THE LAST DAYS
We Are Not In The Last Days

What the heck is PRETERISM?

Preterism is the belief that most or all of the
prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled.


I believe that the tribulation and Christ's "coming in the clouds"
were in the first century (just as Jesus said they would be.)

I believe that the term "last days" referred to the last days of the
Old Covenant, not the end of the physical world.

I believe that The Kingdom of God is here now.

BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT...

I hear you. You're probably freaking out.
Hopefully all your questions will be answered as you continue reading.

Did you know that Jerusalem was completely destroyed in AD 70?

Remember where Jesus said that all those buildings would be rubble?
That happened! And it happened within that generation.

Matt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER (ouch!)

Here are a few things that will smash your current beliefs. I just want you to know that this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.

THE LAST DAYS
The scripture makes it clear that the "last days" were in the first century AD.
I believe that it means the last days of Judaism.
The temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in AD 70.

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
1Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
I Peter 4:7 The end of all things has drawn near.

GOSPEL PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD
Many say that after the gospel is preached in remote parts of
Africa that haven't been reached yet, then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The scripture makes it clear that this was accomplished before AD 70.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Romans 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith
Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven

NEW JERUSALEM
Many "prophecy experts" teach that the New Jerusalem
is a literal physical city that will fly here from outer space.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Notice the comparison to a bride. Who is the bride of Christ?
 
The "experts" teach that the New Jerusalem will land here on earth after all sin is done away with.

Revelation 21:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Here is Paul addressing Christians in his day. They were in the holy city. It's spiritual.

Hebrews 12: 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels
Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

ANTICHRIST

1John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Not one antichrist, many. And it happened back then.

1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The book of Revelation does not use the term "antichrist."

THE MARK OF THE BEAST (pretty scary, huh?)
The "experts" tell us that it is only now possible to give
people a mark because of our recently developed technology,
but The Old Testament talks about marks.

Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

I believe that taking the mark meant that you substituted Caesar's law for God's Law.
By the way, "Nero Caesar" in Hebrew has the numerical value of 666.

SATAN BOUND
Jesus said that Satan was bound when he was on the earth.
This doesn't fit our modern day interpretation of Satan being
bound because there is still evil in the world.
But I trust Christ's interpretation more than the "expert's."

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

COMING ON CLOUDS
The "experts" tell us that Jesus will literally come back on a cloud.
The Old Testament uses this type of imagery to describe God's power and judgment.

Isaiah 19:1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

The "experts" would say that this "cloud coming" means that God brought judgment. Then they say that "cloud coming" in the New Testament means something else.
I believe that the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 would qualify as a cloud coming. Another cloud coming mentioned in the Old Testament is the ascension.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

THE KINGDOM IS HERE!

Matt 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matt 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Luke 10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
next page:It's quite a stretch to believe we're in the last days now

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