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Perspectives: When sharing Preterism with others, how do you respond to Christians who downplay eschatology saying, “I just want to follow Jesus”?
Response by: First, I ask, “Who is Jesus?” This cannot be answered without going to the Word of God. Then, as we study God’s Word, we see that Jesus said: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me (John 14:6 NASB). Jesus is the Truth. This is also said of God’s Word: Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth (John 17:17 NASB). So both Jesus and God’s Word are the Truth. So you would have to say that “Truth matters!” And if Truth matters, then what Jesus said about eschatology matters—wouldn’t you say? Well, here is what Jesus said: For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and WILL THEN RECOMPENSE EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom (Matt 16:27-28 NASB). Clearly, verse 27 speaks of the Second Coming; He comes with the angels to reward every man. Compare this with the following: Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done (Rev 22:12 NASB). This passage is recognized as describing the Second Coming. But note that it parallels Christ’s words to His disciples in Matthew 16:27. So in Matthew 16:27 Christ is speaking to His disciples of His Second Coming. Now look at the next verse: Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom (Matt 16:28 NASB). Who are the “YOU” of this verse? Verse 24 tells us that Jesus is speaking to his disciples. So Jesus is saying to His disciples, who were standing there, that some of them would still be alive when He returned in the Second Coming. Some say that Jesus is referring to the transfiguration of Matthew 17:2, but that was only six days later, and none of them had died in that six day period! Did He come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and reward each man according to his works at the transfiguration? Of course not! How about at Pentecost? No, that was only two months later and, with the exception of Judas, they were all still alive. What are the possible explanations for this verse? I see only three (if you have others I would like to hear them): (1.) Some of the disciples are still alive today. I met a Marine Corp Major who visited our church that actually holds this view; (2.) Jesus was confused or lying. I hope I could not convince any of you of this one; (3.) Hang on! Jesus actually did what He said and came in the lifetime of His disciples. I would like to convince you all of this one. This seems like the simple and clear answer that holds to the inspiration of Scripture. Jesus did what He said He would do. If you don’t think that Jesus came when He said He would then we have a problem—a big problem: I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And you may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?” When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deut 18:18-22 NASB) Most Christians would say that the Lord has not yet returned, making Jesus a false prophet. Jesus spoke to His disciples saying that some of them would still be alive when He returned in the Second Coming. Was Jesus wrong? If He was, then, according to Deuteronomy 18, He was a false prophet. If Jesus was a false prophet, then we are all dead in our sins and under the wrath of God. If God does not keep the WHEN part of his promises, He has not kept His promise! The inspiration of the Scriptures demands complete fulfillment of every aspect of God’s promises. But if Jesus is Lord, then what He said was true—He returned in the Second Coming before all of his disciples had died. If you want to follow Jesus, you need to know what He said, which includes what He said about eschatology, and you need to believe Him. How can you follow Jesus if you don’t believe Jesus?
Given the current state of confusion and complexity of eschatological views, it is no wonder that many Christians feel that their view or non-view of the fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecy is not important. Instead of facing and admitting this deficiency, some, often unabashedly, profess an emotional response, such as, “I just want to follow Jesus.” This form of knowledge avoidance has also been termed pan-millennialism (“It’ll all pan out in the end”) and pro-millennialism (“However it pans out, I’m for it”). It is a “Jesus-loves-me-this-I-know-and-that’s-all-I-want-to-know” intellectual copout. The seeds of anti-intellectualism date back to the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century, when a wave of evangelical revivalism and emotionalism swept the country. One fallout of this trend is that many Christians today see eschatology as an appendix to the Christian faith and, therefore, not significant in their daily lives. Moreover, they reason, if it is a “non-essential” for salvation and if even the experts cannot agree, why should I bother trying to figure it out? In numerous speaking engagements, small-group and one-on-one discussions, and several written opportunities, I have chosen to address intellectually this all-too-common tendency head-on. At different times and places (to differing degrees of breadth and depth depending upon my audience and their responsiveness), I have elaborated on seven key reasons why one’s eschatological view or non-view is so important. Not coincidentally, these are also major areas where modern Christianity has greatly “dumbed down” the Church’s understanding of Scripture.1 How much of the New Testament is involved? According to R. C. Sproul, “It has been argued that no less than two thirds of the content of the New Testament is concerned directly or indirectly with eschatology.”2 Some experts have estimated that 25 to 30 percent of the whole Bible is so concerned. Therefore, we are not dealing with a fringe issue. As Brian Daley understands it, there is “an eschatological dimension to every aspect of Christian faith and reflection . . . because it touches so many of the central themes of faith.”3 Your view or non-view of eschatology affects dramatically your understanding, misunderstanding, or lack of understanding of many other important aspects of the Christian faith. For instance, it greatly impacts points 2 through 7 below. How much salvation do we currently have? The whole of the Bible is concerned with man’s problem (sin) and God’s solution (salvation/redemption). The final outworking of that redemptive solution for those alive, as well as those dead, is what salvation and eschatology are both all about. Depending upon your eschatological view, your answer to this question will vary from “some” to “most” to “all.” How much of the kingdom do we currently possess? The teaching of the kingdom of God was the central teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, it is no longer the central teaching of most of His church. The most popular view claims Christ’s kingdom was postponed by God when Jesus was rejected and crucified. Having been withdrawn temporarily, it will someday be set up in Jerusalem when Christ returns. Another view states that it is only here “in some sense,” but this view cannot define in what sense. A third view assures us that, while it is mostly here and is each individual’s responsibility to advance it, it will come fully and catastrophically sometime in the future at Christ’s return. A fourth view professes a consummated and present kingdom, here and now, but says little about it and/or claims that major components of the kingdom have ceased to function. Clearly, the kingdom of God is caught in eschatological mid-air. Consequently, it is almost impossible for someone today to follow Jesus’ basic admonition to “seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt 6:33 KJV). So, your answer to this question will also vary, depending on your view, from “none” to “some” to “most” to “all but minus some things.” What do you do with the modern-day nation of Israel? No more volatile or politically charged issue has exploded onto the front page of the world scene and into the church than that of the contemporary role (or non-role) of the modern-day nation of Israel in fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecy. Many believe that if we don’t support Israel, we’ll be biblically cursed, individually and nationally. Others believe that biblical Israel has been replaced by the church. Most simply don’t know what to think, believe, or do about it. It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic attack on the Bible. Again, R. C. Sproul says it well: “In seminary I was exposed daily to critical theories espoused by my professors regarding the Scriptures. What stands out in my memory of those days is the heavy emphasis on biblical texts regarding the return of Christ, which were constantly cited as examples of errors in the New Testament and proof that the text had been edited to accommodate the crisis in the early church caused by the so-called parousia-delay of Jesus.”4 This perceived weakness was, and still is, the crack that let the liberals in the door to begin their systematic criticism and dismantling of Scripture with its inevitable bankrupting of the faith. Consequently, in America over the past 50 to 100 years, seminary after seminary, denomination after denomination, church after church, and believer after believer have departed from the conservative faith. Critics have hit Christianity at its weakest point—the embarrassing statements of Jesus to the effect that He would return within the lifetime of His contemporaries and the “failed” Holy-Spirit-guided expectations of the New Testament writers that He would (John 16:13). It makes a difference in your worldview. Our forefathers in the faith came to this country under a particular, optimistic eschatological view to expand the kingdom of God. They believed that the world would become a better and better place as it became more Christianized, and that each Christian was responsible to do his or her part. Hence, they came and founded the great institutions of our country—our government, public schools, and universities—under Judeo-Christian principles, making Christianity the moral influencer in our society. However, 50 to 75 years ago, all this began to change. Now, we’ve almost given it all away without a fight. Ironically, we didn’t get pushed out by a more powerful force. We simple withdrew. Into the vacuum gladly came the ungodly forces. Why did this happen? A prime reason is that the dominant eschatological view here in America changed from one of optimism to one of historical pessimism, supported by the erroneous belief that the world is supposed to get worse and worse before Christ returns. And as Edmund Burke, the 18th century British statesman, once wrote, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Eschatological ideas have consequences. It makes a difference in your life and family. If you have bought into the popular concepts that Christ will soon return and the world is going to end, these beliefs affect how you and your family think, pray, work, save, plan, invest, and commit or don’t commit to do things in the present—especially things that have long-term payouts. As someone once put it, “Your view of the future affects your philosophy of life.” It has also been well noted, “If there’s no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” Again, eschatological ideas have consequences—very important consequences. Whether or not we are willing to admit it, we all have certain eschatological ideas. And as can be clearly seen from the above, those ideas affect greatly how we “follow Jesus.” 1. For more, see author’s recently published article in MovieGuide magazine (Sept. 2007 issue) titled, “Why Are Christians Losing America?” (www.movieguide.org – click “Articles / Show All / Sep 14th, 2007”). 2. R. C. Sproul, “A Journey Back in Time,” Tabletalk, January 1999, 5. 3. Brian E. Daley, The Hope of the Early Church (Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 1991), 2. 4. R. C. Sproul, The Last Days According to Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998), 14-15. |
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