Monday, May 10, 2010

Unpreterist Explanations

What is this website all about? Well, there is a theological perspective called Preterism that has become popular since the 1990s.  Preterism advocates some or all of the N.T. prophecies have been fulfilled, specifically around the year A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Herodian Temple.

There are two main forms of Preterism;

  • Historic Preterism -- Sometimes called "Partial Preterism" or "Orthodox Preterism".
  • Hyper-Preterism -- Sometimes called "Full Preterism", "Covenant Eschatology", or "Fulfilled Eschatology".
Historic Preterism as a system perhaps began to be advocated in the late 1800s but more so recently since the 1990s.  Major advocates of  Historic Preterism are; Gary DeMar, Kenneth Gentry, R.C. Sproul Sr., and Hank Hanegraaff.

Historic Preterism advocates that most of the N.T. prophecies were fulfilled, specifically the Olivet Discourse passages as found in Mt 24, Mk 13, and Lk 21.  Typically, Historic Preterists will claim, Jesus came back in AD70 but only in judgment against the disbelieving Jews.  Historic Preterists claim Jesus is to come yet again, along with the attending events such as the resurrection of the believers, the judgment of wicked and the righteous and the end of sin.

Hyper-preterism as a system wasn't really established until 1971 with a "church of Christ" minister named Max King.  King published several books advocating the view, which caused much strife in his denomination.  Major advocates of Hyper-preterism are; Don Preston, Samuel Frost, Ed Stevens, and Kelly Birks.

Hyper-preterism advocates that all of the N.T. prophecies were fulfilled in the first-century, this includes the coming of Christ (once and for all), the collective resurrection of the believers, the judgment of the wicked and the righteous, and the end of sin.  Hyper-preterists believe this is all past.  Hyper-preterism is generally considered to be heretical, not Christian.


Most of the content on Unpreterist.blogspot.com is addressing Hyper-Preterism. 

I was a Hyper-preterist for about 15 years until I renounced it in 2007.  Shortly after 2007, I hooked up with a group/person that had been fighting Hyper-preterism.  After awhile, it became apparent that the person was more out for back-pats and selfish ends.  They began to bring on people who knew little about the Hyper-preterist movement.  It appeared they brought these people on because they were seminary professors and pastors but otherwise with little direct knowledge of the issues, but were out more to appear to be some sort of "show-boat" champions.  This changed the dynamic of the "ministry" and I soon left that "ministry".

This site, Unpreterist.blogspot.com is what remains of the material I published addressing Hyper-preterism.  I really do not publish much new material on the matter but welcome private emails and phone calls.

Some of those still associated with that "ministry" have become very, very hostile and hateful, even threatening to sue me for being critical of them.  You may experience that from them, either via smarmy comments from them or if they see you interact with me publicly, they may try to contact you privately to try to smear me.  At any rate, counter-cult/apologetics is a tough endeavor. It certainly isn't for the faint of heart or those who constantly want to sue people for real or imagined offenses.

WHY A FREE SITE???

Lastly, some of those critics from that hostile cadre, have taken umbrage because I noted that the social networking platform NING was no longer going to offer free service (ref).  This would mean that many members of those sites were in danger of losing the content they contributed.  Somehow, me commenting on that FACT caused the hostiles to become even more hostile (though their sites aren't typically run on the NING platform, Hyper-preterists sites are).  So, the hostiles somehow think it was hypocritical of me to be critical of administrators who utilized NING, since of course blogspot is ALSO a free platform.

HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE, since those hostiles couldn't figure it out.  This site ISN'T a social network.  It is my OWN content.  If it is lost, the only one out is me.  *SIGH*

So, anyhow, please utilize the content here as long as it is here.  Drop me a line and let me know how you've utilized the material.  God bless and keep you in Christ Jesus and His Church.

Roderick Edwards

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