Subject: The second coming of Jesus |
Bible Note: Hey Joe, Yes, the Transfiguration is pretty standard, it’s not the only explanation for Matt 16:27-28, but it’s by far the most common. “I had asked you a question a couple of weeks ago regarding your views on Matthew 25:31-46.’ I hope I answered it then. Sometimes keeping up with these forums can be tough. Let me know if I didn’t though. “It seems that the last judgment will be a corporate judgment rather than a one-at-a-time judgment.” I see what you mean here, but I still think it will be a one on one type judgment. But, it will be a broad stroke. Not a ‘now serving number 1,001,436’ . “How does the full preterist view these verses, and when do complete preterists believe that our bodies will be resurrected and glorified (cf. 1 Corinthians 15 and Philippians 3:20-21)?” I’m glad you can see that the first thing to deal with is timing. I think it’s incorrect to jump this, though many, Partial Preterists especially, do this often. I’m glad you don’t suffer from that. Too often folks want to race ahead to the nature of it, when instead it’s more paramount to find out when the heck it happens. 1 before 2 and 2 before 3. In short, the resurrection has happened. I know this sounds very odd, and often gets us Preterists labeled as heretics, BUT, it is what the Bible shows. First, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you read a Literal Translation of the Bible, specifically the New Testament. Young’s or Green’s are great translations, both can be found on line as well. Unfortunately many translators inject their theologies and understanding into the Bible and this hampers with the literal meaning. Take this verse for example, here from Young’s literal translation. Acts 24:15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous; Now look at it from another translation, say NIV or NASB. Pretty different huh? But we can see that a literal rendering means that Luke was saying that there is ABOUT to be a resurrection. Also when you take Matthew 16:27 and 28 compare those two with Revelation 22:12. Pretty much the same thing, only in Revelation Jesus tells John that he is coming soon. This is actually how Revelation starts as well, note the blatant time indicator in Rev 1:1. In 1 Cor 15 we find that Paul is telling us that we are sown physical but we are raised spiritual. (15:44) That’s the nature of the resurrection. The proof of this is in a first century Heretic named Hymenaeus. Hymenaeus was a heretic because he was able to pull people out of faith by telling them that the resurrection had already happened. This is pre 70 AD mind you. But, the logic we must present is this. IF the resurrection is to be physical and IF it was to take place thousands of years in the future, there would not have been a single Christian in the 1st century mislead by Hymenaeus. Actually, Hymenaeus should have been the laughing stock of Christendom. 1st century Christians should have laughed at him and said, “Oh Hymenaeus, don’t you know our physical bodies will be altered and that this event isn’t even remotely close to us?” But that didn’t happen. Why not? Because 1st Century Christians knew that the resurrection was right there, some of them would still be alive when it did happen. The 1st century Christian was actively and eagerly awaiting the return that Christ and the Apostles spoke of as happening within a short period of time. Well that’s the jist of it, hope it finds you will. Take care, SUEDE |