The Narrow Path Ministries

I should have been wise as Steve and Rick and never bothered with this discussion with preterists. They are no different than the dispensationalists. Both shoe-horn in anything that doesn't fit their system by methods that are problematic. A good example is their insistence that there is no general resurrection because Jesus was speaking to Jews so it applies to them only. It could be argued just as well that Jesus' ethical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount have no relevance to us. After all, He was only talking to Jews so let them worry about the warnings at the end of the sermon. The Preterist method can set us free!

I have a mint copy of J. Stuart Russell's "Parousia" that I purchased years ago. I read it with interest until he wrote some things that appeared highly improbable (okay, nonsense) and it went on the bookshelf unfinished, as I am prone to do. This discussion reminds me of that experience.

Wasn't much going on here at the time and I got sucked into eschatology which I usually avoid but now I repent of my great waste of time.

Homer wrote:I should have been wise as Steve and Rick and never bothered with this discussion with preterists. They are no different than the dispensationalists. Both shoe-horn in anything that does'nt fit their system by methods that are problematic. A good example is their insistence that there is no general resurrection because Jesus was speaking to Jews so it applies to them only. It could be argued just as well that Jesus' ethical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount have no relevance to us. After all, He was only talking to Jews so let them worry about the warnings at the end of the sermon. The Preterist method can set us free!

I have a mint copy of J. Stuart Russell's "Parousia" that I purchased years ago. I read it with interest until he wrote some things that appeared highly improbable (okay, nonsense) and it went on the bookshelf unfinished, as I am prone to do. This discussion reminds me of that experience.

Wasn't much going on here at the time and I got sucked into eschatology which I usually avoid but now I repent of my great waste of time.

"Please don't hurry back. This is not a forum for people who will demand others to agree with their views, and then leave in a huff when others remain unconvinced. I hope you can find some place that has no minimum maturity requirements."

I wonder what Jesus might say to two brothers who can't agree on a theological point.

Jason wrote:I wonder what Jesus might say to two brothers who can't agree on a theological point.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Homer wrote:

Wasn't much going on here at the time and I got sucked into eschatology which I usually avoid but now I repent of my great waste of time.

I tend to agree with you Homer.

The topic of FP interests me as a novelty- sort of like UFOs or the Loch Ness Monster. I am intrigued by it because it seems so "weird." This is not meant to offend you FP's. It is just my opinion. Your opinion of me is that I am a poor, uninformed, naive and unenlightened partial futurist. That's ok, I don't mind at all.

It is obvious that Allyn and Mellontes expect me (and others) to spend great amounts of time re-reading the OT, the NT etc in order to respond to their queries. But I have only so much time to study the Word (and read other spiritual literature), and there are more pressing practical concerns for doing so than defending against FP.

I would be more inclined to do so if I saw SOME REASON for doing so. Thus far I have heard not even close to a good reason why FP really matters, as a practical matter.

If the second coming already happened, and there wont be a 3rd coming, I cant be overly disappointed because I don't really EXPECT Jesus to come back in my lifetime, although I do think that He could. So in other words, I may not be alive when it happens, anyway.

If there is no physical resurrection, I guess I cant be overly devastated because after all, I have no idea what a physical glorified body would be like. Eternity with the Lord as a conscious soul/spirit would be pretty great, too.

At this point, it seems more of an "academic exercise" than anything else. Sort of like the calvinism debates.

But we are now at the point of going in circles, and I really don't see the point in that either, so I too will likely bow out of the FP discussions as well. I have learned my lesson!

jason wrote:

I wonder what Jesus might say to two brothers who can't agree on a theological point.

But you have to admit, Jason, that it is amazing how startlingly wrong one camp is. Not much middle ground. That's why I find it intriguing. I am even willing to admit that I might be wrong, but I do not believe the FPs will do so.

TK