I don’t intend to pursue further the controversy over Hyper-Pretersim (HP) brought to light by this letter signed by a number of Gary’s friends. But I feel obliged to respond to Gary’s statement that he hasn’t changed his views in about 25 years, and that I have continued to promote him during that time, and only lately have I objected to his views. Have I just over the last few months become more severe in my judgment on heresy? Was I tolerant of Gary’s false teaching for a quarter century and only in the last few weeks become publicly intolerant of it?
"First" and "Second" refer to BODILY comings . Heb. 9:26-28 designates this clearly. Otherwise, how is the judgment coming in 70AD "for salvation"?... Christians indeed escaped to Pella then, but this passage is referencing salvation FROM SIN effectuated for all who ever lived and all who will live and all who are alive when He comes again per Acts 1:11.
I have great respect for you and your heart for the Gospel, but this article is simply out of line. Dr. DeMar’s extensive podcast response to your 3 questions and to the assertions on the new anti-hyperpreterism website were meant to show that the issue is not as crystal clear as meets the eye, and it was a call for conversation.
Dr. DeMar systematically demonstrated that the signers of your letter and the signers of the HP website differ even amongst themselves on their interpretations of whether certain passages refer to AD 70 or to the final coming of Jesus at the end of history.
Dr. DeMar did not ever say he was in favor of hyperpreterism. He simply said he’d like to have an open dialogue with you and the other signers about these issues WITHOUT slinging the “heresy” word at each other. Your post here is precisely what Dr. DeMar was hoping to avoid.
Whatever happened to talking things out instead of resorting to public shaming? Just because he didn’t answer your letter in your timeframe doesn’t give you the right to sling the “H” word at him, especially with y’all being such longtime friends.
I’ve never met either of you, but I’ve heard both of you speak, so my heart is for both of you as fellow believers. I hope and pray you will consider taking this post down and instead scheduling time with Dr. DeMar to hammer this out face to face like Godly Christian men.
If Gary has held his current position for twenty-five years, why in the world can he not answer three simple, basic questions regarding biblical eschatology? Or perhaps more importantly, WHY won't he answer these questions?
This is so frustrating! His writings have been a catalyst for me and understanding eschatology, moving away from neive Dispensationalism. I'm thankful there are other brothers standing firm.
I'm not a postmillennial, though I looked into that view once. I was put off because all the people I read (mostly on social media, tbh) sounded like they didn't really believe Jesus was ever coming back, nor should Christians look forward to His return. That caused me to end my inquiry into the postmillennial view. So I'm glad to know there are postmillennials who do not hold that view.
Why are you misquoting the scripture, if anyone can read the Greek of Hebrews 9:26-28 it does not say that. verse 27 is talking about the Priest hood that dies off and comes to its end once Christ has come. Verse 28 is saying that He, Jesus, is coming out of the second, that is the second veil, not a second time! How do you read Greek? This is embarrassing for people to be teachers and they can't even understand a passage. The priest went once into the temple and the people awaited for Him to come out and if he didn't, then the sacrifice was not accepted by God. That is the authors point here. οὕτως ὁ Χριστός ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶς εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν. Even in "parousia" is the Christ's true essence "ousia" declared, and that is not physical. He is God coming in clouds.
I would like to know what scriptures are used for a "future bodily return" of Christ. It appears to me that ALL the scriptures related to His coming point to AD70.
Reid: I and about a dozen friends and associates of Gary contacted him for several months in private (asking him the questions in the private letter ). Andrew Sandlin called him by phone; Gary called Doug Wilson (a signer) by phone. We could not get him to answer the three simple questions --- even though he has been saying he has held his current position for 25 years. He is a public figure who is publicly confusing people. We are continuing to pray for him. We are deeply saddened. We have not declared him a "heretic," though we say he is promoting some heretical teachings. Heretical doctrines are a slippery slope, however. When people deem themselves the salvation of historic Christian after 2000 years, trouble is brewing (see Joseph Smith; Charles Taze Russell). No, I don't have a digital version of BJF. I do have a DVD wherein I summarize the arguments: https://www.kennethgentry.com/before-jerusalem-fell-dvd-lecture/
I hear you my brother; I kind of enjoy study & discussion and used to be more polemic about it, but now I try to embrace the (Augustine?) quote: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity. Btw you sent me scurrying for the dictionary with "adiaphora"... our fun & learning never ends (said Barney the dinosaur as I recall :-).
Also see the chapter in William G.T. Shedd's Dogmatic Theology (1886) which sets forth the biblical doctrine of <u>The Intermediate or Disembodied State</u>:
Even differing with John MacArthur's eschatology in general, one would do well to receive this concise, biblical treatment (reposted from a Grace-To-You Q&A): Do Christians receive glorified bodies immediately after they die?: https://cyberspacelinkdock.com/glorified-bodies.html
Appreciate this, especially as someone unfamiliar with the players involved and has been guilty of naïveté on more than one occasion.
"First" and "Second" refer to BODILY comings . Heb. 9:26-28 designates this clearly. Otherwise, how is the judgment coming in 70AD "for salvation"?... Christians indeed escaped to Pella then, but this passage is referencing salvation FROM SIN effectuated for all who ever lived and all who will live and all who are alive when He comes again per Acts 1:11.
Thank you, Andrew.
Dr. Sandlin,
I have great respect for you and your heart for the Gospel, but this article is simply out of line. Dr. DeMar’s extensive podcast response to your 3 questions and to the assertions on the new anti-hyperpreterism website were meant to show that the issue is not as crystal clear as meets the eye, and it was a call for conversation.
Dr. DeMar systematically demonstrated that the signers of your letter and the signers of the HP website differ even amongst themselves on their interpretations of whether certain passages refer to AD 70 or to the final coming of Jesus at the end of history.
Dr. DeMar did not ever say he was in favor of hyperpreterism. He simply said he’d like to have an open dialogue with you and the other signers about these issues WITHOUT slinging the “heresy” word at each other. Your post here is precisely what Dr. DeMar was hoping to avoid.
Whatever happened to talking things out instead of resorting to public shaming? Just because he didn’t answer your letter in your timeframe doesn’t give you the right to sling the “H” word at him, especially with y’all being such longtime friends.
I’ve never met either of you, but I’ve heard both of you speak, so my heart is for both of you as fellow believers. I hope and pray you will consider taking this post down and instead scheduling time with Dr. DeMar to hammer this out face to face like Godly Christian men.
In Christ,
Reid Swanson
PCA Layman
If Gary has held his current position for twenty-five years, why in the world can he not answer three simple, basic questions regarding biblical eschatology? Or perhaps more importantly, WHY won't he answer these questions?
So if I believe I am going to get my resurrection body when I die that makes me a Heretic?
This is so frustrating! His writings have been a catalyst for me and understanding eschatology, moving away from neive Dispensationalism. I'm thankful there are other brothers standing firm.
I'm not a postmillennial, though I looked into that view once. I was put off because all the people I read (mostly on social media, tbh) sounded like they didn't really believe Jesus was ever coming back, nor should Christians look forward to His return. That caused me to end my inquiry into the postmillennial view. So I'm glad to know there are postmillennials who do not hold that view.
Why are you misquoting the scripture, if anyone can read the Greek of Hebrews 9:26-28 it does not say that. verse 27 is talking about the Priest hood that dies off and comes to its end once Christ has come. Verse 28 is saying that He, Jesus, is coming out of the second, that is the second veil, not a second time! How do you read Greek? This is embarrassing for people to be teachers and they can't even understand a passage. The priest went once into the temple and the people awaited for Him to come out and if he didn't, then the sacrifice was not accepted by God. That is the authors point here. οὕτως ὁ Χριστός ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶς εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν. Even in "parousia" is the Christ's true essence "ousia" declared, and that is not physical. He is God coming in clouds.
I would like to know what scriptures are used for a "future bodily return" of Christ. It appears to me that ALL the scriptures related to His coming point to AD70.
I stand with Gary. He's our Martin Luther. He'll lead many out of futurism and into the truth.
Full Preterism: The New Reformation
Reid: I and about a dozen friends and associates of Gary contacted him for several months in private (asking him the questions in the private letter ). Andrew Sandlin called him by phone; Gary called Doug Wilson (a signer) by phone. We could not get him to answer the three simple questions --- even though he has been saying he has held his current position for 25 years. He is a public figure who is publicly confusing people. We are continuing to pray for him. We are deeply saddened. We have not declared him a "heretic," though we say he is promoting some heretical teachings. Heretical doctrines are a slippery slope, however. When people deem themselves the salvation of historic Christian after 2000 years, trouble is brewing (see Joseph Smith; Charles Taze Russell). No, I don't have a digital version of BJF. I do have a DVD wherein I summarize the arguments: https://www.kennethgentry.com/before-jerusalem-fell-dvd-lecture/
I hear you my brother; I kind of enjoy study & discussion and used to be more polemic about it, but now I try to embrace the (Augustine?) quote: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity. Btw you sent me scurrying for the dictionary with "adiaphora"... our fun & learning never ends (said Barney the dinosaur as I recall :-).
Also see the chapter in William G.T. Shedd's Dogmatic Theology (1886) which sets forth the biblical doctrine of <u>The Intermediate or Disembodied State</u>:
https://cyberspacelinkdock.com/PDFs/The-Intermediate-or-Disembodied-State.pdf
Even differing with John MacArthur's eschatology in general, one would do well to receive this concise, biblical treatment (reposted from a Grace-To-You Q&A): Do Christians receive glorified bodies immediately after they die?: https://cyberspacelinkdock.com/glorified-bodies.html
Swerving from the Truth of the Resurrection of the Body -
https://gorphilus.substack.com/p/swerving-from-the-truth