AD70.Net In Ashes

Back in July 2010 I wrote an article about AD70.net (Preterist Radio) failing -- source. At the time, AD70.net founder, Michael Loomis ridiculed my assessment, all the while begging for money to keep himself afloat.  AD70.net continued to flounder since the writing of that article and Loomis continued to beg for support. (ref).  In case someone thinks I'm just making this sound worse than it is, read what Loomis himself says:

"I would like to think that Preterist Radio will be around for quite some time. However, reality is staring me in the face.  I’m broke. When Susan [Loomis' wife] left 6 months ago her income went with her and so the time has come where I must say that I no longer have the ability to sustain Preterist Radio.

I have invested the last 3 years of my life into Preterist Radio along with approximately $30,000 of my own money to keep it up and running. And I’m more than happy to continue on serving the preterist community but I can’t on my own.

I’m all tapped out." -- source

So, as you can see as I wrote in 2010, indeed AD70.net was/is failing.  However, I must commend Loomis for something.  As he has nothing to lose, he has become brave and restarted his podcasts with "Rivers-Of-Eden" (ROE) -- perhaps the most consistent preterist I've met.  ROE is an unassuming fellow who isn't trying to promote a website or write books or get donations.  He has repeatedly asked to debate Don Preston, yet Preston will not engage him.

Now, partly because Loomis restored to podcasts with ROE, AD70.net is losing even more support.  Loomis even says so:

"At this point in time I am doubting and questioning just about everything. I no longer believe that we are doing ourselves any favors by excluding anyone’s unique preterist views from our conversations. Since I made that announcement a number of people that don’t agree with me have withdrawn their financial support, making the future of Preterist Radio even more dim." --  source

Further, a rash of alternate Preterist Internet "radio" stations have begun popping up. It appears that some of the former AD70.net programs have moved to these other "stations".

So, while I might applaud Loomis for FINALLY getting real, no more FAKE "Antithesis Hours" with FAKE "elders", this doesn't change the reality that as I said in 2010, AD70.net was/is failing.  But who knows, maybe it will rebound with its now more honest, less money driven programming.  However, since there are not too many brave people in the world...not even among the so called "pioneers" within Preterism, it is more likely that AD70.net's support will continue to dwindle until Loomis must close shop.

What Motivates "Consistent Preterists"?

The first thing the reader should notice is that I plan to stop calling people "hyperpreterists", but will begin to refer to this group as "Consistent Preterists".  Why? Well, the so-called "Partial-Preterists" or "historical Preterists" have made such a shamble of eschatology that I no longer think it fair that Consistent Preterists should be considered as being "beyond" or "hyper" preterism.  After all, popular partial-preterist author and speaker, Gary DeMar has said of Christian eschatology:

"... I'm willing to listen to what others say on an issue, especially on eschatology since it's been a garbled mess for centuries. It's conceivable that so-called eschatological heretics are seeing something I'm not seeing. They're willing to take the risk. Many are not." -- source

Pitfalls of a Counter-Cult Ministry

First, what is a counter-cult ministry? A counter-cult ministry is an effort by one or more people to expose and address a cultic group.  A cultic group is defined not merely by something extreme such as an individual leader controlling followers but by any abnormal devotion to one or more leaders that often results in the followers behaving unethically or even illegally in support of the leader(s). And the leader(s) need not even ask the followers to behave in this way, however the leader(s) often will turn a blind eye to the actions of their followers.

DEFINING A CULT

As stated, a cult is not merely an individual leader controlling followers. A cult need not even be religious in nature, although that is perhaps the easiest vehicle to use to get followers to be that devoted. Also, just because followers are very devoted to leadership doesn't make it a cult. Obviously, religions in general call for the express devotion of its adherents, if not to its founders and leaders at least to its principles and teachings. The kind of cult we're talking about is the kind of group that causes its followers to manifest unethical and often illegal behavior in support of the leadership. It is an almost, "protect the leadership at all costs" mentality.  Often, no matter how much documentation and evidence is brought to bear that the leadership is corrupt, the followers will still remain devoted and sometimes even become more entrenched.  We see this with some political parties, unions, and even yes religious leaders.

If something happens to me...

I just wanted to let everyone know that if something happens to me or my family, they should first suspect Jason L. Bradfield, the P.R. manager for Sam Frost of RCM (Reign of Christ website).  Bradfield has truly been stalking me, even coming onto the Christian Forum, CARM where he was promptly banned by the moderators after he not only blatantly broke multiple rules, but even said he "wished they'd ban him".

Shortly after this, Bradfield started emailing me, even from a fake account called roderickthecoward@yahoo.com with my name as the sender, as if he is Roderick Edwards.  Bradfield obviously has a history of unethical behavior, whether it is blatantly breaking/disrespecting the rules of a community or making it look like someone said something they clearly didn't or using other people's names as a sender in an email.

In these hostile and hate filled emails Bradfield sent, he called me a "little bitch" several times among other names.  He then called my home, while I was at work.  Fortunately I have him recorded and will record him if he ever calls again.  My wife listened to the message and was frightened and called me at work.  This is not the first time Bradfield's group has called my house frightening my family.  Indeed, another hyperpreterist had at one time threatened to harm my family if I didn't shut up.  I reported that individual to the FBI.

Now, Bradfield is threatening me.  I don't know what his threat entails but he said: "You ain't getting away that easy. It has just begun. Now keeping talking you little bitch."  He said this after I asked him to:

• stop emailing me
• stop sending me Google+ invites
• stop coming onto forums where I am
• stop threatening me
• stop calling my house
• stop assuming you know what goes on at my house

Bradfield is upset partly because he says, unpreterist.blogspot.com is "dedicated to talking about him" and his cronies.  Actually, NO it is dedicated to UNDOING over 15 years of promotion of hyperpreterism.  The FACT is that people like Sam Frost, Gary DeMar, Kenneth Talbot, Dee Dee Warren and yes even Bradfield have been heavily involved in purposely or unwittingly promoting various forms of hyperpreterism.