Category Archives: Theology

WHAT IS “SUFFERING”?

Objections, Theology July 12, 2022 Comments: 3

Jail BiblePMW 2033-054 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I am continuing a postmillennial response to the evangelical claim that the church is called to suffer in history. If so, this would undermine the postmillennial hope. Postmillennial victory cannot be true if the church is always to suffer.

Now we must note:

Persecution is serious external oppression

As we reflect on this point in the debate we must bear in mind a vitally important matter: The only kind of suffering that contradicts post-millennialism is suffering rooted in dangerous external threats and oppression (especially when designed to suppress or punish the Christian faith). The New Testament era Christians are indeed a suffering people, enduring “threats and murder” (Ac 9:1–2), capital punishment (Ac 7:59; 12:1–2), and imprisonments and beatings (2Co 11:23–25), while being made a “public spectacle” and having their “property seized” (Heb 10:32–34). And were these conditions to continue until the end, postmillennialism could not be true. Continue reading →

QUESTIONING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (3)

Theology March 29, 2022 Leave a comment

HellPMW 2022-025 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

We have been considering the absolute sovereignty of God in this series on postmillennialism. If one holds to a strong (biblical!) view of God’s sovereignty, then postmillennialism cannot be dismissed out-of-hand by claims that it is to difficult. The only credible argument against postmillennialism can be a biblical argument. But many of the arguments are more emotional than biblical.

In this part of the series I have been considering moral objections to God’s absolute sovereignty. I have been showing that there are other doctrines that Christians hold that are equally objectionable on moral grounds, but which most Christians hold. In this installment I will focus on the doctrine of eternal hell. Continue reading →

QUESTIONING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (2)

Theology March 25, 2022 Leave a comment

ExclusivismPMW 2022-024 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In this series I am arguing for the absolute sovereignty of God as a foundation stone for the postmillennial hope. If we believe God is absolutely sovereign we should not discount postmillennialism on the basis of it seeming so difficult.

In my last article I began considering the leading objections to the doctrine of God’s absolute sovereignty. Many evangelical Christians reject predestination and God’s absolute sovereignty because they are so intellectually difficult to grasp. But I pointed out that Christianity has other equally difficult doctrines, such as the Trinity and the hypostatic union of Christ. Yet, they will gladly affirm these doctrines. Continue reading →

QUESTIONING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (1)

Theology March 22, 2022 Leave a comment

Spock logicPMW 2022-023 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my current series I have been focusing on God’s absolute sovereignty as an important foundation to the postmillennial hope. If we firmly believe God is sovereign over all things, it should not be difficult for us to believe those Scriptures that teach the universal conquest of the gospel. Not all postmillennialists are Calvinists. But they should be!

But now we need to consider objections to God’s sovereignty in predestination. As this series continues, I will present the two leading objections to God’s sovereignty: Continue reading →

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY; OUR HOPE (3)

Theology October 1, 2021 Comments: 3

Sovereignty 3PMW 2021-072 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the last in a three-part series that is basically citing verses demonstrating God’s sovereignty over the affairs of the world. It is important that postmillennialists always bear in mind that, no matter what the current external circumstances may suggest, God is in control He sovereignly ordains whatsoever comes to pass. He graciously and sovereignly saves sinners; and he will continue to do so until this world is overwhelmed by the presence of his grace-filled people.

In this series I am basically citing one Scripture after another in demonstration of God’s marvelous sovereignty. God’s word is more compelling than mine in expressing the postmillennial hope. And his word’s statements on his sovereign and gracious power should encourage us to recognize that he has a plan that he intends to fulfill by his almighty power. Continue reading →

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY; OUR HOPE (2)

Theology September 28, 2021 Leave a comment

Sovereignty 2PMW 2021-071by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the second in a brief series on God’s sovereignty as our hope for the gospel’s conquering the world for Christ. I am writing this to encourage postmillennialists to maintain their hope in Scripture’s prophecies despite the widespread and increasing collapse of our culture in America.

God has an elect people. And they will grow in number as God sovereignly calls them to himself as history unfolds. Once again, the Scriptures are clear: God sovereign calls and saves sinners in his own time according to his own plan. Let us review some Scriptures that speak of God’s sovereign call. Continue reading →

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY; OUR HOPE (1)

Theology September 24, 2021 Leave a comment

Sovereignty 1PMW 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. Continue reading →