Partial preterism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The view that many New Testament prophecies, especially in the Olivet Discourse, were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, while Christ's bodily return is still to come.
Also called: partial preterist, orthodox preterism
What it means
Preterism (from the Latin for past) reads many prophecies as already fulfilled. Partial preterists hold that much of what Jesus foretold in the Olivet Discourse, and much of the book of Revelation, was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. They point to Jesus' words that "this generation will not pass away" until these things happen, and to Revelation's statement that its events must soon take place.
Partial preterists still confess, with the creeds, that Christ will return bodily and visibly, that the dead will be raised, and that he will judge the living and the dead. They see a shift in Scripture from prophecies about the judgement on Jerusalem to prophecies about the end of the age.
Partial preterism is often held by postmillennialists, and by some amillennialists. It is an orthodox view. It must be clearly distinguished from full preterism, which teaches that every prophecy, including the return of Christ and the resurrection, has already been fulfilled.
In Scripture
Jesus foretells that not one stone of the temple will be left on another.
Jesus says this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Jesus warns that Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies and trampled by Gentiles.
Revelation shows things that must soon take place.
The angels say Jesus will come back in the same way he was seen going into heaven.
Where it comes up
On this site: End times
Related terms
Full preterismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that all biblical prophecy, including Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead, was fulfilled in AD 70, so there is no future bodily return or resurrection.
PostmillennialismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that Christ will return after a long age in which the gospel spreads and the nations are widely converted.
AmillennialismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that the thousand years of Revelation 20 describe Christ's present reign from heaven between his first and second comings.