Category Archives: Preterism

SOME ANCIENT PRETERISTS

History, Preterism May 30, 2025 Comments: 3

PMW 2025-042 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Jerome writingSince the 1990s the preterist perspective has been making its presence felt in contemporary prophecy discussions. Unfortunately, dispensational eschatology, which arose in the 1830s and is built on the futurist system, thoroughly dominates evangelical preaching, education, publishing, and broadcasting today. Consequently, evangelical Christians are largely unfamiliar with preterism, making it seem to be the “new kid on the block.” Preterism, however, is as hoary with age as is futurism. And despite its overshadowing in this century, it has been well represented by leading Bible-believing scholars through the centuries into our current day. Continue reading →

VOS ON THE RESURRECTION-BODY

Preterism, Resurrection September 17, 2024 1 Comment

resurrection-bodyPMW 2024-073 by Geerhardus Vos

Gentry Note:
This is part 2 of a two-part study on the believer’s resurrection by Geerhardus Vos. Vos is helpful for countering the heretical arguments of some who deny or greatly alter the historic Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body. The only changes I will make to Vos’ article is to break it into smaller paragraphs to make it easier to read for a modern audience.

VOS ON THE RESURRECTION BODY

The main passage informing us as to the nature of the resurrection body is 1 Corinthians 15:35–58. The difficulty Paul here seeks to relieve does not concern the substance of the future body, but its kind (compare 1 Corinthians 15:35 “With what manner of body do they come?”). Not until 1 Corinthians 15:50 is the deeper question of difference in substance touched upon. The point of the figure of “sowing” is not that of identity of substance, but rather this, that the impossibility of forming a concrete conception of the resurrection body is no proof of its impossibility, because in all vegetable growth there appears a body totally unlike that which is sown, a body the nature and appearance of which are determined by the will of God. We have no right to press the figure in other directions, to solicit from it answers to other questions.
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VOS ON THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS

Preterism, Resurrection September 13, 2024 Leave a comment

resurrection of the bodyPMW 2024-072 by Geerhardus Vos

Gentry Note:
The preterist hermeneutic is a helpful tool for understanding many New Testament prophecies. But it is a tool that for some folks what has some sort of addictive power that leads them off into error. In fact, it has led hundreds of folks into heresy, even denying the historic Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body. A helpful antidote to such confused thinking can be found in the writings of Geerhardus Vos, among others. In this two-part series, I will post a couple of major points from Vos’ “Eschatology of the New Testament.” The only changes I will make to Vos’ article is to break it into smaller paragraphs, since he wrote in a day when paragraphs were virtually book length! So, let’s get started with Vos’ observations.

Vos on the Resurrection

The resurrection of believers bears a twofold aspect. On the one hand it belongs to the forensic side of salvation. On the other hand it belongs to the pneumatic transforming side of the saving process. Of the former, traces appear only in the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:9; 22:29–32; Luke 20:35, 36). Paul clearly ascribes to the believer’s resurrection a somewhat similar forensic significance as to that of Christ (Romans 8:10, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:30–32, 55–58). Far more prominent with him is, however, the other, the pneumatic interpretation. Both the origin of the resurrection life and the continuance of the resurrection state are dependent on the Spirit (Romans 8, 10, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:45–49; Galatians 6:8). The resurrection is the climax of the believer’s transformation (Romans 8:11; Galatians 6:8).
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PRETERIST IMPULSES

AD 70, Interpretation, Preterism May 28, 2024 Leave a comment

Narrative flowPMW 2024-041 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

The interpretation of the Olivet Discourse that applies its opening portion to first-century Israel is called “preterism.” [1] This theological term derives from the Latin preteritus, which means “gone by, past.” [2] The evangelical, orthodox preterist sees many (not all! [3]) important New Testament prophetic passages as being fulfilled in the first century, thus in our distant past. These prophetic events transpired in the era surrounding the AD 70 destruction of the Jewish temple. These events powerfully, publicly, and permanently close the old covenant, typological era (Heb. 8:13; cp. Matt. 21:33–43; John 4:21–23). Continue reading →

PRETERISM IN THE SCIENTIFIC ACADEMY?

Preterism March 1, 2024 Comments: 2

LonerPMW 2024-017 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

QUESTION TO ME

Hello, Mr. Gentry, good morning!

It is always a privilege to have the opportunity to interact with you via email.

I am currently studying preterism/postmillennialism through your writings and those of others (such as Douglas Wilson, Frank Brito, Sproul, Gary DeMar…). I would like to ask you a question, if you don’t mind:

Why do you think that those who embrace preterism/postmillennialism are a minority in academy, particularly among the Reformed? I was talking to a friend of mine who studied at Westminster (California), and he mentioned that he did not encounter any professors who advocated for this position…

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THE TEMPLE IN REVELATION 11

AD 70, Preterism, Revelation, Temple January 2, 2024 Leave a comment

Temple 2PMW 2024-001 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
Revelation is an important book in eschatological discussions. The most vigorous Revelation debate in ecclesiastical circles today revolves around the dispute between preterism and futurism. Preterism holds that Revelation was largely fulfilled not long after John wrote it. Futurism holds that it deals largely with events yet to come.

Because of this debate, the identity of the temple in Rev 11 arises as a serious matter. In Revelation 11:1, 2 we read:

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Here we find a Temple standing in a city called “the holy city.” Continue reading →

TWO PROBLEMS WITH AION TERMINOLOGY

Preterism, Two Ages October 10, 2023 Comments: 2

PMW 2023-079 by Geerhardus Vos

Gentry note:
Soon a new version of several of Geerhardus Vos’ works on eschatology will be published. This book collects together some of his important eschatological articles and updates them in the process — removing his awkward, cumbersome, early-20th century writing style. In this clip from updated Vos, we will note his helpful observations on the Greek words kosmos and aion. These words overlap in meaning and significance, making it easy to confuse matters when interpreting biblical texts. I hope this posting is helpful.

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