Preterists

Preterism is a Christian eschatological interpretation of biblical prophecy that emphasizes events described in the Bible as having already occurred in the first century. The term is most often applied to interpretations of the Book of Revelation and Jesus's warnings in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21), though some adherents extend the approach to other prophecies. In contrast to futurist readings that expect fulfillment in the future, preterists situate many prophecies within Roman-era history, especially around Jerusalem's destruction in 70 CE.

There are two main branches of preterism. Partial preterism (limited preterism) holds that many prophecies were fulfilled in the first century—often including Jerusalem's fall and related events—while still affirming that some aspects (such as the resurrection and final judgment) will occur in a future sense. Full or consistent preterism contends that all biblical prophecies were fulfilled in the past, including the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment. Within full preterism, some adherents describe a fully realized kingdom in spiritual terms, while others are labeled hyper-preterists or viewed as outside mainstream orthodox positions by many denominations.

Origins and development: The preterist approach has historical roots in early Christian exegesis, with modern formulations arising in the 17th to 19th centuries as a counterpoint to futurism. The label derives from Latin praeteritus, meaning past or gone by, and the approach has been refined by scholars and theologians across various Protestant and Catholic traditions.

Reception and influence: Preterist interpretations remain a minority in contemporary Protestant and Catholic eschatology. They are most associated with discussions of Revelation and the Olivet Discourse in scholarly and some evangelical circles, and they face criticism from futurists and many traditionalists who argue for future fulfillments of key prophecies.