SOME DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES OF SYSTEMATIZED HYPER PRETERISM

It is important to keep in mind that many ideas and doctrines full preterism appeals to - such as the complete end of the Old Covenant world in AD70 - are by no means distinctive to that view.   Many non HyPs believe this as well, so one need not embrace the Hyper Preterist system in order to endorse this view.   Following are exceptional doctrines which, so far as I've seen, are only taught by adherents of Hyper Preterism.:

(Just what, when and where is the Kingdom of God)

There is much confusion regarding just what and where the Kingdom of God is or when it is to take place. Has it already come into existence since A.D. 70, or it is to be something to happen in the near future? And how and where does the Millennium, the New Heaven and New Earth, and the New Jerusalem fit in? Are they already on this same old planet Earth, or are they to be on a newly created Earth, or somewhere up in God’s Heaven?

Many if not most Preterists believe that we are now living in the New Heavens and New Earth period which is also the New Covenant period, the promise of eternal inheritance made to many of the faithful in the Old Testament, to the Apostles and early disciples, and to us in this New Testament (New Covenant) period. Or is the New Heavens and New Earth to be realized only in a future Millennium rule, or in a future Holy City of New Jerusalem, as most Futurists believe?

Hopefully, by the end of this short paper, I would have succeeded in sharing with you the logic and consistency of Scriptures in answering the above title question and in identifying the What, When, Where and How of these symbolic elements.

The New Heaven and New Earth

Before I start on this section, allow me to share with you an amusing segment of an email I received from my good friend, Bill of Pinehurst, North Carolina shortly after New Year while I was writing this paper.

‘A short story about our grandson, 4 years old, Tyler. His mom kept telling him about the new year coming, and he wanted to stay up all night to see it. Well, he went to bed at 9 and the next morning came running into his mom's room and asked if the new year came in. She said it did, then he ran to the window to look out and said, "Well, it looks just like the old one...." Ah, from the mouths of babes....’

That interestingly brings out a point. When the New Heaven and New Earth appeared (or to appear in the future, according to our Futurist brothers), was anyone (or will anyone be) aware of its manifestation?

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Surprisingly, this verse is devoid of any cataclysmic events typical of the book of Revelation! I mean, if we are talking of the planet Earth being destroyed and a new planet being created in its place, one would have expected at least a few verses describing its catastrophic destruction and a glorious creation (as in Genesis 1). No, none whatsoever. It was as if it was a non-event, or as if the ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ has already existed! It is just like the old year giving way to a new year – nothing really obvious has changed!

It is true (from preterists’ viewpoint) that ‘heaven’ has been used in the Old Testament to depict the religious-political system (the government) and ‘earth’ as the social-religious system (the people), based on the Old Covenant’s Laws and Commandments. And so, it is a natural assumption for preterists to take “New Heaven and New Earth” to mean a new socio-religious-political environment, a new order in the New Covenant era, extending it even unto now. (Futurists simply believe that it is still to be fulfilled as the physical Earth is not destroyed as yet).

This, I believe, is not exactly correct. I would take “New Heaven and New Earth” as just a colloquial expression understood by the ancient Jews to mean “a new beginning”. No more, no less. As such, while the new beginning may have heralded in a new social, religious and political change, it does not have to carry that meaning.

When Paul wrote in 2 Cor 5:17 of new believer in Christ – you for example, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" – Did the old things literally passed away for you? Did all things become new for you? Was anyone even aware of your new conversion (if you have not confessed to them)? Isn’t it just like an old year giving way to a new year? But it was definitely a “new heaven and a new earth” for you.

This phrase was only used twice in the OT; once each in chapter 65 and in chapter 66 of Isaiah (and we have developed multiplicity of doctrines out of just 2 verses!). It was also used twice in the New Testament books, once by John in Rev 21:1 in referencing Isa 65 and another by Peter. Substituting “new heaven and new earth” with ‘new beginning’ into the below 4 verses would not made any of them less ambiguous and less clear.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

‘New Heaven and New Earth’ is not a place per se. ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ is not the New Covenant era. ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ is not the New Jerusalem either, though it was paired with it. It is simply an expression used to denote a new beginning – especially the beginning of the manifestation of the sons of God into the Kingdom of God, into New Jerusalem, wherein dwelt righteousness. This new beginning began in A.D. 70 at Christ’s Parousia and the “coming down” of New Jerusalem.

The New Jerusalem

Many of us simply assumed ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ and New Jerusalem as being one and the same thing when reading Rev. 21. But they are not the same! (It is like stating that the classical piano is the Baroque period.) ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ marks the new beginning of ‘men in Heaven’, of men born again as spiritual beings, becoming sons of God and living with God, and reigning with Christ in New Jerusalem. The Holy City of New Jerusalem has existed way before the creation of heavens and Earth in Genesis 1. It is where the very Throne of God is! (Rev 22:3)

Heb 11:10 For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:39 And these all (OT saints), having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it (New Jerusalem) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

That was basically what Peter was saying in 2Pet 3:13, looking for a new beginning, the fulfillment of the promise, the City wherein dwells righteousness as nothing that defiles could enter into it.

Now, the new beginning having started in Rev 21:1, from verse 2 onward, the vision is totally focused on New Jerusalem (until Rev. 22:17). Rev. 21 and 22 portray New Jerusalem coming down to earth (to men) and saved men entering into the City through its gates, living in it with God and reigning with Christ.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 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.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

We should not jump to conclusion that the New Jerusalem physically descended from Heaven (God’s Throne) onto Earth. NO! It is ‘out of heaven’. It is a vision and in the vision, John saw the New Jerusalem descending down out of clouds of heaven (the sky) and onto the earth (land). It is as symbolic as many portions of Revelation and as the beasts of Daniel. In reality, the spiritual New Jerusalem cannot be descending onto this physical Earth. I doubt the physical Earth can literally accommodate the spiritual New Jerusalem either! The Builder and Maker of that Holy City is God Himself!

The “coming down” typifies God delivering on His promise, delivering His rewards to men, when the first batch of harvest of men (“the first fruits”) were ‘caught up’ and clothed with tabernacles of immortality in the First Resurrection. They were spiritually born into the Kingdom of God, into this glorious spiritual City promised to all faithful. Those men cannot be physical beings! They have to be born spiritual to be dwelling with God and reigning with Christ!

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

God, Lord Jesus and all the saints will reign over the world from Heaven above. These “men” that God dwelt with are His sons made perfect. They are the ones who have done His commandments and have earned the right to enter into the Holy City of New Jerusalem and to the Tree of Life.

Rev 22:14 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.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

And anyone who is not inside the spiritual Holy City must be outside, that is, on this physical Earth. You are either in or out, spiritual or physical, there is no two ways about it. All of us are living outside the Holy City now because we are physical beings. We are flesh and blood, and flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). We are all sinners - murderers, idolaters, and liars. But all is not lost. We have a High Priest to whom we can confess our sins to and ask for forgiveness. We have been admonished to repent, and with fear and trembling to work out our own salvation, to do His commandments in order to be able to enter in through the gates into the City and receive our rewards. For those who fail to heed this admonition, there will be something waiting “outside” the City for them (putting Rev 22:15 and Rev 21:8 together).

Rev 22:15 For without [outside] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and .…
Rev 21:8 …. and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The pilgrims and saints, many of them had been dead for a long time, finally received their rewards when their King returned in A.D. 70 to welcome them into the Kingdom, a kingdom that is not of this world. They were resurrected, together with those saints living then and all were able then to enter into Mount Zion, that Holy City – the New Jerusalem.

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. [see Rev 21:2,3]
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Hence, we must understand (and remember) that New Jerusalem - the promised Hope - is the spiritual Mount Zion, many times also referred to as the Holy Mountain or Holy City in the Old Testament. New Jerusalem is in the spiritual Heaven of God, where all the spiritual beings, angels, cherubim and the likes are in.

Heb 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,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

When the Book of Hebrew was written, Paul stressed the fact that they were at the gates - “ye are come unto Mount Sion” – but not yet inside the City. They, the Firstborn, were soon to be made perfect into Jerusalem, the heavenly spiritual New Jerusalem – it was before, now is, and forever. From this Holy City of the Living God the Father, Jesus the King and High Priest and all His co-rulers and priests reside in and reign from it forevermore. New Jerusalem is the Capital City of the Kingdom of God!

Isaiah 65 – ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ and New Jerusalem

In Revelation, John saw a vision that resembled a prophecy in Isaiah 65, the very place where the phrase 'New Heaven and New Earth' was first mentioned. And his recording of this vision almost paralleled it phrase for phrase in meaning that one has to conclude that they must be referring to the same event.

But wait a minute! There are 2 glaring contradictions. In John’s recording of his vision, there was to be “no more death”. And in it “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth” (Rev 21:27). But in Isaiah’s recording of God’s word (and prophecy) concerning the New Heaven and New Earth or more correctly, it should be concerning New Jerusalem, it seems to say that there will be death - “the child shall die an hundred years old”, and there will be sinners - “but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed”.

Because of this apparent contradiction, some had proposed that the prophecy in Isaiah is yet in the future and especially Isa 65:25 which literally has yet to be fulfilled – “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat”. Others have offered various interpretations and shades of meaning for the phrase “the child shall die”.

But Rev. 21 is indeed the fulfillment of Isa 65:17 onward and there is really no contradiction if we have handled God’s word with care and attention. Allow me to expound Isa 65:17-20 below.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

As already pointed out, ‘New Heaven and New Earth’ is not a place, but a phrase, an idiomatic expression to mean ‘new beginning’. Verse 17 can be paraphrased as “For behold, I made a new beginning; the former state will pass away, vanish and be replaced.”

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Starting with verse 18, the focus now shifts to the key object of that new beginning – the New Jerusalem. God will make New Jerusalem a joyful place for the people therein (‘her people’) and in fact already had. Everything from Isa 65:18 to 25 relate to the Holy City of New Jerusalem.

Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

God will rejoice in New Jerusalem (as there are no literal new Heavens or new physical Earth created). God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, as John saw and interpreted in Rev 21:4. (And of course God was joyful in that very first day of the new beginning He had made (Isa 66:8,10). Which father would not be when he adopted so many sons and daughters into his family?)

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

But how can it be that there shall be no more death in New Jerusalem if a child is to die a hundred years old? But as long as there is death, there will be weeping and crying. To put it simply, this ‘contradiction’ is caused by a badly translated verse (perhaps from wrongly presupposed belief of the KJV translators). Let examine some of the key words used in the verse.

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that[#834] hath not filled his days: for[#3588] the child[#5288] shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner[#2398] being a hundred years old shall be accursed.

Isa 65:20 ought to be translated as

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days; an old man who hath not filled his days: that a young man shall die a hundred years old; a sinning hundred years old shall be accursed.

The big error is in the word “for”. It corrupts the true meaning of Isa. 65:20. Fortunately, we have John’s Rev 21 written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which works as a good check-and-balance mechanism to put us back onto the right path.

Using the word “for” as the conjunction makes the latter consequent phrases to be a result for its earlier antecedent phrases. That is to say, 'There shall be no more an infant of days FOR he shall die a hundred years old.', and 'There shall be no more an old man who has not filled his days FOR the hundred years old sinner shall be accursed.' But if young men die at a hundred years old, then where do old men come from? Is everyone to die at the hundred years old threshold? We must understand that this is a poetic rendering; else it just does not make sense. We are talking of a spiritual Jerusalem where the citizens are to "be glad and rejoice for ever in that which God create" (verse 18). No infant is to be born (or die). As long as there is death, there will be crying and weeping. There will be no differentiation of young man and old man; I do not believe there is a concept of 'physical age' in a spiritual body.

When we use the word “that” as the conjunction to tie in the antecedent and consequent phrases, it resonances and amplifies the overall meaning, ‘There shall be no more thence an infant of days that young man shall die a hundred years old’, and ‘There shall be no more an old man who hath not filled his days that a sinning hundred years old shall be accursed’. No more death and no more sin (unrighteousness), and no more contradiction.

Strong #834 [‘that’]: A primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number). Hence, “who” should be a better word relative to the ‘old man’.

Strong #3588 [‘for’]: a primitive particle (a conjunction or preposition), indicating casual relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent. It has been translated in the OT as “that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since”. Using the word “for” reverses the meaning in its antecedent phrase “shall be no more thence an infant of days”, but using the word “that” retains and amplifies its antecedent phrases. I believe contextual wise, “for” fit better here.

Strong #5288 [‘a child’]: a noun, used 238 times and have been translated as “young man-76, servant-54, child-44, lad-33, young-16, children-7, youth-6, babe, boys, young’. And ‘young man’ and ‘youth’ are used more frequently than ‘child’ and ‘children’ in the OT.

Strong #2398 [‘the sinner’]: a primitive root, a verb, also used 238 times and have been translated as “sin (sinned, sinning)-188, purify-11, cleanse-8, sinner-8, committed-6, offended-4, blame-2, done-2, fault, harm, loss, miss, offender, purge, reconciliation, sinful, trespass;’. Almost 80% of the times, it was translated as a verb - sin, sinned, sinning. In only 10 times was it used as a noun like ‘sinner’. It was translated 8 times as ‘sinner’ – twice in Proverbs, 5 times in Ecclesiastes (strangely, only in these 2 books of ‘wise sayings’) and the last one being Isa 65:20. While the word ‘sinner’ in Isa 65:20 will not be a problem, I believe “sinning” (a verb) is a better choice. (Hey, I am not a Hebrew expert).

And how would one expect God to convey the blissfulness of spiritual life in New Jerusalem that mortals could understand? God uses the language, analogies and experiences of man, his anticipated supposition of Utopia – “They shall not build, and another inhabit; …. They shall not labour in vain, …. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain”. But there are definitely more than what these words could describe. (1 Cor 2:9)

Rev 22:3 – “The healing of the Nations”

But if there will to be no death, why is there a need for “healing of the nations” in Rev 22:2, especially if these nations are consist of spiritual men?

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Yes, it is due to choice of word in the translation again. The word translated as “healing” (Strong #2322 – “therapeia”) were used only 3 other times in the New testament, as in the below verses.

Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Luk 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Of the 3 verses, two are translated as “household” (‘family’, ‘clan’, ‘tribe’), while Luke 9:is translated as ‘healing’. In fact, for the context of Luke 9:11, “household” fits equally well too.

Luk 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed the household that had need.

The Bible in Basic English (1965) translated Luke 9:11 as “and made those well who were in need of it.” Is there a need for healing since we know that there will be no more tear, or death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain? Could “household” be the correct wording for Rev 22:3?

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the household of the nations.

Does not that read better and is compatible with Rev 21:4? Let face it. If one take it literally as healing, can the leaves from just one Tree of Life be enough for the millions of sons of Gods? The pure river of water of Life, and the fruits and leaves of the Tree of Life may have esoteric meaning, but is evidently not for literal healing.

The Kingdom of God

Like New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God existed way before the creation of Heavens and Earth in Genesis 1. It was a Kingdom full of spiritual beings, angels, cherubim and the likes, but without man. Nevertheless, before the foundation of the Earth, it was God’s Plan and His Will to populate His Kingdom with a new breed of spiritual beings, of men made perfect as sons of God!

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

This good news is all over in the Old Testament scriptures, perhaps not as obvious then. But when Jesus arrived on the scene, He fully amplified its magnificence and preached of its glories. This was in fact preached in His Beatitudes Sermon, which amplifies the prophecy of Isa 65 and 66 (which Rev 21 is paralleled)!

Likewise, the Apostles and disciples preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the inhabited world in their time as instructed (Col 1:23) – until the Kingdom of God arrived in full glories and power at the last trump.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Note Rev 11:15 above and I Cor 15:50-53 below:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

At the last trump, when the seventh and last angel sounded his trumpet, it signaled the return of the Lord and the resurrection of the Saints. It marked the new beginning of corruptible men putting on incorruption and entering into the Kingdom of God, as the kingdoms of the world (on earth) become that of our Lord.

Futurists argue that this cannot be as the Roman kingdom had continued to exist, and other kingdoms had since rose (like the British Empire) and declined. Like the disciples before their baptism by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in A.D. 30, futurists today are still looking for a physical kingdom to come.

Jesus had plainly said that His Kingdom is not of this (physical) world. It cannot be seen, though its citizens could be anyone in their midst. It basically means that the Kingdom of God rules over all the other kingdoms that existed then, even over all that exist today. It thus has the authority to convert any citizen of any earthly kingdom into the citizen of the heavenly Kingdom, and has the power to choose who can be made co-rulers in the Kingdom. These co-rulers were the resurrected saints. (Look at it this way. When the Roman kingdom conquered other kingdoms, those subdued kingdoms were made their tributaries. They became part of the Roman Empire, paying tributes and pledging loyalty to Caesar, but those kingdoms continued to exist on their own as well. That this why there are mentions of Jewish kings - king Herod and king Agrippa in the New Testament. As far as the kingdom of Judah was concerned, they continued to exist, but the ultimate king then was Caesar as the Roman Empire was the real ruling kingdom on earth.)

So, the Kingdom of God did not start in A.D. 70. It had been in existence since eternity. During Christ’s earthly ministry, the good news of the Kingdom of God was preached that man could be adopted into it, and likewise, the Apostles and disciples preached it for almost 40 years. During that period of time, many were made citizens of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit was the proof of their citizenship. (Similarly, one can be bestowed as citizen of another country without having to live in it immediately [at least for some countries]). And in A.D. 70, Christ returned to bring these citizens into the glorious Kingdom.

Mat 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.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

When Christ came in A.D. 70, He didn’t come to form His Kingdom. He came in His Kingdom and all His hosts of Heaven with Him. Those folks who were “standing here which shall not taste of death” saw the Kingdom of God as it is. They didn’t help to form the Kingdom as its early founding members. The Kingdom already had millions (may be billions) of angelic citizens. The Kingdom has always been in existence in Heaven, with its countless hosts of Heaven.

The Millennium

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Full Preterists believe that the resurrection of the dead saints and the then living believers transpired in A.D. 70 at the Parousia of Jesus Christ. Rev 20:4 plainly shows the saints of old and new testaments coming alive - those beheaded for the witness of Jesus (like John the Baptist), and for the word of God (the prophets of Old and New), and which had not worshipped the beast and were slain (in the tribulation period [Rev 6:9]). Of course the resurrection includes those living saints then. Since this is the FIRST resurrection, it has to be the same resurrection which occurred in A.D. 70 at Christ’s coming.

And if they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand year, then the Millennium must have also started then in A.D. 70. And if this Millennium Reign started in A.D. 70, then it is the same Reign, the same new beginning, as the New Jerusalem Reign depicted in Rev 21 and 22.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever (“for ages and ages”).

Yet, some Preterists believe the Millennium to be only a 40 years period, stretching from A.D. 30 to A.D. 70, when the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was powerfully preached to their inhabited world. But how can it be, if the first resurrection has yet to happen before A.D. 70? All the dead saints of old and new testaments have yet to receive their promise, have yet to be resurrected to life to reign with Christ as priests and kings. Making fragile human Christians living between A.D.30 to A.D. 70 to be reigning with Christ as Kings and Priests is stretching the words too much.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on (“upon” or “over”) the earth.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And when did this reign of a thousand years begin?

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

At the last trump, as already mentioned, when the seventh and last angel sounded his trumpet, it signaled the return of the Lord (1Co 15:52), the resurrection of the saints and the beginning of the Millennium Reign, as the kingdoms of the world (on earth) become that of our Lord.

But, what did Christ and His Saints reign over? The Earth.

Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Rom 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on (“upon” or “over”) the earth.

But the heavenly “reign” is likely very different from earthly reigns by earthly kings. Jesus had said, “My Father worketh, hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17) And since Jesus is reigning with His saints, the saints should be also working (“reigning”, “serving”) with Jesus for our benefits!

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Jesus is our King (in fact, King of Kings) and is also our High Priest. Likewise, the resurrected saints are made both co-kings and priests. One of the main functions of priest is to work for the people, looking after their salvation and the edification of God’s Words.

After Millennium - Another New Heaven and New Earth?

Many Christians believe that the Millennium and the ‘New Heavens and New Earth’ (or more correctly, the New Jerusalem) are 2 distinct periods, and with a good reason. The Millennium (in Rev 20) is mentioned after Jesus’ Second Coming (in Rev 19) but before the New Heaven and New Earth (in Rev 21). This assumption has given rise to confusion and diverse interpretations!

Perhaps, things will be clearer if we understand that Rev 20 is an overview of a series of events (over a very long period of time) that would happen after Christ’s Parousia in A.D. 70. Upon His Parousia, Satan was bounded into the bottomless pit. The Saints were resurrected into the Kingdom of God. Together with Christ, the Saints reigned over the earth from New Jerusalem for a long period of time which John’s used a colloquial expression ‘a thousand year’, in which we now termed as 'the Millennium'. (John further amplified this Millennium Reign in Rev 21 and a good portion of Rev 22).

At an appropriate time to come, when the “thousand years period” is over, Satan will be let loose to deceive the nations once again to bring this New Covenant age to a close. (Say, doesn’t it sound like history repeating itself just like the first century 2,000 years ago?) We are now in that Millennium timeframe. There are more to come. The loosing of Satan occurs after the Millennium. (Failure to recognize this has forced many Preterists to accept the Millennium as ending in A.D. 70 so that the massive destruction of Rev 20:8 and 9 can be equated to the destruction of the Temple!) The rest of the dead - all those not resurrected in A.D. 70 (since Adam) and all those who had died since and not resurrected (till that very last day) - will be raised to face the Great White Throne Judgment. This is where the Second Death will occur. But what exactly is this Great White Throne Judgment?

 

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

First, remember that this will be after the Millennium reign – when it had its new beginning (“New Heaven and New earth”) in A.D. 70. But now, in verse of Rev 20:11, we are told that once again, at the beginning of this Great White Throne Judgment, “the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them”. Remember, the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years Millennium reign were finished, and this Great White Throne Judgment has the dead coming alive, small and great, standing before God the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. They have to live again in order for some to face the second death. So, there is a real possibility that there will be another “new beginning” after the Millennium reign if we are to be consistent with our usage and interpretation. (However, it is not the scope of this paper to expound this one verse and several other verses that alluded to this period. Perhaps, I may publish in a later paper once my research on the ‘Lake of Fire’ and ‘Book of Life’ is completed.)

The Book of Revelation was what “God gave unto him (John), to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev 1:1). It was also to be “the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Rev 1:19). How far hereafter into the future? Is the Great White Throne Judgment to be the last age of all ages? God knows.

Perhaps, just as Malachi ends our Old Testament, or more correctly, according to the Jewish’s arrangement of ‘The Laws, Prophets and the Writings’ - the last book of Chronicles ends our Old Testament scrolls, more revelations might be revealed to begin another new age (just as the Holy Spirit through the Apostles did for the New Testament) when the time is ripe.

Conclusion

So, to be exact, the New Covenant period, ‘New heaven and New Earth’, New Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, and the Millennium are not the same. Confusion comes about when we use or equate any two or more of them as one and the same thing. Each has their own uniqueness and qualities though they too share many commonalities.

All of us as physical beings are living in the New Covenant period now since it began in A.D. 30. Another new beginning for mankind, proclaimed as ‘New Heaven and New Earth’, started in A.D. 70, but it was for the first batch of men who was born as sons of God into the Kingdom of God. Thereafter, as resurrected Saints, they began a new reigning period with Christ in Heaven from the Holy City of New Jerusalem in which John coined as ‘a thousand years’ and we termed as “Millennium”. So, in a way, we Christians are under the Millennium reign of Christ, but we are not in New Jerusalem as yet. The Kingdom of God is already come (or open for citizenship), but we are not yet born into it. We are now at the same point where the first century saints were before their resurrection - we are come "unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels" (Heb 12:22 ). We have come unto the City, waiting at its gates but have yet to go into the City. This will happen only upon our death when we are absent from our physical bodies in order to enter through the gates into the City (Rev 22:14) and be present with the Lord. This is how I believe all the terms, ages and periods are inter-related.

The Kingdom of God and the Holy Mount Zion (New Jerusalem) have existed even before the foundation of the Earth. They are in the spiritual realm. It was only in A.D. 70 that the gates of New Jerusalem were open to admit born again men (and women) as live-in citizen of the Kingdom. The gates have since remained open.

A Little Side Study on Chinese Phraseology

Incidentally, even to today, the phrase “New Heaven and [new] Earth” expressed in the Chinese language has the meaning of “a new beginning”, be it for a new start in life or birth of a new nation or era. In the northern Mandarin dialect, it is pronounced as “xin [new] tian [heaven] di [earth]”, which means ‘new heaven [sky] earth [land]’. Newly married couples are often said to be building their own new heaven and earth. Political parties will promise new heaven and earth to their supporters. That is the phraseology of the Chinese (oriental) language! That, I believed is also what Isa 65 and Rev 21:1 should be understood as.

In historical writings, history books and novels describing the Chinese dynasties and emperors, each dynasty is usually termed as “Rivers and Mountains” (in Mandarin, it is pronounced as “jiang [rivers] shan [mountains]”). When a dynasty changes, it is phrased as a “change in rivers and mountains” (“huan jiang shan” or “gai jiang San”). The emperor was regarded as “Tian [heaven’s] Zi [son]” and was addressed as “Wan [ten thousand] Sui [years old]” (that is, to live for 10,000 years). The Prime Minister was addressed as “Qian [thousand] Sui [years old]”, a magnitude lower.

“Sea” in some idiomatic Chinese usage is associated to “sorrow”, like “ku [bitter] hai [sea]” means misery. When one says “tou-li ku-hai”, it means to be removed from sorrow (like as in death). This goes well with Rev 21:1 (“and there was no more sea”) and Rev 21:3 (“neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”). Mind or memory can be expressed as "nao [brain] hai [sea]". This goes well too with Isa 65:17 - "and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."

PS: The above observations and conclusion are solely based my own personal investigation and view. I hope the above analysis will bring forth further harmony of the Bible, and delineates the various periods and events in their proper frames. Though I am a preterist, it may not necessary reflect the view and belief of other preterists. Whatever the case, please bears with me and shares with me your thoughts, reasons and arguments if you think I am going baloney and have not consider some other critical scriptures. (MS Cheo, Singapore [mscheo@mindexsoft.com])

What do YOU think ?

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Date:

19 Jan 2004

Time:

13:37:48

Comments

Christ said ALL things written in the OT concerning him had to be fulfilled (Lk.24:44). The first of the OT things that concerned him were the seven days of creation. When were those seven days fulfilled?

Date:

19 Jan 2004

Time:

13:59:18

Comments

The key to understanding the meaning of "there was no more sea" (Rev. 21:1) involves the fact that the Greek word translated "temptation" in Heb. 3:8 is "pelagos" (Strong's #3989).

Date:

19 Jan 2004

Time:

19:58:19

Comments

On the 1st comments - one of those "typifying" things again, huh? I would like to hear your view on this if it involves this subject matter of NHNE, NJ, and KoG. ======== On the 2nd comments - In my Bible, the Greek word translated "temptation" in Heb. 3:8 is "pi-ras-mos" (Strong's #3986) and not "pelagos" (Strong's #3989). Perhaps you will like to amplify? ==== MS Cheo.

Date:

19 Jan 2004

Time:

21:23:52

Comments

That time you got one right. My copy of Strong's (publisher's name withheld to spare that firm embarrassment) erroneously shows #3989 instead of #3986.

Date:

19 Jan 2004

Time:

21:56:19

Comments

In the first century, Christ made all things new (Rev. 21:5) Those things were 1) the hopelessly fallen natural world and 2) the hopelessly fallen natural Israel. To accomplish those goals throgh the miracle of spiritual regeneration, Christ came not only as the true Israel (Mt. 2:15) but also as the true Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Therefore, Christ's fulfillment of the 7 days involved in the creation of the world (the old heaven and earth of Gen. 1:1) occurred during the 7 days that began on Palm Sunday in AD 30. The first Adam, who brought death, was created on the 6th day and Christ, the last Adam, who brought life, was killed on the 6th day, i.e., Friday. God rested on the 7th day and during the AD 30 week the 7th day, Saturday, was the only full day on which Christ's body rested in the tomb. The 7 feasts of Lev. 23 were also fulfilled, one per day, on those 7 days days, with Christ's atoning death on the 6th day, Friday, fulfilling the 6th feast, the day of atonement. The 8 days of Abib 10-17 involving Israel (Ex. 12) AND the 8 days of the feast of tabernacles, Tishri 15-22, involving the world (Lev. 23:36), were fulfilled during the 8 days that began on Palm Sunday.

Date:

20 Jan 2004

Time:

10:12:32

Comments

Hmmm, sound familiar. I have heard those typifying before.... ==== You have some days as Type and some as anti-Types as you want them to be. For example - God's Rest is a TYPE by Christ's Rest in the tomb. But Christ the last Adam was KILLED is an ANTI-TYPE of the first Adam who was CREATED (made alive). ==== According to you, Christ's fulfillment of the 7 days involved in the creation of the world began on Palm Sunday, could you tell me how this Palm Sunday (being the FIRST day of the week) was typified by "Let there be Light", Monday by "waters divided", Tuesday by "dry Earth and plants", Wednesday by "2 great lights" and Thursday by "creation of every creatures"? Day for day they must match (whether types or anti-types), else, it is just pure random typifying of the 7 days of creation according to man's fancies. === MS Cheo.

Date:

20 Jan 2004

Time:

12:47:35

Comments

No use trying to tell you anything. Your mind is closed.

Date:

20 Jan 2004

Time:

13:02:16

Comments

To continue (submit button hit too soon) -- Like all preterists you choose to ignore Lk. 24:44 because you can't handle the spiritual implications of that verse. When Christ referred to the necessary fulfillment of ALL of the OT things concerning him, he meant ALL of those things. Those first-century fulfillments included, among other things, the creation of the world, Noah's last 100 pre-flood years, the flood itself, the creation of Israel, the 430 years of Ex. 12:40,41, the 7 feasts of Lev. 23 (and specifically the 8 days of Abib 10-17 and the 8 days of Tishi 15-22 - 8 is the resurrection number), and OT Israel's 70 years of natural captivity in natural Babylon. Go ahead and sneer. You're the loser.

Date:

20 Jan 2004

Time:

20:07:37

Comments

The Jerusalem From above is a COVENANT. See Galatians 4. New Jerusalem in Rev 21 is the promise of that COPVENANT. Not a cube that comes out of the sky. ALL Which was written WAS FULFILLED at the DESTRUCTION OF OLD JERUSALEM (the old covenant).

Date:

21 Jan 2004

Time:

07:13:52

Comments

You are correct to say that "New Jerusalem is the promise of that Covenant" as that [New] Covenant is spiritual in nature. But Jerusalem from above is not a Covenant. It is a City whose builder and maker is God (Heb 11:10). ==== Note Gal 4:24-26 - Which things are AN ALLEGORY: for these are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar IS Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ======== Obviously [H]Agar is not Mount Sinai. And Hagar is not Old Jerusalem either. In fact, when the Old Covenant was instituted at Mount Sinai, Jerusalem did not belong to the Israel yet (Joshua 10:1). ==== MS Cheo.

Date:

21 Jan 2004

Time:

09:36:06

Comments

The new Jerusalem is the eternal, spiritual city ON THE EARTH that was merely typified by the old, temporary, natural Jerusalem. Christ was resurrected as the eternal, spiritual, fulfillment ISRAEL and when he ascended all of the spiritual elements of that true Israel - the land, the city of Jerusalem, the temple, etc. - also ascended. Then, when the eternal, spiritual, fulfillment WORLD (Rev. 21 and 22) appeared on the earth at Christ's parousia at the end of the true first century, the spiritual and eternal Jerusalem descended to that spiritual and eternal world The heavenly Jerusalem had to ascend initially because it could not be part of the temporary, hopelessly fallen, natural world - its descent had to await the appearance of the new, fulfillment world. Christ came to save both Israel and the world, not by "improving" them through teaching or the enforcement of laws, but through spiritual regeneration - the miraculous spiritual re-birth of first Israel and then the world that, unfortunately, the typical Bible scholar cannot understand.

Date:

08 Sep 2004

Time:

19:49:06

Comments

Can anyone expound on Isaiah 65:25 in regards to the Lion, lamb and wolf. Like itf it's not literal, what is it refering to. Thanks

Date:

05 Nov 2004

Time:

12:43:45

Comments

Go and make miracle in the name of Jesus, weak up the death and walk on the waters and heal the blinds eyes and tell to all ,that the lord Jesus chris will save and fil with the Holy spirit and joy.Pray for gospel around the earth.Blessing keijo sweden

Date:

27 Nov 2004

Time:

23:07:39

Comments

Thank you for giving beleivers and thinkers like me something to read and study and go by... "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding but in thine ways and acknowledge him and He shall direct thy path" (Prov.3:5-6)

Date:

27 Nov 2004

Time:

23:08:59

Comments

Thank you for giving beleivers and thinkers like me something to read and study and go by... "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding but in thine ways and aknowlede him and He shall direct thy path" (Prov.3:5-6) Kelli Thomas, Purvis Mississippi God Bless!

Date:

27 Nov 2004

Time:

23:09:54

Comments

Thank you for giving beleivers and thinkers like me something to read and study and go by... "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding but in thine ways and acknowlede him and He shall direct thy path" (Prov.3:5-6) Kelli Thomas, Purvis Mississippi God Bless!

Date: 23 Oct 2005
Time: 19:36:34

Comments:

Hi...Does anyone know where I can find a Preterist church in Singapore to join? I did a search on alltheweb.com and found this website. My email address is activerelease@yahoo.com. Many thanks!!

Tze-wei Lim
Singapore

Date: 04 Dec 2005
Time: 18:34:10

Comments:

Hi I am looking for a preterist church in Singapore. Does anyone know how I can email Ms Cheo who wrote the above article? My email is activerelease@yahoo.com.

Many thanks!

tze-wei lim

Date: 02 Feb 2010
Time: 23:58:27

Your Comments:

Dear MS Cheo,I have read your paper on New Heaven and New earth........explanied, for the 4th. or 5th. time,just recently I have again taken another look at it after a few years, and for the first time I truly understand, and agree with you on your findings.Over the years I have struggled with this subject on the New Heaven and Earth in Rev. and other scripture where it is found,and I have read papers on the same, from other writers,and I have to say that yours is the first paper on this subject that I have completely understood and agree with! I would like to hear more from you on when satan is loosed for a little season after the Thousand years.... Or for that matter, any other work you have done in the scriptures. Thank you so much for the time and effort you have put into this paper, it has answered all my questions,it was a wonderful blessing as I rejoiced at the opening of this Revilation of scripture, that I have been studying for so long a time! May God continue to Bless you with HIS Wisdom! In HIS Care, Patricia Turco
my e-mail is pati4@aol.com