Postmillennial Worldview

PMW 2023-065 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Sadly, many challenges against Greg Bahnsen’s Theonomy in Christian Ethics (TCE) are based on mistaken assumptions rather than careful observations. This is the case with one of Bahnsen’s loudest critics, Dr. T. David Gordon who wrote his “Critique of Theonomy: A Taxonomy” (CT).

Gordon’s “Critique” opens with a few comments on polemics, noting potential areas of difficulty (CT, 23). He recognizes (as we all should) that our polemics can be undercut by “whatever is untrue, unclear, or unhelpful” (CT, 25). Unfortunately, by overstating his case he inadvertently succumbs to that which is “untrue, unclear, or unhelpful.” Continue reading →

PMW 2023-064 by Milton Terry

GENTRY INTRODUCTION
This study is taken from Milton S. Terry’s, The Apocalypse of John. Terry was an excellent scholar and historian. This material should be helpful for Revelation enthusiasts.

JOHN ON PATMOS

Why Was John on Patmos?

John’s own testimony is that he “was in the island which is called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 1:9). The phrase “on account of the word of God” (διὰ τὸν λόγον του θεου; dia ton logon tou theou), according to the well-established usage of διὰ (dia) with the accusative, means for the sake of the word. It gives the ground or reason for what is stated. So in chapter 2:3, it is said: “Thou didst endure for my name’s sake;” that is, the great objective reason for the endurance in the midst of trials was devotion to the name of Christ. So again in 4:11: “On account of thy will they were and were created;” that is, all things were brought into existence because that was the will of God. The same meaning inheres in this formula in 6:9; 7:15; 12:11,12; 13:14; 18:8, 10, 15; 20:4. Now, according to 1:2, “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” are no other than this Revelation concerning all things which John saw. Continue reading →

PMW 2023-063 by Herman Ridderbos

GENTRY INTRODUCTION

The following material is taken from Ridderbos’ important work: Paul: An Outline of His Theology (pp. 44ff). Some of his footnotes have been omitted as unnecessary for my present concern. I highly recommend that my readers study Herman Ridderbos, Geerhardus Vos, and Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. as insightful biblical scholars (even though they are amillennial).

RIDDERBOS EXPLICATION

The extent . . . to which Paul saw the advent and work of Christ as revelation of the fulfilling activity of God in history and as the breaking through of the great time of salvation can immediately be demonstrated on the basis of a number of typical pronouncements from his epistles.

Galatians 4:4

What is said in Galatians 4:4 of “the fullness of the time” and in Ephesians 1:10 of “the fulness of the times” is surely of special important:

“but when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son.”

“the mystery of his [God’s] will …, unto a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon earth.” Continue reading →

PMW 2023-062 by Greg L. Bahnsen

GENTRY INTRODUCTORY NOTE
I am currently researching material for a new book. I will be dealing the two-age structure of redemptive history. I will be explaining its significance, not only for understanding the Olivet Discourse properly (due to Matt. 24:3), but even the whole New Testament.

I am seeing several Christians writers who are publishing materials showing that they do not understand the concept of “this age” and “the age to come” in the New Testament. This has led them to make serious errors in their theological ramblings.

In this posting, I will be presenting a snippet from Greg Bahnsen’s book Victory in Jesus (131–32). My interest is in Bahnsen’s affirmation of the two-age structure of redemptive history, which recognizes (as do most biblical scholars and Greek lexicographers) that “age” (aion) can be interchangeable with “world” (kosmos). Continue reading →

PMW 2023-059 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last posting I opened a brief series on John’s method of presenting his material in Revelation. Therein I noted that John is presenting his material as a drama. Though it is not intended as an acted drama, it is designed as a oral one — as I noted in my last article. Now we focus a little more tightly on the method of his drama.

Revelation’s Forensic Tone

Revelation is a moving drama with a specific theme: it is a courtroom drama employing language and images appropriate to the “lawcourt” (Caird 17–18). Witherington (14, 265) notes that “the judicial or forensic tone of Revelation has often been noted” by scholars — even in the seven oracles (Revelation 2–3). And “the majority of the book of Revelation . . . involves forensic rhetoric.” Fiorenza (1998: 47) provides more explanation: “the description of God’s judgment takes up such a large space in Rev. that its whole eschatological presentation culminates in judgment and salvation. Just as the seven visions of the plagues and the ‘small scroll’ climax in an announcement or a portrayal of judgment, so does the whole book.” Fekkes (78) agrees: “The subject of judgment is the single most dominant interest in Revelation, and accordingly the use of thematic analogues from the OT likewise finds its greatest development in this area.” DeSilva (2009: 89) points out that “Revelation’s focus on God’s judgment and the narration of the process of that judgment predisposes these scholars to see the text as forensic discourse. This is a story in which books are opened, witnesses step forward, charges are voiced, and justice meted out.”
Continue reading →

PMW 2023-054 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

A reader had a question arise regarding a previous article (“Every Mountain was Moved”). I thought his query worthy of a bit more reflection than usually offered in a comment response. He noted regarding Revelation 16:19 that I stated “the cities of the nations” represents Gentile cities, setting them over against Jerusalem. He writes:

MY READER:
“They are distinguished from ‘the great city,’ showing that they are Gentile cities.

But which Gentile cities fell in AD 70? This is clearly simultaneous with the siege and fall of Jerusalem, taking place well after the year of the four emperors (Rev. 16:10-11) and the gathering of Roman troops (Rev. 16:12-16). So it can’t be referring to the Roman civil war. How was this fulfilled?”
Continue reading →

PMW 2023-053 by Geerhardus Vos

Gentry Introductory Note:
I am continuing a three-part presentation of Geerhardus Vos exegesis of 2 Corinthians 5. He wrote this in opposition to the arising of the new (in his time) liberal view that Paul’s theology changed over time. He originally believed in a physical resurrection of the dead, but eventually began to believe that at the moment of death believers received their new resurrection body as a spiritual body. This is the third and concluding article in the series. Now to Vos’ argument.

VOS’ PRESENTATION CONCLUDED

The difficult verse 3. We must now look for a moment at the passage as a whole, and in connection with this at the difficult verse 3. We do this in order to grasp the import of the entire section, and thus to gather in the fruit of our somewhat laborious exegesis. The passage connects with 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 by means of “for” (gar): “For we know that in case our earthly tent-house shall have been dissolved, we have a building from God,” etc. In 4:17–18 the “affliction” in the body works out an eternal weight of glory. This is likewise to be enjoyed in the body, since there, in the body, the “affliction” was borne. The future body thus appears from the outset as the bearer of an eternal weight of glory. The knowledge that such a new body shall be ours is basic for the hope of possessing and enjoying the certainty of this eternal glory. Without such a center the glory could not exist. Especially the description of this new body as a “house” admirably fits into this train of thought, because a house is not a mere place of shelter, but has attached to it the aesthetic conception of a center of manifestation for the glory of its inhabitant.
Continue reading →