And from a literary perspective, it would be a serious contender to win the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest – and I mean the whole series, not just the opening sentence.

As a former Full and Partial Preterist, I am well qualified to assess the dangers of this system. Although it seems nonsensical to most Christians, once one has ‘bought into’ its hermeneutical package, the chances of that person ever embracing the truth again are 1 in a billion.

So, Hank “The Bible Answer Man” Hanegraaf and R. C. Sproul have no hope of embracing the truth again?

In context it would seem that Babylon in Revalation 17:18 is indeed Rome.

Since when was Rome a city that the entire world fornicated with?

Not in about 1500 years.

I deny there is a future tribulation Brian. The idea that the world is going to conquer the Church necessitating an emergency airlift out is preposterous, or perhaps defeatist is a better description. Meanwhile non-American Christians who actually live with persecution might wonder why Americans have this fascination with something they’ve never experienced.

In context Matthew 24:38-39 was referring to the coming destruction being sudden, like the coming of the flood, when it comes one will be taken (destroyed) and one will be left. Whether Noah’s experience will be repeated (remembering that he did experience the flood, he just wasn’t drowned by it) is immaterial to that particular comment.

Also, how sudden is the coming of the Lord going to be if the Christians (oh sorry, true Church, whatever that is) all disappear first?

Over-literalism in the treatment of apocalyptic literature is the main problem with many peoples’ interpretation of Revelation. It was probably written in the mid-sixties as a comfort to Christians experiencing persecution under Nero and assuring them that they would soon be vindicated. That the beast would be subdued.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 provide very vivid imagery that the Church in Thessalonia was already experiencing trials, and Paul’s promise was that God would soon avenge them. 2000 years later they’re still waiting?

The rapture is a Scriptural doctrine. Read 1 Thess. 5: 3-4. Paul says that the day of the Lord will come as a “thief” upon all who are not looking. Christ said the same thing-that it would come as a snare upon all the earth (Luke 21: 35). Then look what He said in Luke 21: 36. Christ compared His coming to the flood of Noah (Matt. 24: 38-39). This is the context of “one taken, the other left.” Remember, Noah and his family entered into the ark seven days before the flood began (Gen. 7: 10). So he and his family were already sheltered safely from the judgments. 1 Thess. 5: 3 informs us that the “travail” (tribulation) is synonymous with the “Day of the Lord.” If “one taken” means “taken in judgment,” then what about the ones that are “left???”

Christ is talking about two different classes of people. The ones “left behind” are the ones who must “flee to the mountains.” The rapture is a special blessing given to those who watch and wait for Christ’s coming. Compare with Revelation 3: 10 with Revelation 2: 22. The true church will not undergo the trib. They will be “taken in” like Noah, and “taken out” like Lot. I know of no other view which is Scriptural.

Brian

I’m sorry to see you do this Brian, in your zeal against hyperpreterism you fall back into the error of dispensationalism — both are errors. As a matter of fact, I believe hyperpreterism is merely an over-reaction to dispensationalism yet is even more dangerous. Just look how arrogant its main advocates are (ie Virgil here).

Mr. Patton, you do well to avoid all appearance of evil by not supporting or promoting the heresy of hyperpreterism.

And yes, the “litmus test” for historic Christianity is does it hold to the very things Christians held to since Christ came the first time, since He hand-picked apostles to be the foundation of the Church? It is amazing that the Christians 1 day before the year AD70 believed & advocated Christ would come again AND the day after AD70 those same Christians continued to believe & advocate Christ would come again YET hyperpreterists want us to believe there has been a 2000 year conspiracy. Maybe that kind of thing works in Romania but not in America where people will seek out the truth!

Whatever hyperpreterism is, it is NOT the same as historic Christianity.

You forget that I once used to be a Preterist. I already know what you believe, and I assure you that Israel is not the harlot of Rev. 17-18. Preterists often confuse verses which have similar language, thinking they are parallel, when they’re not. Read Isaiah 23: 15-16; 47: 1-11; Jeremiah 50-51; Ezekiel 26-27; Nahum 3: 1-7; Zechariah 2: 6-7. As you see, similar language doesn’t always mean identity.

BTW, I’ve never read the “Left Behind” series. However, I HAVE read the Bible. The Bible says that when Jesus Christ returns, some will be taken, and others will be left (Matt. 24: 40-41). To apply this to the destruction of Jerusalem is preposterous. But accepting the plain literal statement of God’s word, we learn that some will be left behind to face judgment. This is all the more reason for getting our doctrine right.

Brian

Since God Himself frequently calls Israel a whore and a harlot throughout the first testament it’s not antisemitic but simply following a Biblical precedent, even if I were, although I am not.

John, in Revelation, also feels free to liken Jerusalem, where our Lord was crucified, to Sodom and Egypt. He also depicts redeemed Israel as a woman clothed with the sun and crowned with stars, the mother of he who would rule the nations with an iron rod, so he wasn’t beating up Israel in every passage.

My experience of people who claim to understand Revelation is that they usually don’t.

Seriously, stop reading the Left Behind series. As a fictional story it’s passable, but from a historical/theological perspective it’s on a par with 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988.

Also, Israel is the only immortal nation. Read Jeremiah 30: 11; 31: 35-37. Israel is the one people with a God-given right to govern the nations. Deny this, and you deny the authority of God.

Brian

For an insignificant movement you put an awful lot of effort into slandering it and its proponents. I think you have some serious issues…