Sunday, November 22, 2015

THE POWER OF PRETERISM – WHAT NOW?

After the death and resurrection, of Jesus. Part 21


By: Joe Daniels

I had the privilege of being a guest speaker at an eschatology seminar about two years ago. I had as a main topic dealing with the deity of Christ, but I also shared my view of the ETERNAL DAY with everyone in a Bible study which was very well received! Don Preston another speaker who was present enjoyed it. He stated that he also had already seen this truth from his own studies! The theme and title of the Seminar was: “The Power Of Preterism” Now if you ask me what do I consider the power of being a preterist - Here’s POWER in the knowledge of a fulfilled eschatology for you to dwell on ….WE ARE IN AN ETERNAL DAY!!! Where is that found? Bear with me just a bit and I will show you! We all can point to verses where the apostles certainly pointed to the coming Day of the Lord in their very near future! (Not our future.) The references to the coming Day of the Lord was anachronistic to those of the first century! Failing to grasp this of course, is where futurism has faltered!

There are quite a few verses like Heb.10:25 which speak about assembling together as they saw that day approaching! Another shows it as a day of rest Heb.4:4-10 a day of visitation 1 Peter 2:12 etc…. there truly are a lot of scriptures pointing to this “DAY”. One that comes to mind is found in Rom.13:11-12 where the day of salvation was near and the “DAY” was at hand…. But now notice something that is very clear in the Greek of 2 Peter 3:18 It tells us something I find interesting about that DAY OF SALVATION! Most Bible translations really miss this in their interpretation of it! What is it, you might ask? It's this - that day in which salvation was to become a reality would be an ETERNAL DAY that lasts forever!

This is why the Apostle Paul could write that the Day of salvation was “now” upon them in the present tense. (See 2 Cor. 6:2) And yet at the same time, he penned that it was “at hand” and yet a day to be realized in the very near future! (Rom.13:12; 1 Peter 1:19) That day of salvation was then dawning and starting in for the church of the first century, yet after the Parousia it would be fully here and said to never end, it would set as “the morning” that would come and stand for an eternal day! (νῦν καὶ εἰς ἡμέραν αἰῶνος now and unto Day of eternity.) This is essential to understanding more clearly the soteriology of the already but not yet!

Many wonder and ask the question that “if the salvation and Parousia is past, being accomplished in A.D. 70 what does that mean for us today?” Well it has a lot to do with your understanding of your present condition before God! An eschatological parable that Jesus spoke of found in Matthew chapter 13:24-30 and explained in verses 36-43 known as the parable of the wheat and the tares which ends like this: 41” The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matt.13:41-43 (NKJV)

I would say that it is obvious that Jesus is speaking of those in A.D. 70 that were to be found in His kingdom at His appearing! Likewise, I would say that these people even lived on past A.D.70! A death blows to the Israel Only crowd! They are considered righteous and would shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Wouldn't you agree that if that kingdom still exists and it does, the same can now be said for us the righteous that live today? Isn't that great news to know that in God's eyes you shine forth as the sun in His kingdom?

For those who claim that there is no kingdom today like the Israel Only camp make Jesus' words in the Lord's prayer out to be a failed prayer! That means the Father's will was never accomplished!

ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου γενηθήτω
Come the kingdom (of) you come to be

τὸ θέλημά σου,
the will (of) you

ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
as in heaven and upon the earth

Matt.6:9-13 (NKJV)

The everlasting gospel (Rev.14:6) is still being preached today, an eternal day and age! It’s important in understanding that salvation was granted back then in the first century, and is still open to all who will accept the gift of Jesus Christ today! When one hears the gospel and is baptized into Christ, they then enter into that eternal day which extends into eternity! It starts that day and never ends! Amen, and Amen, is all I can say! Let's look at two scriptures that speak of this day, the day that we are now in, that the first century saints waited for:

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12 (NKJV)

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV)

That Day spoken of and waited for, is an eternal Day of Salvation that never ends! Let me share with you the Greek of 2 Peter 3:18 to make it abundantly clear. I want you to see this in the Greek for yourself.

αὐξάνετε δὲ ἐν χάριτι καὶ γνώσει
Grow but in grace and knowledge

τοῦ κυρίουἡ μῶν καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ
of the Lord of us and savior Jesus

Χριστοῦ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ νῦν
Christ to Him the glory and now

καὶ εἰς ἡμέραν αἰῶνος ἀμήν
and into ( the) day of eternity. Amen

2 Peter 3:18

Most English Bible versions have it rendered incorrectly. The NASV has it rendered the closest to the Greek it renders it as : “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and into the day of eternity. Amen.”

Here are few more translations I found that have 2 Peter 3:18 translated correctly:

English Standard Version (©2001) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

International Standard Version (©2012) “Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen.”

NET Bible (©2006) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) “But grow in the good will and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal day! Amen.”

Douay-Rheims Bible “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.”

Darby Bible Translation “but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Weymouth New Testament But be always growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, both now and to the day of Eternity!

I pray that this study makes it pretty clear that my findings in the Greek make it clear that we are now in a day that never ends! Hallelujah!!!!!

Futurists seem to forget the words of Jesus in Matt. 24:35; Mk. 13:31; & Lk.21:33 which all speak of the end of the heavens and the earth; but the continuance of Jesus’ words which of course are recorded for us in the pages of our New Testament. Now my question would be that if the heavens and the earth are a reference to the physical planet and skies, and they are to be burned up? Wouldn't the word's of Jesus then be useless if everything goes up in smoke and this planet is blown up? Yet the power of Preterism and the knowledge that you are now living in an eternal day enables you to know that this planet is not going to be destroyed! That's good news!

Why would we even need His words if they would come to mean nothing to us in this age unless there was an eternal Day? Does not the Bible also say that the world never comes to an end? Of course it does, let’s look at a few of them!

Eccl. 1:4 “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.”
Ps.78:69 “And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has established forever.”

Ps. 96:10 “Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.”

Eph.3:21 “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul’s letter to Timothy gives us an answer where he instructs Timothy to be a good minister thru his teaching by being nourished in “THE WORDS OF FAITH” which within that word is the promise of “THE LIFE” that “NOW IS” and of that “WHICH IS TO COME”. 1 Tim.4:6-7

The resurrection & the judgment is eternal! It began with Israel in A.D. 70 and is ongoing for all eternity! There is no more holding tank for the dead awaiting judgment. (Rev.20:14)

See Heb. 6:2 … ἀναστάσεώς τε νεκρῶν καὶ κρίματος αἰωνίου
Resurrection both of the dead and judgment eternal.

The same as is said of the New Covenant in Heb. 13:20
… αἵματι διαθήκης αἰωνίου
 blood of covenant eternal

At the Parousia the New Jerusalem which equates to the kingdom comes down out of heaven. It is set up and, we are told that the gates are always opened for the saved.24 “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Rev.21:24-27 The Greek is emphatic using οὐ μὴ (no not) is a double negative usually used to denote impossibility or moral repugnance. In other words, it is impossible for the gates to be closed! Let me state that again for the emphasis it actually entails: The Greek is emphatic using οὐ μὴ (no not) is a double negative meaning that it is impossible for the gates to be closed!

καὶ οἱ πυλῶνες αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ κλεισθῶσιν
and the gates of it no not be shut.

In the Septuagint it was also prophesied that the gates of the kingdom would not be shut. Let's look at Isa. 26: 2 and Isa.60:11 we read that the gates are made to be opened on that Day of Salvation! Of course they are shut for the unsaved – they can’t enter the city!

ἀνοίξατε πύλας εἰσελθάτω
Open gates Enter

λαὸς φυλάσσων δικαιοσύνην καὶ
people guarding righteousness and

φυλάσσων ἀλήθειαν
guarding truth. Isa. 26:2 LXX

Again in Isa. 60:11 we read:
καὶ ἀνοιχθήσονται αἱ πύλαι σου διὰ

And shall be open the gates of you through
παντός ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς

all day and night
οὐ κλεισθήσονται …

not be locked … Isa. 60:11 LXX

Yes the gates are open and many are coming into the kingdom daily, and forever! They will be open for those who want to enter for all eternity! No they will never be closed, nor are they ever going to shut! Great news if you ask me! That's what the Gospel means by the way “Good News”! The Israel Only perverted doctrine is terrible news, it by definition is plain and simple – POISON! Yet the power of preterism allows us the knowledge that the Kingdom, The New Jerusalem, The New heavens and earth will remain before God! And all flesh will worship him , not just Jews! (Isa. 66:22-23)

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” Zech. 14:16

Not only will the kingdom continue, and the gates to be opened forever ...but we are to rule with Jesus the King of Kings! 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; Rev. 2:25-27

“His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” Rev.12:4-5 15 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev. 19:15-16

Those post A.D. 70 are to “RULE” (Greek ποιμανεῖ ) meaning to Shepard, rule, govern, even to nourish. The rod of iron is a figure of the gospel that is used to chasten with the word of truth. This obviously began with the word giver Himself Jesus, and the authority is passed on to His church who were, and are still commissioned to proclaim it!

By the victory of Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and Parousia we are set in His kingdom as conquerors! We rule with Him and that rule is an eternal day which never ends! Let no one steal that kingship or queen ship from you! It is precious in the sight of the Lord and paid for with an enormous price! God bless you all, thank you for your time!

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