Tag Archives: persecution

JAMES WHITE’S AND 2 TIMOTHY 3 (5)

Amillennialism, Objections, Pessimism December 19, 2014 Comments: 8

PMT 2014-152 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.White laughing Gentry 2

This is my fifth article replying to Dr. James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries. On his October 16 webcast, he challenged my postmillennial analysis of 2 Timothy 3. See my preceding articles for context and consult my original article to which he replies (“Postmillennialism and Perilous Times,” PMT 2014-029, March 7, 2014).

White’s Objections on the Last Days

White rejects my understanding of 2 Tim 3:1 which records Paul’s statement: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” He mentions that we have been living in the “last days” for a long time, since the first century (Acts 2:16–17; Heb 1:1–2; 9:26). Once again, my postmillennialism agrees with his amillennialism on this understanding of the “last days.”

White, however, believes that Paul is effectively prophesying that the last times will always be characterized by difficult times wherein the majority of men act in depraved ways (2 Tim 3:1-8). And on this understanding, he argues that this cannot fit into the postmillennial expectation of the universal progress and dominance of the gospel in world affairs. And if he were correct in his understanding of Paul, I would agree with him. Continue reading →

CURRENT WEAKNESS; FUTURE GLORY

Objections, Theology August 18, 2014 1 Comment

PMT 2014-099 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.Heaven

You have suffered long enough: this is my last article in a series on the question of suffering, the church, and postmillennialism. I have been dealing with the charge that God has called the church to suffer in this age, which would seem to undermine the postmillennial expectation. But postmillennialists affirm the reality of suffering — and even in the time of Christianity’s highest advance before Christ returns! How can this be?

We must recognize that even the very height of earthly, postmillennial glory pales in comparison to the “weight of glory” that is ours, and that stirs our deepest longings as sons of God (cf. Php 1:23). As recipients of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, Christians experience “the heightened form which our desire for this future [resurrection] state assumes. For it is not mere desire to obtain a new body, but specifically to obtain it as soon as possible” (cf. 2Co 5:1–10) (G. Vos, Redemptive History, 46). Continue reading →

IS THE CHURCH CALLED TO SUFFER?

Objections, Theology August 6, 2014 Comments: 3

PMT 2014-094 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.Weeping

Most non–postmillennial eschatologies argue that the church is called to endure suffering throughout the entirety of history. They argue that they are optimistic, in that the church has a hope for glory, though only beyond the present era and after the return of Christ. By this maneuver they attempt to discount charges of pessimism against their position, while simultaneously seeking to undermine the postmillennial system. If this is so, no room exists in the biblical view of the church for a long era of righteousness, peace, and prosperity.

In this brief series of articles I will be responding to the very widespread argument for the suffering-church motif. To set the table, let us first note many proponents of this motif:

William Hendriksen teaches as strongly as conceivable that the gospel age “will finally result in the complete destruction of the church as a mighty and influential organization for the spread of the Gospel. For, finally every tribe and people and tongue and nation will worship antichristian government.” (Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors, 178) Continue reading →