ISRAEL CAST OUT IN REVELATION (2)

AD 70, Israel, Temple January 9, 2026 Leave a comment

Ancient synagoguePMW 2026-003 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In Rev 11:2 we find an important clue to the meaning of the message of Revelation. In this passage we learn that the outer court of the temple is to be cast out. The external court represents the external husk of ancient Judaism, as viewed over against the true essence of Israel. John is here reflecting on Christ’s words in Luke 21:24.

In my last blog article I began a consideration of the significance of the word “cast out” as it applies to the temple’s rejection in AD 70. This is the second installment, highlighting another concept lying behind the image. Continue reading →

ISRAEL CAST OUT IN REVELATION (1)

Israel, Revelation January 6, 2026 Leave a comment

Jesus casting outPMW 2021-073 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Rev 11:1-2 is an important passage in John’s drama about Israel’s judgment. There John receives a command to actually engage an action in his visionary experience:

“Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” Continue reading →

ISRAEL’S FAILURE & THE NT

Israel, Temple January 2, 2026 1 Comment

PMW 2026-001 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

As John writes the Book of Revelation, Israel has been a part of the Roman regime for almost a century. As such she enjoyed special leagues of “friendship and mutual alliance” which began with Julius Caesar (Jos. Ant. 14:10:1 §185). Her love for Caesar was so great that after he was murdered, Jews wept for many nights at the site of his cremation (Suetonius, Jul. 84:5). Josephus, a priestly member of the Jewish aristocracy, praises Julius and records many of the treaties with the Jews which were established by Caesar and later Roman authorities (Ant. 14:10:2-25 §190-267). He then declares: “there are many such decrees of the senate and imperators of the Romans and those different from these before us” (Ant. 14:10:26).

Israel engages these alignments despite her OT prophets condemning unholy alliances as harlotry (e.g., Hos 7:11). As we read in Rev 13, the exercise of the Land beast’s authority is “in his [the Roman emperor’s] presence” (13:1a). Later in Rev 17 we see Israel’s alliance symbolized by a harlot engaged in a drunken sexual orgy with the sea beast. Continue reading →

OLD LAW IN THE NEW CREATION

Culture, Law, New Creation December 30, 2025 Leave a comment

Passing of earthPMW 2025-103 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I often receive queries from folks who are thinking through the issue relative to the postmillennial hope. Though not all postmillennialists are theonomic, I am. I believe our hope leads to the expectation that God’s Law will prevail in the world.

Here is a series of emails I received from a reader.

Question 1:
I have a question for you that has bothered me off and on. As a partial preterist, I defend the interpretation of “New heavens and Earth” as the figurative establishment of the New Covenant and the passing away of the old heavens and earth as the passing of the Old Covenant. But as a reluctant theonomist, this puts pressure on my understanding of Matt 5:17 (Jesus saying that the Law will not pass away until the heavens and earth pass away). Continue reading →

“JOY TO THE WORLD”

Christ December 26, 2025 Comments: 2

joy-to-the-worldPMW 2025-102 by Jordan Wilson

Public Service Announcement:

“Joy to the World” is a Christmas song. Don’t get me wrong, I’m for singing it all year round, but I think it is especially appropriate to sing at Christmas.

To my fascination, I’ve seen a couple articles floating around which essentially misinterpret the song by forcing their own eschatological presuppositions and “poo poo” its traditional characterization as a Christmas song. Those of us who understand it in the sense of being a celebration of the first advent are then issued a slap on the wrist along with a disapproving tsk tsk. Continue reading →

THE ISAIAH 9 CHILD

Christ December 23, 2025 Leave a comment

PMW 2025-101 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.isaiah 9

In Isa. 9:1–7 we find a glorious climax to all the preceding prophetic material. Judah’s ultimate hope (vv. 1–2) is in the Messiah who will righteously rule (vv. 6–7) over a free and prosperous people (vv. 3–4). These words should spur the Jews to faithfulness during their time of fearful oppression (8:7–8). Had they acted in faith, God would have sent the Messiah much earlier, since God presents her with conditional promises (e.g., Lev. 26).

Isa. 9:1–2: He treated the land of Zebulun … with contempt
The northern parts of the land, which were the most distant from Jerusalem and the closest to the enemy, suffered the most (2 Kgs. 15:29). Yet they will one day be made glorious (v. 1). Their darkness will be turned to light (v. 2). Again, Judah’s judgment will not cause total destruction. This finally comes to pass in the New Testament when Jesus comes into the area (Matt. 4:13–16), which begins the dawn of a new day for the Gentiles.

Continue reading →

HOW TO INTRODUCE PRETERISM (2)

Interpretation, Revelation of John December 19, 2025 Leave a comment

PMW 2025-100 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last article I began to suggest an effective strategy for presenting a preterist approach to Revelation to any dispensational friend you might have (and if you are in America and have Christians friends, they are almost certainly dispensational). Unfortunately, after I began that article I quickly strayed off the path and ended up following a few rabbit trails. Now I have found my way back and will present the promised article.

Remembering what has been stated
Though much was written in jest (i.e., jest in time, you might say) in my last article, there are a few things you must bear in mind as you attempt to introduce preterism to any associates. I noted the following two matters: (1) To make your introductory presentation manageable, I recommend concentrating on one key passage rather than ranging over dizzying array of several. And (2) you should begin at Revelation’s opening rather than jumping into some of the more exciting and familiar portions of the book. So, let me map at a battle plan for you. Continue reading →