It seems in the late 1990s some folks decided they needed to reinvent the Bible, perhaps to help sell preterism. Here's one preterist on the bible used by Dr. Haug.
http://preterism.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-preterist-heretic-bibleThe Preterist Heretic Bible
2010 and Beyond:
Several years ago a dear friend of mine sent me a gift. It was a first edition version, hard copy of the Net Bible. I now wittily refer to it as the “ultimate heretic bible†because it contains the signatures of some of the most notable or shall I say, most notorious preterist’s in America.
Personally, I like to define preterist’s as men and women who wear the scarlet H letter simply because we believe the answer to the question Don Preston poses in his little booklet, “Can God tell time,†is yes and Amen. When I first became a preterist, Don’s little book about God’s timing was the icing on the cake for me as far as Realized Eschatology was concerned. God is the great watchmaker. Sorry Mr.Dawkin’s.
So now imagine if like minded Christian folk who shared this same, out of the normal Biblical world view, got together at one gathering? This is what exactly took place in April of 2008 in Dayton Ohio. It was TruthVoice,“Back to the Future†conference. Here is the notorious list of names who have signed this Bible.
Don K. Preston, Sam Frost, Ed Stevens, Jack Scott, David B. Curtis, Tim Martin, Jeff Vaughn, Keith and Tami Jelinek, Mickey Denen, Ed Burly, Terry Hall, Virgil Vaduva, Rich Duncan, Mark Chiacchira and one other signature I’m assuming has to be another doctor of some sort because I can’t figure it out to save my own life.
As you can see, most of the heavy hitters in the preterist movement have signed and even wrote some very kind comments concerning my art and myself. Mr. Jeffery Vaughn writes that I'm his “best bud.“ Now in symbolic preterist language, “bud†meaning as compared to him, who is the mighty oak branch, I was the fledgling bud that colored his book project, Beyond Creation Science.
Of course, there are some other fellow heretic’s whom I’ve had the honor to meet and get acquainted with these past several years that I count as good friends as well. Max King, Jason Bradfield, Fred Robbins, and Ward Fenley just to name a few. I guess my point being, like family, you can’t pick your friends if God is involved in the process. I’m pretty sure in His day, Jesus was considered a heretic as well. So we are in good company.
For what it is worth, this Bible is a precious gem to me because it always reminds me of the great diversity of theological thought that dares to venture beyond the norm of conventional religious tradition to seek out the truth of God no matter the cost. We all have our covenantal flaws or some of our emergent opinions in some form or another but I’ve seen the heart and spirit these friends of mine have displayed. They are all great in the kingdom of heaven. Not because of what the believe but because of their love for God‘s Word and the great potential their contributions to the faith foster in knowing God even more intimately.
2010 will be a great year because my preterist heretic Bible will always be a visual reminder that in the end, God’s truth will prevail. It will endure forever in spite of the Jack Van Impe’s, Tim LaHaye’s or even what the Mayan Calendar has to say about the end of days. As preterists we know our victory is secured and our hope is truly fulfilled. We may have our differences but that ironically, is our gift. As children of God, we just need to learn how to properly share these gifts at times.
Be well and blessed this holiday season.
James Robert Kessler