Even avid Bible readers have not always encountered the viewpoints of preterism. While a futurist view of Revelation is common, the preterist idea is often not discussed. Individuals who wonder “What is preterism?” can gain a better understanding by reading through Revelations again. Instead of just reading this section of the Bible, they should also consider the historical events that followed the death of Jesus Christ. Through a study of history and biblical prophecy, Christians can gain a better understanding of what is preterism.
Preterism and Revelation
Preterism is named after the Latin word, “praeter,” which means past. As such, it is a belief that the prophesies of Revelation have already occurred. It is the direct opposite of futurism, which states that the end-time prophesies will occur at a later date.
Revelation Has Been Fulfilled
Individuals who want to know what is preterism may already be familiar with the general idea. Preterism states that Revelation was fulfilled by the time the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. Christ’s second coming, the Antichrist, the Beast, the resurrection and the tribulation already took place. The final judgment is an ongoing process. Essentially, Jesus returned to earth spiritually, instead of physically. The Old Covenant with Israel ended and the world exists under the New Covenant. In Revelation 21:1, the “new heavens and the new earth” that are mentioned describe this New Covenant coming into being.
Biblical Passages that Support Preterism
One of the main passages is used by believers to support preterism is in Matthew 24:34. In this passage, Jesus is giving the Olivet Discourse. While he describes some of the end time prophesies, Jesus explicitly states that this generation will not pass away before the end-time prophesies have occurred. While other sects interpret “generation” differently, preterism believes that generation means exactly what it says. The generation that includes the disciples will not pass away before the prophesies have been fulfilled. This means that the book of Revelation must be fulfilled within the disciples’ lifetimes. Working step-by-step through the prophesies of Revelation, Christians can see that each prophecy was fulfilled following the death of Jesus.
Historic Justification for Preterist Beliefs
If theologians look through the historical record, they will find events that justify the preterist viewpoint. In 70 AD, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. This destruction is the “Judgment Day” spoken of in the Bible. The Roman Empire and Emperor Nero are the Beasts described in Revelation. Likewise, the False Prophet is the apostate Israel because they did not believe in Jesus Christ. Preterism believes that humanity is already living in the New Creation. Since Jesus Christ gave humanity salvation, human beings exist in a new heaven and earth already.