A book entitled THE PAROUSIA was issued by J. Stuart Russell (1816-1895) in 1878, and it was reprinted in 1983 by Baker Book House in collaboration with Walter Hibbard of Great Christian Books [no longer in business]. On the back cover of the large paperback book, A FEW WORDS were excerpted from C. H. SPURGEON which, IF 'taken' by themselves alone, would imply that Spurgeon had a certain favorable view of the book (which is actually misleading on the whole). We are reprinting the ENTIRE REVIEW to give the totality of Spurgeon's opinion on the book — and the "Preterist" view of prophecy which it presents.

Reviewed in THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL Magazine, October 1879, page 553.

Here is C. H. SPURGEON on "PRETERISTS"...

"The second coming of Christ according to this volume had its fulfilment in the destruction of Jerusalem and the establishment of the gospel dispensation. That the parables and predictions of our Lord had a more direct and exclusive reference to that period than is generally supposed, we readily admit; but we were not prepared for the assignment of all references to a second coming in the New Testament, and even in the Apocalypse itself, to so early a fulfilment. All that could be said has been said in support of this theory, and much more than ought to have been said.

In this the REASONING FAILS.

In order to concentrate the whole prophecies of the Book of Revelation upon the period of the destruction of Jerusalem it was needful to assume this book to have been written prior to that event, although the earliest ecclesiastical historians agree that John was banished to the isle of Patmos, where the book was written, by Domitian, who reigned after Titus, by whom Jerusalem was destroyed. Apart from this consideration, the compression of all the Apocalyptic visions and prophecies into so narrow a space requires more ingenuity and strength than that of men and angels combined. Too much stress is laid upon such phrases as 'The time is at hand,' 'Behold I come quickly,' whereas many prophecies of Scripture are delivered as present or past, as 'unto us a child IS born,' etc., and 'Surely he HATH borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.' Amidst the many comings of Christ spoken of in the New Testament that which is spoken of as a second, must, we think, be personal, and thus similar to the first; and such too must be the meaning of 'his appearing.' Though the author's theory is carried too far, it...

.

Note: At this point in the half-page review, the 'Preties' have "sliced-off" the following words in BLUE, and then printed them on the back-cover of the Stuart book, as if to imply Spurgeon's "endorsement" of the book. Please note that every preceding line has been in a critical and negative category, while the following words are but a meager "conciliatory" remark, which was Spurgeon's usual manner in finding some 'positive' commendation for practically all the books sent to him by publishers for review.

Now, the remainder of the sentence...

...has so much of truth in it, and throws so much new light upon obscure portions of the Scriptures, and is accompanied with so much critical research and close reasoning, that it can be injurious to none and may be profitable to all."

*  "BOB'S LIST" — UPON REQUEST, Bob will add you to his E-MAIL LIST to receive his regular articles, many featuring comments on Preterism. Several recent refutations of the Preterism advocated by both the "Part-Preties" and "Full-Preties" are available in our email Files. At your request, we will add your name to our mailing list. "Back articles" are also available on request.

— FURTHUR SUGGESTED READING...  Spurgeon's VIEW OF THE MILLENNIUM

Spurgeon & ESCHATOLOGY    The Major Work! @

"A. D. 70" — Was ANY Prophecy Fulfilled in A.D. 70?

The TIME of JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN

The POPE = THE FALSE PROPHET

The ANTICHRIST

"RUSSIAN INVASION" of Israel — Ezekiel 38-39 Erroneous Interpretation

RAPTURE 1998 — Are You Ready For the RAPTURE on 5-31-1998?

The HISTORICAL BACKGROUND of Modern "PRETERISM"

PRETERIST PROPHETIC PHANTASYLAND

JEWISH ORIGINS of "PRETERISM"

A PRIMER on "PRETERISM"

.

. PILGRIM PUBLICATIONS INTERNET PILGRIM PUBLICATIONS MAGAZINE PILGRIM PUBLICATIONS HOME PAGE PILGRIM SPURGEON BIOGRAPHY PAGE   E-Mail:  CATALOG REQUEST or FEEDBACK

http://www.pilgrimpublications.com/parousia.htm

http://members.aol.com/pilgrimpub/parousia.htm

LAST MODIFIED  September 4 - 2004

TOP  OF  PAGE

.