The Kingdom Come - Where Christ is King!

There's Something About Gary... How Some "Partial-Preterists" Validate Hyperpreterism Part 1 & 2

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:33:55 -0500

This is a podcast discussion about irresponsible laxity on the part of some orthodox preterists when it comes to the issue of hyperpreterism, specifically, very prominent and influential preterist Gary DeMar of American Vision. There are two goals for this podcast. First, to warn people to be wary of Gary DeMar and others who might blur the line between orthodoxy and heresy through passive complicity and to see the harm that such behaviour can cause. Secondarily, it would be to get Gary to change his ways on this subject, and if not, for those who support him to bring some pressure to bear until he does for the sake of the Church or at the very least to be completely cognizant that Gary has not been a champion of the historic faith in areas completely relevant to his ministry.

Another Hyperpreterist’s “Journey” Ends at Atheism

Sat, 10 May 2008 19:55:41 -0500

Hyperpreterism is the teaching that against all of historic Christian interpretation, that the Second coming of Jesus, the general resurrection of the believers, & the Judgment all occurred in AD70. Hyperpreterism is often that last stop before the person finally takes the leap of unfaith into atheism. I know at least 6-7 former hyperpreterists who have become functional atheists & now yet another man has come out & admitted he no longer believes in God.

Jared Coleman, who was a former administrator of the most vocal hyperpreterist website; “Planet Preterist” has come out & revealed:

On the Councils and the Church: Luther on Reform, Government, and Institutions of the Church

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:44:37 -0500

In almost everybody there is a certain tendency of romanticism. There is this look at a past, where things were better. Maybe it is in one's personal life, or at some point of history where life seems to have been better or more exciting than our daily life right now and here. People reenact the Middle Ages, the renaissance, the Civil War, playfully sometimes, and sometimes out of a deep longing for a golden age.

There is also a variation of this romanticism in Christianity. Christians who see the heroes of the faith in the past and compare them with what appears to them a far less appealing present long for the good old times--it might be the Jerusalem of the apostles, the Wittenberg of Luther and Melanchthon, the St. Louis of C. F. W. Walther and Francis Pieper, or another time and place. But there was never this age where the church was unanimous, where there was no strife and struggle, where everybody lived in peace and harmony. Reading the New Testament shows us congregations loaded with problems. Any study of church history gives us a picture of a church in distress. And how else could it be in this world, in this age, where sin is still here, where the devil still tries to destroy God's holy Church through false doctrine and temptation to a sinful life? But how do you deal with the problems of the Church? How can you fight heresy and how can you stop new and strange ideas of what is the proper godly behavior of a Christian?

One of the answers given in the course of the history of the church is that councils decide points at issue. Councils were assemblies of bishops, either of a certain area, or of all Christian countries, the so-called ecumenical councils (ecumenical means here universal, it has nothing to do with the modern ecumenical movement). There is an impressive series of these ecumenical councils, starting with the Council at Nicea 325.

In the late Middle Ages there was a universally-felt need for reform in the Roman Catholic Church. So several "reform councils" met, but they did not succeed. One of the reasons was that the Pope sabotaged any efforts to diminish his power. And, as it is often in organizations, the bureaucracy won against boards that meet only from time to time. When the Reformation movement started, the urge for a council became even greater. But the Pope was busy waging war against the emperor. When there was finally peace, a council was announced, and then postponed, and then transferred, and then again postponed, and after that delayed and so on, since the Pope did not want to have a meeting that was not under his total control. This went on for 14 years, and only after Luther's death was there finally a council in Trent. But it was no fair hearing, no free council, but an assembly in which the Pope set and controlled the agenda. Lutherans were not even admitted for a hearing.

Undermining of Faith

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:42:52 -0500

During an era in history called, “The Enlightenment”, it was fashionable to use what has been termed as “higher criticism” to introduce questions & doubts about biblical inerrancy, biblical historicity, & general presuppositional belief – that ultimately would lead to the undermining of faith.

One way that higher criticism has been defined is:

Higher criticism treats the Bible as a text created by human beings at a particular historical time and for various human motives, in contrast with the treatment of the Bible as the inerrant word of God. Lower criticism is used for attempts to interpret Biblical texts based only on the internal evidence from the texts themselves. (source)

Another offshoot of the higher criticism approach is often misunderstood as “exegesis”. The word exegesis literally means to “bring out of” in that a person who is approaching the Bible in an “exegetical” manner is supposed to be bringing the meaning of the text out rather than reading their opinion back into the text.

A Real Discussion with Brian Simmons: Refuting the Erroneous Premise of Hyper/Full Preterism

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:43:57 -0500

Listen to this one-hour audio discussion with Brian Simmons where he & Roderick Edwards discuss not only Brian's experience on a hyperpreterist podcast but also the overall false premise of hyperpreterism.

Hyperpreterism is considered a heresy not simply because it is different than the majority view of Christianity but because like Mormonism & Jehovah’s Witnesses, hyperpreterism is a complete disconnect from historic Christian faith. Hyperpreterism is a novel invention that attempts to revision itself back into history by claiming many theologians of the past were also “preteristic” – however, almost NONE of those past theologians espoused anything like hyperpreterism. Hyperpreterists clearly are trying to highjack history in the same way they have actually highjacked the theological term “preterism”.

Hyperpreterists spend a lot of time & effort trying to get people to “debate” them using “exegesis” alone – but it really is nothing more than their attempt to have a testosterone match, little different than sword waving fanatics yelling “Allah Akbar!” & pounding their chests. It gives them a sense a validity. UPDATE: Soon after this response podcast was posted, the host of the hyperpreterist show on which Brian appeared, threatened to sue Brian for of all things, "harrassment". Now folks, these hyperpreterists come on to the various blogs against them & constantly beat their chests & double-dog dare people to "debate" them & now they have the nerve to threaten to sue people for harrassing them??? It isn't the first time & I suspect it won't be the last time a hyperpreterists ignores 1 Cor 6:5-6...perhaps they have never read those verses since they aren't so-called "time-texts" -- or maybe they think that only applied pre-AD70. AMAZING!

An Explanation to Friends & Foes

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:50:29 -0500

Because I am receiving emails from friends & foes alike wondering about my apparent sudden theological shift, I thought I'd take this opportunity to give an explanation. Obviously it isn't just my eschatology that has changed but all of my "ologies" are being affected. This should be expected as I have always advocated that all of the "ologies" of theology are intertwined & should not & cannot be compartmentalized.

My theology, like most American Protestants or Evangelicals had been based on a few concepts:

That Sola Scriptura (Bible Alone) equates to private or ultimately independent interpretation.
That the true Church was never represented within the Roman Catholic/Greek Catholic Church.
That the creeds, councils, & confessions of the historic Christian Church are to be approached with an amount of contempt if not outright disdain.
That the role of the apostles in the foundation of the Church should be downplayed or else we may sound too "Catholic".

With these typical American Protestant concepts for a basis, I was prime to accept & advocate the most outlandish, unhistoric, & unchristian teachings.

Tinker Toy Theology: How Much Can People Tinker With The Historic Christian Faith before it is No Longer Really Christianity?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:12:53 -0500

Recently a leader from a quasi-conservative faction of a cultic group made the statement that he doesn’t reject all of historic Christianity but that he only wants to be able to “tinker” with the parts with which he doesn’t agree.

The problems with this sentiment are:

#1 How is it decided who can “tinker”?

#2 How is it decided how much “tinkering” can be done?

I mean, there are certainly people who have & still would like to “tinker” with such staple doctrines as: the deity of Christ, the sinlessness of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the Trinity & others. On what basis will these first “tinkerers” deny other “tinkerers” from tinkering with anything?

PreteristPodCast Interview

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:06:33 -0500

Listen to this enlightening discussion between Roderick Edwards & Dee Dee Warren as they discuss an obscure but increasingly vocal cultish belief called "hyperpreterism".

Warren is known for her long time opposition to the hyperpreterist movement -- a movement that teaches Jesus already returned & the general resurrection of the believers happened in the first-century.

Edwards had been a hyperpreterism advocate for about 15 years & had renounced it since late 2007. He is now spending time helping explain how he & others slipped into the heresy of hyperpreterism & how people can avoid making the same mistake.

To listen to this helpful audio, go to PRETERISTPODCAST.COM

The Historic Christian Faith: Introduction to the series

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:49:50 -0500

Some of the typical responses from Christians of Protestant/Evangelical background to the phrase, "the historic Christian faith" is a response of ridicule or contempt. Many of us Protestant/Evangelicals view this phrase as too "Catholic" -- after all, wasn't this phrase often used against the Protestants?

This is the introductory article to a series of articles I plan to write during 2008. In the series, I will attempt to work through the Protestant reluctance to understand & embrace what is really meant by "the historic Christian faith". The historic Christian faith is not merely blind adherence to the creeds, as is often the complaint from some Protestants. It is understanding & seeing the Sovereign work of God's will throughout the ages.

Join me as we explore & reconnect with the Church against which Jesus said not even the gates of hades would prevail. (Mt 16:18)

Opposition does not equal advocacy

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:18:12 -0500

Todd Dennis, long time proponent of "full preterism" (rightly called "hyper-preterism" because it goes beyond biblical definition) has begun a new blog site where he plans to work on refuting the teaching he had embraced for over 13 years. This is significant because Dennis is credited with being perhaps the "founder" of the online expression of full preterism. Other hyper-preterist sites that now enjoy prominence actually directly lifted materials from Dennis' work...often without even crediting him.

One thing that Dennis points out on the new site is very important to note. Opposition does not equal advocacy. What he means by this is, that while there have been many people that oppose hyper-preterism, there needs to be a better job done in advocating the correct position.

Christian Triumphantism

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:09:30 -0500

Radio talkshow host, Rush Limbaugh often speaks about American Exceptionalism. American Exceptionalism is the idea that American concepts are for the most part of the highest quality & therefore affect the quality of every element of American culture -- industry, education, politics & such (source). But behind the productive quality, not only of America but of much of Western culture is what could be described as Christian Triumphantism.

Christian Triumphantism has been the motive for among many other things; the foundation of universities, hospitals, & political structures that advance freedom. Christian Triumphantism is based on the simple biblical notion that Kingdom of Heaven ever advances, spreading & consuming the "kingdoms of this world". (Rev 11:15)

Postmillennialism or Preterism?: The Advancement of the Kingdom

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:18:47 -0500

During a recent “circle the wagons” conference where hyperpreterists got together to comfort one another that their movement isn’t collapsing but actually growing, Sam Frost gave a lecture called, “World Getting Better: A Biblical & Statistical Answer”. (source)

The speech was a classic proposition not for preterism but for postmillennialism yet Frost never really brings this out. Frost being a studied man has to know that what he is preaching is actually postmillennialism yet throughout the speech he credits preterism. This is the on-going tactic of hyperpreterists. They will say such things as, “[full preterism] has been widely known & embraced in centuries past” (source) It is a lie.

It does not require the lies & errors of hyperpreterism to see the “world getting better” – postmillennialism has been saying this for centuries.

When God Curses

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:12:44 -0500

You can often hear people invoke the benediction; “May God bless you”. The phrase is a petition, which implies a request & the possibility that God may not bless.

The subject of this article is a difficult matter, which may frighten or repulse some readers – it is the idea that sometimes God may curse us rather than bless.

At the outset we must determine if the premise is even true. Does God ever curse people…even Christians? Secondly, how would a person know they are under the curse of God & not just victim to some random misfortune?

The Commonitory Continued

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:33:00 -0500

hough it is not to be disputed among Christians that the Holy Scripture is the first & final authority for the formation & comprehension of doctrine, for the practice of faith, & for the general representation & precepts of Christian worldview -- unfortunately by whatever reason & motivation men often disagree on the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. What then is our recourse for securing to ourselves the proper interpretation of the Holy Scriptures?

A Response to Abdul Ruff & Muslims & Jews

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:56:49 -0500

I have purposely allowed your blog postings to this site because it has been attracting an audience that needs to be reached with the message of Christ -- that message is not the message of Islam. That message is not even the message of "democracy" since even America which is considered by those outside of America as the "Christian nation", as the "democratic nation" -- even America is not a democracy but rather a REPUBLIC. It was not meant to be a "one man one vote" nation but rather a representative nation -- not necessarily representing EVERY person -- such as we do not let convicts vote, we are not supposed to count the votes of illegal immigrants & such.

A true democracy is merely one step away from anarchy & it seems the world is quickly lurching ever closer to that possibility. How does this tie in with your blog & me allowing you to write here?