Studies In Eschatology – Full Preterism And Open Theism

After putting many hours into studying Full Preterism, it appears that the only view that would be consistent with Full Preterism would be Open Theism.

After putting many hours into studying Full Preterism, it appears that the only view that would be consistent with Full Preterism would be Open Theism. They posit that the Earth will go on forever and humans will continue to procreate and sin. Thus, the number of the elect will never have an end to it. They divest from all the other Eschatological views in that the other views would have us on the Earth for eternity after receiving glorified resurrected bodies on the last day (obviously there are timing disagreements amongst the views).

In Full Preterism, it is this life only that we are on the Earth. In their view. when we die we receive a spiritual body where we will live for eternity in heaven with Christ. Those who are not saved are placed into the lake of fire where they cease to exist (disagreement among them on whether there is a period of punishment related to the level of sin in their life before ceasing to exist).

Thus, in the Full Preterist format, this earth will always go on as it is currently with the Kingdom constantly increasing and overtaking the Earth. The destiny of the Elect is not on the Earth but in heaven with Christ.

They also would say that these spiritual bodies have the same type of existence that we see with angels meaning they have visible and invisible dimensions to them. Most of the Full Preterist material I have consumed seems to lean on our spiritual bodies being fully visible throughout eternity.

The idea that we would leave the Earth never to return with the Earth going on forever as it is now is a view that is completely different than your typical Pre-Mill, A-Mill, and Post-Mill views.

The reason I say that it can only be consistent with Open Theism is due to the nature of the elect. It is clear to my understanding that God the Father gives the Elect to the Son. It is also clear to my understanding that when God refers to having His remnant in Scripture it is one that He has knowledge of and ownership over.

Thus, the elect is not some people that has no end to it meaning it goes on for infinity. The full number of the elect is known to God. Therefore, that means the period-of-time on Earth where the elect come to know Christ would naturally and logically have to end at some point in the future. The differing Eschatological views place that point at different times in the future.

The only way logically for the Earth to go on forever with no end to the number of humans being created and the number of humans being saved is for God to learn as He goes or have knowledge that He has to “come into” as time progresses in some capacity which is consistent with an Open Theist perspective.

I think it is immature and in error to cast off Open Theist brethren as heretics simply because their Eschatological view is vastly different than many of us. To believe the gospel is how one is saved and their view is consistent with the gospel. However, at this point in time, I think their Eschatological view is not rooted in a consistent exegesis of Scripture nor a logical framework of reality based on what God has revealed about Himself and His creation.

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Andy Cain
Andy Cain

Andy Cain is a Bible teacher for the Kingdom of Christ. He preached his first sermon on January 4, 2009, and resides with his family in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.