Category Archives: Matthew 24

IS MATT 23:39 A PROBLEM FOR PRETERISM?

AD 70, Israel, Matthew 24, Preterism August 10, 2015 Leave a comment

Behold the manPMT 2015-096 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Matt23:39 often confuses evangelicals who are considering the preteristic approach of postmillennialism. It seems to state that Israel will one day be converted, and only then will the great tribulation begin (according to the order of verses following Matt 23:39). That verse reads:

“For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

But this statement does not suppose a future conversion of Israel that precedes the great tribulation. I do believe Israel will one day be converted to Christ. After all, I am a postmillennialist who believes that we are to “disciple all the nations” (Matt 28:19). And that we are to confidently trust that “if I be lifted up I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). And Israel is certainly one of the nations. In fact, Rom 11:25 is a powerful NT statement to this end. Continue reading →

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ESCHATOLOGICAL DIPLOPIA?

AD 70, Matthew 24, Objections, Preterism, Temple May 1, 2015 Comments: 6

Double visionPMT 2015-053 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

From time-to-time I get personal emails seeking answers to eschatological questions. This one is a question I hear quite frequently regarding both the Olivet Discourse and Revelation.

Question

“Thanks for the constant supply of good articles & blog posts. Here is a question for you that I thought might be a good one for a blog post sometime. If you also think so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

When I’m discussing passages such as the Matthew 24: 1-34 or other related passages with dispensational friends and I’ve shown them how clearly these passages relate to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, they usually can see that its pretty clear, but unable to let go of their pet position on the subject, they often retreat into their immune fortress of … “Dual Fulfillment”. Continue reading →

COMING AS LIGHTNING

Israel, Matthew 24, Olivet Discourse, Second Coming November 14, 2014 Comments: 5

False prophetsPMT 2014-138 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

As I argued in the two preceding postings, Matt 24:1-34 presents Christ’s great prophecy against the temple. In that prophecy, known as the Olivet Discourse, he denounces the temple and warns of its soon-coming destruction. I noted that the Discourse deals with AD 70 as well as the end of history, with the line of demarcation drawn at Matt 24:34–36.

Nevertheless, a Second Advent intrusion appears in the near-term prophecy. Though I previously held that Matt 24:27 spoke of his judgment-coming in AD 70, I have come to realize I was mistaken. Read carefully in its context, it refers to the Second Advent. That statement reads: “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

How can this be? Continue reading →

DOES OLIVET POINT TO AD 70? Part 2

AD 70, Matthew 24, Olivet Discourse, Preterism, Temple November 12, 2014 Comments: 8

Roman attack JerusalemPMT 2014-137 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my previous article (PMT 2014-135) I began a brief (two-part) argument that the first portion of the Olivet Discourse focuses on the destruction of the Jewish temple in AD 70. If you have not read that article, I encourage you to do so before reading this one.

Now we are ready to briefly summarize the evidence for an AD 70 occurrence of the first portion of the Lord’s Olivet Discourse. So then, without further delay, consider the following;

First, in Matt 23:1–33 Jesus issues a long and biting denunciation of the first-century Pharisees. These were the spiritual heroes of the common man and the constant nemeses of the Son of Man. He delivers a seven-fold woe against them here, toward the end of his earthly ministry (Matt 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29 — Matt 23:14 is textually precarious). Continue reading →