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Editor's Letter
by Brian L. Martin
After several months of planning and trying to learn the ropes of magazine
production, we finally launched our first issue last spring. Judging by the
responses we have received, Fulfilled! Magazine is a welcome addition to
the growing number of Preterist resources. Many thanks to those of you who
wrote, emailed and called—what a blessing it is to hear from you!
At this point, we plan on publishing quarterly. We appreciate those who have
offered their help and financial support. This magazine is truly a labor of
love, by those who have a passion for furthering the awareness and understanding
of Preterism. None of the contributing authors have received compensation for
their work, and we are not charging for subscriptions. If you would like to
help in our efforts, here are a few ways you can do that: first, keep us in your
prayers! Although this can easily become a Christian cliché, we truly believe
that this is the foundation upon which any effort should be built. Next, if you
have any expertise in graphic design, Adobe Photoshop, MS Front Page, MS
Publisher, etc., and don’t mind answering an occasional question, send us an
email. (brian@fulfilledmagazine.com)
Lastly, for those who would like to contribute financially, we have a few points
we wish to make clear. At this time, we do not have a nonprofit status, so any
gifts will not be tax-deductible. We hope to gain a nonprofit status in the
future, but . . . one thing at a time! Also, we are not looking for “the widow’s
mite,” or “sacrificial” giving. Nor do we want you to divert funds from
ministries which are helping further the gospel, feed the poor, etc. Since the
demographic of our readers is primarily Christian, we are in a sense “preaching
to the choir,” and therefore do not want to siphon funds from ministries that
are spreading the Gospel of Christ. However, if you have a passion for spreading
the awareness and understanding of Preterism, and have a few extra dollars, we
welcome your support. Make your checks payable to:
Brian Martin
1620 Sequoia St.
Napa, CA 94558
While Dispensationalism continues to garner millions (both numerically and
monetarily), Preterism, with its self-published books and local conventions, is
quietly growing. Well, maybe not as quietly as before—our first issue went out
to people in 43 states, as well as Canada, the Philippines, Ethiopia, South
Africa and Spain!
In this issue we touch upon a delicate topic, one which will undoubtedly be
revisited many times—the modern nation of Israel. Preterism does not view
present-day Israel as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Instead, the Church is
seen as “the Israel of God,” in which prophecy is fulfilled. This is often
called “Replacement” theology, and is frequently railed against in
Dispensational writings. Personally, I prefer the term “Fulfillment” theology,
for it is not as if Christians arbitrarily decided to replace national Israel
with themselves. Rather, national Israel was a type and foreshadow which finds
its fulfillment in the Church. Just as Christ did not come to abolish or destroy
the Law, but to fulfill it, so the Church did not “erase” Old Testament
Israel—it fulfilled its types and shadows. In fact, Preterists are quick to
point out that Paul preached nothing but “the hope of Israel,” and only what was
found in “Moses, the law and the prophets.” The reason that Paul’s fellow Jews
persecuted him after his conversion to Christianity is because the Gospel
presents a different application of “the hope of Israel” and what “Moses, the
law and the prophets” taught. Preterism carries this application through to the
area of eschatology.
Unfortunately, many equate this view as a form of anti-Semitism. Therefore we
wish to state upfront that neither the editors, nor any of the contributing
writers (to our knowledge) are anti-Semitic in any way. This is not to say that
there are not some among those wearing the Preterist label who may hold
anti-Semitic views. But just as “Christians” who bomb abortion clinics are not
accurately portraying Christianity, so Preterists who are anti-Semitic are not
accurately portraying Preterism.
Don K. Preston states, “The question of whether America should support Israel is
a legitimate political question.” Unfortunately, much of the political
support seems to be fueled by an eschatology which asserts that God has not
fulfilled His promises to Israel. Acknowledging that those promises are
fulfilled in the Church does not make one anti-Semitic. As David B. Curtis
states, “I’m not anti-Semitic. I just believe that while in the Old Covenant the
distinction was between Jew and Gentile, in the New Covenant the distinction is
between believer and unbeliever.” And how are we believers supposed to exhibit
our participation in the New Covenant? By loving one another. We are called to
love one another, and to have our feet shod with the gospel of peace. And when
we feel that our hard-to-receive message is justified because it is the truth,
we must remember that we are to speak the truth in love.
God bless,
Brian
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