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{{Short description|American theologian}}
{{for|the executed American murderer|Kenneth Edward Gentry}}
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{{Infobox theologian
| region = United States
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| name = Kenneth Lloyd Gentry, Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|05|03|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Chattanooga, TN
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| notable_ideas = The Book of Revelation is a forensic drama that presents God's divorce decree against Israel as he takes a new bride, the Christian church.
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'''Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.''' (3 May 1950) is a [[Calvinism|Reformed]] [[theologian]], and an ordained minister in the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly]]. He is particularly known for his support for and publication on the topics of [[orthodox preterism]] and [[postmillennialism]] in [[Christian eschatology]], as well as for [[theonomy]] and six-day[[Young creationEarth creationism]]. He holds that each of these theological distinctives are logical and theological extensions of his foundational theology, which is Calvinistic and Reformed.
 
==Biography==
Gentry was born in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]. He is married (since July 1971) and has three grown children and six grandchildren.
 
He received his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[Biblical Studies]] from [[Tennessee Temple University]] (1973, cum laude). After graduating he enrolled at [[Grace Theological Seminary]] in [[Winona Lake, Indiana]]. After two years at Grace Seminary (1973–1975) he left [[dispensationalism]], having become convinced of a [[Covenant Theology|covenant]] and [[Reformed theology]]. He transferred to [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] in [[Jackson, Mississippi]] (1975–1977). Upon completing studies at [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] he was awarded the [[Master of Divinity|M.Div.]] in 1977. After several years of pastoral ministry, he earned a [[Master of Theology|Th.M.]] (1986) and a [[Doctor of Theology|Th.D.]] (1987, magna cum laude) from [[Whitefield Theological Seminary]], both in the field of [[New Testament]].
 
While at Reformed Theological Seminary he studied under [[Greg L. Bahnsen]], a leading [[presuppositional apologetics|presuppositional apologist]]. Though Gentry initially resisted the distinctive ethical and eschatological views of Bahnsen, he was eventually persuaded of both theonomic ethics and postmillennial eschatology and became a staunch co-defender of them with Bahnsen. Over the years he developed a close friendship with Bahnsen, often lecturing with him in conferences, co-writing a book with him (''House Divided: The Break-up of Dispensational Theology''),<ref>{{cite book |last1=LaHaye |first1=Tim F. |last2=Ice |first2=Thomas |title=The End Times Controversy |year=2003 |publisher=Harvest House Publishers |isbn=978-0-7369-0953-2 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGKY59jebNUC&dq=%22Kenneth+Gentry%22&pg=PA438 |language=en}}</ref> eventually joining the staff of Bahnsen's Southern California Center for Christian Studies, and finally contributing to the [[festschrift]] in honor of Bahnsen, titled: ''The Standard Bearer.''
 
Gentry retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2016 after serving more than thirty-five years in three conservative and Reformed denominations: The Presbyterian Church in America, The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and The Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Assembly. He is the Director of GoodBirth Ministries, a non-profit religious educational ministry, "committed to sponsoring, subsidizing, and advancing serious Christian scholarship and education".
Gentry is the Executive Director of GoodBirth Ministries, a non-profit religious educational ministry, "committed to sponsoring, subsidizing, and advancing serious Christian scholarship and education" (GoodBirth website: www.GoodBirthMinistries.com). He currently pastors Living Hope Fellowship in Greer, S.C., an affiliate member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Assembly (church website: www.LivingHopeSC.com).
 
==Writings==
Gentry is the leading contemporary theological expositor of the firstearly-date centuryof forRevelation the(prior dateto whenA.D. 70) by the Apostle John's Revelation content preponderantly transpired. The first[[Preterism#Partial centurypreterism|partial tribulationpreterist]] paradigm is a profoundly different eschatology than that held by most American evangelical[[Dispensationalist]] Christians, who maintain that the tribulation andGreat raptureTribulation havenhasn't yet occurred.
 
Kenneth Gentry's brilliantlyworks illuminating works;''[[The Beast of Revelation]]'' and ''[[He Shall Have Dominion]]''; makeattempt plainto explain the identity of the Beast and what God's true redemptive plan for humanity are. Gentry's work is especiallyconsidered importantby todayhis forfollowers secularto asbe wellimportant asfor soteriological reasons.
 
Gentry's work enfilades the error of much contemporary Christian pre-trib eschatology, also serving to highlight the easeargue that incorrect interpretation of the Bible is possible even by sincere experts.
Evangelical voters are target groups for politicians in U.S. elections. Pre-tribulationist susceptibility to eschatological pessimism that the social world is scheduled for doom in immanent tribulation have made them easy prey to political pandering. Shedding light in the darkness changes that.
 
Gentry is perhaps best known for his book ''[[Before Jerusalem Fell]]'', which argues that the [[Book of Revelation]] was written before the [[destruction of Jerusalem]] in 70A.D. AD70. He holds that many of the dramatic events in Revelation correspond to the persecution of Christians under the [[Roman empire|Roman imperium]] as well as to the [[First Jewish-Roman War|Jewish War against Rome]] which resulted in the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70)|destruction of Jewish temple]]. This book is the published version of his doctoral dissertation in 1986 under the title "The Dating of the Book of Revelation: An Exegetical, Theological and Historical Argument for a Pre-A.D. 70 Composition."
Gentry's work enfilades the error of much contemporary Christian pre-trib eschatology also serving to highlight the ease that incorrect interpretation of the Bible is possible even by sincere experts.
 
Gentry is perhaps best known for his book ''[[Before Jerusalem Fell]]'', which argues that the [[Book of Revelation]] was written before the [[destruction of Jerusalem]] in 70 AD. He holds that many of the dramatic events in Revelation correspond to the persecution of Christians under the [[Roman empire|Roman imperium]] as well as to the [[First Jewish-Roman War|Jewish War against Rome]] which resulted in the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70)|destruction of Jewish temple]]. This book is the published version of his doctoral dissertation in 1986 under the title "The Dating of the Book of Revelation: An Exegetical, Theological and Historical Argument for a Pre-A.D. 70 Composition."
 
===Revelation commentary===
Gentry ishas currentlycompleted workinga on antwo-volume academic [[bible commentary|commentary]] on Revelation tentatively titled: ''The Divorce of Israel: A Redemptive-Historical Interpretation''. It is currently being proofed and typeset by Tolle Lege Press and is scheduled for release by September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Revelation Commentary Update (May 31, 2023)|url=https://www.kennethgentry.com/blog/revelation-commentary-update-may-31-2023/|access-date=2023-06-21|website=KennethGentry.com|language=en}}</ref> According to preliminary studies he has released ("The Wrath of God and Israel", Fountain Inn, SC: 2007), he will be presenting evidence that the harlot city "[[Babylon (New Testament)|Babylon]]" ({{bibleverse||Rev.|16:19-19:2}}) is a metaphor for 1st century Jerusalem, and that the book's author [[John of Patmos|John]] is following the pattern of the [[Old Testament]] [[prophet]]s in denouncing [[Jerusalem|Jerusalem's]] unfaithfulness by such images (see especially {{bibleverse||Jer.|2-3}} and {{bibleverse||EzeEz.|16}}).
 
Gentry holds that the theme of Revelation is [[Jesus|Christ's]] judgment -coming against those who pierced him ({{bibleverse||Rev|1:7}}), and presents the "slain Lamb" ({{bibleverse||Rev|5:8,13}}; etc.) isas wreaking vengeance upon 1st-century Jerusalem. inHe orderargues forthat Godthe toseven-sealed scroll is God's [[divorce]] decree against his unfaithful Old Testament wife (Israel) so that he might take a new bride, the Church (Rev. 21-2221–22). Thus, Revelation dramatizes the transition from the old covenant, [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]]-based, [[Jew|Judaic]] economy to the [[New Covenant]], spiritual economy that includes all ethnicities, not just Jews (compare [[supersessionism]]).
 
According to his research updates, Gentry sees strong similarities between Revelation and the Epistle to the Hebrews. Both works seek to demonstrate Christianity's superiority to Judaism by showing [[New Covenant]] Christianity supplantingfulfilling [[Old Covenant]] Judaism (Heb. 8:13; Rev. 2:9; 3:9; 11:1-2). He notes that both documents even end up pointing the reader to the [[New Jerusalem]] from heaven (Heb.12:22; Rev. 21:2), which represents Christianity. He also draws parallels in thought between the Gospel of Matthew and Revelation. He sees evidence for this in Matthew's strong imagery regarding old covenant Judaism's demise in the [[Split of early Christianity and Judaism|rise of Christianity]] (Matt. 8:10-12; 21:33-46; 22:1-13; 23:29-38).
 
===Bibliography===
 
*''The Christian Case Against Abortion'' (Footstool, 1982, 1986). {{ISBN |978-1-877818-05-9}} {{ISBN |1-87781805-4}} OCLC 23656588
*''The Christian and Alcoholic Beverages'' (Baker, 1986, 1990). {{ISBN |0-8010-3807-3}}
*''The Charismatic Gift of Prophecy'' (Footstool, 1986, 1990 {{ISBN |1-877818-06-2}} {{ISBN |978-187781806-6}}; Wipf & Stock, 1999).
*''The Beast of Revelation'' (Institute for Christian Economics, 1989, 1994 {{ISBN |0-930464-21-4}}; American Vision, 2002 {{ISBN |0-915815-41-9}}).
*''[[Before Jerusalem Fell|Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation]]'' (I.C.E.: 1989 {{ISBN |0-930464-20-6}}; Christian Universities Press: 1997 {{ISBN |1-57309-154-5}} {{ISBN |978-157309154-1}}; American Vision: 1999 {{ISBN |0-915815-43-5}}).
*''House Divided: The Break-up of Dispensational Theology'', with Greg L. Bahnsen (I.C.E., 1989; 1997). {{ISBN |0-930464-27-3}}
*''The Greatness of the Great Commission: The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World'' (I.C.E., 1991, 1994). {{ISBN |0-930464-48-6}}
*''He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology'' (I.C.E., 1992; 1997 {{ISBN |0-930464-62-1}} {{ISBN |978-0930464-62-2}}; ApologeticsMedia, 2009 {{ISBN |0-9778516-7-2}}).
*''Lord of the Saved: Getting to the Heart of the Lordship Debate'' (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1992). {{ISBN |0-87552-265-3}}
*''God’s Law in the Modern World: The Continuing Relevance of Old Testament Law'' (P&R, 1992 {{ISBN |0-87552-296-3}}; I.C.E., 1997 {{ISBN |0-930464-77-X}} {{ISBN |978-0930464-77-6}}).
*''The Great Tribulation: Past or Future?'' with Thomas D. Ice (Kregel, 1999). {{ISBN |0-8254-2901-3}}
*''Perilous Times: A Study in Eschatological Evil'' (Covenant Media Foundation, 2000). {{ISBN |0-9678317-0-9}}
*''God Gave Wine: What the Bible Says About Alcohol'' (Oak Leaf, 2001) [aan reprintexpanded edition of the title on alcohol above]. {{ISBN |0-9700326-6-8}}
*''Yea, Hath God Said? The Framework Hypothesis v. Six Day Creation'' with Michael R. Butler (Wipf & Stock, 2002). {{ISBN |1-59244-016-9}}
*''As It Is Written: The Genesis Account: Literal or Literary?'' (Master, 2016) {{ISBN|0-890519013}}
*''Covenantal Theonomy: A Response to T. David Gordon and Klinean Covenantalism'' (Covenant Media Press, 2006). ISBN 0-9678317-6-8
*''Have We Missed the Second Coming? A Critique of the Hyper-Preterist Error'' (Victorious Hope, 2017) {{ISBN|0-982620683}}
*''Nourishment from the Word: Select Studies in Reformed Doctrine'' (Nordskog, 2008). ISBN 978-0-9796736-4-1
*''Tongues Speaking: Its Meaning, Purpose, and Cessation'' (Victorious Hope, 2014) {{ISBN|0-982620675}}
*''A Biblical Defense of Predestination'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 2008). ISBN 0-9778516-5-6
*''TheCovenantal BookTheonomy: ofA RevelationResponse Madeto Easy:T. YouDavid CanGordon Understandand BibleKlinean ProphecyCovenantalism'' (AmericanCovenant VisionMedia Press, 20082006). {{ISBN 978-|0-9158159678317-916-38}}
*''NavigatingNourishment from the Book of RevelationWord: SpecialSelect Studies onin ImportantReformed IssuesDoctrine'' (GoodBirth MinistriesNordskog, 20092008). {{ISBN |978-0-98432209796736-04-81}}
*''PostmillennialismA MadeBiblical EasyDefense of Predestination'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 20092008). {{ISBN 978-|0-98258909778516-15-46}}
*''PredestinationThe Book of Revelation Made Easy: You Can Understand Bible Prophecy'' (ApologeticsGroupAmerican MediaVision, 20092008). {{ISBN |978-0-9825890915815-291-63}}
*''Navigating the Book of Revelation: Special Studies on Important Issues'' (GoodBirth Ministries, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-9843220-0-8}}
*''God's Law Made Easy'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 2010). ISBN 0-9825890-1-8
*''Olivet DiscoursePostmillennialism Made Easy'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 20102009). {{ISBN |978-0-9825890-51-24}}
*''Predestination Made Easy'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 2009). {{ISBN|0-9825890-2-6}}
*''AGod's BiblicalLaw DefenseMade of PredestinationEasy'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 20082010). {{ISBN |0-97785169825890-51-68}}
*''God'sOlivet LawDiscourse Made Easy'' (ApologeticsGroup Media, 2010). {{ISBN |978-0-9825890-15-82}}
 
====Contributions====
*"Private Charity Should Care for the Poor" in ''The Welfare State'' (David L. Bender, ed.) (Greenhaven Press, 1982). {{ISBN |0-89908-313-7}}
*"Civil Sanctions in the New Testament," "Church Sanctions in the Epistle to the Hebrews," and "Whose Victory in History?" in Gary North, ed., ''Theonomy: An Informed Response'' (I.C.E., 1991). {{ISBN |0-930464-59-1}}
*"The Preterist View" in ''Four Views on the Book of Revelation'' (ed. Marvin Pate) (Zondervan, 1998). {{ISBN |0-310-21080-1}}
*"The Postmillennial View" in ''Three Views of the Millennium and Beyond'' (ed., Darrell Bock) (Zondervan, 1999). {{ISBN |0-310-20143-8}}
*"Reformed Theology and Six Day Creationism" in P. Andrew Sandlin, ed., ''Creation According to the Scriptures: A Presuppositional Defense of Literal, Six Day Creation'' (Chalcedon, 2001). {{ISBN |1-891375-12-1}}
*"A Revelation of the Revelation" and "Theonomy and Confession" in Robert R. Booth, ed., ''The Standard Bearer: A Festschrift for Greg L. Bahnsen'' (Covenant Media Foundation, 2002). {{ISBN |0-9678317-4-1}}
*"The Historical Problem with Hyper-Preterism" in Hyper-Preterism: A Reformed Critique, ed. [[Keith A. Mathison]] (P & R 2003). {{ISBN |0-87552-552-0}}
*"Agony, Irony and the Postmillennialist" and "Victory Belongs to the Lord" in ''Thine Is the Kingdom: A Summary of the Postmillennial Hope'', ed. by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. (Ross House, 2004). {{ISBN |1-891375-22-9}}
*"Pauline Communion v. Paedocommunion" in Joseph A. Pipa, Jr. and C. N. Willborn, eds., ''The Covenant: God’s Voluntary Condescension'' (Presbyterian Press, 2005). {{ISBN |1-931639-06-X}}
*"Defending the Faith" in Bodie Hodge and Roger Patterson, eds., ''World Religions and Cults: Counterfeits of Christianity'' (Master, 2015). {{ISBN|0-89051903X}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[http://KennethGentry.com Gentry's official website]
*[http://GoodBirthMinistries.com GoodBirth Ministries] Gentry's non-profit research ministry website
*[http://NiceneCouncil.com NiceneCouncil.com]
*[http://againstdispensationalism.com/ againstdispensationalism.com]
*[http://www.reformationonline.com/gentry.htm Some articles by Gentry]
*[http://postmillennialismtoday.com postmillennialismtoday.com] articles on eschatology
*[http://postmillennialism.com Postmillennialism.com]
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[[Category:American Presbyterians]]
[[Category:American Calvinist and Reformed theologians]]
[[Category:Christian Reconstructionismreconstructionism]]
[[Category:Tennessee Temple University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Chattanooga, Tennessee]]