Some standing here

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by Sean

That is merely your opinion, along with a number of other ancient heretics, Loren......
Preterism became prominent thanks to a Jesuit priest, Luis de Alcazar, who sought to defend the Catholic Church against attacks of the Reformers. He sought to defend the Roman Church from claims about Catholic apostasy. The Preterism taught today, however, only became popular in the late 20th Century......http://www.therefinersfire.org/preterism.htm

The ideas of preterism were only swirling around, because Israel was ceased as a nation, then it gained momentum with Alcazar, upon the writing of his beliefs.

Preterism is stopped in its tracks and has zero credibility now, with the rebirth of the nation of Israel.

Challenging Preterism

"Preterists" believe that all Bible prophecy is history; that most of it took place in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. They suggest the Tribulation was the persecution of the saints and Nero was the antichrist.

At the heart of the doctrine is that prophecy was declared and destined to be fulfilled within the generation of Messiah Yeshua's earthly ministry. All references in the Bible to the "last days" refer to the "last days" of Israel, which means that today Israel supposedly has no more relevance than the lost continent of Atlantis. The "New Jerusalem" is the Church now and forever, according to Preterists.

Why is the above so hard to believe by futurist?

Just a couple side points, scripture does not teach a anti-Christ. This is derived by taking a few passages that are unrelated and twisting them together to come up with this teaching. But of course Sean believes everything he reads contrary to fulfilled eschatology, without actually giving fulfilled eschatology a chance simply on the basis that it does not fit what he has been taught.

I ask you what does the rebirth of the nation of Israel have to do with prophecy? Not one thing, as has been pointed out, God cannot be behind the nation for the simple reason that they have not turned to God. Two, just because a group of people of a certain nationality formed a nation does not make them any different from any other nation of people in the eyes of God.
I don't know how many times we have to quote scripture to futurist, that say the children of Abraham are no longer those of natural seed, but those of faith in Christ only. Even Jesus spoke those same words to the people of Israel during his teaching ministry.

But I think the most telling thing Sean has said, is "that is only your opinion, along with a number of preterist heretics". One last thing is when push comes to shove, religious teachers throw out the heretic word to anyone that sees things from a different perspective. I myself have become wary of anyone that accuses others of heresy just on the basis that they believe different from them.