We need to take a look at scripture in its original form to determine if Israel still holds some kind of special favor with God.

Genesis 17:7 NIV
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Many pastors today take this to mean that this promise is to last for all time, or ‘forever’ as they say. I’d like to destroy this error in just a few lines.

The word of interest here is “everlasting”. Lets see what the Hebrew word is and how it is defined. Possibly there is a better English word that might more effectively communicate the correct idea. Understand this same Hebrew word is used in many places throughout the old testament.

“Olam”, or “Owlam” is the word shown in the Hebrew bible. Olam is defined in Strong’s Concordance (#5769) as “long duration, antiquity, futurity”. In Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldea Lexicon coded to Strongs #5769, we see it defined as “what is hidden, specially hidden time, long; the beginning or end of which is either uncertain or else not defined.”

Does ‘forever’ seem like the perfect match in English to these definitions to you? As you can see here in both cases the words ‘everlasting’ and ‘forever’ aren’t exactly a perfect match. The idea here in the Hebrew seems to indicate that the covenant would last an unknown amount of time. In English, the word ‘forever’ means that something lasts until time ends or it has no end, but the idea in Hebrew here could very well mean something far far less than that. It could mean a day, a year or scores of years, centuries even.

So What?

To state it plainly. If this is true then, and you believe that Jesus brought the old covenant to an end, you must also conclude that the promises afforded to the Jews where completed by the close of the old testament especially in the light of scripture which so obviously says so:

1 Kings 8:56  – “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. ”

Conclusion

Therefore, there are no prophetic verses the world is waiting on to happen that stem from the old testament. All old testament prophecy is done. The Jews are no longer the chosen people, true Christians are. The land of Israel is of no consequence and the Jewish religious system, as it existed in old testament times, is gone. The Jewish religious system was destroyed by 70 AD when the second temple was destroyed.

 

The book of Thessalonians wasn’t written to you.

Among other things, the bible is a history book. It tells of many stories like Noah’s flood, the end of the first and second temple, the story of Moses etc… It also tells of what was going on with a specific people in, the book of Thessalonians.

When Paul argued in the synagogue at Thessalonica, he created converts and enemies in the Jewish leadership. The leaders sought to punish both the teachers of Christianity and their converts, and captured Jason and some others. They took them to the Romans where they accused them of proclaiming another king against Rome (Acts 17:5 discusses Paul at Thessalonica).

After Paul left them, he wrote…

2 Thes 1:6-10Continue Reading

The Apostles’ Creed modified. This is my proposal for a new creed that more accurately describes what we believe. This represents a complete picture that our churches have been lacking for many years now. Please submit possible changes to the wording in the comment section below.

 

The Preterists’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried and visited hell. On the third day, he raised himself from the dead and ascended into heaven, he was seated at the right hand of the Father until he received the Kingdom.

I believe He now sits on the throne in the spirit world where He rules over all things spiritual and physical.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the worldwide Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

I believe we are born here on earth to learn who Jesus Christ is and to worship Him so that we are prepared for the Kingdom to come. I believe upon death that we are born into everlasting life in the presence of our Lord for the rest of eternity.

Amen.

 

Let’s updatE the Preterists’ Creed

Please link to this page to show your agreement with the Preterist movement. This creed will be updated if the church is largely in agreement to the changes.