The Preterist View

Preterist" means past in fulfillment, in other words, the prophesies have been fulfilled. Those who believe this view say Jesus returned in 70 AD when Jerusalem was conquered by Rome. And the Millennial Kingdom of God began at that time. Following is a statement taken from the International Preterist  Association. After listing their view, I will present a few Scriptural objections to it:

When will Christ return? This question is relevant, and can be answered by scripture. Jesus seems to have answered it very clearly in these passages (Matt. 10:23; Matt. 16:27,28; Matt. 24:34). Ever wonder why the First Century Christians expected Jesus to come in their lifetime, and where they got this expectation from? Take a look at the extreme sense of eminency in these passages: James 5:8,9; 1 Pet. 4:7; Matt. 10:23; Matt. 16:27,28; Matt. 24:34. These verses have always troubled Bible students, and have been used by liberal theologians to attack the inspiration of Scripture. They reason that these passages were not fulfilled when they were supposed to be (the first century generation), so Jesus and the NT writers failed in their predictions and were therefore not inspired. But these verses point to Christ's coming in some sense in connection with the Fall of Jerusalem at 70 AD. So, Jesus' predictions were fulfilled. He did not fail, nor do we need to engage in theological gymnastics to try to explain-away the seeming delay or postponement of His return. It happened right on schedule. Many knew the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was important in God's scheme of redemption, but never understood its full significance. It has to do with the consummation of the plan of redemption. The final events of the redemptive drama came to pass in the first century within the apostles' generation (before A.D. 70). Christ's kingdom is here now. Paradise has been restored in Christ (spiritually-speaking). Christ has conquered all His enemies and has given us the Kingdom.

 

It is true that all the early Christian writers expected the second coming of Jesus in their life times but, that is hardly proof of his coming. For example, the Preterists claim that Jesus actually returned in 70 AD but, the best dating of the Book of Revelation is around 90 AD and it is clearly looking for the second coming of Jesus. It is more likely that this expectation is simply evidence of their obedience to the teaching of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Titus -

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  -  Titus 2:11-13

In an attempt to explain Scriptures they find hard to understand with human reasoning, they overlook many other Scriptures about the second coming of Jesus. For example Jesus taught us not to worry about those who say, "Come see, he is in the desert," or "Go here or there..." because his coming would be like lightning that shines across the sky. (Matthew 24:27), or that he is coming with clouds and great glory and that every eye will see him. Even those who are against him (Matthew 24:30).  Jude 14 says he is coming also with thousands of angels to judge the wicked. Then there is the teaching of the Apostle Paul about the second coming of the Lord -

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. - 1 Thes 4.15-17

There will be a loud command and trumpet call from heaven that even the dead in Christ will hear, the resurrection will happen and then the rapture (catching away) of all true believers. These things hardly happened in 70 AD when the Romans captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. When Jesus returns there will be no doubt in anyone's mind, they will all see Him coming with clouds, it will shine like lightning across the sky, thousands of angels and tens of thousands of saints will be with Him and the judgment of the wicked will begin.