The Catholic Origins of Futurism and Preterism

[MuadDib987]

Interesting article here, which asserts that deliberate smokescreens were generated by Papal officials centuries ago to help conceal the truth about the RCC:

http://biblelight.net/antichrist.htm

I'm really enjoying all the discussion here, folks. I'm learning a lot and appreciate the challenge of new viewpoints :)

[TheForgiven]

Hello friend.

Ah, the Jesuit conspiracy. :pop2: I used to believe that after reading the same Internet article a few years ago. But after reading the documents of the Early Church Father's, you will find that this Jesuit conspiracy is false.

PRETERISM

The Jesuit Priest who supposedly invented the Full Preterist doctrine is a lie. Why? Because there are numerous early church father writings that spoke of Matthew 24's fulfillment. St. Eusebius had a belief similar to the Preterist teaching, although he seemed to disbelieve that their exists a hell, at least that's what I've been told. However, I haven't studied his numerous writings that much yet because they are a bit long. St. Eusebius was an early church father in the 3rd century who believed that Christ did come in 70AD proving this through the signs Josephus spoke about. His eschatology seems to fit more with the Partial Preterist. The Jesuit conspiracy supposedly came about after the 13th or 15th century; somewhere around that time frame.

FUTURISM

Supposedly another Jesuit Priest developed the Futurist theory. Again, there are numerous early Church writings of particular fathers who did believe that Jerusalem would be rebuilt, and that Christ would rule Jerusalem from there for a 1000 years. It's my opinion that these were Jews who argued with Roman and Greek Christians who started this teaching; a teaching which IMO stemmed from the writings of Enoch. Papias and Barnabus both quote scriptures NOT found in the Bible, but are located on the writings of Enoch. The idea of Futurism existed even with Iranaeus of the 2nd century, who also believed in a future 1000 year Jerusalem....physical Jerusalem. However, he believed that most of Daniel's vision was fulfilled, but the feet with 10 iron toes and clay was occurring in his day. He then says, "Let us first await the dividing of the Kingdom (Rome) into 10...." indicating that he expected Revelation to be fulfilled during his life time.

The RCC's primary belief is a mixture of Preterism, while others are Historicism. It depends on which perish we're dealing with. For the most part, there are many RCC Preterist who believe that Matthew 24 was fulfilled. However, they believe THEY are the 1000 year Kingdom of Christ, and that an AC will come in the future to claim the Papacy. Even though they accept that Nero Caesar is John's 666 Beast, they believe he will come again.

The Greek Orthodox Church doesn't seem to have any solidity in their belief. Based on what I can gather, they seem to be a mixture of Preterism, Futurism, and Historicism. They believe in the "Kingdom Now" understanding, that the Church is the Kingdom of Christ. However, they too believe that Jerusalem will rebuild a temple and that an AC will rule as the false Christ from Jerusalem. They also view the "Trampling of the Gentiles" as the Muslim occupation. But like the RCC, opinions and beliefs vary. For the most part, they view Revelation much like the Old Testament, where only pockets of scripture are future, while using past events to tell a story. By their understanding, they view Islam as the present day threat, and according to a Greek Father many centuries ago, he predicted the rise and fall of the Muslim Empire (Ottoman). I was verbally told that Islam would eventually be destroyed around the year 2040. However, I object to any mode of prophesy after the 1st century.

The RCC used the Jesuit conspiracy to remove claims that the Pope was the AC. The Heuganauts (Martin Luther camp) believed that the Pope was the AC; the same belief seemed to have spread among Greek Orthodox Churches. In the same way, the RCC accused the Heuganauts as being pawns of the devil. They even challenged the Protestants to drive out a demon which supposedly possessed a Nun. The Protests failed, while the Bishop was successful after three days. To fight off the AC accusation, the RCC developed the Jesuit conspiracy in order to take the pressure away from them. And no doubt, the Spanish Inquisition, combined with the murderous crusades by the RCC (Spain and England) certainly made it appear that the RCC was the Beast. This error seems to have been passed down to the present day 7th day Adventist. They view the RCC as the Beast of Revelation.

The only belief which fits the scriptures logically and consistently is Preterism. Without the understanding of Matthew 24 being fulfilled, all eschatology is throne to the ground. Historicists and Futurists make so many errors in their beliefs, that taking any of them serious is almost impossible; at least to those in their right mind. Futurist are perhaps the worse of the bunch. History has certainly proved the falsehood of the Futurist eschatology, with centuries of failed predictions. Historicists have an appearance of fulfillments, but quite frankly, their eschatology is not that different from the Futurist EXCEPT in the literal vs. Figurative understanding. They tend to view the entire book of Revelation as history spanning the entire Christian age. This cannot be because the Christian age doesn't truly begin to rule in power until the 1000 years begin, IMO.

Do not believe the fabricated Jesuit conspiracy theory. It's all a lie to give the RCC some leverage, again depending on which RCC we're talking about.

Joe

[gilgal]

Anything in power is termed anti-christian because of their abuse of power. But the literal fulfillment of end time prophecy is yet to occur.

[TheForgiven]

Anything in power is termed anti-christian because of their abuse of power. But the literal fulfillment of end time prophecy is yet to occur.

There's a great deal of truth to that, but the key word is "Abuse" of power. Christ is King and His kingdom is the Church. The more Churches, the more this magnifies Christ. WE, through Christ, are rulers and kings over the earth. But the perspective of outsiders (non-believers) we are their servants, lamp stands, and shining stars. It's our city, the heavenly Jerusalem, which acts as the moon providing light during hours of darkness. Unlikes the former Jerusalem which required closed gates, this Jerusalem has gates never shut. Unlike the former Jerusalem, we Have a King that doesn't war with swords and spears, but through every breath of God's word. And unlike the former Jerusalem, this Jerusalem DOES NOT LORD it's authority over man. No, we humble ourselves for the sake of all people, that through our lights and gifts of love, even to those who hate us, are we kings over them, as well as Priests for His Kingdom. That is the type of authority we have over the earth, just as former Jerusalem had over the earth.

But the RCC did in fact abuse their authority, for as the heathen and the pagan nations of long ago, this Church usurps its authority over man and government.....at least it did during the middle ages. The RCC does not have the same authority anymore.

Sadly, we have Amierican Protestants which are doing something similar. John Hagaee and his followers seem to have a great deal of influence over our nations President. His desire to see American soldiers die in order to protect geographical Israel is to me pointless. I think he should join their military and help them fight instead of convincing our President the importance of arming and protecting geographical Israel. God's Kingdom is about love, endurance, and peace; not about war!

Joe

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Anything in power is termed anti-christian because of their abuse of power. But the literal fulfillment of end time prophecy is yet to occur.
This isn't really the topic of this thread, but I'm curious what "end time prophecy" are you talking about?