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Wednesday, January 16, 2019

70 AD DOCTRINE - NYOBS 87.32



70 AD Doctrine
Preterism - Realized Eschatology - Covenant Eschatology - Trans-Millennialism

Setting the stage

·         The 70 AD Doctrine or Preterism is a Christian worldview of the “End of Times”.  It is also known as Realized Eschatology, Covenant Eschatology and Trans-Millennialism. It is the belief that the Book of Daniel is referring to events that happened from the 7th century BC until the first century AD.  From 30-70 AD, a 40 year transitional period of time occurred where the “End of Times” prophecies about Christ's second coming were ALL or mostly fulfilled.  It interprets the prophecies and events in the Book of Revelation as events which HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE in the first century AD; (Wikipedia)
·         The Mosaic Law passed away when Jesus came and fulfilled it in 30-70 AD. – Jesus said THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAN’T BE DETECTED BY VISIBLE SIGNS you won’t be able to say, ‘here it is!’ or ‘it’s over there!’ for THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALREADY AMONG YOU.”
·         Out of the decay of Judaism arose the spiritual body of Christianity; we are now in the eternal days, world without end that which was to come. The actual, bodily, personal return of Jesus will not happen and we cannot expect our bodies to be raised to immortality.
·         The term preterism comes from the Latin prefix “praeter”, which Webster's 1913 dictionary defines as denoting that something is "PAST" or "BEYOND". - Preterism holds that at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Ancient Israel finds itself as the Christian Church either in its continuation (Partial Preterism) or in its fulfillment (Full Preterism).  Wikipedia
·         Partial Preterism; the belief that the majority of “End of Time” events have been fulfilled.
·         Full Preterism; the belief that ALL of “End of Time” prophecies have been fulfilled.
·         The basic doctrine is the promised final return of Christ and the resurrection of bodies actually occurred in 70 AD.
·         If this Doctrine is TRUE, then everyone who hopes for an actual bodily return of Christ, the actual resurrection of bodies both good and evil deceive themselves.
·         If this Doctrine is FALSE, then those who embrace it are in error and if they teach it, they are guilty of perverting the faith as were Hymenaeus and Philetus as spoken of in the Book. There is no neutral ground here, you can’t just say you don’t care either way.
·         This study is to prove with scriptures that the 70 AD Doctrine is TRUE as well as provide scriptures that say it is FALSE and is heresy.  Many good and righteous believers embrace this doctrine and it is clearly worthy of discussion; you can decide for yourself. 

Matthew 5:18 – Law will not pass away till it is all accomplished
18  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not an iota, not a dot, will pass from THE LAW
UNTIL ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.  (ESV)
Matthew 5:17 – Jesus has fulfilled the Law
17 Do not think that I HAVE COME to abolish THE LAW or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but
TO FULFILL THEM. (ESV)
Romans 6:15 - We are no longer under the laws of Moses
15 What then? Are we to sin because WE ARE NOT UNDER LAW but under grace? By no means! (ESV)
Luke 17:20-21 – The Kingdom of God is already among you
20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied,
THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAN’T BE DETECTED BY VISIBLE SIGNS
21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALREADY AMONG YOU.” (NLT)
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 – At His return Believers will be raised
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
23 But THERE IS AN ORDER to this resurrection:
CHRIST WAS RAISED AS THE FIRST of the harvest;
THEN ALL WHO BELONG TO CHRIST WILL BE RAISED
when he comes back. (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – Christians will rise first from their graves
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, THE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE DIED WILL RISE FROM THEIR GRAVES. (NLT)
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 – Mortal bodies transformed to Immortal
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds,
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED WILL BE RAISED TO LIVE FOREVER. And we who are living will also be transformed.
53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; OUR MORTAL BODIES MUST BE
TRANSFORMED INTO IMMORTAL BODIES.
54 Then, when our dying
BODIES HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO
BODIES THAT WILL NEVER DIE, this Scripture will be fulfilled: DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. (NLT)

Partial Preterism
·         Partial preterism holds that MOST eschatological prophecies, such as the destruction of Jerusalem, the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the advent of the Day of the Lord as a "judgment-coming" of Christ, were fulfilled either in AD 70 or during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero.
·         Most interpretations identify Nero as the Beast, while his mark is often interpreted as the stamped image of the emperor's head on every coin of the Roman Empire: the stamp on the hand or in the mind of all; without which no one could buy or sell.  (Wikipedia)
·         Note; there is some disagreement on the identity of "Babylon the Great" (Revelation 17–18). Some identify it as the pagan Roman Empire, while others identify it as the city of Jerusalem.
·         In the partial preterist system, the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the Final Judgment HAVE NOT yet occurred.
·         Some partial preterists believe that the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the advent of the Day of the Lord as a "Judgment Coming" of Christ, WERE NOT historically fulfilled.

Full Preterism
·         Full Preterism differs from Partial Preterism in that full preterists believe that the destruction of Jerusalem FULFILLED ALL eschatological "End Time" events including the Resurrection of the Dead, the Second Coming Jesus Christ, and the Final Judgment.
·         Full preterists argue that a literal reading of Matthew 16:28 is taken rather than focusing on the Book of Revelation.  This is where Jesus tells the disciples; I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the son of man coming in his kingdom.  This places the second coming in the first century and precludes a physical second coming of Christ.
·         The second coming is only symbolic of a "judgment" against Jerusalem, said to have taken place with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD and it’s for this reason that some people call full preterism "the 70 AD Doctrine”.
·         If this is the case, the traditional idea of the resurrection must be replaced with a metaphorical idea of the resurrection.
·         The Tribulation period in the preterist view, took place entirely in the past and was divine judgment that was visited upon the Jews for their sins, including the rejection of Jesus the Christ as the promised Messiah.  It happened in 70 AD during the end stages of the First Jewish–Roman War when the armed Roman legion forces destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple and it affected ONLY the Jewish people rather than all mankind.  
·         Jesus told His disciples; some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM; then in just a few more verses the Book warns the Scribes and Pharisees that; Judgment will fall on this very generation.
·         The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans took place during the first century in 70 AD rather than at some future time after the Scribes and Pharisees had died; the destruction occurred within a 40-year generation from the time Jesus spoke His OLIVET DISCOURSE PROPHECY. – The Romans thus fulfilled what was spoken of in Daniels prophecy about being the Abomination of Desolation that was set up in the Temple.
·         When Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem, He told the disciples; “do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished; not one stone will be left on top of another”. – In saying this, in the preterists worldview, they see nothing in the scriptures to indicate that another Jewish temple will ever be built; the prophecies were all fulfilled in the then-existing Temple.
Matthew 16:28 – Disciples would not taste death
28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
WILL NOT DIE before they see the SON OF MAN
COMING IN HIS KINGDOM.” (NLT)
Matthew 23:36 – Judgement will fall on THIS generation
36 I tell you the truth, this
JUDGMENT WILL FALL ON THIS VERY GENERATION.
(NLT)
Daniel 9:27 – Abomination of Desolation – The Roman Legions -
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple
HE WILL SET UP AN ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (NIV2011)
Luke 21:20 – The Romans surrounded Jerusalem - Desolation
20 When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,
YOU WILL KNOW THAT ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR. (NIV2011)
Matthew 24:1-2 – Temple destroyed; No new Temple
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.
2 But he responded, DO YOU SEE ALL THESE BUILDINGS?
I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished.
NOT ONE STONE WILL BE LEFT ON TOP OF ANOTHER!” (NLT)

Mount of Olives
·         The Olivet Discourse is known as the Little Apocalypse because of the apocalyptic language used  by Jesus as He gave warnings to His Disciples that they would all suffer tribulations, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, false prophets, persecution and a falling away of fellow Believers before the ultimate triumph of the KINGDOM OF GOD.
·         The Olivet Prophecy is found in three of the Gospels; Matthew 24-25, Mark 13 & Luke 21. Mark was NOT one of the original 12 disciples, but was Peter’s scribe and a true Believer and follower of THE WAY
Matthew 24:1-51 – The Olivet Discourse – The Olivet Prophecy
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.
2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished.
Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “TELL US, WHEN WILL ALL THIS HAPPEN? What SIGN will signal your return and the end of the world?”
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,
5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of WARS and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.
7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be FAMINES and EARTHQUAKES in many parts of the world.
8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.
10 and many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.
11 many FALSE PROPHETS will appear and will deceive many people.
12 Sin will be rampant everywhere; the love of many will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 And the GOOD NEWS about the Kingdom will be preached THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, so that all nations will hear it; and THEN THE END WILL COME.
15 The day is coming when
YOU WILL SEE
WHAT DANIEL THE PROPHET SPOKE ABOUT
the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!)
16 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.
17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.
18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For THERE WILL BE GREATER ANGUISH THAN
AT ANY TIME SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. And it will never be so great again.
22 In fact, unless that TIME OF CALAMITY is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it WILL BE SHORTENED
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHOSEN ONES.
23 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it.
24 For FALSE MESSIAHS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL RISE UP and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
25 See, I HAVE WARNED YOU ABOUT THIS AHEAD OF TIME.
26 if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!
27 FOR AS THE LIGHTNING FLASHES IN THE EAST
AND SHINES TO THE WEST, SO IT WILL BE
WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES.
28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.
29 Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
30 And then at last, the sign that the SON OF MAN is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And THEY WILL SEE
THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory.
31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32 Now learn a lesson from the fig tree
(the nation of Israel). When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout (Israel re-established), you know that summer (the end) is near.
33 In the same way, WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE THINGS,
YOU CAN KNOW HIS RETURN IS VERY NEAR, right at the door.
34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.
35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
36 However, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS.
37 When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 Two men will be working together in the field;
ONE WILL BE TAKEN, the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill;
ONE WILL BE TAKEN, the other left.
42 So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.
44 You also must be ready all the time, for
THE SON OF MAN WILL COME WHEN LEAST EXPECTED.
45 A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’
49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
50
THE MASTER WILL RETURN UNANNOUNCED AND UNEXPECTED,
51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place
THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
(NLT)
Setting the stage
·         NOTE; the supporting scripture for the Preterist is in Green and for the Book it is Crimson.
·         Preterist: Realized Eschatology is defined as the doctrine that the last things to happen on earth before “the end of time“ has already been realized or completed at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans with the fall of Judaism in 70 AD. 
·         Israel was warned that if they did not repent, that God would remove their lampstand.  The Romans came with POWER and burned and destroyed the city of Jerusalem
·         Preterist: The second coming has happened, Jesus returned in power – He said He would return in POWER and glory; in a sense that happened to the folks on the Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that filled every Believer present with His Spirit.
·         The Book says Jesus promised that He would not leave them as orphans, but would send the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, sent in POWER to fill every believer present.
·         Most students of the Book disagree that this was His second coming and see Pentecost as only a shadow of Christ’s second coming and not His literal return.  Jesus will return the same way as He left, as eHeHe ascended into Heaven, He will return the same way with His mighty angels.   
Revelation 2:5 – Jesus came at the destruction of the Temple
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not,
I WILL COME TO YOU AND REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND from its place, unless you repent. (ESV)
Matthew 22:7 – God sent His forces to destroy Jerusalem
7 THE KING WAS ANGRY, and he SENT HIS TROOPS and DESTROYED those murderers and BURNED THEIR CITY. (ESV)  
Mark 9:1 – He returned in Great POWER the day of Pentecost
1 Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth,
some standing here right now WILL not die before they
SEE the KINGDOM OF GOD arrive in great POWER!” (NLT)
Matthew 24:1-2 – Jesus predicts the POWER of Second Comingthe end of times
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.
2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished.
NOT ONE STONE WILL BE LEFT ON TOP OF ANOTHER!” (NLT)
Acts 1:8 – You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes
8 But
YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NLT)
Matthew 16:28 – The Second Coming will be in your generation
28 And I tell you the truth,
SOME STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW
WILL NOT DIE BEFORE THEY SEE
the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” (NLT)
John 14:18 – I will come to you as the Spirit of Truth
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—
I WILL COME TO YOU. (NLT)
John 15:26 –Jesus returned as represented by the Holy Spirit
26 But I will send you the advocateTHE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
HE WILL COME TO YOU FROM THE FATHER
and will testify all about me. (NLT)
John 14:18 – Jesus said, I will come to you
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans,
I WILL COME TO YOU. (NLT)
Acts 1:4-5 – The Return with the POWER of the Holy Spirit
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them,
DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM UNTIL
THE FATHER SENDS YOU THE GIFT
He promised, as I told you before.
5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (NLT)
Acts 1:8 – You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes
8 But
YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NLT)
Acts 2:1-4 – Second Coming on the Day of Pentecost
1 On THE DAY OF PENTECOST all the believers were meeting together in one place.
2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
4
EVERYONE PRESENT WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT & began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Acts 2:33 – Jesus; the Holy Spirit returned in Power as promised
33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, AS HE HAD PROMISED,
GAVE HIM THE HOLY SPIRIT TO POUR OUT UPON US,
just as you see and hear today. (NLT)
Matthew 24:29-30 – Christ will be SEEN at His second coming
29 Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
30 And then at last, THE SIGN THAT THE SON OF MAN
IS COMING WILL APPEAR IN THE HEAVENS, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And
THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN coming on
the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (NLT)
Matthew 24:34 – Jesus will be bodily present as He was then
34  I tell you the truth, THIS GENERATION will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.
Acts 1:11 – Jesus will return the same way He left
11 Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?
JESUS HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, but someday HE WILL RETURN FROM HEAVEN
IN THE SAME WAY YOU SAW HIM GO!(NLT)
2 Thessalonians 1:7 – Jesus returns with angels from heaven
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when
THE LORD JESUS APPEARS FROM HEAVEN.
HE WILL COME WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS. (NLT)
2 Timothy 4:1 – Jesus will judge everyone when He returns
1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and
CHRIST JESUS, who will someday JUDGE the living and the dead WHEN HE APPEARS TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM: (NLT)
Hebrews 9:28 – When Christ comes again He will bring salvation
28 so also CHRIST died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. HE WILL COME AGAIN, not to deal with our sins, but TO BRING SALVATION to all who are eagerly waiting for him. (NLT)
Second Coming
·         Preterist: The Second Coming was considered soon.  James the brother of Jesus said; THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR and in the Book of Matthew it says the SIGN of the return of Christ is when there is deep mourning. (Presumably from the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.)
·         The Book; when you combine these two scriptures I can see where Preterist get that the Lord came in 70AD with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
·         The Book says it was common for a prophet to use language that spoke of future events as being near to emphasize the urgency and certainty of the Lord’s prophecy being fulfilled.  In the OT Obadiah used the expression the Day of the Lord is near and so did James in the NT. - The actual knowledge of the Lord’s return was not known to any prophet, disciple, angel or even Jesus Christ the Son of God; the Book says that only God the Father knows and they understood that too.
Matthew 24:30 – The Sign is deep mourning over Jerusalem
30 And then at last, THE SIGN that
THE SON OF MAN IS COMING will appear in the heavens, and there will be DEEP MOURNING (over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple) among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power (NLT)
Matthew 16:28 – The Second Coming will be in your generation
28 And I tell you the truth,
SOME STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW
WILL NOT DIE BEFORE THEY SEE
the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” (NLT)
Acts 2:1-4 – Second Coming was on the Day of Pentecost
1 On THE DAY OF PENTECOST all the believers were meeting together in one place.
2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
4
EVERYONE PRESENT WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT & began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Acts 2:33 – Jesus returned in Power as promised; the Holy Spirit
33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, AS HE HAD PROMISED,
GAVE HIM THE HOLY SPIRIT TO POUR OUT UPON US,
just as you see and hear today. (NLT)
Obadiah 1:15 – Urgent expression – Day of the Lord is near
15 THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. (NIV2011)
James 5:8 - Urgent expression – Day of the Lord is near
8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for
THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR. (NLT)
Matthew 24:36 – Only Yahweh God knows when Jesus will return
36 However, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR when these things will happen,
 NOT EVEN THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN OR THE SON HIMSELF.
ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS. (NLT)
Return Spiritually
·         Preterist: Jesus returned in the form of the Holy Spirit. - When He promised He would come to us, He did not say He would return bodily. – He returned as the Holy Spirit sent from God the Father.
·         The Book says Jesus Himself describes that the generation that saw all these things would SEE Him at His second coming and that did not happen at the destruction of Jerusalem.  – Jesus was NOT seen bodily at the 70 AD destruction. - Supporting scriptures for the Preterist do not prevent a future coming of Jesus Christ in a bodily form.
·         Isaiah the Prophet spoke of the Lord coming; he used language that said LOOK, implying we would SEE Him advancing. – John the Revelator said in no uncertain terms; EVERYONE WILL SEE HIM.
·         Doctor Luke describes Jesus in His resurrected glorified body as being seen bodily, so much so as He can be handled and touched, not as a ghost or spirit, but physically.
·         The companion of Paul wrote in the Book of Acts that Jesus’ return would happen the same way as He left; He visually bodily ascended into Heaven and He will visually bodily return that same way.
John 14:18 – I will come to you as the Spirit of Truth
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—
I WILL COME TO YOU. (NLT)
John 15:26 – Jesus returned as represented by the Holy Spirit
26 But I will send you the advocateTHE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
HE WILL COME TO YOU FROM THE FATHER
and will testify all about me. (NLT)
Matthew 16:28 – Jesus Was NOT seen at the 70 AD destruction
28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
will not die before THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING
in his Kingdom.” (NLT)
Isaiah 19:1 – They will SEE and discern the Lord’s presence
1 This message came to me concerning Egypt:
LOOK! THE LORD IS ADVANCING against Egypt, riding on a swift CLOUD. The idols of Egypt tremble. The hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear. (NLT)
Luke 24:39 – Christ can be physically seen and touched
39
LOOK at my hands. LOOK at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. TOUCH ME and make sure that I AM NOT A GHOST, because
ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” (NLT)
Revelation 1:7 – They will SEE His presence with the clouds
7 LOOK! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And
EVERYONE WILL SEE HIM even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! (NLT)
Acts 1:9-11 – You will SEE Him return as when He left
9 After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud
while they were WATCHING, and they could no longer SEE him.
10 As they strained to SEE him rising into heaven, two white-robed
11 said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This JESUS, who was taken up from you into heaven,
WILL COME IN THE SAME WAY
AS YOU SAW HIM GO INTO HEAVEN. (NLT)
Return Already Happened
·         Preterist: The disciples would see the second coming Jesus said truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
·         The Book says that all these eschatology events will START TO HAPPEN with this generation of Believers, but it does not mean that the end time events WILL END WITH THEM. – SELAH -
John 14:18 – Jesus told them He would come to THEM
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I WILL COME TO YOU.
(ESV)
Matthew 24:34 – These things will take place in your generation
34 Truly, I say to you,
THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY
UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.
(ESV)
Matthew 16:28 – Jesus Was NOT seen at the 70 AD destruction
28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
will not die before THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING
in his Kingdom.” (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – Jesus Himself will physically return
16 For THE LORD HIMSELF will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE and remain on the earth WILL BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CLOUDS
TO MEET THE LORD in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. (NLT)

Resurrection
·         Preterist: The resurrection is not physical, but spiritual; “Full Preterism”, the doctrine of realized eschatology, embraces the concept that the resurrection is the bodily raising of the church from the era of Christian persecution.  IT’S THE RESURRECTION OF A CAUSE.  
·         Every spiritual blessing was thereby made complete and looking beyond 70 AD for a personal coming of Jesus Christ or the resurrection of bodies from the grave is a miss-interpretation of scripture.
·         The Book; No resurrection of the body is the same thing that the Sadducees taught during the time of Jesus. – Paul writes a letter to the church at Corinth telling them that if there is no resurrection of the dead then Christ has not been raised either and if Christ has not been raised, then all OUR PREACHING IS USELESS, and YOUR FAITH IS USELESS.
Acts 23:8 – Sadducees say there is no resurrection
8 for THE SADDUCEES SAY THERE IS NO RESURRECTION or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. (NLT)
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 – No resurrection then faith useless
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
13 For IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD,
then Christ has not been raised either.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all
OUR PREACHING IS USELESS, and YOUR FAITH IS USELESS.
2 Timothy 2:16-18 - Claiming resurrection has already occurred
16 AVOID WORTHLESS, FOOLISH TALK that only leads to more godless behavior.
17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth,
18
CLAIMING THAT THE RESURRECTION
OF THE DEAD HAS ALREADY OCCURRED; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. (NLT)
John 5:28-29 – The Dead will rise at the voice of Jesus
28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all
THE DEAD IN THEIR GRAVES WILL HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD’S SON,
29 AND THEY WILL RISE AGAIN. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. (NLT)

Judgment Completed
·         Preterist: The Judgment has already happened with the prophecy of Revelation that said; I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. - Preterist believe that happened when the Temple was destroyed. 
·         The Book says at Christ’s return, He will set up His kingdom, Judge the Living and the Dead and bring Salvation to those who are awaiting His return.
·         Preterists Judgment was limited to the Jews with the devastation and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD.
·         The Book says; the final Day of Judgment will include the entire pagan human race; past and present and that would include Nineveh and Sheba which were not present at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, even Felix, the Roman Governor thought that the day of Judgement would include him too, not just his enemy the Jews. NYOBS 33.02 – QUEEN OF SHEBA
Acts 17:31 – There is a day of judgment for all mankind
31  For He (God) has set A DAY FOR JUDGING THE WORLD with justice by the man (Jesus) He has appointed, and He (God) proved to  everyone who this is by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead.” (NLT)
Matthew 11:22 – Pagan non-Jews will be judged
22 I tell you, TYRE and SIDON will be better off on
JUDGMENT DAY than you (NINEVEH). (NLT)
Matthew 12:41-42 – The People of Nineveh and Sheba will stand
41 THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH will stand up against this generation on JUDGMENT DAY and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.
42 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA will also stand up against this generation on JUDGMENT DAY and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. (NLT)
Acts 24:25 - Felix believe Judgment included him, not just Jews
25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming DAY OF JUDGMENT,
FELIX BECAME FRIGHTENED. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” (NLT)

End of the World
·         Preterist: The End of the World is limited to the Jewish world. – The End of the World is not about the destruction of the entire planet, but about the end of the Jewish age and that occurred in 70 AD when the Jews were scattered with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple.
·         The Book says that at the End of the World, the weeds (the non-believers), will be separated from the wheat (the believers). - The non-believers will be burned with fire and that did not happen in 70 AD. -  Jesus had already given the Great Commission to go out into the world and preach the Good News of the Gospel and make disciples of all mankind. -  If the Jewish age ended in 70 AD, then the Great Commission would no longer be a valid commandment and the Church would be teaching it in error.
Matthew 13:39-40 – Evil doers burned at the End of the World
39 THE ENEMY who planted the weeds among the wheat is the DEVIL. THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD, and the harvesters are the angels.
40 Just as THE WEEDS are sorted out and
BURNED IN THE FIRE, so it will be
AT THE END OF THE WORLD. (NLT)
Matthew 28:18-20 – Go and make disciples of all nations
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore
19 GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this:
I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.”
(NLT)

Fiery End
·         Preterist: the fiery end to the heavens and earth is symbolic of the Jewish economy being destroyed. - The end of Judaism; the destruction of the Jewish nation was the second coming of Christ, when Christ’s prophecy that all the buildings would not have one stone left standing upon another was realized; His prophecy is now completed: prophecy is closed.
·         They were able to discern the second coming and presence of Jesus Christ in the destruction and judgment that was brought to pass as decreed by God.
·         The Book says that at His second coming on the Day of Judgment, this present world will be destroyed by fire and everything else around us. If that had happened in 70 AD I would not be here to write about it.
2 Peter 3:5-11 – The Heavens and Earth will be destroyed
5 THEY DELIBERATELY FORGET that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.
6 Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.
7 And by the same word, THE PRESENT HEAVENS AND EARTH HAVE BEEN STORED UP FOR FIRE. They are being kept for the DAY OF JUDGMENT, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
11 Since
EVERYTHING AROUND US IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,
(NLT)
Revelation 19:11-21 – The Beast & False Prophet thrown in fire
11 Then I SAW heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. ITS RIDER WAS NAMED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, His title was
THE WORD OF GOD.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword
(His Word)
to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written: this title
KING OF ALL KINGS AND LORD OF ALL LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.  
18  Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.”
19  Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the Beast and his False Prophet were THROWN ALIVE INTO THE FIERY LAKE OF BURNING SULFUR.
21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword
(HIS WORD) that came from THE MOUTH of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies. (NLT)

In Defense of the Faith
·         It is always right to expose ERROR and protect the body from PREVISION of the scriptures. Paul in his letter to the Galatians said that He was shocked that they were turning away so quickly from “The Way” that the Book teaches and were following a “Different Way” that PRETENDED to be the GOOD NEWS.  (“The Way” was the name of the sect that followed Christ.)
·         There is a phrase; “Rightly Dividing the Word” and its focus is; first interpret the scriptures literally then secondly symbolically with respect to the intended audience whether past, present or future. 
·         As students of the Word, we are charged with defending the faith. - The Book is without error and is the final unchanging authority and calls for two or three scriptures to witness or establish a doctrine; proving scripture with scripture, line upon line, precept upon precept, reading the scripture here a little and there a little. – It’s in the Book -
Galatians 1:6 – Left “The Way” for a “Different Way”
6 I am shocked that you are TURNING AWAY SO SOON from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a DIFFERENT WAY that PRETENDS to be the Good News
1 Corinthians 15:1 – Stand firm in the Faith you were taught
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of
the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you STILL STAND FIRM IN IT. (NLT)
Jude 1:3 – We are urged to defend the Faith
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, URGING YOU TO DEFEND THE FAITH that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. (NLT)
Romans 16:17-18 – Watch out for people who cause divisions
17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS and upset people’s faith by TEACHING THINGS CONTRARY to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.
18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words
they DECEIVE INNOCENT PEOPLE. (NLT)
2 Timothy 2:24-26 – Gently, kindly instruct the difficult people
24 A servant of the Lord
MUST NOT QUARREL but MUST BE KIND to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
25 GENTLY INSTRUCT THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE TRUTH. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
26 THEN THEY WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (NLT)
2 Timothy 4:1-5 – Be prepared to correct, rebuke and encourage
1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:
2 Preach the word of God. BE PREPARED, whether the time is favorable or not.
PATIENTLY CORRECT, REBUKE, and ENCOURAGE your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires
and will look for teachers who will TELL THEM
WHATEVER THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR.
4 They will reject the truth and CHASE AFTER MYTHS.
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
WORK AT TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. (NLT)
2 Timothy 2:16-18 – Foolish doctrines spread like cancer
16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to godless behavior.
17 THIS KIND OF TALK SPREADS LIKE CANCER, as in the case of
HYMENAEUS and PHILETUS.
18 THEY HAVE LEFT THE PATH OF TRUTH,
CLAIMING THAT THE RESURRECTION
OF THE DEAD HAS ALREADY OCCURRED; in this way, they have
TURNED SOME PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE FAITH. (NLT)
Isaiah 28:10 – Precept upon precept line upon, line little by little
10 For it is PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, precept upon precept,
LINE UPON LINE, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (ESV)
Deuteronomy 19:15 – Prove scripture with other scripture
15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed.
A MATTER MUST BE ESTABLISHED by the testimony of
TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. (NIV2011)

The Take Away

·         Realized Eschatology brings together all the “End Time Events” in both the Old Testament and the New Testaments as have already been accomplished. They were realized and accomplished in 70 AD with the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.  On the surface this is a doctrine where good men can honestly discuss and debate the issue with one another without harm, especially Partial Preterism, but harm comes when TEACHING Full Preterism; that there is no future "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ, therefore there is no future resurrection of the body. 
·         Voices rejecting Full Preterism say TEACHING the worldview that the Final Judgment and End of Times occurred in 70 AD with the destructions of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple is heretical.
·         The Book says that the Lord Himself will come unexpectedly down from heaven and everyone will see Him and the first to rise will be the believers who will share in His Glory.  He will separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the weeds – The heavens will pass away and the earth and everything on it will be destroyed; then we get a new heaven and a new earth. - The wicked will go into eternal damnation and the righteous into eternal life with the Father.  NONE OF THIS HAPPENED IN 70 AD.
·         The Book says that there are some who are IGNORANT and UNSTABLE who have TWISTED Paul’s letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of scripture and this will lead to their destruction.  We are advised to avoid worthless and foolish debates that only leads to more godless behavior.  This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of some who have already left the path of truth by claiming that the RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.  It’s very sad and even mournful that in this way, they have caused SOME PEOPLE TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM THE FAITH. 
·         There comes a warning in the Book of Romans, to watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by TEACHING THINGS CONTRARY to what they have been taught. Stay away from them. – As a student of the Word, I find myself in this very category, because I only study the things that are CONTROVERSIAL and CONTRARY to our Belief System.   For me it gets people’s mind out of PAUSE and forces them to read the Book for themselves to see if what they have always heard is TRUE.  The Bereans were commended for being OPEN MINDED and for looking up the scriptures in the Book to see if what Paul was saying was TRUE.            
- It’s in the Book -

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – Resurrecting of Saints is at the return
16 For THE LORD HIMSELF WILL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
FIRST, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. (NLT)
Revelation 1:7 – Everyone will see Him when He returns
7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And
EVERYONE WILL SEE HIM even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
(NLT)
Colossians 3:4 – We will share in His glory when He comes
4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, YOU WILL SHARE IN ALL HIS GLORY
.
(NLT)
Matthew 25:31-46 – Judgement begins at the Second Coming
31 But when THE SON OF MAN comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and
He will separate the people as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the SHEEP AT HIS RIGHT HAND
and the GOATS AT HIS LEFT.
34 Then the King will say to THOSE ON HIS RIGHT, ‘
Come, you who are BLESSED by my Father, INHERIT the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.
37 Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth,
WHEN YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU WERE DOING IT TO ME!’
41 Then the King will turn to THOSE ON THE LEFT and say,
‘AWAY WITH YOU, YOU CURSED ONES,
INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE prepared for the devil and his demons.
42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.
46 And THEY WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT,
(the unrighteous)
but THE RIGHTEOUS WILL GO INTO ETERNAL LIFE.”
(NLT)
2 Peter 3:10-13 – Everything burned up; new heaven new earth
10 But the day of the Lord WILL COME AS UNEXPECTEDLY as a thief. Then the HEAVENS WILL PASS AWAY with a terrible noise, and the very ELEMENTS THEMSELVES WILL DISAPPEAR in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
11  Since
EVERYTHING AROUND US IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,
12  looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.
13 But we are looking forward to the
NEW HEAVENS and NEW EARTH he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
(NLT)
Romans 16:17 – Warning – Contrary teachings - Divisions
17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS and upset people’s faith BY TEACHING THINGS CONTRARY
TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. Stay away from them. (NLT)
2 Peter 3:15-16 – The Ignorant and Unstable twist scripture
15 And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—
16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and
THOSE WHO ARE IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE HAVE
TWISTED HIS LETTERS TO MEAN SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
(NLT)
Acts 17:11 – Open Minded; they searched the scriptures daily
11 And the people of BEREA were more OPEN-MINDED than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message.
They SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES day after day to see
if Paul and Silas were TEACHING THE TRUTH.
(NLT)


In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14


I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders
                         and see further that I otherwise ever could have.              
                                                                                                                                     
Antiquity of the Jews Flavius Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Dake’s Annotated BibleDake
English Standard Version Bible ESV
Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World
Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley
Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English New Testament – Baker
Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse
King James Version Bible – KJV
Lost Books of the Bible; The - World
Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Meredith’s Book of List; 1&2 –Bethany House Publishers
Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney
New International Version Bible (2011) NIV
New King James Bible - NKJV
New Living Translation Bible - NLT
Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield
Systematic Theology Wayne Grudem
Thru the Bible J. Vernon McGee
Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney

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