How about you Brother, what are your views of the resurrection of the dead.
Do you think that Jesus returned in 70AD, and the resurrection occurred then?
JLB
Let me first say that I really don’t think you are at all truly interested in my opinion. You are fully convinced of your own opinions, and appear to be closed off to considering anything that does not square with your own dogma, I believe you are only looking for someone else to debate, so let me be clear, I will not engage in a debate with you, because there is absolutely nothing edifying in it.
So let me begin with this: I had never heard of preterism until I came on this forum, nor do I know, or even care to know, what the tenants of preterism are, but reading through this forum has given me a general idea. So before I answer your question, I must first state what I believe to be the faulty premise of this thread and debate in general, and that is when anyone is steadfast that it must be one way or the other, they fail to recognize the difference between the spirit and the flesh. Those that live after the spirit tend to see the fulfillment of prophecy as past, and walk with the newness of spirit according to the promise in his kingdom. Those that live after the flesh tend to see the prophecy as yet future, and walk with the expectation of a kingdom to come. I would tell you that both in a way are correct: for Christ came that he might be Lord of both the living and the dead (Rom 14:9).
Now you asked me if I thought the resurrection occurred in 70 AD? First off, I have no idea what connection there may be between 70 AD and the resurrection, I was simply under the impression that is when many believe the temple was destroyed. But my faith is not bound to that, and I really could care less one way or the other. If you want to know my belief, then I would tell you the resurrection began at Pentecost, or maybe even earlier, such as the time of the resurrection of Christ (Matt 27:52). Now you might be curious as to why I would ask you if you considered yourself to be “Born Again,” and that is because being “Born Again” is of the spirit and of the kingdom now present, yet you seem awfully wrapped up in the flesh and a kingdom to come. To me, being “Born Again” is a spiritual resurrection, and with it comes a recognition of the fulfillment in Christ. The future fulfillment that you seek is the judgement of the law according to the flesh for those who remain under the law. But that law holds no power over me in Christ, and obsessing over future fulfillment of any prophecy in that respect no longer consumes me. My mind is set on the full realization of the kingdom of God now present with us; As 2 Cor 4:7 tells us that we have this treasure in earthen vessels.
You have concluded that the resurrection has not yet happened, and that the promises of God were for a singular future generation that you believe yourself to be a part of, as have most generations for the past two thousand years. But I would tell you that those promises were made for all generations, and that since the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection in spirit has continued for each generation and for all individuals in their own time. Now in 2 Tim 3:18, the scripture says that they erred in saying the resurrection is past already, and by that overthrew the faith of some, but it did not say say were completely wrong, only that it could harm the faith of some, and destroy what hope they had until their time should come. But is that any less subversive than your stance that the promises of God were to come only on one unique and final generation. Can you understand how that could also overthrow the faith of some as well. As Jesus said to the Pharisees concerning the kingdom of God: you don’t enter in, and you prevent those who are entering. You look at a scripture that says as the lightening cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall the coming of the son of man be (Matt 24:27) as proof of a singular event where every eye shall behold him to justify your assertions, but I will tell you that the sun continues to rise in the east and set in the west day after day without fail, as it has for generation after generation, to each in his own time. You have continued to reject the premiss of other members on this board who have kindly stated that Jesus was speaking to His generation, yet the scripture plainly tells us during the time of the apostles, that the promise was unto you, and to your children, and to those that are a far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39): to all generations, not just one.
Like I stated in my opening, I will not debate you on this matter. You have asked my opinion and I have given it. I bid you to consider the following passages very carefully, and ask yourself where you stand, for your conversation remains of the flesh and looks only to the judgement of the children of disobedience according to the law.
Col 1:25-27
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 2: 8-12
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Eph 2:1-6
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.