what is the cult sect of Preterism?

[Daniel_Marsh]

when did Preterism come into existence? who was its founder?
What do Preterists believe? what are its strenghts? weaknesses? The purpose of this thread is to discuss the what, where, when, whom, how of preterism.

It is claimed that,

1. Luis de Alcazar (1554-1630) of Seville, Spain, devised what became known as the ‘preterist’ system of prophetic interpretation. This theory proposed that the Revelation deals with events in the Pagan Roman Empire, that antichrist refers to Nero and that the prophecies were therefore fulfilled long before the time of the medieval church. Alcazar’s preterist system has never made any impact on the conservative, or evangelical wing of the Protestant movement, although in the last one hundred years it has become popular among Protestant rationalists and liberals.
2. A far more successful attack was taken by Francisco Ribera (1537 - 1591) of Salamanca, Spain. He was the founder of the ‘futurist’ system of prophetic interpretation. Instead of placing antichrist way in the past as did Alcazar, Ribera argues that antichrist would appear way in the future. About 1590 Ribera published a five hundred page commentary on the Apocalypse, denying the Protestant application of antichrist to the church of Rome." M.L. Moser, Jr., An Apologetic of Premillenialism, pp.26, 27.

champs-of-truth.com/books/3schools.htm

google.com/search?hl=en&q=Preterism+futurism+historicism

Is it true that these systems did not exist before these guys?

CHAPTER 16
Warning that the end is at hand

1 “Watch” over your life: “let your lamps” be not quenched “and your loins” be not ungirded, but be “ready,” for ye know not “the hour in which our Lord cometh.” 2 But be frequently gathered together seeking the things which are profitable for your souls, for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you except ye be found perfect at the last time; 3 for in the last days the false prophets and the corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall change to hate; 4 for as lawlessness increaseth they shall hate one another and persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world began.

5 Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and “many shall be offended” and be lost, but “they who endure” in their faith “shall be saved” by the curse itself. 6 And “then shall appear the signs” of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead: 7 but not of all the dead, but as it was said, “The Lord shall come and all his saints with him.” 8 Then shall the world “see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

didache 16

earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-lake.html

 

[PaulDupre]

Preterism is not a “cult sect”, but merely one approach to interpreting apocalyptic bible passages like those in Daniel and Revelation. It procedes on the assumption that some or all of the events portrayed in those passages were about things that were happening at the time, and not about things in the distant future. Therefore, all of those events have already come to pass (hence the term “preterist - already happened”).

In the case of Revelation, you are correct that a preterist believes that the references to anti-Christ, the dragon, the beast, 666 etc. all refer to persons (like Nero) who were contemporary with the time that the book was written.

There are preterists or semi-preterists in nearly all Christian sects.

Hope this helps,
Paul