If the Preterists and Futurists are completely opposite in their views, that would constitute different gospels. Can there be One Church with two different beliefs?
Go to Chapter 1
Two different views are in effect two different gospels. What is the real gospel?
Go to Chapter 2
The Return of Christ - A Line in the Sand Author: Michael Storey
Chapter one of The Return of Christ A Line In The Sand
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph 4:4
The above verse indicates that there should be a lot of uniformity within the Christian Church. There may be different callings and different gifts but over all everyone should be moving in the same direction.
We have one bible; one common set of guidelines to reach one hope. If we all have the same map, the same set of directions we should all arrive at the same destination. A quick glance reveals the arrival platform has an eerie quietness about it.
All of this is simple straightforward common sense logic. Yet everyone knows that this is also wishful thinking, simplistic in its naivety.
Why is that? What is wrong with some simplicity? Christ said a little naivety was just what was needed.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mark 10:13
The Meek Will Inherit The Earth
The reality has been two thousand years of strife and literal warfare with millions killed, in the name of Christ. Something is seriously wrong.
Does the mainstream Church indeed have the right set of directions when Christians have warred against other Christians in the name of Christianity? Alarm bells should be ringing. Yet centuries on it is these same divided groups perpetuating the same arguments in ever refined theologies that are schooling a yet more divided Church.
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 2 Tim 3:7 - 9
When Christ came the first time He came to a similarly divided group. They too had spent centuries refining their biblical doctrines. All this technical expertise amounted to nothing when the one event they had been longing for came to pass and they missed it completely. How off track one can get!
Not seeing the forest for the trees is precisely what Christ indicates will repeat itself at his second coming. Deception, falsehood, rebellion and oppression; all of these and more Christ said would be the hallmark of the time. The situation will have deteriorated so far that Christ asks if there will be any faith found at all.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
The Fragmented Church predicted
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matt 24:4
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. Matt 24:23
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:9
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Mark 13:21
One Faith, One Body: One Church?
Preterism and Futurism
Relative to this book there are two extremes both concerned with the Return of Christ. Preterism and Futurism. Preterists say that Christ returned many centuries ago in 70 AD. At that time, when the Romans sacked Jerusalem, they also believe the resurrection of the Saints, the millennium and most other ‘end time’ events were fulfilled. The outcome is the world, as it is now, is the kingdom of God.
Futurists believe that the return of Christ is yet future. The problem they face, created entirely by themselves, is the sheer volume of scriptural inconsistency they present in trying to make their case. Add to this some creative fantasy making a lot of money and the water is really muddied.
If from amongst themselves no consensus can be reached on the hundreds of variations, how can they be taken seriously? Preterism draws a lot of mileage from this pool of contradiction. Academically, Preterists can make the most sense of the facts on the table. For this reason their ranks are growing steadily.
Their position presents a powerful set of scriptures that to date have not satisfactorily been dealt with. People may disagree with them, even laugh at them but until every scripture can be accounted for, they still hold the high ground.
This is extremely unfortunate. It indicates that if no one can satisfactorily give a plausible alternative rendering to their scriptures either: (a) they are completely right or (b) no one else has any real understanding of these scriptures.
It is ‘every scripture’ that holds the key. By no means have either the Preterists or Futurists applied all the scriptures relevant to the issue. With all the missing pieces in place the circumstances change from purely theoretical to convincingly practical.
This book will allow anyone to ‘pull the sword from the stone’.
There is one more point worth mentioning. Preterism is not a recent invention. The Papacy made heavy use of it as an ‘alibi’ in defending itself from charges of being the antichrist and the ‘beast’ of Revelation during the Reformation. Should it be ‘proven’ that Christ returned in 70 AD, Nero was the beast and the Kingdom of God is here and now, then the real beast and false prophet will have a clear run when the time comes. Something scripture indicates will happen all to clearly.
All that dwell on the earth shall worship him. Rev 13:8
For this reason Preterism is very dangerous and it will play an important role as an ‘alibi’ again in the future. A completely revised set of scriptural navigation tools is called for to successfully negotiate these straits.
A Different Gospel
At the heart of all the different theologies and dogmas that abound are in fact what amounts to different gospels, or at the very least major differences within gospels. There are hundreds of them. They cannot all be right. More to the point is the question ‘are any of them right’?
Paul is categorical that there can only be one correct gospel.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8
What this verse makes doubly clear is there is only one gospel and it is essential to know what it is.
The next chapter will show in detail how the bible presents one clear gospel from beginning to end. And that gospel really is ‘good news’ for mankind.
Before we do embark on a round trip bible excursion, our terms of reference need to be clarified. The Preterists have a habit of backing their target audience into a corner with the phrase “the truth that Jesus Himself taught in no uncertain terms”. By separating out and assigning more importance to the ‘direct words of Christ’ they are presenting a two-tiered bible. By implication other parts of the bible are questionable. Is this a valid approach? What does Christ say?
The Bible As The Word Of God
What is ‘the truth that Jesus Himself taught in no uncertain terms’? Is the truth Christ taught different from the truth in the rest of the bible? Preterists use this phrase to imply since they use the direct words of Christ no more need be said, no more checking need be done. The fact that their whole thesis depends heavily on completely extra biblical recourses is quietly passed over.
(Josephus is essential to their argument). A lot of weight is also placed on opinions of commentators through history. Why not just use the bible? Why not follow the example of Christ, Paul and all Godly men. They ‘reason from scripture’ (Acts 17:2). Can the Preterists not do this?
Do any particular words in the bible have more weight than others? Do His particular words have any more ‘value’ than others? Where do all the words come from?
I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28
Here Christ says the ‘fact is, I never said anything of Myself’.
Even the ‘words of Christ’ did not originate from within the human version of ‘Himself’.
The same example can be said for all other source of scripture.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16
Christ made the point that of Himself He could do nothing. As a human it was impossible for Christ to do anything more than any other human. Only through the Father could He achieve anything.
All scripture follows this path. If any of it originated from humans it would be riddled with inconsistencies and in light of today’s (still limited) knowledge bank, painfully humorous in its antiquated perception of the world around us.
He stressed that there should not be the slightest deviation from the original intent and that all of it is valid.
Christ went for the jugular when correcting the Pharisees, using the sharp end of scripture as His only weapon.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. Matt 22:41
No one was able to come back on that one. So it should be with all theological questions. God’s word is there for a purpose and Christ says ‘use it’.
The bible is the very word of God. If we are Christians we need to take that much on faith, otherwise we are left with nothing else concrete to go on.
God has a unique advantage we need to be aware of. He can state facts and answer questions that will arise far in the future all from the distant past, and He does!
I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Isa 46:9
Despite the ‘non linear, non chronological’ nature of the bible there is no need for guesswork or speculation. The bible in almost every case provides liberal cross-referencing on all its important subjects. This provides a bracing structure, rigid support to give us surety that we have arrived appropriately at the intended meaning.
Christ’s own example given in the case of ‘What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? demonstrates the words of God are to be used as a precision tool.
The instruction is: keep them sharp, keep them ready and use them.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the subject of the next chapter. There is no shortage of scripture on this subject. It runs all the way from Genesis to Revelation. We can go even further than that: God says it was in place before Genesis and will go on forever beyond Revelation.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matt 5:17
Christ was the ‘word’ of the Old Testament just as He is in the New Testament.
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Cor 10:4
Spend the time to learn the scriptures.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God Matt 22:29
The scripture is fact and cannot be sidestepped.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; John 10:34
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy James 4:5
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isa 8:20
Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, Rom 1:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Acts 17:2
All these verses completely vindicate the use of scripture to answer to any question.