Thomas Ice Challenges Gary DeMar in Public Debate

This debate (The Great Tribulation: Past or Future?) between Thomas Ice (futurist) and Gary DeMar (preterist) took place during the 2006 American Vision Worldview Conference. Thomas Ice made this challenge just a few weeks after writing an article which referenced Tim Martin and Beyond Creation Science (2005). This public event shows how futurist/young earth writers will use their global flood views against preterism.

Thomas Ice raised the issue of the inconsistency between preterism and young-earth creationist beliefs a couple of times during the debate. His challenge came during his closing statement:

    “What [young-earth] creationism teaches us is that the God of the Bible intervenes on a global scale. The apostle Peter clearly reminds us that just as God intervened globally at the flood, he will intervene globally at the Second Coming. Sadly, DeMar’s naturalistic approach to eschatology does not fit the biblical paradigm of divine intervention on a global scale. This is a matter of consistency. If one holds to a supernatural view of past history then one ought to hold to a supernatural view of future history as I have presented here tonight… When one interprets the Olivet Discourse naturally, as Christ intended, it results in the realization that the Great Tribulation is future to our day… On the other hand, if you agree with Gary that it is a past event, then you stand the meaning of Christ’s teaching on its head based upon “this generation.” Here’s my challenge, Gary. Either adopt an old-earth, local-flood view of Genesis that fits with your preterist eschatology or adopt a supernatural futurist view of eschatology that fits with a young-earth global-flood view, thank you.” 

- Dr. Thomas Ice, Executive Director, Pretrib Research Center  

 Thomas Ice vs. Gary DeMar Debate (audio)

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