What is Postmillennialism & Preterism?

Postmillennialists believe that Jesus Christ is currently reigning from the right hand of God, that the kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the saving work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of individuals, that the world eventually is to be Christianized and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace commonly called the millennium. (Loraine Boettner The Millennium ) Postmillennialists also usually teach that there will be a great conversion of the Jews after the full measure of Gentiles has been converted. and that all the saints, dead & alive, will meet Jesus in the air at his second coming.

Preterists exist within Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism and Postmillennialism. Preterism teaches that Daniel 9, parts of Matthew 24, Luke 21 and parts of Revelation have been fulfilled in 70 A.D and that the second coming of Christ is still future.


Who is Israel

Dallas Seminary Dispensationalist Alan Patrick Boyd writes, "The Majority of the writers/writings in this period [70-165 A.D.] completely identify Israel with the church." Boyd's "Dispensational Premillennial Analysis" p. 47. He specifically cites Papias, I Clement, 2 Clement, Barnabus, Hermas, the Didache, and Justin Martyr. See pages 46,60, 70,86.

Boyd notes that in the case of Barnabus,... he has totally disassociated Israel from the precepts of the Old Testament. In fact he specifically designates the Church to be the heir of the covenantal promises made to Israel (4:6-7,13:1-6,14:4-5) see pg. 46.

Elsewhere he writes Papias applied much of Old Testament to the Church. pg. 60-61.

Of Hermas he notes the "employment of the phraseology of late Judaism to make the Church the True Israel. pg. 70

Of Justin Martyr he claims that the Church is the true Israelitic race, thereby blurring the distinction between Israel and the Church" pg 86.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 135 "even so we, who have been quarried out from the bowels of Christ are the true Israelitic race."

Since Scripture is our final authority, and other people are only counselors, we need to verify this viewpoint from God's Word.

Not however that the word of God has failed, for not all those of Israel [are] Israel; nor because they are the seed of Abraham [are they] all children. But, "In Isaac shall your Seed be called." That is, not the children of the flesh [are] children of God; but the children of the promise [are] counted for a seed.Romans 9:6-8

and that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, ...........But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.

For He is our peace, He making us both one, and [He] has broken down the middle wall of partition [between us], having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace [between them]; and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being [the] chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:12-20

And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel. Exodus 19:6 Reference to ethnic Israel

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a people for possession,so that you might speak of the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 quoted to Christians referring the same titles to Christians.

Romans 11 speaks of Israel as an Olive Tree. Unfruitful branches have been cut out. Gentiles (wild branches) have been grafted in and made part of Israel. After the full measure of Gentiles has been brought in, Jews who believe will be grafted back in. The passage does not say that when the Jews are grafted back in, the Gentiles will be removed from the tree. To the contrary, all believers in Christ will be part of the Olive Tree(Israel) And those also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again..Romans 11:23

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