Do the “heavens and earth” equal the Law? (Preterist John Watson)

Simply reading these passages^3,4 shows clearly that ‘heavens and earth’ are not equal to or in any way representing the Old Law. The “heavens and earth” are being called by Moses to be a witness to the covenant between God and His people. This is clear and consistent throughout Deuteronomy^1,2,3,4,5. Moses is retelling the Law to a new generation of Israelites. The Old Law a legal contract between God and the people, and God wants witnesses to the binding agreement. All of these verses clearly show the witness role of what is a very literal “heavens and earth”.

Why were the heavens and earth called to be a witness? Because Moses would die⁴; he wouldn’t be around (but God’s creation would be). Joshua did something similar at his departure, except his witness was a literal stone⁸. And how does it play out? Long after Moses, the ‘heavens and earth’ are actually called on by God to testify in His adjudication of their failing to keep the Law^6,7. Likewise, God uses the witness of a literal heavens and earth to confirm His plan for a new covenant⁹. Jesus, in turn, uses “heaven and earth” to testify to the permanence of all of God’s words.

Preterist preacher John Watson boldly and willfully makes an assertion that Scripture doesn’t make in the passages he references^3,4, nor is it ever made in Deuteronomy^1,2,3,4,5. In fact, it’s never made anywhere in Scripture^6,7,8,9,10. His teaching demonstrates the first step in the ‘Preterist’s Playbook’ – start with a belief and then force all Scripture to conform to it. And instead of a sincere attempt to reconcile his assertions to the passages presented here that clearly refute it, he’ll likely invoke ‘Step 3’ of that same playbook. In so doing, he unfortunately personifies Scripture’s definition of a false teacher.