preterist solution for the 1,000-year reign is to try and make it the 40 year period from AD 30 to AD 70. The fact that Russell considered this interpretation "violent and unnatural" should have full preterists examining their position closely. Probably no one more than Russell would have liked to fit the millennium into the things that were about to happen (AD 70). Russell of course saw the millennium as about to happen in terms of it beginning at AD 70 not ending at that time. J.S. Russell was as motivated as one could be to fit the millennium in before AD 70. Six verses, Revelation 20:5-10 (the millennium, the loosing of Satan for a season, the Gog and Magog invasion, and subsequent banishment of Satan to the lake of fire) out of the whole book of Revelation that he could not in good conscience fit in between AD 30 and AD 70. For Russell to fit the millennium in before AD 70 may have put all his ducks in a row, but apparently he thought it would have been the wrong row! Russell's refusal to crunch the millennium in before AD 70 and his denouncement of the method of those who do, are reason enough to reconsider the "all fulfilled by AD 70" rule of full preterism.
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The fact that J.S. Russell saw the millennium beginning at AD 70 and extending into the future means that he would not be a full preterist by today's standards. This brings up a very important point. Current day full preterism, (with its hermeneutic that all the prophecy in the Bible was fulfilled by AD 70) is a relatively recent development. As near as I can tell it had its start in the late sixties and early seventies with Max King's writings. Now being new does not in and of itself make a position right or wrong, and I am certainly not impugning the integrity of Max King. Ultimately it is Scripture alone that is the final authority. I do think, however, that new theological ideas need to be scrutinized very closely.
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What is new about current day full preterism is the hermeneutic that all prophecy has to have been fulfilled by AD 70. Full preterists have developed this as a meta-hermeneutic (if I may coin a term). A hermeneutic is a rule or principle of how to interpret the Bible. By "meta" I mean something that is higher or transcending. So by meta-hermeneutic I mean a hermeneutic that is higher or more important; that is, a higher order, guiding interpretative rule or principle. If a full preterist violates the meta-hermeneutic of "all fulfilled by AD 70" they are, by definition, no longer a full preterist. So while full preterists use other rules of interpretation for a given passage, ultimately the fulfillment of a passage has to fit in before AD 70. If it doesn't then a full preterist would have to change his or her paradigm.
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The concept I am employing of meta-hermeneutic is not necessarily negative. For example I would call the belief in the innerrancy of Scripture a meta-hermeneutic. Thus those of us who hold to it seek to have a given passage be consistent with the rest of Scripture. Those who are more liberal in their interpretation of the Bible don't feel this need to make the Bible consistent. For them to say the Second Coming didn't happen in the first century (when the NT writers said it would) is no problem. They don't adhere to the higher order, guiding rule of innerrancy.
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Creedalists use the creeds as a meta-hermeneutic. Thus, whatever passage they are interpreting has to fit in with their creed's statement of a future physical Second Coming. This brings up a very important point. One has to examine one's meta-hermeneutics very carefully. This is because they draw the parameters or boundaries for the rest of one's interpretive principles. That is, they become the underlying assumptions that one bases one’s whole approach to the interpretation of Scripture on. For example the creedalist as long as he or she accepts the creeds as a meta-hermeneutic can never see AD 70 as the time of the Second Coming, most of church tradition doesn't allow for it. Instead the creedalists have to go through all sorts of theological gymnastics trying to differentiate between a coming in judgment (AD 70) and the "real" Second Coming in the future. As long as they hold their creeds as a meta-hermeneutic, creedalists will have to strain to come up with artificial distinctions between two comings of Jesus. Once again, one’s higher guiding interpretative rules need to be examined very carefully, they limit the possibilities of one's interpretive system. This is why I am advocating for a closer examination of the "all fulfilled by AD 70" meta-hermeneutic. To my knowledge the "all prophecy fulfilled by AD 70" rule has never really been questioned by those who see AD 70 as the time of the Second Coming. John L. Bray would be an exception to this but even he just came to the conclusion that AD 70 was the Second (and final) Coming of Jesus in the last few years. The usual choice has been between traditional partial preterism, that sees AD 70 as a coming of Jesus in judgment (but not the Second Coming), and full preterism with its all fulfilled by AD 70 meta-hermeneutic. I am trying to show that there is a very viable option in between these two traditional positions. Of course those who would chose the position I am advocating will probably still end up being labeled as a heretic by those who subscribe to the creeds as a meta-hermeneutic, sorry!
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Russell came to many of the same conclusions as full preterists do (as do I) but he did so by letting the context of each section of Scripture determine when its fulfillment was. He did not have a meta-hermeneutic that all prophecy had to have been fulfilled by AD 70. Thus when he came to the conclusion that the millennium started at AD 70 he was able to adjust his interpretation of Revelation accordingly. Again Russell wasn't working from the meta-hermeneutic of current day full preterists that all prophecy had to have been fulfilled by AD 70.
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In writing my paper on Revelation chapter 12, I approached the chapter with no particular agenda in terms of applying it before AD 70 or after. In a nutshell, the conclusion I came to was that Satan was cast out of heaven at Jesus' resurrection and then was loose on the earth until AD 70. It was at that time, at the Second Coming, that Satan was bound, cast into the abyss, and the millennium began. If I was working under the meta-hermeneutic of the full preterist (that all has to be fulfilled by AD 70) I would have had to drastically alter my conclusions so I could fit everything in before AD 70. I would dare say that a full preterist reading my conclusions here on Revelation 12 would be almost sure I was wrong even before reading my paper. It would either be my being wrong or his or her paradigm being wrong. Guess which way most people lean when they feel their paradigm is being threatened (they usually "circle the wagons" seeking to discount the perceived threat). In my mind having to fit all prophecy in before AD 70 is just as stifling to the search for the Truth of Scripture as having to fit all prophecy into a creedal formula is. We all need to be careful that it is the Truth of Scripture that we are defending and not simply our view or paradigm. Unfortunately many times it is not easy to tell the difference between the two.
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SUMMARY
In this paper I have examined the proposition that all the prophecies in the Bible were fulfilled by AD 70. This proposition is used as a meta-hermeneutic (a higher order interpretive rule or principle) by full preterists. I examined the two most common arguments to support this meta-hermeneutic (Luke 21:22, and the imminency of the time statements of Revelation). I found these arguments not to be as solid as they appear on the surface. I argued that a meta-hermeneutic, because it helps to form the underlying assumptions of one’s Biblical interpretive system, needs to have a very solid Scriptural foundation. I don't think the "all the prophecy in the Bible fulfilled by AD 70" meta-hermeneutic has that solid foundation. First because I don't find the arguments for it convincing. Second, and just as important, I see portions of Scripture that contradict it (i.e. Revelation 12 showing Satan being cast to the earth at AD 30, not into the abyss; the millennium beginning at AD 70 at the Second Coming). I have called for a re-examination of the "all prophecy fulfilled by AD 70" meta-hermeneutic of full preterism.
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As one who does not recognize the constraint of all prophecy having to be fulfilled by AD 70, let me outline my position. I am summarizing here; for some of the rationale behind my thinking read my other articles, "A New Preterist Perspective" (although this paper modifies the section in that paper labeled "Resurrections") and "Revelation Chapter 12".
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First, I agree with full preterists that the Second Coming of Jesus happened at AD 70. To me this is the heart of preterism. I don't look for a third coming (Jesus would have to leave for that to happen!). I also agree that our salvation was made complete at the Second Coming. I also agree with full preterists that Christians have had access to the New Jerusalem and tree of life since the Second Coming (AD 70), Praise the Lord! Looking at Revelation chapter 12, I see that Satan was cast to the earth at Jesus' resurrection (John 12:31). He was loose on the earth until the Second Coming (AD 70). Looking at Revelation chapters 17-20, I see Jesus' Second Coming as happening at the destruction of Jerusalem (the fall of Babylon) in AD 70. The beast was defeated around that time, and thrown into the lake of fire. Satan was bound and cast into the abyss at that time (AD 70) and the millennial reign of believers began. It was at this time that the resurrection and judgment of Revelation 20 happened. I see this resurrection as an ongoing one that all believers participate in, ruling and reigning with Jesus. I see a final abolishment of evil at the end of the millennium when Satan and all that is evil will be thrown into the lake of fire.
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A major disagreement I have with full preterists is over their view of the current status of evil. Full preterists see Satan and all other enemies of Jesus as being abolished (thrown into the lake of fire) at AD 70. Thus full preterists see Satan as totally off the scene today, although evil still lives on in the hearts of men. In their view evil may diminish as the Kingdom expands but it never really ceases to exist. I look for a more definitive abolishment of all evil at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7-10). My position sees Satan as being active today. He was defeated at the cross (Matthew 28:18) but that does not mean he doesn't still produce destruction in the world today.
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I see us currently in the end part of the millennial reign when Satan is released from the abyss to go out and deceive the nations. That is why I think we have been experiencing such a rise in spiritual darkness in the last 3 or 4 decades. Spiritually speaking this is our world and we need (by prayer and sharing the word of God) to be more active in our rule of it. The Christian army advances on its knees! In the same manner as the children of Israel, when they inherited the promised land (Joshua 1:3), everywhere we set our feet (bringing God's rule) has already been given to us. In my opinion any form of preterism that doesn’t emphasize the active ruling of the Christian today (primarily through prayer) is on the wrong track. I don't look for the world to become totally Christian (like the post-millennialist does). I look for a continuing polarization of dark and light. That is, I look for the dark (non-Christians) to get darker and the light (Christians) to get brighter as the Kingdom expands. How optimistic or pessimistic others may view my position does not concern me as much as how well it lines up with Scripture.
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I see God's sovereign hand in bringing the Jews (after the flesh) back to the land of Israel. He owes them absolutely nothing from the Old Covenant, but is grafting those who will come to faith in Jesus back into the tree of Israel (which we are a part of). God is dealing positively again with the Jews (after the flesh) for His name's sake (so His enemies don’t think it was they who overthrew Israel), for the sake of the Fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc.) and because His calling is irrevocable. Many preterists (both partial and full), would disagree with me on this but are at a loss to explain what God is currently doing with physical Israel. I look for increasing numbers of Jews (after the flesh) becoming true Jews (believers in Jesus). I also look for increasing antagonism from those Jews who won't be grafted back into the tree of true Israel. I look for peace to come to the land of Israel and at a time after that I look for the Gog and Magog invasion to happen. At that time Satan and all that is evil are thrown into their final place of judgment and destruction, the lake of fire. This is when Jesus, having abolished all enemies, all that is evil, delivers the Kingdom up to the Father (I Cor.15:22-26). We then live on in the eternal fulfillment of being with our God and Lord (what I call the eternal state) where we will have fullness of joy in their presence and with each other!
Duncan McKenzie

All Bible Things Were Not Fulfilled by A.D.70

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Dear Reader,
Its reasonable to raise the concern that all Scripture/Prophecy would need to be fulfilled by 70AD, especially since several good men among modern Preterists since Max King's 1970's-era milestone, Spirit of Prophecy , have given attractive arguments for such a conclusion. But it must be remembered that they all owe an even greater debt to James S. Russell's 19th century mountain-moving tome, The Parousia: A Critical Inquiry into the New Testament Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming , which centers fulfillment of prophecy around the "Day of the Lord" rather than any date. Russell is among the greatest, if not the first, to prove conclusively that the "Day of the Lord" dawns with Christ's Return circa 70AD. Nobody gets a 70AD Return of Christ without the Bible skills championed by James Stuart Russell. Nobody.
As you've inescapably concluded by now, my approach can be fairly introduced by this soundbite:
Eschatology, (the explanation of last things), revolves around "The Day of the Lord" rather than the date "70AD."
When we regard 2 Peter 3:8 (and Ps 90:4) to suggest that Rev 20's "The 1,000 Years" = "The Day of the Lord" of which the Law & Prophets and the NT speak,
and we recall that the focus about which eschatology revolves is "The Day of the Lord" rather than the date "70A.D.,"
we come to realize that all the Law & Prophets find their fulfillment with "The Day of the Lord," the beginning thereof circa 70A.D.
The above are just reiterations of what I have been saying all along. You deserve a tailor made answer to your concern here, though. I generally prefer to make my own such arguments, but I'm pressed for time right now and believe you also deserve a prompt reply. Please accept this link for now to Duncan McKenzies' approach in the which I find much merit. (Though Duncan also makes some Partial-Preterist statements with which I disagree. But this is part of the beauty of my approach, as I see it, it satisfies the valid concerns of Partial-Preterists while coming to the triumphant conclusions in which Full Preterism rejoices: there is no end, there is no fatalistic sentence upon past generations dooming our future, Tommorrow is a blank page to be co-authored together by God & the Blood-bought, Redeemed: Tommorrow is determined by what we do with Jesus Today, not by the failures of generations long since silenced. May the view I have been presenting serve as a bridge of understanding between Partial & Full Preterists that brings a more united front in presenting the glorious reality that Jesus is Back and living among us. The shout of a king is among the His Chosen People, the Church!). I will try to compose a fresh, personal answer to this claim that all prophecy be fulfilled by the 1st century when I find time.
May God bless through Jesus Christ our Teacher all who read, may He open our eyes to see wonderful things in His Word, granting us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and may He grant us the grace to grow in the knowledge that does not puff up, but rather, multiplies grace & peace. Amen.
BONUS QUESTION:
How might this passage have possibly been fulfilled by A.D.70?

Isa 65:20-23
20 "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Shall be thought accursed.
21 "And they shall build houses and inhabit them;
They shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 "They shall not build, and another inhabit,
They shall not plant, and another eat;
For as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones shall wear out the work of their hands.
23 "They shall not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD,
And their descendants with them.
NASB

Observations:
1) People are working with their hands and they live to outlast the things they build.
2) People are being born and dying but living "as the days of a tree," which is not forever, but indeed a blessed, long time.
(There are sequoias calculated to live 2,000 years, redwoods up to 800 years, like Adam who lived 935 years).
3) Some people among them are regarded as "accursed," ie, under God's disapproval. They live less than 100 years.
4) It is considered a tragic loss to die in one's youth at age 100.
And this is love, that we walk after Christ's commandments ~2 John 6

Questioning "Full" Preterism, Covenant Eschatology

Question: Does not the declaration by some Full Preterists that the work of the Cross was not fully in effect until 40 years later have profound effects?

Timeline: 
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