Preterism: Darling Doctrine of the Damned
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
"(The Book of Revelation) is about the destruction of Israel and Christ’s victory over His enemies in the establishment of the New Covenant Temple. In fact, as we shall see, the word coming as used in the Book of Revelation never refers to the Second Coming. Revelation prophesies the judgment of God on apostate Israel; and while it does briefly point to events beyond its immediate concerns, that is done merely as a “wrap-up,” to show that the ungodly will never prevail against Christ’s Kingdom. But the main focus of Revelation is upon events which were soon to take place." (Days of Vengeance, p. 43)
David Chilton, a prolific writer on prophetic subjects, sincerely believed he had the God-given gift of prophetic interpretation.
I do not doubt his sincerity.
I do, however, doubt his calling and salvation.
I base my assessment not on a personal basis, but on the infallible Word of God.
False prophets assume many identities.
Some false prophets preach a false Gospel along with false doctrines. Joel Osteen, Trinity Broadcasting and most of religious TV comes to mind
.
Other false prophets declare false future events. Harold Camping and Ellen G. White come to mind. So do Hal Lindsey and the authors of the ‘Left Behind’ series.
Still other false prophets falsely interpret the prophetic Scriptures.
David Chilton and all Theonomist/Reconstructionists come to mind.
It is no surprise Satan has infiltrated the visible professing Christian Body with false prophets.
Christ and the Apostles prophesied as much.
And it should come as no surprise that our Lord has never left His Body without true prophets.
Christ’s Body is always complete, all its members always intact.
His Body is never missing limbs, eyes or a brain.
The Lord’s truthful prophets do not claim new revelations from the Lord.
Instead, the truthful prophets declare the truth of the closed canon of prophetic Writ.
Prophecy is written in such a way that it is virtually impossible to 100% predict accurately until its fulfillment in history.
The disciples did not understand the prophecies concerning Christ’s death and resurrection, nor did they know which of them was the prophesied devil to betray Christ…..until after the fact.
Early Christian authors prognosticated as to the meaning of the prophetic Scriptures. Some of their guesses had credence, but most did not.
Why?
Because they were attempting to interpret that which had not yet taken place…..an impossible and futile endeavor without historical proof of fulfillment.
As centuries passed and the Papacy took control of the fallen Roman Empire of the West, deviating more and more from biblical orthodoxy, the Lord’s remnant Church began to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy.
From that recognition sprang multiple cries of warnings that the Roman Catholic Church was the Great Whore, her Pope the Antichrist.
These dissenting Christians were given many names and falsely accused of many heresies.
They, unlike the tribulation-free Preterist and Futurist false prophets of our day, sealed their testimony with their blood.
Here’s the dilemma which the Preterist and Futurist must face.
Either the Roman Catholic Church was telling the truth and the dissenters were lying, reprobate heretics who deserved death.
Or the dissenters were telling the truth and should be believed.
And, like Christ, though they were killed, yet they were guilty of no wrongdoing.
But, you say, it is possible the dissenters were both Christians and mistaken…….sincere, but sincerely mistaken, deceived into believing a lie.
Perhaps they died believing a lie.
In which case, the Lord allowed His people, the true Christians, to die believing a lie.
But is that the true character of the biblical Jesus?
Or is it the promise of Jesus to speak the truth through His future persecuted people who are brought before the ecclesiastical authorities?
"But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."
Essentially, Preterists believe the Roman Catholic Church was telling the truth.
Otherwise they could not, in good conscience, interpret prophetic Writ in such a profane and biased manner favorable to Roman Catholicism, while damning to the dissenters.
Damning to those who were true Christians.
Is it not obvious their Protestant Christian profession is a blatant lie?
They may forever call themselves Calvinists, yet they are liars who deny the very prophetic truths which Calvin and the Reformers preached until their last dying breaths.
They may call themselves Christians but, in reality, they
hate the brethren.
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."
"I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."