Who Are the Preterists?

While I am not a fan I think it is important to point out that some form or preterism has been supported by numerous theologians and scholars throughout the centuries. Below is a list of some prominent proponents, organized by their theological perspectives and historical importance:

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Historical Advocates

1. Origen (c. 185–254)
   • Origen’s allegorical method of interpreting Scripture shaped early preterist views, especially his views on fulfilled prophecy in the first century.
2. Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260–340)
   • Often referred to as the “Father of Church History,” Eusebius was an opponent of futurist views of the end-times. He interpreted the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy, especially in the Olivet Discourse.
3. John Lightfoot (1602–1675)
   • Lightfoot, a Reformed theologian and contemporary of the Westminster Assembly, argued that many New Testament prophecies were fulfilled in the first century.
4. Hugo Grotius (1583–1645)
   • This Dutch theologian and jurist was an early advocate for interpreting the Book of Revelation in light of historical events from the Roman Empire.

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Modern Partial Preterists

1. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017)
   • Sproul is hard to pin down. He did not fully embrace preterism. But he showed considerable sympathy for partial preterist interpretations in his book The Last Days According to Jesus.
2. Kenneth Gentry
   • Is a leading advocate of partial preterism. Some think that he has slipped into full preterism. Gentry has extensively written on fulfilled prophecy, especially in his work Before Jerusalem Fell, which argues for an early date for the book of Revelation.
3. Gary DeMar
   • A well-known proponent of partial preterism, DeMar’s books, such as Last Days Madness, aim to challenge futurist eschatology and offer a historical perspective on prophecy.
4. Greg Bahnsen (1948–1995)
   • A prominent Christian apologist and partial preterist, Bahnsen argued that many eschatological passages were fulfilled in the first century while also maintaining his belief in Christ’s future return.

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Modern Full Preterists

1. Max King
   • Regarded as a key figure in advocating full preterism. King’s works, including The Spirit of Prophecy, support the belief that all biblical prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70.
2. Don K. Preston
   • A modern advocate of full preterism, Preston is recognized for his debates and writings, including Who Is This Babylon?, which presents a case for a fulfilled eschatology.
3. Ed Stevens
   • Stevens, a full preterist author and lecturer, advocates the belief that the resurrection and final judgment took place in the first century.

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Warning!

While partial preterism stays within the bounds of orthodox Christianity, full preterism is frequently seen as heterodox because it denies the future, bodily return of Christ and the general resurrection. Therefore, it’s important to differentiate between these two positions when assessing their proponents.

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Coming Up

Next time we will get down to specifics. I will be presenting preterist interpretations of some key scriptures and showing where they go wrong.