Preterism is the understanding that eschatology was centrally focused on the Messiah and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, with the end of the Mosaic covenant kingdom and the judgment upon rebelling Israel.
All theological traditions accept the coming of Messiah, Jesus miraculously born as a baby to Mary. He grows up and when 30 years old begins to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. He spends three years teaching about the kingdom, discipling numerous Jews, with twelve picked out to be his emissaries to the nation of Israel. He dies at the hands of the rebelling Jewish leaders, and by the agent of Rome was crucified. Three days later he rose from the dead, for about forty days after his resurrection he met with his apostles and disciples, proving he was alive and finishing the teaching of the kingdom with them. He then ascended to his throne in heaven, next to the Father. Then on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples empowering them to do the work that Jesus had given them to do.
This part is agreed upon, where preterit doctrine diverges from the other views is that it is held that within the generation of the disciples, about a forty year period, Jesus did return as the Messiah and agent of judgment upon those who pierced him, that wicked and rebellious generation of Jews, who set aside the covenant law of Moses to follow the teaching of their elders. This brought to a close the age of the Mosaic covenant and the kingdom of Israel formed under it.
My question is what all was finished in 70AD with the end of the Mosaic covenant? There seems to be some differing ideas being communicated within preterism.
First I think we need to consider the nature of the teaching in the NT. We have the teaching of the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. There is the prophetic warning of the judgment coming on that wicked and perverse generation of Jews. There is also teaching in kingdom living, often given as loving and serving one another.
With the birth of the Messiah, we entered into a transition period. The Messiah had come, Isaiah records that the government is on his shoulders, he was born to be the king of Israel, to sit upon the throne of David. Many of his later disciples fully expected him to restore the kingdom to Israel, leading a revolt against the Roman occupiers and take the throne of David in Jerusalem.
What we see in Jesus teaching is that his kingdom is a spiritual one. He answered Pilate when asked if he was a king, that he was but his kingdom was not of this earth. He taught his disciples that leadership in his kingdom was to be by servant-hood, and not by ruling it over others, a spiritual and serving kingdom.
Jesus taught and warned about the coming judgment. He taught his disciples that it would take place in their lifetime and gave them signs of to look for, so that they would know it was time to get out of Judea and Jerusalem to escape the judgment wrath of God and the destruction of the temple.
Historic records, such as that of the Jewish Josephus priest and general, tells us of the ruin of the land of Israel, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the deaths and dispersal of the Jews to the nations. All of this were elements of God's judgment upon rebellious Israel.
This all preterists accept as true. What all ended with the destruction of Jerusalem was the age of the Mosaic covenant, the temple practice and the people of the covenant, Israel. The Mosaic covenant is done with, it is fully ended. God's covenant is no longer with the physical people of the ancient father, Israel.
The temple practice is completely finished, along with all of the law of the ceremonies, fixtures, sacrifices, feasts and holy days. The priesthood of the tribe of Levi, is finished. The scrolls that contained the genealogy of the Levites were burnt up in the destruction of the temple, as was the genealogy of the other tribes. There is no way today to ascertain who is a legal priest under the law of Moses.
This end of one age, was the marked beginning of a new age, the one we presently live in. It is the age of the Messianic new covenant kingdom. In this kingdom there is no physical temple, His glory lives within the people of God in the Messiah. The Messiah is enthroned in his people, as illustrated in the imagery of the New Jerusalem city which is His people, His bride. He rules his people through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who leads and guides us in how to be pleasing to him, to will and do his good pleasure.
What remains enforce in scripture for us in this Messianic new covenant age? The teaching regarding righteousness, and the work of reconciliation. Paul stated that they were continuing the work of reconciliation that Jesus began. This work continues as the kingdom of Messiah increases to fill the whole world. We continue this work by loving and serving one another in our own fellowships of believers, and by reaching out with the same love and service to those around us, specially those in need, widows, orphans and the homeless.
Some are teaching that everything has been done by Jesus. That there is no work for us to do in this age, but sit back and enjoy the kingdom. Others say that the whole law is gone, dead, that none of it applies to us in this age, so that there is no sin, for sin is breaking the law, therefor there is no grace, for grace abounds towards those who sin.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We are in the new covenant, in which as God promised, the law is written upon our inner most man. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth still today, writing the law upon our hearts. The law is still enforce. Sin is still judged by it, and all men still need to repent and enter into the new covenant kingdom in the Messiah. The main sin today, is the denial of the rightful king and ruler, a refusal to accept his salvation and grace, a rejection of his covenant.
What part of the law of Moses is still in effect? The Ten Words, all are also taught as effect in the NT, except that of keeping the Sabbath, which I understand that Messiah/Christ is our Sabbath rest, and we honor God by living as he lived every day of our life, giving the worship of our service and dedicated life in obedience to him.
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