Subject: Revelation not a book of future prophecy |
Bible Note: Foy E. Wallace Jr., the Father of Modern Preterism? 'The Road Back to Preterism 'A Brief History of Eschatology and the Church 'By Kurt M. Simmons 'If there is a single individual that can be credited as the father of modern Preterism it is the Church of Christ preacher, evangelist, author and editor, Foy E. Wallace Jr. Wallace was a leading figure in the Churches of Christ coming out of the 1930s. A superb speaker, able debater, and writer, he quickly rose to national prominence in the Churches of Christ, holding numerous meetings across the U.S. each year. Wallace also served as editor of the Gospel Advocate (Nashville), a leading monthly publication within the Churches of Christ. In his role as editor, writer, and preacher, Wallace would help define the issues and establish the norms that would shape the church for the next fifty years. 'One of Wallace’s contributions toward the modern Preterist movement was his attack upon Dispensationalism (Premillennialism). Premillennialism threatened to enter the Churches of Christ in the early twentieth century through Robert H. Boll, a prominent preacher, who also served as editor of the Gospel Advocate. Boll became enamored with the Premillennialism of Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and began writing Premillennialist articles for the Gospel Advocate (circa 1910). Boll was forced to resign, but continued to teach and disseminate Premillennialist doctrine within the church, gaining a following. 'The Premillennial movement within the churches of Christ was destroyed primarily by Foy Wallace Jr. during his four year (1930-1934) tenure as editor of the Gospel Advocate and in two debates with Charles Neal. The first Wallace-Neal debate was held in Winchester, KY., Jan. 2-6, 1933, and was later published in book form. Neal affirmed "The Bible clearly teaches that after the second coming of Christ and before the final resurrection and judgment, there will be an age or dispensation of one thousand years during which Christ will reign on the earth." Wallace also started a publication entitled the Bible Banner to refute Premillennnial doctrine and would publish God’s Prophetic Word (1946, revised 1960), a volume of several hundred pages, which today remains one of the most thorough treatments exposing Premillennial errors. Central to Wallace's refutation of Premillennialism was proof of the restoration of the Davidic throne and kingdom in Christ beginning with his ascension. 'The other side of Wallace’s contribution to the modern Preterist movement was his commentary on Revelation, published in 1966. Wallace devoted forty-five pages to defending the early date for composition of Revelation, and demonstrated throughout that Revelation’s major theme was the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Although Wallace’s commentary was merely partial Preterist, seeing in Revelation twenty’s millennia imagery extending beyond the first century and into the indefinite future, it remains a favorite in Preterist circles today. 'Wallace’s efforts to establish the historical, first century context of Revelation and the fulfilled nature of the Davidic kingdom and throne in Christ’s church paved the way for later generations in the Church of Christ to arrive at the full Preterist position...' To read more go to: www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/ simmons-kurt_p_06_01.html Source: The Road Back to Preterism A Brief History of Eschatology and the Church By Kurt M. Simmons To read more about the Restoration Movement and/or Preterism at StudyBibleForum.com use the Search function near the top of the homepage. |