My Thoughts and Understanding of Preterist Idealism

"Preterist Idealism." Just another term in the sea of terms dividing one school of thought from another. What made this term, or method of thought, stand out from others that we needed to coin a new phrase? After all, if it is in line with the truth, should we not just call it "Christianity?" And is it really in line with the truth.

This term seems to have caused the hair on the back of some peoples neck to stand up. Some even more direct statements by certain individuals who have been developing their ideas of this concept are creating a stir. Can those who have been so deep into the preterist movement actually come out and say they are no longer full-preterists? And if someone says this, are they rejecting the truth, or stabing their once "fellow" preterists in the back?

I would like to offer my perspective on what "preterist idealism" is, and beg those who are upset and up in arms over the methodology to take note of the reason for this discussion. Some of which I am hoping to sum up in this statement: "Any theology which looks to the temporal things as its finality, any theology which takes ANY scripture and applies them to the temporal realm, and does not apply them to the spiritual truth behind it for which it was written, is an incorrect theology." I believe preterist idealism is the attempt to focus on the unending, eternal spiritual truths behind every last chapter and verse. It is not simply looking at the fulfillments of AD 70 and applying the results of those fulfillments to our lives, this focus is backwards. What we should be doing is taking AD 70 and seeing what aspect of God with man is being portrayed through that event. Where had God portrayed that truth in scripture before? Let me give an example.

What is the enmity between God and man? What separates us from God? Throughout scripture that was many things. From Adam hiding behind something in the garden to the angel that guarded the way back to the tree of life. The veil over the hearts of men and the curtain blocking out the holy place. The temple itself to the "god of this age" that blinded the eyes. So many things in scripture stood for that one thing that blocked man from God. What is the spiritual truth behind that message? Are men still separated from God today? What does it take to remove that separation? Being in Christ.

Now let's look at AD 70. The veil was already being lifted before AD 70, the curtain already torn, yet the priesthood with their monopoly of over the religious system of the day was in the way of people being converted. With the destruction of the temple, did that veil get lifted from the hearts of all men? Are all men saved? Some in the preterist camp believe that is so. Others argue that it was only for those who are saved. In both cases they have focused on the removal of the temple as the result of AD 70, as the finality. However that removal was only a sign in the temporal realm of a spiritual truth. That in Christ, all things in the way between God and man are torn down. That in Christ, there can be nothing in the way of our relationship woith God. That in Christ the haughty are made low, the self-righteous are humbled. It brings us back to Christ's direct teachings!! Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. Yet full-preterism to this point has been declaring less!!!

Pretersit idealism is an attempt to bring every scripture to that one boling point. What is the impact on "God with man" today, more importantly, for me as an individual. Every prophecy, every event, every story was about God revealing Himself to man. To take those events and box them up into finished little packages of one time occurances would be a mistake. Those events are not the consumation, they are the revelation.

God Bless

Nate