On yesterday afternoon, Dr. Don K Preston, Preterist engaged Dr. Michael Brown, Classical Premillennialist in a 2 hour debate on Israel and Eschatology. The primary focus of the debate centered on Romans 11:25-27. Specific issues were "who is Israel" and does God have a future national plan for the salvation of Israel. Is 1948 significant in the development of Bible prophecy?
The remaining argumentation of Dr. Brown listed a plethora of texts in machine gun fashion all pointing to one time and event, namely the return of Christ to which his often-repeated proof was, "if words mean anything, that has not happened yet". He offered no Biblical proof for his statements, but assumed what he was there to prove.
Dr. Brown led the discussion with an exegesis of Roman's eleven demonstrating from the text that "ethnic" Israel (the natural seed of Abraham) were the subjects of the text. Don agreed and Dr. Brown considered his argument a "slam-dunk" and proved his point.
The remaining argumentation of Dr. Brown listed a plethora of texts in machine gun fashion all pointing to one time and event, namely the return of Christ to which his often-repeated proof was, "if words mean anything, that has not happened yet". He offered no Biblical proof for his statements, but assumed what he was there to prove.
Dr. Preston perhaps caught Dr. Brown by surprise when he agreed that Romans 11 had a lot to say about the natural seed of Abraham, contrary to most debaters Dr. Brown has faced who deny it and suggest all Israel is the church. Don established both from the historical context with the mixed multitudes who came out of Egypt and with the Gentiles who were a part of Israels olive tree, that they constituted the all Israel whom God had not cast away. However, he pointed out that God was not saving them in unbelief but by faith, that Paul, a seed of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin was proof that the natural seed was being saved "in Christ".
From that point, Preston's argumentation overwhelmed Dr. Brown with citations from Isaiah 59, Jer. 31, Deut. 32, Hos 1 and 3, Isa 24-27, Ezk. 36, and 1 Pet. His arguments on the imminent time statements went unaddressed. One of the most telling arguments was the response to Dr. Brown's claims on the persecution of the Thessalonians. Don pointed out the persecution was first century and so was the relief.
Both men were very cordial and respectful. The moderator did an excellent job of allowing the debaters to be center stage and this debate will do much good for the cause. We are proud of Don's scholarship and work and we are grateful to Dr. Brown for granting the opportunity for this exchange.
Comments from Facebook and other sites are very positive. We encourage you to watch the entirety of the debate more than once to get the full impact of how signal a defeat it was for the case of Classical Premillennialism. Posted by William Bell
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