Interview with Dr. Kenneth Gentry

About the author:

Dr. Kenneth Gentry, Jr. received degrees from both the Reformed Theological Seminary and Whitefield Theological Seminary. He pastored for twenty-five years in both the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He now serves as Director of NiceneCouncil.com and the executive director of GoodBirth Ministries. Both organizations are dedicated to advancing serious Christian education, scholarship and apologetics. Dr. Gentry is the author and co-author of over 20 books.

I was able to ask the author a few questions, here is what he had to say.

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

It is a collection of eight pamphlets I had published previously. The topics are generally issues that generate controversy and discussion. The topics I cover in this collection include tongues-speaking, the book of Revelation, the biblical view of creation, infant baptism, baptismal sprinkling, and other interesting issues.

Can you explain what a postmillennial preterist is?

A postmillennialist is one who believes that Christ established his kingdom during his ministry in the first century. He holds that Christ empowers his people by His Spirit to successfully promote the gospel in all the world. When He gave the Great Commission, he fully intended that His people "make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19) – because He had all authority to command it (Matt. 28:18) and He will be with His people to see that it is accomplished. Consequently, the postmillennialist is optimistic regarding the long-term prospects for the Gospel and the Church in history. They fully expect that a day is coming when the Gospel will be the rule in the world rather than the exception to the rule. They believe this because "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him should be saved" (John 3:17).A preterist is one who takes seriously certain near-term indicators in a large number of New Testament prophecies. He sees, therefore, the great tribulation (Matt. 24:15) occurring in the first century destruction of the Temple in AD 70, because Jesus was speaking about that very Temple (Matt. 24:1-3), warned his hearers to flee out of Judea (Matt. 24:16), and said that all these things will occur in "this generation" (Matt. 24:34). Likewise, the Book of Revelation opens and closes with announcements that the events must "shortly take place" (Rev 1:1; 22:10) because "the time is near" (Rev 1:3; 22:6). Because of such temporal indicators as these, many prophecies that some Christians think are yet to occur, have already occurred.

What is the difference between postmillennialism and preterism?

Preterism is an interpretive approach to Scripture; postmillennialism is a doctrinal conclusion regarding what Scripture teaches about Christ's kingdom. Preterists can be either amillennial or postmillennial. And postmillennialists can be either preterist or futurist. In a sense, preterism answers the question: "When shall these things be?" Whereas, postmillennialism answers the question: "What shall these things be?"

What prompted you to write this book?

I have received a number of encouragements from readers of my several pamphlets. They wanted copies of the materials in one book so that they could use the material to teach Bible classes or share the issues with friends more easily than handling eight separate pamphlets.

What do you hope to accomplish by writing it?

First, I hope generally to whet the appetite of Christians to consider biblical issues more deeply and to recognize that there are different evangelical viewpoints on these important matters. Second, I hope specifically that my presentations might persuade evangelicals to adopt the positions I advocate.

What is the most important thing in your life write now?

My relationship to Jesus Christ through His saving work in the Gospel. As a result of that I earnestly desire to promote a better understanding of His word in Scripture.Are you a different person that you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?I am pretty much a "boring" person. I don't undergo a lot of changes. I have the same convictions on theological issues that I have held since my seminary studies in the 1970s. I suppose I am different in that I have grown more in grace and am more mature in my faith. But my faith commitments remain the same.

What projects are you working on currently?

I have just released two other books: "A Biblical Defense of Predestination" (ApologeticsGroup.com) and "The Book of Revelation Made Easy" (American Vision Press). My major focus currently is researching a 1000 page, exegetical, academic commentary on the Book of Revelation. I have been working on this project for several years. And I am updating and revising my 600 page text on eschatology, titled "He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology."

About the book:

This book is for serious Christians following the Biblical encouragement to “be a good servant of Jesus Christ, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). Dr. Kenneth l. Gentry, Jr. provides a banquet of nourishing entrees too seldom found on the menu of the modern evangelical church, to help hungry believers grow in understanding.You can visit his publisher's website at www.nordskogpublishing.com/

WIN PRIZES!

NOURISHMENT FROM THE WORD VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on November 3 and end on November 26. You can visit Dr. Gentry's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in November to find out more about his latest book!As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on November 30!