This page is part of an overview of all the major end-times views held by faithful Christians. Each view gets the same structure and the same care, with no winner declared. Start with the overview for what every view shares, then read the others alongside this one.
You’ll sometimes hear the word preterism, from a Latin word meaning “past.” It describes reading certain prophecies as already fulfilled in history, especially in the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in AD 70. It’s worth understanding, because there are two very different forms.
Partial preterism holds that much of what Jesus described in Matthew 24, and some parts of Revelation, was fulfilled in the events of AD 70. Holders point to Jesus’ words that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34), and to the way He tied His warnings to the temple standing in front of His disciples (Matthew 24:1–2). But partial preterists still hold, firmly, to a future, bodily, visible return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the new creation. They stand on the same foundation as everyone else in these pages. Partial preterism can be paired with different millennial views, and many amillennial and postmillennial believers hold some form of it, though plenty don’t.
Full preterism goes further. It teaches that Christ’s return already happened in AD 70, and that there’s no future bodily return of Jesus still ahead. This is where the line is, and it’s worth saying gently and clearly. Scripture draws that line, not any one tradition. Acts 1:11 says this same Jesus will come in the same way the disciples saw Him go, and a view that says He won’t has stepped off the shared Column 1 foundation. That’s why Last Days Living doesn’t treat full preterism as one of the faithful views. People who hold it are still people to love, pray for, and reason with patiently from Scripture.
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
Every View Stands on the Same Foundation
Every view described in this overview affirms that Jesus Christ reigns as King right now, that He will return bodily, personally, visibly, and victoriously, that the dead will be raised, that He will judge with perfect justice and make all things new, and that the day and hour of His return are known by the Father alone (Matthew 24:36). These questions don’t decide whether someone who trusts Christ is your brother or sister. Your pastor and your local church are the right people to walk through them with you.
Faithful Christians read this question differently. Here’s how Last Days Living handles questions like this.
Explore the Other Views
Overview: The Major End-Times Views
When are believers gathered to Christ?
What is the thousand years?
A related term