What Preterist means
Preterist comes from a Latin word meaning past. Rather than seeing every prophecy about tribulation, judgement, and Christ's coming as future, Preterists believe many of these passages spoke first about events near Jesus' own time.
Their central setting is Jesus' conversation with his disciples after they pointed out Jerusalem's temple. Jesus foretold its destruction, warned them not to be deceived by false christs, and described coming persecution. He also gave a specific warning about Jerusalem being surrounded by armies (Matthew 24:1-5; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:20-24). Preterists connect these warnings with Rome's destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in AD 70.
A major question is how to understand Jesus' statement about the generation then living. Preterists take it in its ordinary first-century sense. Other Christians read the phrase, or the wider prophecy around it, differently.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Why time and imagery matter
Preterists pay close attention to the New Testament's language of nearness. Revelation begins by presenting its message as concerning events that were near, and its closing chapter tells John not to seal the prophecy because the time was near (Revelation 1:1-3; Revelation 22:10). They see this as a clue that much of Revelation addressed an approaching crisis for its first readers.
They also note that Old Testament prophets used striking images in descriptions of God's judgement on nations. When Isaiah spoke against Babylon, he used language about the heavens and lights being darkened (Isaiah 13:10). So a Preterist may understand similar cosmic imagery in Jesus' teaching as prophetic language for the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the temple-centred old covenant order, rather than the physical universe ending. That reading is debated, but it has biblical patterns behind it.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Partial and Full Preterism
Partial Preterism says that many prophecies, especially those tied to Jerusalem's judgement, were fulfilled in the first century. Yet it still expects Jesus to return personally, the dead to be raised, and God to bring final judgement. Its supporters see the angels' promise at Jesus' ascension as still future (Acts 1:11).
Full Preterism, also called Consistent Preterism, says that all end-times prophecies were fulfilled by AD 70, including Christ's coming and the resurrection. Most Christian traditions disagree. They point to Paul's future hope that believers will be changed at the resurrection, alongside the promise that Jesus will return as he departed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Acts 1:11).
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
A helpful way to approach it
This is more than a debate about dates. It asks whether Jesus' prophecies were chiefly about his first hearers, about the world's final future, or about both. The Preterist view usefully reminds readers that Jesus spoke to real disciples facing a real crisis, not only to distant generations.
Faithful Christians have reached different conclusions here. You don't need to settle every detail before trusting Christ and living faithfully today. Read the passages slowly, notice their historical setting and their hope, and let the clearest parts of Scripture guide the harder ones.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.