What the Church Won’t Tell You About Resurrection and Judgment

Introduction

Full Preterism teaches that all biblical prophecy—including the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment—was fulfilled by AD 70.
The destruction of Jerusalem wasn’t just history—it was fulfillment.
It marked the climactic covenantal judgment that ended the Old Covenant age and ushered in the fullness of the New Covenant. This article examines key Scriptures and themes, showing how the resurrection and final judgment were fulfilled spiritually or covenantally in the first century.

1. 1 Corinthians 15: Victory Over Spiritual Death

Paul addresses a denial of resurrection in Corinth. He explains that resurrection is tied to Christ's victory over "the last enemy, death" (v.26). Preterists interpret this death as spiritual separation from God, not mere physical death. Paul links it to sin and the Law (v.56), identifying the Old Covenant system as the true cause of spiritual death.

By AD 70, with the Temple destroyed and the Old Covenant abolished, the barrier of spiritual death was removed. This allowed the righteous dead to be raised out of Sheol into God's presence, and the living to be changed into resurrection life (v.51–52). Paul's phrase "in Christ shall all be made alive" (v.22) points to covenantal identity, not universal physical resurrection.

2. Daniel 12: Resurrection at the Time of Israel's Shattering

Daniel 12:2 speaks of a resurrection at a time of unparalleled distress. Verse 7 says this would occur when "the power of the holy people has been shattered"—a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The passage parallels Jesus' words in Matthew 24.

Daniel’s resurrection is corporate and covenantal. The righteous dead of Israel were raised to eternal life, while the wicked faced shame and contempt. This coincided with the Great Tribulation and the end of the Jewish age.

3. John 5:28–29: Resurrection of the Dead from Hades

Jesus said all in the tombs would hear His voice and come forth—some to life, others to judgment. Preterists link this to Revelation 20, where Death and Hades give up the dead. The "tombs" in John are symbolic of Sheol/Hades. The resurrection occurred in the unseen realm during Christ’s Parousia in AD 70.

This was not a resurrection of bodies from graves, but a resurrection of souls from Hades. The righteous entered eternal life, the wicked entered condemnation.

4. Revelation 20: Covenant Judgment and the Lake of Fire

Revelation shows two resurrections: the "first resurrection" (spiritual rebirth or martyrdom reward) and the resurrection at the end of the millennium. Preterists see the millennium as the church age before AD 70. At its end, the dead were judged. Hades was emptied and thrown into the lake of fire.

The great white throne judgment fulfilled the final separation between covenantally faithful and unfaithful. The Old Covenant world was judged and abolished.

5. Ezekiel 37: Resurrection as National Restoration

Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones symbolized Israel’s return from exile. The passage uses resurrection imagery for covenant renewal. Preterists apply this framework to the New Covenant: God raised a new Israel (the Church) from the death of the Old Covenant.

Paul also describes believers as already raised with Christ (Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:12). This spiritual resurrection is covenantal, not biological.

6. 2 Timothy 2:17–18: Hymenaeus and the Timing Issue

Paul condemned Hymenaeus for saying the resurrection had already happened. The issue was timing, not nature. The resurrection had not yet occurred when Paul wrote. Full preterists agree—it happened a few years later in AD 70. The fact that Hymenaeus could even convince people implies the resurrection was not expected to be visibly obvious.

7. Death as Spiritual Separation

Death in Scripture is often spiritual—separation from God (Gen. 2:17, Rom. 5:12). Jesus came to destroy this death (2 Tim. 1:10). At AD 70, the system that reinforced death (the Law) was removed. Believers no longer go to Hades but directly to be with Christ.

Revelation 20:14 and 21:4 confirm that death was cast into the lake of fire and is "no more" in the New Covenant age.

8. Matthew 25 and Revelation 20: The Final Judgment

The Sheep and Goats judgment (Matt. 25) and the Great White Throne (Rev. 20) both describe covenantal judgment. Jesus separated faithful and unfaithful Israel. The righteous inherited the kingdom; the wicked were condemned.

This occurred in AD 70 when Jerusalem fell. It marked the definitive end of the Old Covenant system and the final judgment on that generation.

Conclusion

The resurrection and final judgment were fulfilled spiritually and covenantally in AD 70. This view best fits the time statements of Scripture, the nature of covenant transition, and the historical context of Israel’s destruction. Christ conquered sin and death, raised the righteous dead, judged the wicked, and ushered in the age where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).

There’s nothing left to wait for. Jesus did what He said He would—right on time.

THE RESURRECTION ALREADY HAPPENED—AND YOU MISSED IT