REV 17 AND THE BEAST AS AN EIGHTH (1)

Objections, Revelation January 26, 2018 1 Comment

PMW 2017-008 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the second in a three-part study of the confusing verses in Revelation 17. I now move on to consider Rev. 17:11 and:

The eighth among seven?

In previous studies I argued that Nero is the personification of the beast. The evidence is quite clear and most compelling. But in Revelation 17:11 we read a statement which causes some difficulties with this interpretation. In fact, it “presents all interpreters with a real difficulty.” [1]

And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. (Rev 17:11)

Of course, the main difficulties have been solved for I show above what he means by “the beast which was and is not” (cf. Rev 17:8). But now who is this “eighth”? How can there be an eighth in a series of seven? And how is he “one of the seven”? Continue reading →

REV 17 AND THE BEAST THAT “WAS, IS, AND IS NOT”

Objections, Revelation January 23, 2018 Comments: 3

PMW 2018-007 Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In previous studies I presented evidence that the sixth head of the seven-headed beast of Revelation was Nero Caesar, the sixth emperor of Rome. Thus, in Revelation the sixth head of the beast represents the then reigning sixth head/king of Rome. But now we must deal with a passage that seems to contradict this identification. In Revelation 17 the interpreting angel states that:

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. . . . The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.” (Rev. 17:8, 11)

As we focus on these statements, two important questions arise: (1) What is the significance of the beast being the one who “was and is not, and is about to come”? Is this one of the many instances of the beast’s divine pretensions, wherein he parodies divine eternality, which is the view of most commentators? And (2) does this description undercut the early-date position and preterist approach by declaring the beast (Nero) is already dead when John writes? After all, the angel states that he “was and is not [ouk estin].” Continue reading →

OXYGEN, CREATION, AND EVOLUTION

Science January 19, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-006 by Jonathan Sarfati (Creation Ministries, Intl.)

Gentry note: The sovereign God and his all-controlling plan are the bedrock foundations to the postmillennial hope. Those who deem impossible the postmillennialist’s expectation for the positive outcome of history neglect his power and wisdom. The God of redemption is the God of creation. He does wondrous things and no one can stay his hand or disrupt his plan. Thus, I often engage the theme of creation when I am dealing with the concept of new creation in redemption.
I found this article by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati to be helpful in combating the evolutionary attack on the Genesis creation account.

Continue reading →

PRINCIPLES FOR RECOGNIZING THE BEAST

Interpretation, Revelation January 16, 2018 Comments: 4

PMW 2018-005 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

The beast of Revelation is a favorite theme of “prophecy experts.” Unfortunately, they generally do not allow John to establish the principles for the beast’s interpretation in Revelation, preferring instead the news media and radio evangelists. In this article I will mention four key principles that must be kept in mind to reduce the field to biblical proportions, you might say. As is evident from the history of the interpretation of 666, we certainly need something to confine our thinking to the realm of the reasonable.

The necessary limiting principles for analyzing the identity of John’s beast are: Continue reading →

DOES THEONOMY REQUIRE POSTMILLENNIALISM?

Definitions, Ethics January 12, 2018 Comments: 6

PMW 2018–04 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Dr. T. David Gordon wrote a critique of theonomy several years ago where he intended to dispel the whole notion of theonomic ethics: T. David Gordon. “Critique of Theonomy: A Taxonomy,” in Westminster Theological Journal, 56 (1994): 23-43 (hereinafter abbreviated: CT). I had many problems with his critique. But one angle is particularly frustrating because it frequently arises. He believe that postmillennialism is one of the foundations of theonomy. Though I am a postmillennialist and a theonomist, as was Bahnsen. The two are not mutually dependent, as amillennial theonomists will attest. Continue reading →

LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS?

Creation, Science January 9, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-003 by Gary Bates (Creation Ministries, Intl.)

Gentry note:

Postmillennialism entails not simply a “world” view, but a “universe” view. That is, it involves the entirety of creation, including the whole universe from the smallest atomic particle to the farthest flung galaxy. Consequently it impacts the question of UFOs. This helpful article from Creation Ministries, Intl. provides important insights into the question.

Many people, Christian or otherwise, struggle with the notion that the earth is the only inhabited planet in this enormous universe. In short, is there life on other planets?

Those who believe life evolved on the earth usually see it as virtual ‘fact’ that life has evolved on countless other planets. Discovering life on other planets would in turn be seen as confirming their evolutionary belief. Continue reading →

THE HOUSE OF GOD

Creation, New Creation, salvation January 5, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-002 by L. Michael Morales (Tabletalk)

Gentry note:
God created man in his image and then came and dwelled with him in Eden. Due to man’s sin, God expelled him from Eden. But God lovingly and mercifully returns to dwell with man in the tabernacle, based on sacrifice and forgiveness. After Jesus’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the tabernacle/temple reality begins gradually unfolding in the world through the process of new creation in Christ. Postmillennialists expect the gospel-based new creation to expand and envelope the whole world. This article from Tabletalk magazine provides remarkable insights into the relationship between the original creation and the tabernacle, then the new creation. It is insightful and may easily be adapted to the postmillennial hope, especially when we realize the new creation exists now (2 Cor. 5:17).

Continue reading →