What Is Full Preterism?
If Jesus said “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt 24:34), did He keep His word? Full preterism says yes. This view (also called consistent or true preterism) boldly affirms that every prophecy of the New Testament was fulfilled by the end of the first century, culminating in Jesus Christ’s promised coming in judgment upon Old Covenant Israel in AD 70. In full preterism, we now live in the blessed reality of the New Covenant age: “the age to come” that arrived right on time, as Scripture foretold.
What Full Preterism Teaches (Definition)
Full preterism is the belief that all biblical “end-times” prophecies were fulfilled in the first century. The term “preterism” comes from Latin praeter, meaning “past.” Unlike futurist views, full preterism holds that events like Christ’s “Second Coming,” the Resurrection, the Judgment, and the arrival of the Kingdom already occurred chiefly in connection with the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem. This was not the end of the physical world, but the end of the Old Covenant age.
By AD 70, the temple was destroyed, the old sacrificial system was forever ended, and the New Heavens and New Earth, the new world of Christ’s reign were fully ushered in (Heb 12:26-28; 2 Cor 5:17). We now live in the realized Kingdom of God, with Jesus reigning (1 Cor 15:25) and all things accomplished that were necessary for redemption’s story.
Biblical Backbone: Prophecies Point to the First Century
1. Clear Time-Texts:
Matt 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:34; 26:64; Luke 21:20-24,32; Heb 10:37; Rev 1:1-3; 22:6,10,12. All speak of fulfillment in their generation.
2. Covenant Framework:
Dan 9:24-27; Heb 8:13; Heb 9:26-28; Gal 4:21-31. Prophecy focused on ending the Old Covenant and bringing in the New.
3. Audience Relevance:
Matt 23:35-38; 24:1-3; 1 Thess 2:14-16; 1 Pet 4:7,17; Jas 5:8-9. Direct, personal warnings to first-century hearers.
4. Cloud-Coming Language:
Isa 19:1; Dan 7:13-14 with Matt 26:64; Rev 1:7. Symbolic OT imagery for divine judgment, fulfilled in AD 70.
History That Matches
Josephus (War 6.5; 6.3; 6.2): siege horrors, false messiahs, famine, signs in the sky.
Tacitus (Histories 5): prodigies, armies in the clouds, temple doors opening.
Eusebius (HE 3.5-3.8): Christians fled to Pella, Jerusalem destroyed exactly as Jesus foretold.
Jesuit Luis de Alcázar vs. Early Witnesses
In 1614, Jesuit Luis de Alcázar systematized a preterist reading of Revelation as mostly fulfilled in the first century. But Eusebius, Jerome, and others had already tied AD 70 to Jesus’ prophecies. Alcázar didn’t invent it; he organized what Scripture and history already showed. Jesuit Francisco Ribera, in contrast, pushed futurism.
Early Christian & Historical Witnesses
Vespasian & Titus (AD 66–70)
Nero sent Vespasian in 66 to crush the revolt; he became emperor in 69. His son Titus completed the siege of Jerusalem (AD 70), daily sacrifice ceased, the Temple burned, and the city fell, fulfilling Dan 9:26-27 (cf. Josephus; Tacitus).
Eusebius (HE 3.5–3.8)
Records the church’s flight to Pella and reads Jerusalem’s fall as Jesus’ words fulfilled.
Jerome (on Dan 9:24–27)
Ties the cessation of sacrifice and ongoing desolation to Vespasian/Titus.
Core Objections & Responses
Hymenaean heresy? 2 Tim 2:17-18 was premature; full preterism says fulfillment came on schedule in AD 70 (Matt 24:34; Heb 10:37). Note: the fact Hymenaeus convinced some shows the expectation wasn’t a world-stopping, hyper-visible event; otherwise, no one would have believed “it already happened” (2 Thess 2:2; Luke 17:20; 1 Cor 15:36-44).
Physical resurrection only? 1 Cor 15 shows a corporate/covenantal transformation; personal resurrection to heaven still occurs at death (2 Cor 5:1-8).
No judgment? AD 70 was covenantal judgment; personal judgment remains at death (Heb 9:27).
Deny bodily resurrection? No. Jesus rose physically (Luke 24:39) and reigns bodily now.
No Second Coming? It happened covenantally/throne-coming in AD 70 (Matt 26:64; Dan 7:13-14).
New Heavens & Earth future only? Isa 65-66 and Heb 12:22-28 show it’s covenantal; fulfilled now.
Rapture? 1 Thess 4 is royal-visit imagery for that generation, not a future sky-evacuation.
Revelation written after AD 70? See below.
Church never taught this? Early writers recorded AD 70 fulfillments; Scripture is the authority.
Revelation Dates Later than AD 70?
Many scholars date Revelation to AD 95, but strong internal evidence points to AD 65-68 (under Nero).
Temple and altar still standing (Rev 11:1-2).
“Great City” where the Lord was crucified still awaiting destruction (Rev 11:8).
Repeated urgency: Rev 1:1,3; 22:6,10,12.
Told not to seal the prophecy. Opposite of Dan 12:4’s long delay.
The Emperor Count (Rev 17:9-11):
“Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come…”
List of Caesars from Julius:
Julius Caesar - fallen
Augustus - fallen
Tiberius - fallen
Caligula - fallen
Claudius - fallen
Nero - “one is”
Galba - “has not yet come… little while” (7 months)
“Also an eighth” - Nero Redivivus myth.
This nails Revelation’s writing to Nero’s reign (before June AD 68), exactly when the Jewish War was underway and Jerusalem’s destruction was imminent.
Even if written later, the visions still match the Jewish-Roman War and the fall of Jerusalem, but the emperor-count plus internal markers make the early-date case airtight.
Timeline at a Glance
457 BC: Decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan 9’s clock starts).
AD 27–30: Jesus’ ministry; “cut off” (Dan 9:26).
AD 30–66: Apostolic witness; persecution rises.
AD 66: Armies surround Jerusalem; Christians flee to Pella.
AD 70: Siege, unparalleled tribulation, temple destroyed.
Post-70: New Covenant fully realized; Kingdom has no end.
Full Preterism Explained: Key Facts at a Glance
All prophecy fulfilled by AD 70. Jesus kept His word.
AD 70 = end of Old Covenant age, not planet.
Time-texts demand first-century fulfillment.
“Coming on the clouds” = divine judgment language.
Resurrection fulfilled covenantally; believers now go straight to be with Jesus at death.
History matches prophecy: Josephus, Tacitus, Eusebius confirm it.
Revelation likely written under Nero (emperor-count seals it).
We now live in the New Heavens & Earth: the fully established Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) When was Revelation written?
Most likely AD 65-68 under Nero. Internal markers say the temple/altar were still standing (Rev 11:1-2), the “great city… where the Lord was crucified” was about to fall (Rev 11:8), and fulfillment was “near” (Rev 1:1,3; 22:10). Rev 17:9-11’s emperor count fits: five fallen (Julius-Claudius), one is (Nero), next “a little while” (Galba).
2) What does “every eye will see Him” (Rev 1:7) mean?
It targets that generation: “those who pierced Him” and “all the tribes of the land (ge)” of Israel. They “saw” His covenantal judgment in AD 70, the sign of His authority in Jerusalem’s fall (cf. Matt 24:30; Zech 12:10).
3) Does full preterism end evangelism?
No. Jesus reigns now (Matt 28:18), so the Great Commission is live. Individuals still repent, believe, and enter the already-present Kingdom. Fulfillment fuels mission; it doesn’t cancel it.
4) Are we in the New Heavens & New Earth now?
Yes, covenantally. Isaiah’s new creation language (Isa 65-66) and the NT’s shaking/removal of the old order (Heb 12:26-28) point to the New Covenant world. The physical cosmos continues; the covenant cosmos is made new.
5) What happens when believers die now?
They go immediately to be with our Lord, clothed with a heavenly body (2 Cor 5:1-8; Phil 1:23). The general resurrection hope was fulfilled covenantally by AD 70; personal glorification happens at death.
6) How is this different from partial preterism?
Partial: many prophecies fulfilled in the first century, but some (resurrection/“second coming”) still future. Full: the NT’s time-texts apply to all prophecy, fulfilled by AD 70.
7) Is Jesus done with humanity now?
No. He reigns now and forever (Eph 1:20-22). He judges in history, saves today, and meets each person at death (Heb 9:27). We live under His present Kingdom, not an absentee future.
8) Why didn’t the early church teach full preterism?
They recorded AD 70 fulfillments (Eusebius; Jerome on Dan 9) but didn’t fully systematize a “full” view. Over time, tradition drifted futurist. Scripture’s time-statements remain the authority.
9) What’s the practical impact?
Confidence over fear. No date-chasing; long-term faithfulness. Read Scripture in context; preach a finished victory; live as citizens of an unshakable Kingdom (Heb 12:28).
10) What about the devil?
In AD 70, Satan’s accuser-role tied to the Old Covenant was broken (Rev 12:10; Rom 16:20). Scripture recognizes a personal heavenly accuser and human “satans” (Job 1-2; Zech 3:1-2; 1 Kgs 11:14). Whatever activity remains is under Christ’s authority (Matt 28:18). The evil we see now flows primarily from the human heart (Gen 6:5, Jer 17:9).
Bottom line: whatever the enemy tried, Christ reigned and His people met suffering with joy.
Martyr Joy & Peace
Early believers rejoiced to suffer for Jesus (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:13). Accounts like Eusebius and The Martyrdom of Polycarp describe saints singing, praying, and forgiving their killers. Witnesses even record cases where they seemed not to feel pain. The flames or torture looked powerless and they died in peace, strengthened by God. From a full-preterist lens, Christ’s vindicated reign made them fearless: “Be faithful unto death… the crown of life” (Rev 2:10-11; 2 Cor 4:17).
AD 70: Roman siege of Jerusalem, Temple destroyed as Jesus foretold.