Tag: Bible

“Israel Only” Preterism is Wrong. Here’s Why…

Sin and death entered this world through the first man, Adam. That fall affected all humanity to come afterward, not just one people group, not Israel only.

God was grieved with the sinfulness of man and wiped them out in a flood, saving only Noah and his family, from whom the world would be repopulated (Genesis 10). Noah was not Israel only.

God was again grieved by the rebelliousness of man at Babel and so He divorced Himself from, and scattered, the nations (humanity torn apart) and placed them under the authority of heavenly beings, the sons of God (Deuteronomy 32:8). Out from the nations God called Abraham, with whom He cut a covenant; a covenant which would lead to the blessing of all nations (Genesis 15-18); a reconciliation with God. Abraham was not Israel only.

God singled out Israel (Deuteronomy 32:9-14), to be a nation of priests to the nations, to build a dwelling place for God so that all could come to worship and pray and know the God of Israel (1 Kings 8:41-43). Israel was not for Israel only.

Israel broke their covenant with God (Deuteronomy 32:15-30) and they did not keep the law God had given to them, and so they were under a curse (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The curse scattered Israel in exile (Israel torn apart), but God promised a Redeemer. But, that Redeemer was not for Israel only (Isaiah 49:5-6).

Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24) to restore them to their position of priests to the nations; to bring back together that which was torn apart. Jesus saved them from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). To save them, He became them (Matthew 2:15). In becoming them, Jesus took on their vocation (Galatians 3:14): to be a priest to the nations (Hebrews 4:14), reconciling the world to God; bringing back together that which had been torn apart (2 Corinthians 5:16-19).

Jesus is the true Israel. Jesus is the only Israel. Jesus is the saviour of all mankind.

Not Israel only.

Related reading: Some Speculations on Romans 5; The Incompetent Crankery of the Israel Only Movement

The Book of Revelation was Fulfilled in the First Century

Many Christians believe the book of Revelation is a prophesy about the end of the world in our future. They say the events told of in the prophesy are too fantastic to refer to anything which has already happened in human history. The problem with this thinking is that these Christians are applying Revelation’s imagery to the physical realm when they should apply it to the spiritual realm.

The most scandalous thing ever to happen in human history was when humanity murdered the son of God on the cross. This is the most important event to ever happen, and it will always be so. Yet, while this event was happening, most of the world was completely unaware of it. No one in China, for example, had any idea that their own creator had become a man and was dying on a cross. Even those who were directly involved with the crucifixion were unaware of what they were truly doing. “Father, forgiven them; for they do not know what they’re doing.” In the spiritual realm, however, when our Lord was crucified, the whole world was being destroyed.

The book of Revelation revealed what happened in the spiritual realm in the first century. The symbols will only seem to be too fantastic if one applies them to the physical realm. The entire old world was crashing down and a new world was being created by the death and resurrection of Christ. The first century is the most important century of human history, and always will be.

We also know the book of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century because that’s what the book itself tells us…

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1-3, NKJV (emphasis mine)

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.”

Revelation 22:6-10, NKJV (emphasis mine)

The symbology of Revelation best fits the events of the first century when the old world was replaced by the new — the most important century of all time.