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CRI on Hyper-Preterism
by Hank Hanegraaff

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Taken from CRI (Christian Research Institute) perspective CP0721 from 1999 authored by Hank Hanegraaff:

The question is this, should we divide over issues like eschatology? My answer is Yes - and No! See we should divide from those who will deny essentials of the Christian faith like Christ's literal return to earth, or the resurrection of the saints, even the judgment of the wicked. These issues are, of course, central to the historic Christian faith. (emphasis added)

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Taken from a letter to me dated May 19, 1999 authored by CRI representative Thad Williams:

Preterism is a hermeneutic method used to interpret eschatological (end-times) passages in both the Old an the New Testaments. The orthodox preterist view sees nearly all events (excluding the Second Advent) described in the book of Revelation and the 24th chapter of Matthew as already having been fulfilled by A.D. 70. The preterist position may be held by those who hold to the amillennial, postmillennial, or the historic premillennial positions on the Second Coming of Christ.

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CRI considers the preterist position to be within the pale of orthodox Christianity, since it affirms all of the essential eschatological doctrines of the historic Christian faith, which includes:

The Bodily Return of our Lord Jesus Christ in Glory for His Church The Bodily Resurrection of Believers & Unbelievers
The Universal Judgment of the Living and the Dead
The Reception of Eternal Life for the Elect, and the Allotment of Eternal Condemnation for Unbelievers The Eternality of Christ's Righteous Kingdom

A vital distinction needs to be made, however, between the preterist and "hyper-preterist" views pertaining to eschatology. While preterists do assert that the majority of biblical prophecy has already been fulfilled, "hyper-preterists" go so far as to insist that even the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection has already occurred. This position is no part of the historic, orthodox, Christian faith .(emphasis added)

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Taken from a letter to Arthur Daniels Jr. dated May 19, 2004 authored by CRI representative Andy Milliken:

"...CRI considers the preterist position to be one viable eschatological position among several, and is within the pale of orthodox Christianity, since it doesn't conflict with the essential doctrines of the historic Christian faith...A distinction needs to be made, however, between the preterist (also called partial-preterist) and the full-preterist (also called 'hyper-preterist') views on eschatology. While preterists do assert that the majority of biblical prophecy has already been fulfilled, full-preterists insist that even the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection of believers have already occurred. This position is not part of the historic, orthodox Christian faith.(emphasis added)