As a former Calvinist, a full preterist and a universalist, I’d like to address some of the overall judgments posted here concerning my beliefs. I will preface my other comments with a caveat that I am not looking for argument but rather attempting to address some of the misconceptions that were made.
- The accusation of gnosticism shows a general ignorance of true gnosticism. Gnostics had a particular non-Christian way of viewing the scriptures. The proper attempt at perjorative would be the use of the phrase “neo-Platonist,” which particularly signifies the disdain, or villification of matter. I know of no “Pantelists” (the phrase we have chosen to represent ourselves) who teach such a disdain.
In fact, I would argue that it is the futurist (whether full or partial) who is actually the neo-platonist. One of the main futurist arguments against full preterism is that we cannot now be in the resurrected kingdom when we are still in “sinful flesh.” The futurist requires a physical resurrection because this so-called “sinful flesh” “cannot enter the kingdom of God.” But flesh in the new testament (SARX) has to do with a general weakness of humanity. Our SARX is weak, but the spirit gives us life. Sarx was directly tied to the Law, which was the ministration of death (the “strength of the law”). Spirit was tied to the new covenant. Pantelists have no problem with our humanity, as it was created by God. And it, like all else created, was GOOD.
- I noted someone’s objection to full preterism with an allusion to the physical resurrection of Jesus. The “spiritual resurrection” that occurred in baptism prior to AD70, and in the destruction of Jerusalem, was “the resurrection of the body” prophesied in the New Testament. The “body of death” was Moses’ body, into which ALL Israel was baptized (1 Cor 10); but in its resurrected form in AD70 it was joined with the rest of the body of Christ - the “perfect man.” The TWO (believing Israel and unbelieving Israel) were joined through resurrection and Jesus was their Shepherd King.
Paul makes reference to this in Romans where he says “they (Israel after the flesh - i.e., under the law) are your enemies for the sake of the gospel but, for the sake of the patriarchs, they are beloved…for the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.” IOW, even Israel after the flesh would be saved for “ALL were consigned to disobedience so that God may have mercy on ALL.” Jesus came to “save the lost house of Israel,” the “world” of the old covenant. The “seed” of Israel fell to the ground and died (baptism was viewed as a death and resurrection; the destruction of Jerusalem, the lake of fire, was the second death - the first death being that brought about by the Law).
In regards to Jesus’ physical resurrection (which I embrace wholeheartedly), I would argue that if Jesus died physically on the cross and the believers were told they were “crucified with Christ” (yet not physically); then why would believers have to be physically raised from the dead to share in his physical resurrection? Are you prepared to say that we must physically hang on a cross in order to be “crucified with Christ”? Then why must our rotting, decaying corpses require rescuscitation?
A few other points in regards to how I see scripture. The 1,000 year reign of Christ was both literal and figurative and spanned an actual 1,000 years. Interestingly, the time from Solomon to Christ was this 1,000 years. Solomon was not the true heir of David for the throne because he didn’t keep God’s commandments. Jesus did and thus; Jesus was the true heir and, in a sense, ruled over Israel from the time of David’s death. Solomon was a usurper, but still in some ways a “type” of Christ (he built the temple, which Christ finished in AD70). The reality though was that Solomon was “the beast” of Revelation. He was known for his wisdom (“let him who has wisdom…”) and his annual tribute was “six hundred and sixty six” talents of gold. Those who “worshipped the beast” and took his mark (the old covenant mark of circumcision) were “destroyed with the breath of ‘Christ’s’ coming” in AD70. Those who did not receive the mark (which Paul warned against accepting after initially saying it didn’t matter) were persecuted by the Jewish religious leadership (the False Prophet). Those who denied Christ were, by definition, the antichrists - denying that the Messiah (the Christ) came in the flesh (i.e. under the Law) to redeem those still in their flesh. They were “dead in their trespasses and sins” under the law, and we know from the Revelation that “the rest of the dead (Israel after the flesh) did not come to life until the thousand years were over (in AD70).”
One final chapter in this seemingly growing “book” is the story of Adam and Eve. Note that they were created “naked but not ashamed.” God created them that way, and he said his creation was good. But when they were deceived to wanting to “know good and evil” rather than to “know God” their spiritual eyes were opened and they saw their nakedness. They were then ashamed. They hid from God, trying to separate themselves, and God found them and covered their shame. “Knowing good and evil” brings us only shame…that is SARX. Spirit gives LIFE. That is the message of the new covenant, the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells.
1 Cor 15 says that “the last enemy to be destroyed (or nullified) is death,” meaning spiritual death (the only form of death that mattered as was pointed out by one poster here). “The sting of death is sin, and the law gives power to sin.” IOW, when the old covenant “passed away” (as Hebrews says that it was about to, and that Jesus would not tarry, and he didn’t), there was no more Law. And, as Paul said, where there is no law, sin is not held to anyone’s account. And when there is no sin, there is no death. End of story. Christ has won. Christ is risen, he has conquered ALL of his enemies. Death is defeated and ALL humanity is reconciled to God.
Herein lies my presentation of my beliefs in a short, “nutshell” fashion. I hope it has helped to give some here an understanding of where Pantelism (Full Preterist Universalism) is coming from scripturally.
blessings,
Ed Burley