From OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com. 12/6/2024.
Prompt: How do the Preterists calculate the end time and when do they think it happened?
Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets many or all biblical prophecies about the “end times” as events that have already occurred, particularly in the first century. Here’s how Preterists calculate and interpret the “end times” and when they believe it happened:
1. Key Prophecies and Timing
Preterists base their interpretations on passages in the New Testament, particularly those that include references to “this generation” and time-bound language. Examples include:
- Matthew 24:34: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.”
- Preterists interpret “this generation” as the generation living during Jesus’ time, suggesting the fulfillment of the prophecies occurred within the first century.
- Revelation 1:1, 3: The book of Revelation opens by stating the events described “must shortly come to pass” and that “the time is at hand.”
- Preterists take this language to mean the events in Revelation primarily refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
2. Historical Context
Preterists align biblical prophecies with historical events, particularly:
- The Fall of Jerusalem (AD 70):
The Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple are viewed as the fulfillment of Jesus’ predictions in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). Events like famine, wars, persecution, and the Temple’s destruction match descriptions in biblical prophecy. - Roman Persecution and Nero’s Role:
Some Preterists identify Nero Caesar as the “beast” of Revelation (using the gematria of Nero’s name to equate to 666) and interpret the Roman persecution of Christians as fulfilling prophetic warnings about tribulation.
3. Two Types of Preterism
- Partial Preterism:
Partial Preterists believe most prophecies, including those about the Great Tribulation and the destruction of Jerusalem, were fulfilled in the first century. However, they hold that some events, such as the physical return of Christ and the final judgment, are still future. - Full Preterism (Hyper-Preterism):
Full Preterists assert that all biblical prophecies, including Christ’s second coming, the resurrection, and the final judgment, were fully realized by AD 70. They view these events in a spiritual or symbolic sense, not as future physical occurrences.
4. End Time Fulfillment
Full Preterists argue that the “end times” referred to the end of the Jewish age, symbolized by the destruction of the Temple and the cessation of the sacrificial system. They believe this marked the transition to the New Covenant age, with Jesus’ kingdom fully established.
In summary, Preterists calculate the “end times” using New Testament language and first-century events, focusing on the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 as the primary fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Partial Preterists look to a future return of Christ, while Full Preterists see all prophecy as completed by the first century.
