A Refutation of… The A.D. 70 Doctrine Realized Eschatology Transmillennialism Preterism

Purpose of Series A Biblical treatment of Eschatology (the doctrine of the end times). An introduction to the doctrine of Realized Eschatology A concise refutation of the doctrine of Realized Eschatology Warnings and exhortations regarding religious error, and the Christian’s response to it

Definitions of Terms A.D. 70 Doctrine

Definition: A.D. 70 Doctrine This doctrine asserts that all end time prophecies have their fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman general Titus. As the year A.D. 70 is widely accepted as the date of this event, it is commonly used as a means of identifying this peculiar doctrine.

Definitions of Terms A.D. 70 Doctrine Realized Eschatology

Definition: Realized Eschatology The term eschatology is defined by Webster as “the branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or mankind.” Or, secondarily, “any of various Christian doctrines concerning the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment, or the nature of human existence upon the completion of history” In the term realized the doctrine is identified as contending all of these events to have already happened. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1977

Definitions of Terms A.D. 70 Doctrine Realized Eschatology Transmillennialism ¸

Definition: Transmillennialism ® In the summer of 1999 we invented a new word – "Transmillennialism." As a new term, this could stand beside ‘pre-,’ ‘a-,’ and ‘post-’ millennialism, the final forms that had developed in Christian eschatology. As a prefix to millennialism, "Trans-" means "across" or "over" or "on the other side of." It also means "above and beyond, transcending" such as "transatlantic." The "trans" part of Trans- millennialism™ stands for moving through or beyond what has gone before. Tim King,

Definitions of Terms A.D. 70 Doctrine Realized Eschatology Transmillennialism ¸ Preterism

Definition: Preterism The term preterit is defined by Webster (New Collegiate Dictionary, 1977), as “bygone, former” and indicating “action in the past.” Though I do not have access to an unabridged dictionary, one source indicated that the 1913 edition of Webster’s unabridged dictionary defined the term preterist as “One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have already been fulfilled. So, Preterism would be the doctrine that “the prophecies of the Apocalypse have already been fulfilled.” Introduction to Preterism,

Lesson 1 Bible Eschatology “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

Introduction to Lesson The Scheme of Redemption is the scarlet thread that runs through the Bible –Sin enters world –Plan of Redemption (in the mind of God “from the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:3-6)), put into motion –Promise to Abraham; Israel as nation; Send- ing of Son “in the fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4) The Consummation of that Plan –In Christ’s Second coming, and the events surrounding it (Eschatology)

The Second Coming of Christ

Homer Hailey on Christ’s Second Coming “The second coming of Christ is necessary to the consummation of the scheme of redemption.” … “As has been said, Christ’s first coming was as a sin offering intended to redeem man from sin. His work now is that of King, high priest, mediator and intercessor. His second coming will be to raise the dead, reward the righteous with the complete reward and to separate the wicked from the righteous with a final, complete and eternal separation.” From Creation to the Day of Eternity, pages

The Second Coming of Christ We are sure He will come John 14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-10 (Read)

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The Second Coming of Christ We are sure He will come John 14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-10 (Read) We know what His coming will be like Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The Second Coming of Christ We are sure He will come John 14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-10 (Read) We know what His coming will be like Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 We do not know when Jesus will come 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:8-10

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

2 Peter 3:8-10 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

The Resurrection of the Dead When Jesus comes again, there will be a resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus… 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The Resurrection of the Dead When Jesus comes again, there will be a resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 At the resurrection, both the righteous & wicked will come forth John 5:28-29

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth- -those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The Resurrection of the Dead When Jesus comes again, there will be a resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 At the resurrection, both the righteous & wicked will come forth John 5:28-29 We are told that the physical body of the righteous will be changed 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:35-54 (Read)

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

The Judgment Note: A man’s fate is self- determined 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

The Judgment Note: A man’s fate is self- determined 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48 Jesus spoke of the Judgment Matthew 25:31-33

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

The Judgment Note: A man’s fate is self- determined 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48 Jesus spoke of the Judgment Matthew 25:31-33 The Fate of the Righteous & Wicked Matthew 25:34, 41

(34), Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (41), Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

The Judgment Note: A man’s fate is self- determined 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48 Jesus spoke of the Judgment Matthew 25:31-33 The Fate of the Righteous & Wicked Matthew 25:34, 41 The Judgment Establishes: The Lordship of Jesus (Phil. 2:9-10; Mt. 10:28) The Righteousness of Jesus (2 Thess. 1:6-10 R)

Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Destruction of the Physical Universe Despite what the Discovery Channel says, the destruction of the World will not be by Plague, Asteroid or Comet The heavens and the earth will be destroyed when Jesus comes again The Flood shows this to be true It will come at the end of Christ’s longsuffering 2 Peter 3:3-12 (Read)

Conclusion First, it is important to note that the A.D. 70 Doctrine, which we will discuss in our next lesson, denies the truth we have established regarding Christ’s second coming, the literal resurrection of the dead, the Judgment of mankind and the end of all things. Second, since these things are true, what does it mean to us? (cf. 2 Peter 3:11-12)

2 Peter 3:11-12 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?