PMW 2021-070 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

We live in an era of wholesale moral, cultural, and moral collapse. Our nation was founded on Christian principle, but today we are witnessing the ever quickening collapse of our society. And I say this as a postmillennialist. Is there any hope for our future?

The answer, of course, is: “Yes!” We must still maintain the postmillennial hope flowing out of biblical prophecy. And we may do so because the God of hope is a sovereign Lord. The Scriptures are abundantly clear that he is the absolute sovereign who is in ultimate control of history. Postmillennialists need to be apprised of his sovereignty, so that they may always keep their eyes looking above to him and his sovereign plan.

In this brief series I will be dealing with the sovereignty of God as an essential foundation for the postmillennial hope. Though things currently looking dismal, we must remember: “it ain’t over til it’s over”! Christ has not returned yet, so no one can say on the basis of contemporary historical analysis that postmillennialism is false. And as we recognize this we must remember the Bible’s repeated declarations that God is sovereign. We are encouraged when we look at the plan of God, not when we look at the sinfulness of man.

Predestination Made Easy
(by Ken Gentry)
A thoroughly biblical, extremely practical, and impressively clear presentation of
the doctrine of absolute predestination.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

The Scriptures declare God’s absolute sovereignty in unmistakable terms. Consider the following powerful assertions.

But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (Exo 9:16)

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exo 33:19)

For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Josh 11:20)

Then Job answered the Lord, and said, / “I know that Thou canst do all things, / and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.” (Job 42:1–2)

Our God is in the heavens; / He does whatever He pleases. (Psa 115:3)

Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, / In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psa 135:6)

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov 16:4 KJV)

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Prov 16:9)

The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand, for the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?” (Isa 14:24, 27)

And who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; / Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, / From the time that I established the ancient nation. / And let them declare to them the things that are coming / And the events that are going to take place. (Isa 44:7)

Declaring the end from the beginning / And from ancient times things which have not been done, / Saying, “My purpose will be established, / And I will accomplish all My good pleasure; / Calling a bird of prey from the east, / The man of My purpose from a far country. / Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. / I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Isa 46:10–11)

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, / Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, / And before you were born I consecrated you; / I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jer 1:4–5)

If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? / If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? (Amos 3:6)
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Matt 11:25–26)

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt 25:34)

And he said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” (Luke 8:10)
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. (Acts 2:23)

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. (Acts 4:27–28)

And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. (Acts 17:26)

(book by R. C. Sproul)

From the angels’ revelation of Jesus’ glory to the shepherds outside Bethlehem,

to Jesus’ life-changing revelation of His glory to Paul on the Damascus road, Sproul guides us to a deeper understanding of Christ’s glory.

For more study materials: www.KennethGentry.com

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace. . . . (Gal 1:15)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. (1 Pet 1:20)

With such pronouncements, we must never despair from the railing of man. God is in control; he can and will effect his ultimate plan regardless of the sinfulness of man. Take heart, postmillennialists, in your sovereign Lord. And return for my next installment on “God’s Sovereignty and our Hope.”

Tagged: predestination, sovereignty