Archive for Parousia
Rev. D.M. Panton — The Coming Parousia Of Christ
(from Rapture, 1922)
“The Parousia of Christ runs simultaneously with the Parousia (2 Thess. 2: 9) of the Antichrist; the heavenly Parousia is the advanced outpost whither God calls His ambassadors, on the outbreak of war against the world and the last judgments of God; and unrecalled ambassadors are in peril from both batteries.”
“But Antediluvian and Sodomic wickedness recur, and remain obdurate, during the Parousia. At length ripness of iniquity below, and the close of the judgment scene above, together produce the break-up of the Parousia; scattering clouds on a sudden to reveal to every eye the triple glory (Luke 9: 26) burning in the heart of the Pavilion.
“For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the presence [see Revised margin throughout] of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24: 27); who shall paralyze Antichrist by the manifestation, or outburst, of His Parousia; and “then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13: 43). Our Lord’s feet at last alight (Zech. 14: 4) upon Olivet.
Theology For A Rainy Day
Since the Lord saved me by His grace in spring of 2004, I’ve come to a better understanding of my place in the cosmos. I don’t say “in the kingdom,” because I don’t believe the church and the kingdom are the same. But in the cosmos there is a niche for us all, small and insignificant though it may be.
I think that part of the secret to maintaining a Christian perspective is to remember who is administering the affairs of this world. Our worldview must be a Biblical one. At present, the world is run by Satan and fallen man. E.W. Bullinger writes:
“God is not administering, ordering, or ruling [the world's] affairs; though He is over-ruling all things in order to secure the accomplishment out of His secret counsels and purposes. His rule, and Dominion is in abeyance; and, while He is silent, He is, by His Spirit whom He has sent, bringing the world in guilty, of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (The Great Cloud of Witnesses, pg. 318).
A sober realization of these facts will keep our eyes looking up to Christ as the one hope we have. He alone is the bright and morning star (Rev. 22: 16). And so we get theology for a rainy day. Those who realize their high calling, as unfolded in the prison epistles of Paul (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Titus, 1 & 2 Timothy), will learn to sit loose to the things of this world.
Moses the man of God once said: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psa. 90: 12). Only when the world’s image is effaced from our hearts will we ever truly know what real Christianity is about. Man must be made to learn how frail he is, that all carnal security may be shaken. He must understand that the sands of this aeon are fast running out. Until Christ comes to bind the usurper and establish His kingdom, the daily round of human existence is futile at best.
Christian discipleship can sometimes be burdensome. As pilgrims, our journeying to and from leads us sometimes to view ourselves as outsiders – mere visitants waiting for the “calling on high” (Phil. 3: 14); and so we forget our role as witness-bearers in this world. That is what a Christian must become, though, if he would serve his Lord properly: a lamp shining in the midst of a dark and unregenerate (and might I say, doomed?) world. To keep precious oil in our vessels, we must remain in communion with Him Who sits at the right hand of God. This entails setting our affections on things above, not on things on the earth (Col. 3: 1-2).
Moses knew what he was talking about when he said, “Let us number our days.” The fact that the things are this world are so fleeting gives us a standing reminder that we have a commission to carry out, which is more important than our own agendas. That commission is to bear witness to the Gospel in whatever way we can. All other programs must be subservient to this.
But most of us fail miserably when it comes to personal witnessing. I speak from experience. Side-tracked by ephemeral issues, we too often forget that bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel is infinitely more important than refuting error, in whatever shape it may come.
But like clouds that obscure the sun, those things that divert attention from Divine priorities tend to go away after a heavy rain. Solomon once said, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better” (Ecc. 7: 2-3).
Solomon did not know when he’d die, but he knew it could be at any moment. And then he would go down to the grave, not to awaken until the trumpet called him forth. Surely without this hope to sustain him, existence would have been a miserable thing.
It was the hope of resurrection that made life worth living. It was the simple fact that also sustained Job throughout all His afflictions. It was the coming of the Savior, the second Adam, to receive what the first Adam had forfeited, and to bring in the long-awaited kingdom, that sweetened the earthly pilgrimage of the fathers. It was the hope of the second coming that bolstered Paul as he languished in his prison. It is the same hope that motivates us today.
Without being too sentimental, I call this “theology for a rainy day.” Throughout the ages, the hope of Christ’s return has always exercised a salutary effect on the human heart. If you the reader are missing the blessed realization that the Savior will soon come, or have allowed it to become obsured by the things of this world, I urge you to look into the Scriptures of truth, “that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1: 18).
How To Refute Preterism: Part 3: “The Forerunner of The Kingdom”
In Episode 3 of this new audio series, Brian Simmons continues to demonstrate the fundamental errors of Preterist theology. This time he takes a closer look at the necessary condition of Jewish national repentance, which will alone bring about the awaited parousia and consequent fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies. Also, the very important (and often overlooked) ministry of John the Baptist is discussed, in its particular bearing on the second coming of Christ and ”day of the Lord.”
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/forerunner.mp3
50 “Failed Predictions” For Fools Who Say Christ Returned In A.D. 70
1. The bodies and souls of the wicked were not thrown into Gehenna (Matt. 10: 23).2. The beast wasn’t taken alive at the destruction of Jerusalem (Rev. 19: 20). According to Prets, he committed suicide in A.D. 68.
3. 97,000 Jews got away scot free from Rev. 19: 21.
4. Paul didn’t remain alive until Christ’s coming. 1 Thess. 4: 15-17. (Notice he says “We,” including himself).
5. The saints never received “power over the nations” in A.D. 70 (Rev. 2: 26-27).
6. Jesus Christ was not judge of the quick and the dead, because (according to Preterists) He only judged the dead.
7. The “mortal bodies” of the saints were not quickened by the Holy Spirit in A.D. 70. Rom. 8: 11.
8. The saints were not delivered from “this body of death” (Romans 7: 24).
9. The 12 apostles didn’t see Jesus return in A.D. 70 (Acts 1: 8-11). (Most of them were dead by that time).
10. The Sanhedrin didn’t see Jesus at the right hand of God (compare Matthew 26: 64 with Acts 7: 55-57).
11. “We shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3: 2). Never happened in A.D. 70.
12. “We shall know, even as we are known” (1 Cor. 13: 12). Still not fulfilled — unless you redefine knowledge.
13. There is still sorrow and crying for people who inhabit the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21: 4.
14. Entire nations weren’t saved in A.D. 70. Rev. 21: 24.
15. The living nations were never gathered before Christ’s throne in A.D. 70. Matt. 25: 31-46; Joel 3.
16. “Behold, we shall not all sleep” (1 Cor. 15: 51-52). All of Paul’s original audience fell alseep! [note: sleep means physical death -- see 1 Cor. 15: 20].
17. All Christ’s enemies are still not destroyed. see 1 Cor. 15: 25-26.
18. Christians are still not delivered from this “present evil age” (Gal. 1: 4).
19. The apostles finished the cities of Israel before the Son of Man “came” (Matt. 10: 23; cf. Col. 1: 23).
20. The apostles have never sat on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt. 19: 28).
21. The New Covenant is still not established, because Christians need teaching. Jer. 31: 34.
22. The New Covenant is still not established, for the holy nation was (according to Prets — ATP) destroyed (Jer. 31: 35-37).
23. The New Covenant is still not established, for ATP the holy city was thrown down for ever (Jer. 31: 40).
24. The armies surrounding Jerusalem were not destroyed in A.D. 70. (see Zech. 14: 3).
25. Christ never returned the Mount of Olives from whence He ascended (Zech. 14: 4).
26. Christ returned in A.D. 70 (??), but ATP the literal cloud was missing (see Acts 1: 9; Matt. 24: 30; Rev. 1: 7).
27. Israel never repented in A.D. 70 (Acts 3: 19-21).
28. Christ said the nation won’t see Him until they repent. Matt. 23: 39. ATP “every eye saw Him” in A.D. 70.
29. The land was smitten with the curse. ATP John the Baptist failed. See Mal. 4: 5-6.
30. The living saints weren’t rewarded in A.D. 70. Matt. 16: 27-28. (ATP, they had to wait until death!).
31. The remnant of Israel still practices iniquity (Zeph. 3: 13).
32. The man of sin wasn’t destroyed by the “brightness of Christ’s parousia” the day the temple caught fire. See 2 Thess. 2: 8.
33. Desolations were not poured upon the desolator of the temple (Dan. 9: 27).
34. All nations still don’t keep the feast of tabernacles (Zech. 14: 16).
35. Nations who refuse to keep the feast of tabernacles are left unpunished (Zech. 14: 17-18).
36. Acording to Prets, all those left in Jerusalem were reckoned unholy. But see Isaiah 4: 3-4.
37. According to Prets, all nations may continue — except Israel (see Jer. 30: 11).
38. Idols are still worshipped by 75% of the world’s population (Isaiah 2: 18).
39. The kingdoms of this world are not governed by Jesus Christ (Rev. 11: 15).
40. James, Peter, Andrew, and John were already dead (??) before they got to see the abomination of desolation. See Matt. 24: 9, 15. (“Ye”/”You”).
41. The cities of the nations never fell in A.D. 70 (Rev. 16: 19).
42. Fishing in the Dead Sea is still off-limits (Ezekiel 47: 9-10).
43. A SINGLE wicked king did not persecute Israel from A.D. 67-70 (Dan. 11: 31-45).
44. Thyatira (nor the other Asian assemblies) went through “great tribulation” (Rev. 2: 22).
45. Many who sleep in the dust (aphar) of the ground (adamah) did not awake in A.D. 70 (Dan. 12: 2). [note: same Hebrew words are used in Gen. 3: 19].
46. Abraham still hasn’t inherited the land God promised him (Gen. 13: 15; Acts 7: 5).
47. Ezekiel’s Temple is still waiting to be built (Ezekiel 40-48).
48. The Redeemer never came back to turn transgression from Jacob (Romans 11: 26-27; Isaiah 59: 20).
49. Sudden destruction did not overtake the children of darkness (1 Thess. 5: 2-8).
50. Those who kept the Lord’s sayings tasted of death (John 8: 52).
It’s a Funny, Silly, Goofy Old World (That Hyper-Preterists Live In)
One of the favorite arguments that Hyper-Preterists employ to “win” an argument is the concept that they call “audience relevance.” This doctrine, as developed by Hyper-Preterists, is really a subtle perversion of the grammatical/historical/contextual mode of interpretation.
Hyper-Preterists will say that when a prophecy was addressed within a first-century time-frame, it had to be fulfilled THEN, or else the person making the prediction is a false prophet. Since no Christian will ever agree to such a proposition, Hyper-Preterists think they have a rock-solid argument for their view that the second advent happened in A.D. 70.
Before you get uptight and uncomfortable, or start to admit that Hyper-Preterists MAY have a valid point, let us show the silliness of the Hyper-Preterist view, which reveals “their world” as something quite different from that of ordinary Christians.
A good example of H.P.’s ”audience relevance” argument is found in the Olivet Discourse, where Christ says: “Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU; and YE shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24: 9).
The typical Hyper-Preterist will point to this verse, and insist that the personal pronoun “YOU” refers to the original hearers of the discourse. And of course, they are right.
But their interpretation is wrong for this very reason. For in verses 15-21, Christ says: “When YE therefore shall see the abomination of desolation… then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains… for then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Mark’s account of the same discourse informs us that the original hearers were Peter, James, John, and Andrew (see Mark 13: 3). So, according to Hyper-Preterists, if all of these men did not see the abomination of desolation, then Christ is a false prophet.
We must infer that either Christ or Hyper-Preterists are mistaken; since James (the brother of John) was killed by Herod several years before the outbreak of the Jewish war (see Acts 12: 1-2). Plus, there is no record that any of the other three apostles were in Jerusalem when the tribulation began. Therefore, by Hyper-Preterism’s own admission, our Lord was a false prophet. This is why Hyper-Preterists should not be considered as Christians.
Another example of the same argument may be culled from the epistles of Paul. Although 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5 is a much disputed passage (as to its precise interpretation by Preterists), all Hyper-Preterists agree that Paul is talking about the resurrection that will take place at the Lord’s second advent. A comparison of these verses with 1 Cor. 15: 51-54 will confirm this.
In both passages, however, Paul places himself among the number of those who hoped to be tranformed without dying. He uses the pronoun “WE” and “US.”
(1 Cor. 15: 51) “Behold, I show you a mystery; WE shall not all sleep, but WE shall be changed.”
(2 Cor. 5: 5) “Now He That hath wrought US for the selfsame thing [i.e., transformation without dying, as indicated by verse 4] is God, Who also hath given unto US the earnest of the Spirit.”
The question to ask Hyper-Preterists is this: Do the pronouns “we” and “us” include the apostle who is writing? If so – and who is so foolish as to say “no”? – then it is clear that a “remaining alive” unto the parousia of Christ was Paul’s expectation when he wrote.
Now, ask the Hyper-Preterist another question: Was Paul alive in A.D. 70? No, he was not. Paul died during the reign of Nero, in A.D. 68. Well, according to Hyper-Preterist reasoning, that fact makes Paul a false prophet. Again, since this is what Hyper-Preterists really believe, they should not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be considered Christians.
It should be noted, that sometimes this flaky argument is used by Partial Preterists of an extreme mindset. Folks like Gary DeMar stress the use of personal pronouns in prophetic literature, and imply that since the prophecies were addressed to THEM, their fulfillment must be past. But how any Partial Preterist can hope to use this argument and remain standing on his/her two pegs, is a matter beyond our comprehension. It’s similar to a toddler trying to hoist a gallon of milk “all by himself.”
The fact is, that both Christ and Paul DID place the parousia in a first-century time frame. However, indications of a “near” parousia were never offered as peremptory declarations! The fulfillment of the parousia was (and still is) conditional on Jewish national repentance (Matt. 23: 39; Acts 3: 19-21; Hosea 5: 15). Since Israel never repented in the first century, the second advent never materialized; and thus it and all related prophecies await a future fulfillment. Because Hyper-Preterists wrongly view the time indicators as peremptory statements, their whole theology gets overthrown when we show that the original audience never saw fulfillment.
It happens these bloopers are common events, though, in the funny, silly, goofy, and irrelevant world that Hyper-Preterists choose to live in.
How To Refute Preterism: Part 2: “A-N Spells Conditional”
Brian Simmons has launched a brand new audio series entitled “How To Refute Preterism.” In this second episode, he talks about the use of conditional clauses in Preterist time-texts — placing particular emphasis on Matthew 10: 23, 16: 28, 23: 39, and 24: 34. This podcast will be found essential to a right understanding of what Christ and His inspired apostles meant when they placed the parousia in a first-century context.
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/fouruntils.mp3
How To Refute Preterism: Part 1: “Smash Preterism Now”
Brian Simmons has launched a new audio series entitled “How To Refute Preterism,” in which he showcases the inconsistency and foolishness of Preterist eschatology. In this first episode of the series, Brian shows that an A.D. 70 parousia means an A.D. 70 resurrection — proving that Partial Preterism is wrong on timing, while Hyper-Preterism is wrong on nature. As these two systems of Preterism cancel each other out, the obvious conclusion is that the Futurist view of Christ’s coming is correct!
Listen now: http://antipreterist.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/smashpreterismnow.mp3
