POSTMILLENNIALISM IN THE GOSPELS (2)

New Testament December 17, 2024 1 Comment

Mustard SeedPMW 2024-097 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the second in a series on postmillennialism in the Gospels. In this article I will highlight the optimistic expectation for the advance of the kingdom in history.

Jesus presents his kingdom through his teaching and his practice, his words and his actions. He especially describes his kingdom in his Kingdom Parables, one of his major recorded discourses (Matt 13:1–52). Here he speaks in parables so that his followers might “know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 13:11). These parables explain the mystery character of the kingdom, highlighting its hidden nature, small presence, and wavering condition (Matt 13:9–17, 19–22, 35–28, 31, 33, 44–45).

The Lord does not present a kingdom such as the first-century Jews and current-day dispensationalists expect. He does not lead a catastrophically-imposed, immediately-victorious, globally-dominating, military-political kingdom. Rather, he teaches something radically different. In fact, even his followers (who held first-century Jewish expectations) are initially confused about his kingdom: they “were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21; cp. Matt 13:36). Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM IN THE GOSPELS (1)

New Testament, Uncategorized December 13, 2024 Comments: 7

Christ preachingPMW 2024-097 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

THE APPROACHING OF THE KINGDOM

In the Gospels we discover Christ being introduced to Israel and the world through the ministry of John Baptist (Luke 1:76). John himself even fulfills prophecy by being the Messiah’s forerunner (Isa 40:3; Matt 3:3). He prepares the way for Jesus by preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2). And Jesus picks up on this theme as he begins his own ministry in Mark 1:14–15:

“And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.’”

Let’s consider three crucial factors flowing out of this important pronouncement.

First, Jesus declares “the time” has arrived. What is “the time” to which he refers? It surely speaks of the prophetically-anticipated time, the time of the coming of David’s greater Son to establish his kingdom. We may surmise this in that he immediately adds: “the kingdom of God is at hand.” After all, the Father sent Christ into the world in “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10), to initiate the “favorable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:16–21). This favorable year of the Lord is also called “the acceptable time . . . the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). It is the very day righteous men and angels in the old covenant long desired to see (Matt 13:17; Luke 2:28–30; 10:24; John 8:56; Heb 11:13, 39–40; 2 Pet 1:10–11). Continue reading →

TWO AGES ARE NOT TWO COVENANTS

Age(s) (Two Ages) December 10, 2024 Leave a comment

Two ages sunPMW 2024-095 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Through my GoodBirth Ministries I am seeking to raise support to allow me to work virtually full time on a new book on the two ages of redemptive history. This two-age concept, along with its corollary, the “Now but Not Yet” principle, are essential for understanding God’s plan in history. Much confusion regarding this matter reigns among evangelical Christians, especially among those who are not well-trained in academic issues related to eschatology.

In this article I simply want to briefly introduce the idea of the two ages. And I want to do so by showing that it has wide support among the three major eschatological views (obviously excluding dispensationalism, which is losing its academic voice in the market place of ideas). In my planned book on the two ages, I will provide about 250 pages of arguments to flesh out this crucial matter. But for now, I will show that I am not alone! Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM AND ISRAEL (4)

Israel December 6, 2024 Comments: 3

Israel (4)PMW 2024-094 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is my last study in this four-part series on Israel in theology and the Bible. I am demonstrating the Reformed view of Israel in the Scriptures. We are now ready for my sixth observation:

6. THE NEW COVENANT CHURCH IS CALLED ABRAHAM’S SEED

Israel’s biological descent from Abraham was a source of great Jewish pride. God is often called in Scripture “the God of Abraham” (Gen 28:13; 31:42, 53; Exo 3:6, 15–16; 4:5; 1 Kgs 18:36; 1 Chron 29:18; 2 Chron 30:6; Psa 47:9; Matt 22:32; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:37; Acts 3:13; 7:32). Because he is “the God of Abraham” the Jews expected blessings in terms of their Abrahamic descent (Matt 3:9; 8:11; Luke 3:8; 13:16, 28; 16:23–30; 19:9; John 8:39, 53; Rom 11:1; 2 Cor 11:22). Yet in the new covenant, Gentile Christians are called the children of Abraham.

We see this in Galatians where Paul writes: “therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in you’”(Gal 3:7–8). Then a few verses later he forthrightly declares: “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:29).
Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM AND ISRAEL (3)

Israel December 3, 2024 Comments: 3

Israel (3)PMW 2024-093 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is my third installment on the question of Israel in redemptive history and the Bible. I am providing this four-part survey in order to expose significant errors in dispensationalism, held so dearly by so many.

Regarding what the Bible teaches about Israel, I will continue with my third observation:

3. THE NEW COVENANT CHURCH RECEIVES OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES

Not only do we learn that Old Testament prophecies regarding Israel are fulfilled in the church, but we even see that old covenant promises for Israel apply to the church. The new covenant church is the recipient of old covenant Israel’s blessings.

For instance, when Paul speaks to the Gentiles in Ephesians, he reminds them that “formerly” they were “at that time” in the past “strangers to the covenants of promise” (Eph 2:12). That is, in their past they were devoid of God’s “promise.” But this no longer is true!
Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM AND ISRAEL (2)

Israel November 29, 2024 Comments: 4

PIsrael (2)MW 2024-092 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last posting I began consideration of an important debate topic separating dispensationalism from most of the rest of evangelical theology: the question of Israel. In this article I am beginning a brief survey showing what Scriptures teaches, while setting it over against dispensationalism’s view. How does the Bible see Israel?

1. THE OT ANTICIPATES THE EXPANSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE

The Old Testament writers foresee a time in which God will expand his people by bringing blessings on the Gentiles and including them within Israel. This hope is established early in Israel’s formative history when God establishes his covenant with Abraham: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, / And you shall be the father of a multitude of nations” (Gen 17:4).

Perhaps the clearest and more remarkable expression of this appears in Isaiah 19:23–25. There we read that God will include Israel’s greatest enemies in his covenant:

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.’”
Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM AND ISRAEL (1)

Israel November 26, 2024 Comments: 6

Israel (1)PMW 2024-091 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Because of the prominence of dispensationalism and the Left Behind phenomenon — and whatever moon is now showing –– in evangelical circles, it is important for us to reflect on a fundamental emphasis in contemporary prophecy discussions: Israel. This is important in that Israel plays a prominent role in Scripture. But what is her role?

As all Christians know, throughout most of the Old Testament Israel is God’s special people — beginning in seed form with the calling of Abraham in Genesis 12. She is God’s elect nation (Deut 7:7–8 ; 10:15; Zech 2:8; Rom 3:1–3; 11:1) and the focal point of his redemptive mercies in history (Deut 4:7–8; Psa 147:19–20; Amos 3:2; Rom 9:4). Because of her commanding presence in old covenant history and her central role in Old Testament prophecy she becomes a crucial issue in understanding the Bible.
Continue reading →