THE WOMAN IN HEAVEN (2)

Revelation October 3, 2023 Comments: 2

PMW 2023-077 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.Woman in heaven 2

This my second study looking into the woman in Revelation 12. Please read the previous posting for context. But now, let us return to the study.

THE WOMAN AS PREGNANT

Before we can specifically identify this glorious woman and explain the significance of her clothing, we must consider the further important descriptive information found in the next verse: she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth (12:2). Many scholars note that here we discover another OT backdrop from which John primarily draws for both 12:2 and 5, that is, Isa 66:7–8 (e.g., Russell 450; Kiddle 222; Caird 149; Ford 189; Aune 682; M. Wilson 318; Witherington 167; Osborne 458). In that Isaianic reference we find the pregnant-mother and birth-son symbolism: “Before she travailed, she brought forth; / Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. / Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? / Can a land be born in one day? / Can a nation be brought forth all at once? / As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. / ‘Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?’ says the LORD. / ‘Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?’ says your God.” Other texts present Israel as a woman enduring birth pains: Isa 21:3; 26:17–18; 37:3; Jer 4:31; 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 30:6; Mic 4:9. Continue reading →

THE WOMAN IN HEAVEN (1)

Revelation September 29, 2023 Leave a comment

Woman in heaven 1PMW 2023-076 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In Revelation 12 we see John’s vision of a pregnant woman in heaven. His introductory text reads:

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.” (Rev. 12:1–2).

Our first task in interpreting this vision and that which follows is to determine the identity of the woman.

A GREAT SIGN APPEARED IN HEAVEN
This is the first time that we find the word sēmeion (“sign”) in Rev. Beginning here it appears seven times in the book, three times in the singular (12:1, 3; 15:1) and four in the plural (13:13, 14; 16:14; 19:20). A sign is something quite remarkable and extraordinary that captures one’s attention, and is oftentimes a miracle. John uses “sign” frequently in his Gospel (e.g., Jn 2:11, 18, 23; 4:48; 6:2, 14; 7:31). Robertson (387) explains that “this ‘sign’ is really a teras (wonder), as it is so by association” in Mt 24:24; Jn 4:48; Ac 2:22; 5:12. He adds that “the element of wonder is not in the word sēmeion as in teras, but often in the thing itself,” as in Lk 21:11; Jn 9:16; Rev 13:13ff; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20. John especially emphasizes this sign by the adj. megas (“great”). Continue reading →

THE GREAT OMISSION

Great Commission September 26, 2023 Leave a comment

PMW 2023-075 by Benjamin SherrillEmpty mailbox

Idahoan Pastor Toby J. Sumpter recently tweeted what he deems is the newly edited version of the Great Commission for modern evangelicals:

“A moderate amount of power has been given to Me — mostly in Heaven and a little on earth, therefore try your best to make disciples, maybe a few from every nation? — baptize them and teach them only your favorite parts of the New Testament.”

The quote makes some chuckle, but to a large part of the evangelical world it is a sad, but true reality: Welcome to the great omission! In 2018 Barna Group [1], a Christian research organization, released the results of a study conducted on pastors, churchgoers, and U.S. adults which demonstrated that 51% of those surveyed did not know what the Great Commission was! If 51% of the surveyors had never even heard of the Great Commission (this included pastors mind you), I wonder out of those who have heard of the Great Commission, how many actually understand and are actively obeying this great command? Continue reading →

THE GREAT TRIBULATION vs. THE POSTMILLENNIAL HOPE? (7)

AD 70, Matthew 24 September 22, 2023 Comments: 4

PMW 2023-074 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is my final installment in this series on the great tribulation as understood within postmillennialism. We come now to a few more difficult texts.

Christ’s coming

In Matthew 24:27 Jesus states: “For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” This is the sort of language we expect regarding the second coming of Christ, when he comes publicly and gloriously to conclude world history. Did Christ come like lightning in AD 70: How can this sort of language apply to AD 70?

We must understand this declaration in terms of the context. The Lord had just cautioned his disciples: “If therefore they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go forth, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them” (Matt 24:26). We must recall Josephus’ report in Jewish Wars 2:13:5 [261–62] cited above that records an episode in which an Egyptian false prophet arose in the wilderness claiming a great deliverance.

Jesus dismisses such by stating that when he physically comes again to the earth, it will be an unmistakable event: “For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt 24:27). The “for” (gar) here shows that he is giving the reason why his disciples should not think he is off in some wilderness or in an inner room somewhere. When he does return in his second coming, it will be as visible and dramatic as a lightning flashing. Continue reading →

THE GREAT TRIBULATION vs. THE POSTMILLENNIAL HOPE? (6)

AD 70, Matthew 24 September 19, 2023 Leave a comment

PMW 2023-073 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

We are nearing the end of our series on the great tribulation in postmillennialism. if you endure to the end, you surely must be saved! Let us know consider the verse that directly mentions “the great tribulation.”

In Matthew 24:21 the Lord states that

“then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.”

Was AD 70 the worst catastrophe ever? What about World Wars I and II? Surely they were much worse than the first-century Jewish War with Rome. How can we explain this statement of Jesus while maintaining our first-century interpretation? Continue reading →

THE GREAT TRIBULATION vs. THE POSTMILLENNIAL HOPE? (5)

AD 70, Matthew 24 September 15, 2023 Leave a comment

PMW 2023-072 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

As I offer my fifth contribution in this series on the role of the great tribulation in postmillennialism, we come now to consider several interpretive difficulties. At least, verses that seem difficult to apply in the first century.

Jesus expressly states that all these things shall occur in “this generation” (Matt 24:34). Regardless of how difficult a first-century fulfillment may seem for some of Jesus’ statements, his clear time frame statement control our interpretation of the passage. Let us consider the troublesome issues that arise in the remaining prophecies.

Gospel proclamation

Many opponents of the first-century analysis point first of all to Jesus’ statement regarding the preaching of the gospel: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come” (Matt 24:14). How can we explain this statement? The “whole world” heard the gospel? This looks like a formidable objection against a first-century fulfillment. But looks are deceiving. Continue reading →

THE GREAT TRIBULATION vs. THE POSTMILLENNIAL HOPE? (4)

AD 70, Matthew 24 September 12, 2023 Comments: 3

PMW 2023-071 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is our fourth installment on the great tribulation in postmillennial eschatology. We are currently surveying Matthew 24 and its prepartory signs to the great tribulation, showing that these signs occurred historically in the first century.

We come now to Matthew 24:7b where he declares that “in various places there will be famines.” Famines are easy to document in biblical world of the first century where they were particularly devastating. For instance, in Acts 11:28 we read of Agabus’ prophecy of a “great famine” that occurs during the reign of Claudius (AD 50s): “There stood up one of them named Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.” This is probably the famine Josephus mentions as striking Jerusalem: “A famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food withal” (Antiquities 20:2:5 §51).

Classical writers testify to the widespread, recurring famines in the AD 50s and into the 60s. We discover these in the works of Suetonius, Dio Cassius, Eusebius, and Orosius. For instance, speaking of Rome in AD 51 Tacitus writes: “This year witnessed many prodigies . . . . Further portents were seen in a shortage of corn, resulting in famine. . . . It was established that there was no more than fifteen days’ supply of food in the city.” (Annals 12:43) Continue reading →