Postmillennial Worldview

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 →