AI has been on point lately- partial preterism
Arguments against partial preterism claim it has an inconsistent interpretation of scripture, often allegorizing prophecies that should be read literally, and it denies a future, final judgment by placing all major end-time events in the past. Critics also point to the view's inconsistent application to other biblical prophecies and historical texts, arguing it was not held by the early church fathers, and that it ignores the global and cataclysmic nature of some described prophecies.
Wow, that is a twisted view of partial preterism, as I understand it. Yes, I do believe that many prophecies are allegorical and of course some are quite literal. Isaiah 9:6 is not literal or Jesus would have literally been called all those names, but He was never called any of them - yet those names DO identify who He was. Also I believe that many prophecies that appear to be about His 2nd Coming are really about His 1st Coming. Almost ALL Christians, when pressed, will have to admit that they too take some prophecies literally and some symbolically. The same is true of the entire Bible - some verses/passages are literal, others are symbolic.
No I do not believe in two 2nd comings. He came once and He's coming again. He did not come in 70 A.D., except maybe symbolically in judgment, just as many prophecies predicted judgment on many nations, saying that the Lord will come in judgment.
Yes I do believe in a future, final judgment taking place when Christ returns.
Yes I do believe the 70th week of Daniel was completed 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion. There's No scripture saying there is a 2000+ year gap between the 69th and the 70th year.
Nor is there one verse that speaks of a 7 year tribulation period.
I believe the 1000 year millennium is symbolic of the church age, which we are in now.
I believe there is only 1 rapture, which happens at the 2nd coming of Jesus.
The 1st coming of Christ has global ramifications- He died for the sins of the whole world and for the salvation of all mankind, even though many reject Him. It doesn't require a 2nd coming to classify a prophecy as global.
I do not claim to understand much of Revelation, but I do believe that most of it already occurred during the 1st Century. I believe the 7 letters to the 7 churches were written to actual churches in actual cities, yet we learn much from Jesus' warnings to them. I believe Revelation 21 and 22 are about the future. Revelation is filled with symbolism, yet there is also literal language used.
I do not believe Revelation was written in the 90's A.D., but more likely in the 60's. If it was written in the 90's, then the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. would almost certainly have been mentioned, but it wasn't.
Yes, I believe 2 Thess. 2:1 is referring to the future 2nd coming of Christ.
No, 70 A.D. was not the final great judgment - that occurs at the 2nd coming - 1 Thess.1:6-10
The church has not replaced Israel, rather it is the fulfillment of the true Israel, i.e. the children of the faith of Abraham, both Jew and Gentile. The dividing wall has been taken down.
I believe the world was literally created in seven 24 hour days, the flood was literal, Jonah was literally swallowed by a great fish, a literal tower of Babel.
Partial preterists believe most of Revelation has already occurred, but some parts are future.
Full preterists believe ALL prophecies have been fulfilled, and that the 2nd coming has already happened. I do NOT believe that.
I believe in a literal devil called Satan or other names.
I think AI missed it by a country mile.
Scriptural and hermeneutical issues
- Inconsistent interpretation:
Some critics argue that partial preterism requires an inconsistent application of scriptural interpretation, applying a literal view to some prophecies while allegorizing others, which they say makes the hermeneutic subjective.
- Allegorizing scripture:
This inconsistent approach leads to an allegorical interpretation of many prophecies that might otherwise be understood more literally.
- Discrepancy with biblical texts:
Critics believe that partial preterism is not consistent with the Bible itself, pointing to texts like 2 Thessalonians 2:1 which describes the "day of Christ" as a future event.
Denial of future events
- Rejection of a future judgment:
One of the main criticisms is that partial preterism denies a future, universal, public judgment of all people. Instead, it associates the great judgment with the destruction of Jerusalem or an ongoing spiritual reality.
- Denial of future resurrection:
For some critics, the logical extension of full preterism (which asserts all prophecies were fulfilled in the first century) is that the future resurrection of the dead has already occurred, which is widely considered heretical.
Historical and textual arguments
- Rejection by early church fathers:
Many argue that none of the early church fathers (first three centuries A.D.) viewed the Second Coming as a past event. In contrast, they believed it was a future event, and this view was passed down to their disciples.
- Dating of the Book of Revelation:
Some scholars argue that the Book of Revelation was written around A.D. 95, after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which would make the prophecies it contains not fully fulfilled in the first century.
- Inappropriateness of A.D. 70 for global events:
Critics contend that the tribulation events described in the Book of Revelation are too global and cataclysmic to be solely attributed to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Broader theological and eschatological consequences
- Softening biblical effect:
Some worry that shifting from a historical-literal approach to a more allegorical interpretation softens the effect of Scripture on believers.
- Relationship to replacement theology:
Partial preterism can lead to an extreme form of replacement theology, suggesting that the church has completely replaced Israel in God's plan.
- Reinterpretation of other doctrines:
Critics argue that if prophecies are fulfilled in the past, it can lead to reinterpreting or dismissing other doctrines, such as a literal interpretation of Genesis or a global flood, and in some cases even the existence of a personal Devil.