Hi Laren,
I have not studied the preterists view, so I can not speak on what they believe. But what you say about it seems like they look at everything in only a spiritual way.
"do i still see death, still see tears", the answer is no, because that was the result of covenant between man and God. Old covenant is tears, death etc. New covenant is life.
I understand that everything has a spiritual aspect to it, and that we are moving towards becoming spirit. But right now I can not deny the physical.
To say there is no more death and tears, is looking at things from only that perspective. Still being in the body of flesh and blood, death and tears are very real to me.
And I do not see how Preterists believe that we are not under a covenant, as you state.
We are not under old covenant law, there is no covenant between God and us, which was the ministration of death, it is done. Grace reigns.
Mark 14:24 And He said to them, This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many.
2Cor 3:6 who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.
The elect are under the new covenant, as Paul states and that he was teaching.
It just seems to me that the Preterists have the view that it's all spiritual now, and that denies that Christ is yet to come in all His glory to the earth.
Mat 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
I don't think all the earth have seen Him coming in power and glory.
And the elect will have yet to be perfected.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
v. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
v. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Phi 3:12
Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
The elect are 'awakened' now, but it is only the begettal of the spirit, they have yet to be born, we are not like the wind.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
v. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.'
v. 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation
waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat