This is our third article in this important series. Be sure to read the previous two articles ( #1 #2)in this important series. It is assumed, uncritically in my view, that when Paul discussed “the end” in 1 Corinthians 15, that he must have been speaking of the end of the current Christian age, the end of time, or the end of human history. This view is simply untenable however.
What is astounding to any student of church history is that there are those today, who call themselves partial preterists (They like to call themselves “orthodox preterists,” but their views would have been called heresy in earlier times) who are openly admitting that there was “a fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 15. Joel McDurmon, in our July 2012 formal debate held in Ardmore, Ok, openly affirmed this. Of course, he also claimed that we are still waiting for the final fulfillment of the prophecy. McDurmon, along with most Dominionists, believe that AD 70 was a “type” or foreshadowing of the “real” end. Be sure to read my latest book: AD 70 A Shadow of the “Real” End? for a total refutation of that view. This book is a devastating critique of the Dominionist claims.
In the last installment, we demonstrated that “the end” must be viewed as the fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant promises, made to Israel “after the flesh. The next point is equally important.
Fact #2 – Not only does Paul see the resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant promises made to Israel, he posits fulfillment at the end of that covenant history. The apostle says the resurrection would be when sin, the sting of death, and when “the law” that is the “strength of sin” would be overcome and removed (v. 55-56).
Numerous times in my debate with McDurmon, (and in numerous formal debates), I noted that in scripture, only one law is ever described as “the strength of sin” and that was Torah, the Law of Moses (cf. Romans 7; 2 Corinthians 3, Galatians 2-3, etc.). McDurmon never denied this, and in the majority of my debates, when I have asked my opponent to define “the law” that was the “strength of sin” they have answered, “The law of Moses.” So, take a look at what this means.
The resurrection– resurrection from the Adamic death– would be when “the law” that was the “strength of sin” was overcome and removed.
“The law” that was the “strength of sin” was the Law of Moses, Torah.
Therefore, the resurrection– resurrection from the Adamic death– would be when “the law” that was the “strength of sin” was overcome and removed.
Very clearly then, unless one is willing to say the Law of Moses remains valid today the resurrection from the Adamic death has been fulfilled. And remember, virtually no eschatological paradigm openly says Torah is still valid, in spite of McDurmon’s quote above.
This logically demands “the end” of 1 Corinthians 15 is the end of the Old Covenant age of Israel, the end of Torah. It is not the end of time; it is not the end of the Christian age. Since 1 Corinthians 15 is patently about the “final” resurrection, not a type or shadow of another one, this definitively falsifies the claim that AD 70 was a type of the real end. We have more, so, stay tuned!