Don K. Preston: A Novice Teacher

Don K. Preston, perhaps the last active "leader" within the hyperpreterist movement has begun a podcast series he is calling "Morning Musings". In this series, Preston recounts how and why he became a "full preterist".

First, I always think it is amusing how Preston claims he is the "president" of "Preterist Research Institute" as if there is an entire staff of officers.  It is basically just Preston.  But anyhow, during the initial podcast Preston tells us he "doesn't worry about traditions" and "doesn't worry about the creeds" (minute 2:31-2:44).  Really? So, Preston is admitting he is a lone-ranger who only "worries about" his own interpretations of the Bible.  However, Jesus didn't come to found a disconnected faith of radical individualists.  Jesus founded a community of believers with common held beliefs. (1 Corinthians 10:17, Philippians 1:27, Jude 1:3)  This disconnecting from the historic Christian community is the first step to any heresy.  Preston has in essence made himself his master and disciple, whereas the Bible says:

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. -- 2 Thes 2:15

Preston tells us from the start that he "doesn't worry about" or rather doesn't CARE about these "traditions".  Instead he wants to listen to his own voice alone.



Further, Preston says that the reason he does what he does is "because he wants to be a follower of the Lord" (minute 2:26-2:29), yet Preston wants to disconnect himself from the very Body that the Lord founded;  the Church.  I don't think Preston is "following the Lord" of the Bible nor does he WANT to follow the Lord of the Bible, otherwise Preston wouldn't be advocating the heresy of hyperpreterism.

Preston tells us in his second podcast that he was "fresh out of seminary" when he was asked to teach on the Olivet Discourse (Mt 24/Mk 13/Lk 21) (minute 0:45-1:33). So, Preston admits he was a novice when he took up the issue, which is more than likely the reason he fell into the heresy of hyperpreterism. (1 Tim 3:6)
Further, Preston tells us his own father, who was also a preacher was "terrified" and "didn't know how to answer" concerning the interpretation of the Olivet Discourse.  (minute 1:05-1:14)  Preston continues by saying his seminary "professors expressed uncertainty and reserve" on how to properly interpret the Olivet Discourse. (minute 1:15-1:23) So, again Preston admits he was a novice, under the tutelage of his novice preacher father and novice seminary professors. He admits he took on the task, "fresh out of seminary" of teaching a group of women about the Olivet Discourse.  He admits that he is a go-it-alone radical individualist who doesn't care about the historic Christian Faith and what has been believed and taught in unison for over 2000 years.  Yet, Preston wants people to follow him and listen to what he teaches?

But Preston's novice mind doesn't stop there.  He tells us "it didn't take him very long" to come to his hyperpreterist conclusions about the Olivet Discourse. (minute 1:58-2:11)  So, wait.  He tells us his preacher dad grappled with the text and that his seminary professors were uncertain and reserved about the interpretation of the text yet here is Preston; "fresh out of seminary" and it "doesn't take him very long" to come to the supposed correct interpretation of the text???  This is the height of arrogance.  This is EXACTLY the reason a novice should not be allowed to teach because they will become proud and puffed up and fall into condemnation. (1 Tim 3:6)

Preston's podcasts have been more revealing than he knows as to how and why he became a hyperpreterist.  According to his own testimony he is a hyperpreterist because:

1. He had novice teachers
2. He was fresh out of seminary
3. He was a novice
4. He is a radical individualist
5. He is proud and puffed up

Anyone who continues to follow Preston after his own testimony of error, does so at their own peril.