Soonness
One thing I have noticed about these verses that deal with "soonness" (for want of a better word) is that many people just sort of flit around the challenge posted by these verses. They dance around it like a Mexican Hat Dance, wanting to explain, or qualify, the problematic verses brought up, by pointing to other verses.
I used to do the same thing. I distinctly remember giving preterists the cold shoulder 5-10 years ago on ABCProphecy. I really felt that they were on the slippery slope to destruction - a step away from denying their Lord altogether (if they hadn't already done so!)
Of course, I used to feel the same way - at one time - about Amillennialists. My youth pastor in Kansas many years ago had done his job well; he had soured my disposition against even considering Amillennialism.
But I no longer think that Preterism (speaking generically for now) has anything to do with slippery slopes, but rather learning curves. The difference between those two is that the latter trends blessedly upwards.
So - what about those "soon" verses? Can these possibly mean 2000 years? No. Not if language has any reliability left in it at all. Though men often equivocate in their shameless misuse of language, yet certainly God would not. His "yes" means "Yes".
So, for a reminder, here are just a few of those soonness verses. More comments below:
Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Matthew 23:36
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:33-34
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Luke 11:50-51
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Rev. 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev. 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev. 22:6-12
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Like I wrote earlier, it was these verses - and I have just picked a few out of many - that just stuck in my mind and heart. They required both acknowledgment and to be incorporated into my belief-system. But it just wouldn't fit into my system. That is when it was time to look at other paradigms.
I needed a system that dealt forthrightly with these straight questions:
How can Christ come quickly ... and be delayed almost two millennia?
How can Christ come into His kingdom within the lives of those very disciples He was speaking to ... and then delay it well beyond the death of all of them?
How can all the vents of Matt. 24 be fulfilled before that current generation passed away?
If this very same generation is the one on whom will fall judgment for all their sins from "the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias" why do so many - including Amills - treat this chapter as Gentiles judgment (as well as Jewish)?
These were just a few questions I had. Preterism answered these well to my satisfaction.
One thing I have noticed about these verses that deal with "soonness" (for want of a better word) is that many people just sort of flit around the challenge posted by these verses. They dance around it like a Mexican Hat Dance, wanting to explain, or qualify, the problematic verses brought up, by pointing to other verses.
I used to do the same thing. I distinctly remember giving preterists the cold shoulder 5-10 years ago on ABCProphecy. I really felt that they were on the slippery slope to destruction - a step away from denying their Lord altogether (if they hadn't already done so!)
Of course, I used to feel the same way - at one time - about Amillennialists. My youth pastor in Kansas many years ago had done his job well; he had soured my disposition against even considering Amillennialism.
But I no longer think that Preterism (speaking generically for now) has anything to do with slippery slopes, but rather learning curves. The difference between those two is that the latter trends blessedly upwards.
So - what about those "soon" verses? Can these possibly mean 2000 years? No. Not if language has any reliability left in it at all. Though men often equivocate in their shameless misuse of language, yet certainly God would not. His "yes" means "Yes".
So, for a reminder, here are just a few of those soonness verses. More comments below:
____________________________________
Matthew 16:28Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Matthew 23:36
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:33-34
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Luke 11:50-51
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Rev. 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev. 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev. 22:6-12
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
---------------------
Like I wrote earlier, it was these verses - and I have just picked a few out of many - that just stuck in my mind and heart. They required both acknowledgment and to be incorporated into my belief-system. But it just wouldn't fit into my system. That is when it was time to look at other paradigms.
I needed a system that dealt forthrightly with these straight questions:
How can Christ come quickly ... and be delayed almost two millennia?
How can Christ come into His kingdom within the lives of those very disciples He was speaking to ... and then delay it well beyond the death of all of them?
How can all the vents of Matt. 24 be fulfilled before that current generation passed away?
If this very same generation is the one on whom will fall judgment for all their sins from "the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias" why do so many - including Amills - treat this chapter as Gentiles judgment (as well as Jewish)?
These were just a few questions I had. Preterism answered these well to my satisfaction.
