A Revival in Eschatology?

The first time I heard it, I felt a gnawing apprehension deep inside what many call “the gut”. Instinctively, I knew nothing of lasting good could come out of it. Twenty-five years later, the Apostolic movement struggles with the backlash of the decade of abused eschatology. Though hundreds were reported to have been converted in these “end-time” revivals of the 1980s, eschatology preaching and teaching no longer incites the interest of the masses. Has the backlash from the 80s doomed the study of prophecy to only Bible geeks with nothing better to do?
Until five years ago the term Preterism remained only a definition in the worn dictionary on my desk. I found little reason to give it much thought as no one that I knew taught it, and never could I imagine that anyone in the Apostolic movement would actually embrace it. My efforts, however, to reach out to make new friends on Apostolic forums brought the startling realization that the eschatology that had been limited to Reformed Christianity had made inroads into the Apostolic movement.
Such a drastic change in eschatological position would not have occurred had not the bizarre claims of misguided futurists during the 1980s. Well meaning Apostolic evangelists terrified crowds into the altars with reports of Israel finding the lost red heifer ashes or some other crucial artifact necessary to resume Temple worship. More than twenty-five years have passed with no verifiable evidence that the reports of the ashes or Ark were true.
Perhaps the final blow to the popularity of eschatology teaching came in a top seller book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Happen in 1988,” by Edgar Whisenant. On a particular day in September, (the 12th I think), Christ would come for His Church. If you were not ready, you would be left behind to face the peril of the tribulation. More than four million books were sold causing near panic, not to mention many churches holding all night prayer meetings on the date the rapture was to take place.
Combined with the differing arguments among futurists regarding how things are to unfold, the sensational and unproven claims convinced some Apostolics to turn to unconventional answers. Perhaps there would be no rapture. Perhaps there would be no tribulation. Perhaps all or most prophecies had already been fulfilled.
Preterism brought answers that would do away with the proclivity of futurist’s hype of forever trying to identify the Anti-Christ or pinpoint the day Christ comes for His Church. As there would be no rebuilding of the Temple, and no resumption of Jewish sacrifices, there would be no need of the red heifer ashes or the Ark of the Covenant. With Partial-Preterists, one need only look to Christ to judge the world. For the Full-Preterists, there would be no physical resurrection as death brings you into heaven’s bliss. Preterism brought relief from Futurist’s hype, and so a new eschatological movement was born.
Apostolic Preterists have been zealots in spreading their false views. Most every Apostolic forum will have several of their advocates challenging anyone that will give them a voice. Some have dedicated their lives, resources, and ministry to the proclamation and defense of Preterism. They challenge to a debate anyone and everyone that disagrees with their doctrine. In the manner of a wolf pack, they cling together seeking to draw unsuspecting victims to follow after them. (Acts 20:29-30)
Most Apostolics, however, lost interest in eschatology all together. Neither Futurism nor Preterism garner much interest upon most Apostolic forums. The small troupe of Preterists that frequent those forums usually spends their time touting their doctrine, their scriptural prowess, or each other. Scant few of the Futurists bother to refute Preterist claims, and fewer Apostolics bother to read the discussions.
Despite the current disdain of eschatology, prophecy teaching will become important to our movement once more. Paul stated that perilous times would occur in the last days. As international threats and domestic challenges place more and more stress upon our lives, a renewed interest about our future is inevitable. This time, perhaps, we will remember the mistakes of sensationalist and stick to the scriptures when describing the soon coming of Christ, the literal resurrection and rapture of the saints. We don’t need the hype. We need sound doctrine.