Preterist Eschatology: What is It? Part 1

The terms Preterism, Preterist, or even Preteristic; on their own, have absolutely nothing to do with Eschatology (Study of the Latter Days) but when coupled into Preterist, Preterism or even Preteristic Eschatology, it relates to the belief that either some or all of the events prophesied in Scripture about the "End of the Age" Matthew 13:39, 40, 49, 24:3, 28:20 & Hebrews 9:26 have occurred already.

"some or all" are where this belief begins to splinter into differing factions. Those who hold that "all" of the "End of the Age" Prophecies have already occurred are usually referred to as "Hyper, Consistent or Full Preterist" (FP's) while those who hold "some or most" of these "End of the Age" Prophecies have already occurred are usually referred to as "Orthodox, Hypo or Partial Preterist" (PP's) Most "PP's believe the BIG 3: Rapture, Resurrection & Judgment are yet to occur.

In between these 2 groups lies another group of believers known as "Historicists" who recognize some of these events have happened; others will occur at the "End of this Present Age" but that other pieces of Prophecy are being fulfilled all around us as current events.

GAP Evangelising (US) holds primarily to the Full Preterist view of Eschatology with limited exceptions to what is normally held, taught and/or believed by others who also classify themselves as Full Preterist in their views on Eschatology. Many people attempt to speak for the beliefs of each school of thought as though they were a canned formula or boxed recipe; nothing could be further from the truth.

While at first reading; these discrepencies may appear to those unfamiliar with the Preteristic view of Eschatology (or armed with just enough information to be dangerous) to be reason enough to dismess the Preteristic ideas of Eschatology altogether, I would pause, advise caution and remind them that the greater bulk of the "Church" who are "Futuristic" in their Eschatological beliefs are also divided into some 30,000 + Christian Denominations because of all their own differences of opinion: i.e. Baptism, Trinity, Deity of Christ, Communion, Works/Grace based Salvation, etc...

Why do we believe all these "End of the Age" events have already taken place? It merely comes down to accepting the Scriptures as they're written in regards to the "Timing" of their fulfillment. In addition to John (In the Revelation of Jesus Christ) writing in Revelation 1:1 & 22:6 that the things listed between would "Shortly come to pass" and "Shortly be done" we also have the very words of Christ Himself stating " Verily I say unto you, this (their/that) generation would not pass till all these things be fulfilled" Matthew 24:34 in the Olivet Discourse but unfortunately; most people are not familiar with what exactly Christ meant when He said "all these things" this was simply an answer in response to part of the question(s) asked by the Apostles in verse 3 "Tell us; when shall these things be"

Watch for Part 2