In this conclusion of a conference talk Gary gave recently, he discusses the apologetics of preterism.
Before any worthwhile discussion can take place about the Bible, the first question I always ask is, “What does the text say?” The tempter approached Eve with a question about the text: “Indeed has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’” (Gen. 3:1).
The serpent intentionally misconstrues the command of God by formulating the question designed to get the woman to express the command in her own words.[1]
The devil does a similar thing in the wilderness temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Paul makes a necessary distinction between “seed” and “seeds” (Gal. 3:16). The particulars of the text matter. An interpreter can’t move on to what a text means until he nails down what the text says.
It matters that Jesus said “this generation” rather than “that generation,” just like it matters that He mostly uses the second person plural “you” and not the third person plural “they” (Matt. 24:30, 33) throughout the Olivet Discourse.
Matthew 24:33 tells us what audience Jesus said would see “these things”: “so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” It is obvious, and without any need for debate, that the first “you” refers to those who asked the questions that led to Jesus’ extended remarks (Matt. 24:2-4). Jesus identifies those who will “see all these things” by again using “you.” If Jesus had a future generation in mind, He could have eliminated all confusion by saying, “when they see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, that generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
Prophecy Wars: The Biblical Battle Over the End Times
If you’re willing to take the Bible at its word, the study of prophecy can strengthen your faith, but if your trust is in man’s speculations, you will be disappointed every time. And that is why Bible prophecy is such a crucial area for apologetics. Skeptics of all stripes have condemned the Bible as inaccurate merely because various well-meaning Christians have been in error about the End Times.
Buy NowIn this conclusion of a conference talk Gary gave recently, he discusses the apologetics of preterism. Many futurists are vehemently opposed to any argument put forth by any preterist, to the point that they call it heresy, even though they must reword and redefine simple words in the New Testament. Gary gives some advice about how to approach such people.
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[1] John H. Walton, The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 204.