THE DISCIPLES’ TWO QUESTIONS IN MATT 24:3

AD 70, Olivet Discourse, Second Coming May 19, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-036 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

One of the leading interpretive cues in Matthew 24 is the disciples’ questions in Matthew 24:3: “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” In terms of Matthew’s rhetorical strategy, his record of their questions here may be equal in significance to the Lord’s own statement at Matthew 24:34 regarding “this generation.” After all, as Ulrich Luz notes: “much depends on the interpretation of the double question, since in the opinion of most exegetes it determines the interpretation of the entire chapter.” [1]

What is more, the significance of the Discourse is emphasized in its circumstances: Jesus is “sitting” and he is “on the Mount.” When Jesus sits to speak, this introduces his formal instruction on an important matter. We can see this, for instance, in Matthew 5:1 (where he gives his Sermon on the Mount) and 13:1 (where he presents his parabolic instruction to the crowds on the beach). This formal teaching posture is enhanced by the where he is delivering the Discourse: he is speaking from a mountain. We see the significance of such a setting when Jesus’ takes three of his disciples to “a high mountain by themselves” (Matt. 17:1), where the transfiguration was experienced. And also when he issues his world-challenging great commission (Matt. 28:16ff), which was delivered on “the mountain which Jesus had designated” (Matt. 28:16). Consequently, the disciples would understand that what they are about to hear is of great importance.

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RESURRECTION AND THE THIRD DAY

Creation, Resurrection May 15, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-035 by David Schrock

Gentry note: The article below is excellent, showing that the revelation of the Lord’s third day resurrection begins in Genesis 1. Insightful! This article is taken from “Christ Over All.”

On the Third Day: Seeing Resurrection from Beginning to End

Waking from sleep. Seeds sprouting through the earth. New life emerging in Spring. Children entering the world through the breaking of water.

These and other images are used in the Bible to described the glorious reality of resurrection and related doctrines. For instance, Jesus says in John 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Similarly, Paul speaks of the mortal body as a seed that is buried in dishonor and raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:42–49). Or, consider how waking from sleep is compared to the resurrection when Paul says in Ephesians 5:14: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This light-giving testimony emerges from a host of Old Testament texts (e.g., Isa. 51:17; 52:1; 60:1; Mal. 4:2), as the theme of waking from sleep becomes a wonderful euphemism for the believers’ death in the New Testament (see Matt. 27:52; John 11:11; 1 Cor. 15:6, 18, 20, 51; 1 Thess. 4:13–15, etc.). But it is not only waking from sleep, or seeds sprouting to life that captures the wonder of resurrection; there are a host of other creational images that pair with resurrection, too. For instance, Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead in Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5. And equally, Jesus calls himself the true vine (John 15:1), from which his branches will sprout forth and bear fruit.

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WHERE CHRISTIANITY IS GROWING THE FASTEST

missions, witness May 12, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-034 by Tobin Perry (Global Christian Relief)

Gentry: The full title of this February 27, 2025 article is: “Top 20 Countries Where Christianity is Growing the Fastest.” This is an encouraging article. But as we can see, we need reformation as well as revival.

Where Christianity is Growing the Fastest

Christianity is growing at an unprecedented rate in several regions around the world, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, known as the Global South. From the spread of passionate faith-based communities to the establishment of thriving churches in urban centers, Christianity’s growth rate continues to climb.

“According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary”, these trends indicate that Christianity is expanding in new and dynamic ways, particularly as we head toward a projected global Christian population of nearly three billion by 2050. Here, we’ll explore the top 20 countries where Christianity is growing the fastest and examine the factors fueling this growth.

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CHRISTIAN “RESURRECTION” IN ISLAMIC IRAN?

Islam, persecution May 8, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-033 by Abbas Milani (Hoover Institute)

Gentry note: This interesting historical article was originally published by the Hoover Institution on December 9, 2025.

Christian “Resurrection” in Islamic Iran?

Christians of many hues have lived in Iran long before 633 CE, when Islam arrived on the heels of the Arab invading army. The Cyrus Cylinder, often considered one of the first declarations of human rights and religious tolerance, is rightly seen as emblematic of the culture of the Persian Empire before the invasion. When the Zoroastrian faith became dominant in that empire, there are sadly many instances when Christians were subjected to brutal suppression and murder. Nevertheless, for centuries, churches and monasteries dotted ancient Iran’s landscapes. Often called “Nestorian” by Westerners, these Iranian Christians not only had a prominent presence in ancient Iran’s capital — the famous city of Ctesiphon whose architecture, and even pillaged bricks, helped shape Baghdad as the capital of the Islamic caliphate in its “Golden age,” but Nestorian bishops presided over schools that would, even in later centuries, send monks as far as India and China. It has even been reported that the “True Cross” believed to be the one Jesus was crucified on was seized by Sasanian armies in 614 and taken to Ctesiphon, to be later retrieved by Christians. Christianity was, in short, a visible, albeit occasionally brutalized, part of the Persian empire’s intellectual and spiritual fabric. In literature, too, some of the greatest love stories of Iran’s rich poetic tradition include lauded Christian heroes and heroines.

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CHRISTIANITY’S DECLINE IN AMERICA HAS HALTED

History, Revival May 5, 2026 Comments: 2

PMW 2026-032 by Rod D. Martin

Gentry note: An excellent and encouraging article by Baptist theologian Rod Martin. (Please note the photo of a man’s muscular bicep. I would have used a photo of my own bicep, but I feared it would have been an illustration for amillennialism and the decline of Christianity.)

Rod Martin article:

One year ago, Pew showed the decline had ceased. Now, new data suggest the secular surge may be going into reverse — and young men are helping lead the turn.

Published by Rod Martin on April 26, 2026

The rumors of Christianity’s demise were not merely exaggerated. They may have been exactly backward.

A year ago, Pew Research Center released one of the largest surveys of American religion ever conducted, finding that after decades of decline, the Christian share of the country had stabilized. Christianity was no longer in freefall. The “Nones” — atheists, agnostics, and those who describe their religion as “nothing in particular” — had stopped their long march upward.

The secularization story every elite institution treated as inevitable had hit a wall.

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ANOTHER FINE MATTHEW COMMENTARY

Olivet Discourse May 1, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-031 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I often receive inquiries seeking recommendation on books on eschatology. And since the Olivet Discourse is a major eschatological passage in Scripture, I am most often asked about commentaries on this passage. The Discourse, Jesus’ only fully eschatological discourse, is found in the three Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And since Matthew’s version is much longer, I generally focus on it for all the additional insights it offers. The Apostle devotes two whole chapters of ninety-seven verses to the Olivet Discourse. Mark’s is the second longest version but is much shorter, containing only one chapter of thirty-seven verses.

Recently I published an article introducing some of the best preterist commentaries on Matthew (“The Best Matthew Commentaries,” April 10, 2026). Those commentaries have been my go-to works on the Olivet Discourse for a good while. They are immensely insightful and compelling. And fully orthodox.

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JOHN THE BAPTIST STUMBLES

Christ April 28, 2026 Comments: 2

PMW 2026-030 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

John the Baptist was a remarkable saint, though he was not the Messiah as some believed. But he very knows very clearly who is. For he declares of Jesus “This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me” (John 1:15). Thus when he sees Jesus coming to him, he declares “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

He also baptizes Jesus — though with great reluctance because he knows of Jesus’ superiority (Matt. 3:13–15). God confirms Jesus’ identity to John by the heavens being opened, the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove, and by God’s voice declaring to Jesus, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (Mark 1:9–11; cp. John 1:32–34).

Yet despite of all of this positive confirmation, something surprisingly unexpected happens:

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