Category Archives: Two Ages

MY WORK ON THE TWO AGES (Part 3)

Olivet Discourse, Two Ages September 1, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-067 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I am continuing a brief explanation for my working on a new book dealing with the two age doctrine of redemptive history. This is my third installment, I am only just now getting to my second reason. Why do I want to write a book on the two ages?

Second, my Olivet research. The second issue prompting this book on the two ages was my deep and abiding interest in the Lord’s Olivet Discourse (aka the Eschatological Discourse). I have been especially interested in the extended version found in Matthew’s Gospel to which I have given much attention. [1]

Jesus’ prophecy of the temple’s coming destruction (Matt. 24:2; cp. Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6) serves as the very impetus giving rise to his great Discourse which generates the disciples’ question regarding “the end of the age” (Matt. 24:3–4). Continue reading →

MY WORK ON THE TWO AGES (Part 2)

Olivet Discourse, Preterism, Two Ages August 28, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-066 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is my second article introducing my reasons for writing a book on the doctrine of the two ages of redemptive history. Three particular issues have mainly prompted me to write this book.

First, my eschatological interests

The first issue is more general: my long-standing interest in and engagement with Reformed eschatology (after having converted out of dispensationalism while in seminary). Eschatology is not simply one locus of systematic theology; neither is it a secondary or inconsequential one. Rather it is an intricate part of God’s over-arching redemptive plan. Eschatology and soteriology are inextricably linked. And as strange as it may initially seem, Reformed theologians argue that eschatology actually precedes soteriology. Thus, Geerhardus Vos (2001: 77) can declare that “eschatology is older than soteriology.” Or as he puts it elsewhere: “the eschatological is an older strand in revelation than the soteric” (1948: 15). Continue reading →

INAUGURATED ESCHATOLOGY IN PAUL

Age(s) (Two Ages), Already/Not Yet, Two Ages July 21, 2026 Leave a comment

PMW 2026-055 by Thomas R. Schreiner

Gentry note:
The following few paragraphs are cited from: Thomas R. Schreiner, Magnifying God in Christ: A Summary of New Testament Theology (Grand Rapids: BakerAcademic, 2010), 28–30. This is a helpful work for students of the New Testament and eschatology.

Inaugurated Eschatology in Paul

The tension between inaugurated and consummated eschatology identified in the Synoptic Gospels, and in the Johannine literature also informs the remainder of the NT. Indeed, the prominence of the already – not yet in Paul confirms that eschatological tension was a characteristic feature of NT theology.

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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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THE “SPIRITUAL BODY” IN 1 CORINTHIANS

Resurrection, Two Ages November 22, 2022 Comments: 4

PMW 2022-088 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Paradise Now and Not Yet: Studies in the Role of the Heavenly Dimension in Paul's Thought With Special Reference to His Eschatology: Lincoln, Andrew T.: 9780801056727: Amazon.com: BooksIntroduction

A key problem with  contemporary American Christianity is its disinterest in a careful study of Scripture. This encourages church membership decline as people drift away from the unnourishing pablum diet offered in too many churches. Sadly, it also gives heresies a footing in that true Christians have an internal emptiness due to their spiritual thirst for God’s word — even when they do not really recognize it (apparently confusing it with heartburn). Heresies can gain traction within evangelical circles when purveyors of heresy act like they are digging deeply into Scripture. We need Spirit-generated true revival whereby God’s people stand up and declare: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (Isa. 8:20). I do not care how good the band is or how cool the pastor looks in his casual attire, we need more of the word declared in depth from the pulpit! Continue reading →

ANSWERING AN OVERLAP OF THE AGES QUESTION

Two Ages November 18, 2022 Comments: 5

PMW 2022-087 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

With my recent articles commenting on the two-ages in Scripture, I have received some questions. One of those I will answer in this posting. So, here we go.

Reader’s question

I was reading this post about the two ages and had a question. It seems that what makes the most sense to me is that the transition between these ages happened in 70AD and we are now living in the “age to come.” However, I finding it challenging to reconcile Matthew 13:39-40 and Luke 20:34-35 with that understanding. It looks like Gaffin introduces the concept of an overlap of the ages. But are you persuaded that this is taught by the Biblical authors explicitly instead of being deduced from assumptions brought to the text? The overlap seems to not be present in some of the “this age, age to come” references.

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MORE ON “THIS AGE” AND “THE AGE TO COME”

Two Ages November 15, 2022 Comments: 2

PMW 2022-086 by Ken Gentry

I have had a couple of folks send me messages expressing confusion about my promoting Richard Gaffin’s book In the Fullness of Time. In that book Gaffin provides excellent exegetical arguments for “this age” referring to the old creation in its fallenness and “the age to come” referring to the new creation in its righteousness. He argues that we are now in an overlap of the two ages, where fallenness continues but new creation realities are spiritually operating in the redeemed. For some reason some folks think that because Gaffin is an amillennialist (whom I debate publicly in 2003), his view of the New Testament structure of redemptive history is contrary to postmillennialism.

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