End Of Jewish Age In Preterist Interpretations Of Matthew -- By: Michael D. Stallard

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 23:1 (Spring 2019)
Article: End Of Jewish Age In Preterist Interpretations Of Matthew
Author: Michael D. Stallard


End Of Jewish Age In Preterist Interpretations Of Matthew

Mike Stallard

Even though preterism has gained some traction in modern Christendom, the teaching of preterism may not be gaining much ground among Protestants in North America.3 In a recent phone survey of Protestant pastors on January 8–22, 2016, two questions surfaced the current state of affairs.4 First, in

response to the question – “when will the biblical rapture occur?” – only 1% responded as preterists. Second, in response to the query – “which view illustrates your views on Antichrist?” – 6% said they believe that the Antichrist arose as a figure in past history, the lowest of the categories. This does not mean that there has been no increase of scholarly attempts to propagate the view among Christians. Likewise, this low turnout for preterism does not suggest that futurists can ignore this doctrinal position in its defense of biblical truth. With that in mind, this case study will provide an analysis of an older work defending moderate preterism, R. C Sproul’s The Last Days According to Jesus.5

One of the major arguments in Sproul’s presentation of preterism is that biblical teaching about the “end of the age” refers to the end of the Jewish age and not the end of the present age in which we live. In this way, the end-of-the-age passages are used to support the idea of past fulfillment in AD 70 when the Jewish age ended with the destruction of Jerusalem. He comments, “Fundamental to preterism is the contention that the phrase ‘the end of the age’ refers specifically to the end of the Jewish age and the beginning of the age of the Gentiles, or the church age.”6

The Parables Of The Kingdom Of Heaven And The Olivet Discourse

In making his presentation on this point, Sproul begins with James Stuart Russell’s exposition of the Matthew thirteen “kingdom of heaven” parables.7 Crucial to the preterist

viewpoint here is the fact that the so-called end-of-the-world passages speak only of an “age” or “epoch” (αἰῶνός). Therefore, in texts such as Matthew 13:39b-40 (“the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire;...

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