| Thomas Ice is a nationally
recognized representative of the Dispensational Premillennial view
of eschatology. He is president and co-founder of the Pre-Trib Research
Center and is co-author with Tim LaHaye on several books on bible
prophecy.
In recent years Thomas Ice has appeared in open debates with leaders
of the preterist school of eschatology, resulting in enlightening
publications such as "The
Great Tribulation, Past or Future?" (Kregel Publishers),
and a video series of the 2006 Debate
with Gary DeMar by the same name. In these debates, Ice takes
the view that the Olivet Discourse is primarily about events that
have not yet occurred. Preterists, in contrast, take the position
that the Olivet Discourse was fulfilled in the first century, corresponding
to Israel's Great Tribulation of the years AD 67-70, which climaxed
in the destruction of the Old Covenantal world, temple and state.
While Ice adamantly insists that Matthew 24 is concerned with events
that lie in the future, he inconsistently asserts that essential
parts of Luke chapter 21 have been fulfilled. Unfortunately for
Dr. Ice's futurist thesis, one simple admission of a fulfilled prophecy
in St. Luke's account of the Olivet Discourse sinks his entire eschatological
position.
A Chilling Look
at Luke 21:20-24
In his Biola debate with Gary DeMar, Ice states that Luke 21:20-24
was fulfilled in the years leading up to and including the fall
of Jerusalem in AD 70. In a recent article published by Tyndale's
Conservative Theological Society titled "Preterism and Zechariah
12-14: Tom's Perspective's," Dr. Ice writes:
"Preterists and Futurist, like myself, both agree that Luke 21:20-24 prophesied the a.d. 70 Roman destruction of Jerusalem."
It should be evident to all serious students of God's Holy Word
why this is a fatal admission for Dr. Ice. A simple comparison of
parallel passages in the Olivet Discourse reveals that if Luke 21:20-24
is fulfilled, then the Great Tribulation must be fulfilled. The
parallel account of Luke 21:20-24 can be found in Matthew 24:15-21.
Now, since Ice claims Luke 21:20-24 was fulfilled in the AD70 Roman
destruction of Jerusalem, Matthew 24:15-21 must also have been fulfilled
at that time and, therefore, we have great assurance from the words
of Jesus the Messiah that the Great Tribulation is past. Compare
the parallel passages:
| Luke 21:20-23 |
Matthew 24:15-21 |
| "...when you see Jerusalem surrounded
by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.
Then those who are in Judea must flee to
the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must
leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city;
because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which
are written will be fulfilled.
Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon
the land and wrath to this people" (NASB)
|
"When you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken
of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place
(let the reader understand),
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever
is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out
that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn
back to get his cloak.
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days!...For then there will be a great tribulation"
(NASB)
|
A simple examination of these two parallel accounts shows the contradiction
in Dr. Ice's view fatal to his futurist position. Ice holds the
preterist view that the Luke 21:20-24 passage is fulfilled; he then
contradicts himself, perhaps unknowingly, claiming Matthew's account
was not fulfilled. Such a transparent error surrenders Dr. Ice's
futurist position entirely concerning the Great Tribulation. Ice's
own preterism nullifies his futurist position. Therefore, Ice either
must concede both passages to the preterist view, admitting the
Great Tribulation is fulfilled, or recant on his view that Luke
21:20-24 is fulfilled so as to consistently maintain that the events
described never came to pass. The dilemma for Dr. Ice is herculean,
for scholars almost unanimously affirm Luke 21:20-24 is fulfilled.
We urge Dr. Ice to reach a decision and make a public statement
of his conclusion.
The Icing on the
Cake
We could stop here in our discussion and press on to a view of
the future that affirms Christ's prophecies concerning the Great
Tribulation were fulfilled in his generation as foretold. As Christ
promised his apostles on the Mount of Olives: "So you also,
when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the
doors. Assuredly I say unto you, this generation will by no means
pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:33-34).
For those that know the history of the life and times of Christ
down to the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple, the accuracy with
which Jesus prophesied those events for his generation is compelling,
even to the most stubborn atheist. How much more for the citizens
of God's kingdom.
However, we would be remiss if we did not notice something else
Dr. Ice affirms, by logical necessity, in assigning Luke 21:20-23
to AD 70. Concerning the appointed time of the destruction of Jerusalem,
Jesus prophesied:
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and
those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who
are in the country must not enter the city; because these are
days of vengeance so that all things which are written will be fulfilled
(Luke 21:21-22).
Who could not be struck by the force of this statement? Israel's
Great Tribulation of AD 67-70 was sovereignly designed by the Almighty
to mark the completion of all things that were written concerning
the Messianic generation. There could be no doubt left as to who
was God's Messiah, for the prophecies concerning both Christ's mission
of peace and the days of his vengeance (cf: Isa 61:1-2) were consummated
in one Messianic generation (Matthew 24:33-34). In a parallel statement
in Luke's gospel, Jesus further informs his apostles of this, saying:
These are the words which I spoke to you while I was
still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written
in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me
(Luke 24:44).
In this passage, Christ's apostles were taught what the fulfillment
of "all things written" signified; all things that were
written in the Law and Prophets and Psalms concerning the Messianic
generation were to be fulfilled. More importantly, the apostles
learned from Jesus in Luke 21:21-22 when the fulfillment
of "all things written" would be consummated; all would
be consummated in the days of vengeance at the annihilation of Old
Covenant Israel and the Temple.
Conclusion
Based on our Lord's prophecies that the disasters which befell
the apostate nation were "the days of vengeance so that all
things which are written be fulfilled" (Luke 21:20-22), and
based on the undeniable fact that Matthew's account of those days
in Matthew 24:15-18 is wrapped up inextricably with the fulfillment
of Luke 21:20-23 at AD 67-70, we affirm that the Great Tribulation
is past. Furthermore, we affirm that Thomas Ice's own preteristic
views help affirm this conclusion and establish the historic and
undeniable credibility of Christ as a true prophet. The preterist
views of Dr. Thomas Ice fully nullify—and comprehensively refute—the
doctrine of a future Great Tribulation.
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