ALL Full preterist teach that the heavens and earth passed away when He came in 70 AD and we now live in the “New Heaven and Earth”. They then explain “heaven and earth” is code words for Old Testament, old Israel, and such while the New Heavens and the New Earth is about the church and the New Covenant.
In his paper, “How heaven and earth passed away” Don Preston states,
“Paul wrote the same thing about the passing of the “elements” of the world as did Peter (2 Peter 3:15-16). But Paul, in discussing the passing of the “elements” of the world, wrote exclusively of the passing away of the “elements” of Old Covenant Israel. Therefore, Peter, in 2 Peter 3, wrote of the passing of the “elements” of Old Covenant Israel” Don Preston (Don’s “therefore” is a conclusion reached, by pure speculation that is not supported by either text, as being identical in context.”Knowledge principles” cannot be burned up, non tangible)
“The term “Heavens and Earth” (H&E) is a Hebraism (a poetic metaphor) describing the covenant relationship between God (“Heavens”) and His covenant people, Israel (“Earth”/Promised-Land). .. As well as the Bible its self tells us – (Isa 1:1; 51:16-17; Jer 4:23ff; Matthew 5:17-18; 24:35; 2 Pet 3; Rev 20:11)”. Roger Beck
“You are not understanding the symbolic use of the term “heavens and earth” as a reference to God’s Covenant people. The law and the prophets were fulfilled “when heaven and earth passed away” (Matt. 5:17, 18). It had reference to the Old Covenant and the arrival of the New Covenant. It was a “heavens and earth” in that sense of the term. It is not talking about the renewal of the physical planet anymore that the appearance of the City is a literal event. The book of Revelation was given in symbols to picture certain events that would take place. The use of the language is an important concept in Biblical hermeneutics..
Here is the problem.
“The earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire,”
“Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
“But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will disappear with a roaring sound, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be exposed. (to the fire) 2 Peter 3
The question “where is the fulfillment of His promise of coming”, is about his coming and when it will happen. Peter goes on to explain His coming will mark the beginning of the end of all things, the real fulfillment is a New Heaven and Earth that comes where righteousness dwells.
Three key phrases tell us Peter is talking about the physical earth and not using heaven and earth as a “metaphor” for the New Covenant. “The earth was formed out of water” (Gen 1.2) The Old Covenant was not formed out of water, Peter is speaking about creation in literal terms. This then becomes the context and meaning of “earth” as used in the following verses. “the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.” Again this speaks of Noah’s flood, a literal event that happens on the real earth. The Old Covenant never perished by water or at the time of Noahs flood, it did not even exist at that point in time, nor were the people of Israel. the earth and everything done on it (the earth) will be exposed. (to the fire or burnt up).
The word “world” in verse 6 is “Kosmos” which is specific to God’s creation of all things, perished in a flood that took the life of every living being found on the entire “kosmos” including the world of the ungodly men.
“The Elements”, –The earth and its works. We know this does not speak to the fundamentals of language or of the arts and sciences as the things are knowledge, or a religious system”. “works” is what man has created on earth through the things that are of the earth, the elements of the earth, rock, stone, iron, copper, silver, and gold.
Now the key of context is in the comparison of the flood that destroyed the earth that existed long ago. Peter states this same earth that existed then, the one he currently lives in is also reserved for fire just as the earth back in the flood was destroyed by water so this one is reserved for fire. Peter even emphasizes, “BY the same word”, the same word of God who delivered judgment on Noah’s world of the ungodly and all the works done on it were destroyed by the flood so this one that now exist will also be destroyed again by fire. From Strong’s 2041 works are the things people have labored under the sun to do, things that have been accomplished. The Earth, “Ge”, is inclusive of where everyone lives and works under the “heaven”. These are not intangible “works of the Law” as the “earth” includes all people not just “Israel” but the accomplishments of man, the things he has created and done.
By the comparison of the literal flood he establishes the “destruction by fire” will be just as real as the flood. 6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire,”
The literal must match for literal.. by the same word. By the same command of God who warned Noah of the flood, so by the same word of Judgent from God, this earth that now exist will perish by fire. There is no language that indicates these verses should be “metaphorically or figuratively” taken. It is the charge that Preterist demands the figurative because of two things. They know the literal did not happen in 70 AD, but they claim it did, so therefore the meaning and interpretation must be changed to keep in step with their “beliefs”.
Peter never used one word or language to indicate he was speaking metaphorically or using any other type of figure of speech.
Not one.
“A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. Metaphor is a type of analogy and is closely related to other rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison or resemblance”
As Peter establishes that the world of the ungodly were judged in Noahs flood so the world of the ungodly that now exist would also perish by the decree of God.
The only comparison Peter all ready establishes and makes is that the flood destroyed the world that existed at that time, (which was not a religious system by any means) and so at Christ coming, there would be a destruction of the world of the ungodly that Now Exists.
The figurative application then becomes a contrivance invented by Preterist to remove the literal.
When the “literal” understanding of these verses are understood, at the end of the Millennium reign, satan gathers a second army with the kings of the earth to attack Jerusalem,
“they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them… 11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ” Rev 20.9, 11.
The earth is burnt up.
The is the “omega”, the end of all things, the last day, of the old order of things.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
The NEW Heavens and Earth spoken of here is the literal as there is no “sea” in the New Covenant.
Now many preterist cite there was no more sea referred to a large basin in the Temple in Jerusalem made by Solomon for ablution of the priests. It is described in 1 Kings 7 and 2 Chronicles 4. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. According to the Bible it was five cubits high, ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim, and thirty cubits in circumference.
The molten sea was made of brass or bronze, which Solomon had taken from the captured cities of Hadarezer, the king of Zobah (1 Chronicles 18). Ahaz later removed this laver from the oxen, and placed it on a stone pavement (2 Kings 16). It was destroyed by the Chaldeans (2 Kings 25).
“13And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon”
There was no Brazen “sea” in 30AD let alone 70 AD.
In this passage is the tangible proof Christ did not return in 70 AD or was there a New Heaven and Earth that came down out of heaven. As a first century audience understand a literal flood and Peter makes the comparison of the old world of the ungodly perished so he is stating the world of the ungodly that currently exist will perish by fire, not a localized city, but as the flood took out the whole world of the ungodly, so will fire end this world of the ungodly.
The world of the Ungodly in 70 AD was the heathen Roman Empire., not the Jewish sacrificial system in Jerusalem.
Peter spoke in plain “Greek”, with no metaphorical or figurative intent or any application of such. The literal burning of the works or the “kosmos”, or of the world of the ungodly did not happen in 70 AD. To claim it literally did becomes utter foolishness so Preterist MUST with no integrity or honesty to scripture MUST change the meaning of the words, (world, elements) They DENY and change the context of the comparison of the destruction of the earth by flood, to the destruction by fire that’s is to come to a “metaphorical” ending of the Old Covenant world and the destruction of Jerusalem. The application of metaphors on the text cannot be maintained as relating to a consistent truth taught in scripture or in the verses of 2 Peter 3.
““You are not understanding the symbolic use of the term “heavens and earth” as a reference to God’s Covenant people.”
Heavens and Earth were never used in these verses symbolically to reference God’s covenant people but the physical place where man dwells and lives under. This can not be refuted by preterists.
Case #6 “Flee” or “Rapture”
In Mathew 24 the saints are warned of the impending destruction to come and are told to flee when they see Jerusalem surrounded.
“15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
As every preterist insist this flee to “Pella” was the catching away of the saints. Our problem then becomes very simple;
“ And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. I Thess (I Cor 15)
The dead should have also risen from their graves and “flee” to Pella but they did not.
At His “coming” or “parousia”, the dead in Christ first rise up out of their graves, those who are left are changed, they do not die, but become immortal and imperishable and become the army that return with Christ in Revelation 19. They meet the Lord in the air and Hs return is to Jerusalem, not Pella. As this “catching up” is of every saint throughout the whole of the Roman Empire, we did not see or record in 70 AD every saint from the whole empire fleeing to Pella only those who were in Jerusalem? Why only them?
If these saints who were alive were changed and became immortal and fled to Pella why are they not with us today?
Simple; Because they were warned to flee the days of Vengeance, if this was the time they were to be caught up and His return, Christ would not have told them to flee but wait and I will “catch you all up to me”.
This demonstrates the “why the days of vengeance” is NOT the return.
Why were they not joined by those who were resurrected?
Why are they not with us today?
Case #7 When did God protect the Inhabitant of Jerusalem in 70 AD
In Mathew 24.39 speaks of Christ “Parousia” the language of “the son of man coming on clouds” is what we need to take note of “so will be the coming of the Son of Man”. 28Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather….30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mathew 24
In Rev 14.14 we see the exact same wording.
Revelation 14.14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Again in Rev 1.7 He is coming with the clouds.
Revelation 1.7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
In Zechariah 12 we find the Old Testament parallel to this verse from Revelation 7
Zechariah 12 8On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. 9And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah speaking a prophecy of the Day of the Lords return we see something that was not fulfilled in 70 AD.
“8On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 9And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
His Return could not have happened in 70 AD.
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