The Dangers of Realized
Eschatology
A Recent Perversion
Introduction
• A fairly recent doctrine advocated by false
teachers such as Max King and Don Preston is
the doctrine of Realized Eschatology
• Eschatology is the study of final things, thus
“realized eschatology” means the belief that all
final things have been realized or come to pass
• It saddens me to think that once faithful brethren
have fallen into this error—
• This lesson is designed to inform and combat
such error
An Opening Word
• This lesson is not designed for good brethren
who affirm the early date for the writing of the
book of Revelation–
• Brethren such as Foy Wallace, Bill Cline and
Franklin Camp held the early date view of
Revelation, yet they never advocated what full
preterists teach
• Nor is this lesson designed for good brethren
who view that some or most of the NT scriptures
have been fulfilled
• Nay, this is for the extreme belief that ALL has
been fulfilled
The Church
• We will begin with the church..
• The reason is, RE folk believe that references to the
resurrection are symbolic of rise of the church from the
oppression of Judaism
• They affirm that the church/kingdom was not in power and
glory until 70AD and the implication is that the church at some
point, died!
• Jesus promised to build it (Mt.16:18-19)
• It became a reality on Pentecost (Acts 2)
• During Jesus’ ministry, He promised this kingdom would
“come with power” during the lifetime of those He spoke to-And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some
here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death,
till they see the kingdom of God come with power. (Mk. 9:1)
The Church
• Were folks not saved on Pentecost (v41), what were they added to?
(Acts 2:47)
• Were folks not saved in the years after?
• Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts
4:12)
• Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be
saved. (Acts 11:14)
• But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11)
• And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)
• If the saved were in the church and the church was the saved from
Pentecost on, when did the church perish under Judaism, what was
lacking from its “power and glory”?
The Church
• Were folks standing holy and without blemish by
continual compliance with divine teaching in the kingdom
without end BEFORE AD70?
• And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in
your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
(Col. 1:21-22, cf. 1 Jn. 1:7ff)
• What a perversion of God’s word to teach that the
kingdom set up on Pentecost was not complete in glory
and power until 70 AD! Is it an eternal kingdom or not?
• And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven
set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and
the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it
shall stand for ever. (Dan. 2:44)
The Church
• Did the kingdom not come with power (cf. Mk. 9:1)?
When??
• But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
• Was this (Acts 1:8) a reference to Pentecost or some
forty years later??
• Peter called this “the beginning”- And as I began to
speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the
beginning. (Acts 11:15, cf. 2:4)
• Folks, are you getting this??
The Church
• Could you believe that God’s eternal purpose regarding
Christ and His church was smothered and killed under
the system of Judaism?
• and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the
mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who
created all things; to the intent that now unto the
principalities and the powers in the heavenly places
might be made known through the church the manifold
wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which
he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have
boldness and access in confidence through our faith in
him. (Eph. 3:9-12)
• Unto Him be glory in the church (Eph. 3:21- early 60’s
AD)
The Church
•
•
•
Were those saints complete in Him before AD70?
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God afore prepared that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember,
that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by
that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye
were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope
and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far
off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made
both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in
the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so
making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached
peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for
through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. (Eph.
2:10-18)
Access to WHOM (62 AD)??
The Resurrection
• Strongs defines “resurrection” as “standing up again”
• Since the word “resurrection” is used 40 times in the NT,
you would think more attention would be paid to such a
term!
• Did the church of Christ exist before Acts 2? No, then
how could it “stand up again”?
• This leads them to an absurd implication– As we noted
previously, this doctrine affirms that the church was
alive, DIED at some point and was risen again• At what point between AD30-70 did the church die?
The Resurrection
• Our RE friends affirm that the resurrection
spoken of in scripture occurred in AD70
• They affirm it was a resurrection of the
“body of Christ” from the oppression of
Judaism
• If baffles me that folk could miss the
biblical teaching of a bodily resurrection!
• Notice the following:
The Resurrection
•
Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead,
how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been
raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain,
your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God;
because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he
raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead
are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath
not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then
they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have
only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. But
now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them
that are asleep. For since by man came death, by man came also
the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in
Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. (1 Cor. 15:12-23)
The Resurrection
•
•
•
•
Regarding those verses, notice:
Paul speaks of Jesus LITERAL resurrection- v4
Notice that this was a bodily resurrectionHe is not here; for he is risen, even as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Mt.
28:6)
• Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have. (Lk. 24:39)
• This is emphasized in 1 Cor. 15:12-13, as we
just read
The Resurrection
•
But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what
manner of body do they come? Thou foolish one, that which thou
thyself sowest is not quickened except it die: and that which thou
sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it
may chance of wheat, or of some other kind; but God giveth it a
body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. All
flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and
another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of
fishes. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and
another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in
glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is
raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is
sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural
body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:35-44)
The Resurrection
• There is absolutely going to be a DAY when the
dead will rise• Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which
all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. (Jn. 5:2829)
• For a symbolic resurrection, look at v25 (cf. Eph.
2:1ff, Col. 2:13, available BEFORE AD70 mind
you!)
The Resurrection
• This is what the Sadducees rejected (Mt. 22:23)– a literal
raising of the dead, not some symbolic judgment of a
nation!
• Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not
knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the
resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in
marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as
touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read
that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am
the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living. (Mt. 22:29-32)
• By the way, these folks who affirm this doctrine are
married… I wonder why??
The Resurrection
• Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto
him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last
day. (Jn. 11:23-24)
• What resurrection is spoken of here?
• Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that
was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for
he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto
thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said,
Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou
hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth
around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me. And
when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth. He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (Jn. 11:39-44)
The Resurrection
• And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of
the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being sore
troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus
the resurrection from the dead. (Acts 4:1-2)
• What did the Sadducees oppose?? Inspired men preached the
resurrection thru Jesus (cf. Jn. 11:25-26)
• Notice what is said of those who taught that the resurrection was
already past, as these folk teach• But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in
ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is
Hymenaeus an Philetus; men who concerning the truth have erred,
saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith
of some. (2 Tim. 2:16-18)
The Resurrection
• Paul preached to folks in Athens, what did he preach?
• Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the
Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this
babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter
forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them
Jesus, and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)
• What resurrection was he speaking of??
• To them, it was new (v19) and strange (v20)
• And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,
some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again
of this matter. (v32)
• Were they mocking because of a symbolic resurrection
or a literal resurrection??
The Judgment
• Our RE friends affirm that the judgment day spoken of in
the NT is always a reference to the destruction of
Jerusalem, not a future event for all of mankind
• Thus, they affirm that the day of Judgment is already
past
• Yet scripture teaches a universal judgment, of righteous
and wicked in ONE day—
• Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that
are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
judgment. (Jn. 5:28-29)
The Judgment
• For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that
he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)• Who was Paul speaking to above??
• I wonder what “judgment” Solomon spoke of• Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in
the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will
bring thee into judgment. (Ecc. 11:9)
• Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall
bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it
be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecc. 12:13-14)
• Was he warning them of the destruction of Jerusalem??
The Judgment
• What kind of judgment was Jesus speaking of in
this text?
• Ye have heard that it was said by them of old
time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill
shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say
unto you, That whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment: and whosoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire. (Mt. 5:21-22)
• It involved hell (gehenna) fire!
The Judgment
•
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he
hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the
world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men,
in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)
• Now, why would Paul speak to these gentiles about the
judgment of Judaism hundreds of miles away?
• If all men everywhere had to repent, BECAUSE of this
day of judgment, then this judgment would involve all
men everywhere! If not, why not?
The Judgment
•
For if God spared not the angels that sinned,
but cast them down to hell, and delivered them
into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
judgment (2 Pet. 2:4)
• The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out
of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto
the day of judgment to be punished (2 Pet. 2:9)
• What would the destruction of Jerusalem have to
do with angels being sent to Tartarus to await
judgment??
The 2nd Coming
• Since our friends believe all has been fulfilled in AD70,
they affirm that Jesus already came– and He did so in
judgment upon Jerusalem
• I certainly don’t deny some usage of certain phrases to
be references to judgments upon nations• Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall
come as a destruction from the Almighty. (Is. 13:6judgment upon Babylon)
• But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved. 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. (Mt. 24:13-14- judgment
upon Jerusalem)
The 2nd Coming
• However, to assume a phrase (or one very similar) has
the exact same meaning every time, or speaks of the
exact same event, despite the context, is a mistake!
• For example, the phrase “laid hands on them” (or one
very similar) is used regarding:
• Divine healing- Lk. 4:40
• Arrest for preaching- Acts 4:3
• Apostles imparting spiritual gifts- Acts 8:17
• In commendation- Acts 13:3
• The context MUST be considered! This is all part of
“handling aright the word of truth” (2 Tim.2:15)
The 2nd Coming
• Jesus came literally one time, and will do so AGAIN• Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where
I am, there ye may be also. (Jn. 14:1-3– Some contend
that this is a reference to the church- 1 Tim. 3:15, and
they make valid points, yet Christ will still return for it! 1
Thes. 4:17, 1 Cor. 15:24)
• Abraham told the servants that he and Isaac would go
worship and “come again” (Gen. 22:5)
• In both contexts, this phrase is identical- it is speaking of
a literal return
The 2nd Coming
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And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation. (Heb. 9:27-28)
Men die ONCE
Jesus was offered ONCE
He will appear the SECOND TIME (optanomai- be seen- Thayer)
This greek word is used in the following verses:
Acts 1:3 “being seen”
Acts 2:3 “appeared”
Acts 2:17 “shall see”
Acts 7:2 “God appeared to Abraham”
Acts 9:17 Jesus “appearing” to Saul
Acts 13:31 “was seen” (regarding His resurrection, by the way)
1 Cor .15:5-8 regarding Jesus appearances after His resurrection
The 2nd Coming
• Thus, the Lord APPEARED once, He was surely seen
while living on this earth and He would APPEAR again!
• And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out
of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them
in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts
1:9-11)
• This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have SEEN
Him go into heaven (v11)
Implications of This Doctrine
• They affirm that ALL prophecies and passages dealing
with future events have been fulfilled (I wonder how they
deal with Joel 2:32/Acts 2:21, was that also fulfilled in AD
70 and not applicable today?? If so, who is saved and
how??)
• Thus, at least some of them claim that they are enjoying
the reward of this verse• Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you. (Mt. 5:12)
• If they are enjoying their reward in heaven, the “world to
come”, then this reward is eternal- Notice the following-
Implications of This Doctrine
• Notice what was asked of Jesus- And a certain ruler asked him,
saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Lk.
18:18)
• Notice where the treasure would be- Now when Jesus heard these
things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou
hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, follow me. (v22)
• This treasure in heaven was eternal life- Who shall not receive
manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life
everlasting. (v30)
• Therefore, those that teach they enjoy the “heavenly reward” of Mt.
5:12 imply that they have already attained eternal life (in heaven!),
which cannot be lost– (once saved always saved) contrary to biblical
teaching (Gal. 5:4, 1 Tim. 4:1, Rev. 2-3)
Implications of This Doctrine
• If all things have been fulfilled, then there is no teaching
on hell past 70 AD—
• Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41)
• And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for
thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their
worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mk. 9:4748)
• If they affirm an eternal hell, what scripture teaches it
AFTER AD70?
Implications of This Doctrine
• Some brethren do not presently affirm this, but it
is a logical implication of the teaching
• If EVERY passage of scripture has been fulfilled,
then NONE are yet future, including those that
teach eternal hell-• And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of
them that kill the body, and after that have no
more that they can do. But I will forewarn you
whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he
hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say
unto you, Fear him. (Lk. 12:4-5, cf. 2 Thes. 1:79)
Implications of This Doctrine
• They imply that there is no authority today, since they
believe 1 Cor. 15:23-24 to already be fulfilled
• But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then
cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have
put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor.
15:23-24)
• Don’t miss that regarding the resurrection, Christ was the
“firstfruits” and afterwards those at His coming--- In a
chapter with clear emphasis on the PHYSICAL body
being raised, why weren’t the graves emptied in Ad70??
• Do they realize that they affirm that Jesus has no
authority RIGHT NOW??
Implications of This Doctrine
• They imply that there is either no
• a) physical death or
• b) spiritual death
• For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Cor. 15:25-26)
• Now, brethren, which of these 2 are not still with available to us??
Don’t let anyone affirming this view slide on this point!
• If ALL has been fulfilled, then death is destroyed– so which death?
• If physical death was done away with in AD70, then no one told our
loved ones that passed away!
• If spiritual death was done away with in AD70, then there is no sin
and universalism is true!
• Can we not see the dangers of such a belief?
Implications of This Doctrine
• I know of several of the men who affirm this that
are married.. I’m not sure why!
• They imply that there is no marriage after AD70
• And Jesus answering said unto them, The
children of this world marry, and are given in
marriage: But they which shall be accounted
worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection
from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage: Neither can they die any more: for
they are equal unto the angels; and are the
children of God, being the children of the
resurrection. (Lk. 20:34-36)
Implications of This Doctrine
• As a logical consequence to their error, they
claim that the destruction of the material world is
not taught in scripture, thus, they affirm an
eternal earth! (as do the JW’s!)
• Regarding the suffering and temporary nature of
it and all physical things, Paul said this-- While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18)
• Is the earth seen? If so, it is temporal!
Implications of This Doctrine
• And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the
foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the
works of thine hands: They shall perish; but
thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as
doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold
them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art
the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Heb.
1:10-12)
• He is the Creator of the heavens and earth, and
will remain, but His creation will “perish”, the
contrast between Eternal and temporal!
Conclusion
• Any doctrine that implies a false doctrine is itself
a false doctrine!
• The fallacy of Realized Eschatology explicitly
and implicitly teaches false doctrines, therefore it
should be rejected and opposed by faithful
brethren!
• Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them. (Eph. 5:1011)