THE MERCHANTS IN REVELATION

AD 70, Revelation August 4, 2023 Comments: 6

PMW 2023-061 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.ancient merchants

In that I believe Revelation is dealing primarily with God’s judgment of Israel and her temple, I must explain certain images that seem to contradict this view. The “merchants of the earth” in Revelation 18 is just one such passage.

Rome or Jerusalem?

In Revelation 18:3 we read: the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. Beale and others see this as referring to Rome’s extravagant luxury through trade, and the temptations that flow from it throughout the empire (Beale 895-96; Mounce 326; Royalty passim; Witherington 226; Smalley 445).

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REVELATION AS A DIVORCE COURT DRAMA

Revelation August 1, 2023 Leave a comment

Divorce decree 5PMW 2023-060 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last two postings I engaged a brief series on John’s method of presenting his material in Revelation. I have noted thus 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 first article. But it is also cast as a forensic drama, which is set in a court. In this my final article, I will focus on the nature of the court in view.

We must remember that in the OT Israel is the covenantal wife of Jehovah God and he is her “husband” (Jer 31:32). Oftentimes the prophets mention the marital relation between God and Israel. Thus, when Israel chases after foreign gods she is committing spiritual “adultery” against her husband (Isa. 50:1b; Jer 3:20; Eze 16:31–32; Hos 1:2; 9:1, 10; Mal 2:11). The prophets then act as God’s lawyers, bringing a covenantal lawsuit against her with the hope of calling her back to her husband. When God chastens her with destruction or exile, the lawsuit pattern serves to demonstrate that “Yahweh’s punishment is righteous, and not an expression of arbitrary wrath” (Nielsen 33).
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REVELATION AS A COURT-ROOM DRAMA

Uncategorized July 28, 2023 Leave a comment

PMW 2023-059 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.God as judge

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.”
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REVELATION AS A DRAMA

Revelation July 25, 2023 Comments: 5

PMW 2023-058 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. Greek drama

In this short series I will be providing insights into John’s method of presenting his material in Revelation. My commentary on Revelation should be out this Fall. [1] It will be titled: The Divorce of Israel: A Redemptive-historical Approach to Revelation. Thus, I understand Revelation as involving God’s divorcing of Israel as his (old covenant) wife as he takes a new bride (the new covenant church).

I will build the case for Revelation as a drama involving God’s relationship to Israel in this three-part series. So, let us begin by noting that it is presented as a drama.

Scholarly Notices

A growing number of scholars suggest that “the basic format of the book — a pageant of visions — draws on the theatrical model of a succession of scenes” (DBI 714). For instance, Smalley (1994: 105) suggests that “if we interpret the Apocalypse in its entirety as a drama, this is, given the nature of John’s material, a natural and uncomplicated exercise. Revelation lends itself to such an interpretation.”
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POSTMILLENNIAL UTOPIA?

Culture, Objections, Optimism July 21, 2023 1 Comment

PMW 2023-057 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

One PostmillenialWorldview read asks: “What is your response to the ‘Utopia’ charge leveled by (especially) Premills? This is a common charge levied against the postmillennialist. And the erstwhile postmil would do well to consider the matter.

Unfortunately, in the eschatological debate, postmillennialism is the easiest eschatological option to misconstrue. This is due to its going against the prevailing pessimistic expectations of the other millennial views. Hope for our historical future seems like Utopia to these folks. And as we know “Utopia” comes from the Greek: ou (“not”) and topos (“place”) and means “no-place.” So if postmillennialism is utopic, it is going no place. Continue reading →

OF PRETERISTS AND POSTMILLENNIALISTS (2)

AD 70, hyperpreterism, Matthew 24, Olivet Discourse, Preterism July 18, 2023 1 Comment

PMW 2023-056  by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the second (and final) presentation of an interview conducted with me on preterism and postmillennialism.

Interviewer: Shifting to a related topic. Do preterist and non-preterist postmillennialists differ significantly in their reading of Matthew 24? Are there different interpretations of the two “days” even among preterists?

Gentry: Matthew 24 has been subjected to a fairly wide variety of interpretive approaches. Perhaps the more widely endorsed one holds that the Lord more or less jumbles together material on A.D. 70 and the Second Advent, in that A.D. 70 is a microcosmic precursor to the Second Advent. This view makes it difficult to sort out the verses in regard to which event the particular verses focus on. Among evangelical preterists two basic positions prevail: that 24:4–34 focus on A.D. 70 and 24:36ff focus on the Second Advent (this is my view, and the view presented by J. Marcellus Kik). The other view holds that all of Matthew 24–25 deals with A.D. 70. Continue reading →

OF PRETERISTS AND POSTMILLENNIALISTS (1)

AD 70, Matthew 24, Olivet Discourse, Preterism July 14, 2023 Comments: 6

PMW 2023-055 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Awhile back I was interviewed about the relationship of postmillennialism with preterism. Here is the interview. I hope it will provide some insights for you as you discuss such issues with your friends.

Interviewer: Dr. Gentry, when we speak of “schools” of interpretation or theological opinion — like “theonomists,” or “postmillennialists,” or “preterists” — there is a tendency to think of these groups in monolithic terms, as if all their proponents hew exactly to a single “party line.” In what ways, if any, does the contemporary revival of biblical postmillennialism differ from earlier versions within the Reformed tradition (e.g., Puritan postmillennialism)?

Gentry: You are correct that we need to be aware of a lack of lock-step unanimity in any millennial viewpoint, including postmillennialism. “Puritan postmillennialism” is so widely variant that for sorting through the various positions, I highly recommend reading Crawford Gribben, The Puritan Millennium: Literature & Theology 1550-1682 (Dublin, Ireland: Four Courts Press, 2000).

But in broad strokes we may distinguish between an historicist postmillennialism (held by the Puritans) as opposed to a preterist postmillennialism which is currently the more popular view. Continue reading →