In this video, Sproul abandons the literal interpretation of Scripture in order to adopt preterism.
Preterist Kenneth Gentry defines preterism: “The term ‘preterism’ is based on the Latin preter, which means ‘past.’ Preterism refers to that understanding of certain eschatological passages which hold that they have already come to fulfillment” (He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology, page 159).
Preterists interpret most if not all, the prophecies of Matthew 24:1-34 as already fulfilled in AD 70, depending on whether the preterist is partial or extreme. The same is true for the prophecies of the Book of the Revelation. The Second Coming of Christ took place spiritually at AD 70. This is Kenneth Gentry’s view that he defends in his book Before Jerusalsem Fell. Ken Gentry describes his book and other preterist books at KennethGentry.com.
Thomas Ice gives two quotes from a preterist in a chapter in The End Times Controversy that help understand the thinking of preterists. Preterist David Chilton makes this point in two statements. “The Olivet Discourse is not about the second coming of Christ. It is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70” (Paradise Restored: An Eschatology of Dominion, page 224). “The book of Revelation is not about the second coming of Christ. It is about the destruction of Israel and Christ’s victory over His enemies in the establishment of the New Covenant Temple” (The Days of Vengeance, page 43).
Preterists interpret Revelation 1:7 to refer to Christ’s spiritual coming in judgment on Israel in AD 70 when the verse says Christ will come back and every eye shall see him and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” This verse can not be limited to the nation of Israel. At Thomas Ice’s website, raptureme.com, there is a helpful article by Tom Standberg on preterism.
