Thoughts on Full Preterism

"Full Preterism" is a "school" of prophetic interpretation which teaches that ALL Bible prophecy has been fulfilled - mostly within the fall of the Jewish nation and city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This includes the resurrection, judgment, new heavens, new earth, etc. Full Preterism "spiritualizes" most of these prophecies and finds their fulfillment in a "kingdom within", “heaven”, or in the spread of gospel globally. Some use it as a front for "Christian Nationalism".
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While some would take issue with my graphic, it does accurately represent their position regardless of how they wish to spin it. For them, there is no future coming kingdom except that which we create ourselves here, or perhaps within the prospect of “going to heaven” when we die. The promises of Revelation - that all tears should be wiped away, that there should be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor death; or that Jesus, by his personal return should overthrow the wicked kingdoms of this world... All these things, they tell us, are to be understood and enjoyed "spiritually".

Where, when, or by whom in the nearly 2000 years since the destruction of Jerusalem has this glorious spiritual kingdom been perceived or enjoyed in the way Preterists describe? Was it during the early church persecutions? Was it in the apostasy of the Roman state religion culminating in the Catholic Church? Was it in the dark ages, the plague, the crusades, or the bloody wars between Catholics and Protestants? Is it to be found in this current godless age? Is the triumph of God's kingdom such that the vast majority of mankind in the past, and even still today has lived and died without so much as having heard the name of Jesus?  Why have the earliest Christians left us no testimony that Jesus had returned, or that the prophecies had found their complete fulfillment, or that they were then living in the glorious kingdom? No, Full Preterism is a serious error that needs to be called out.

Preterists will tell us that they are interpreting the Biblical language consistently by letting "time texts" take on their plain natural meaning. After all, they say, didn't the New Testament writers state that Jesus' return was imminent, and didn't Jesus proclaim in the Book of Revelation that he was "coming soon"? While these are fair questions which deserve serious consideration, full Preterism is not the answer.

I have carefully considered the works of many Preterist authors and can say confidently that the "time texts" are the ONLY passages they are unwilling to spiritualize. The "plain meaning of words" seems a concern to them only when it suits their narrow view. Their commentaries on the Book of Revelation are a travesty and make a mockery of this last great prophecy which our Lord gave to his church through the apostle John.
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There can, and should be vigorous debate and discussion about the proper interpretation of prophecy, but full Preterism is a trap which is best avoided entirely.

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