Is it true that 'preterism' and 'futurism' were Jesuit
interpretations of prophecy that were contrived during the
counter-reformation? I've read that in a couple of places and
wondered what your study has led you to about that. Thank you.
Preterism is the view that the prophecies concerning
destruction, especially those found in Revelation were fulfilled
in the destruction of Jerusalem. There are variations of the
belief, as you would expect when men are involved. Some take the
extreme position that all prophesy has been fulfilled. The
majority see the prophesies concerning the judgment and heaven
are still in the future, but rest have been fulfilled. A few are
only interested in Revelation itself and see it as mostly a
discussion concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. Futurism is
the view that none of the prophecies concerning destruction have
been fulfilled yet. Everything is seen as pointing to some
distant future time just before Jesus returns. Thus Revelation
is seen a warning whose time will come, but