Two-Volume Set: Revelation Commentary by Keneth Gentry, ThD
One of the great ironies of Scripture is that the most difficult book within it is called “Revelation.” To “reveal” means to “uncover, open up”—with a view to understanding. How can such a perplexing book as this be called a “revelation”? If we were naming the book, rather than calling it “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” we might be tempted to title it “The Mystery from John the Apostle.” Indeed, John himself is perplexed and confused from time to time.
Fascination with the mysteries of Revelation is not limited to those schooled in Christian study who are ready for the deeper things of God. That curiosity reaches all the way down to the newest believers in Christ.
One of the great disappointments of the serious Christian exegete is the flood of literature on Revelation that is virtually worthless. When we combine the mysterious nature of Revelation with the continuing fascination with it, the market is primed to generate all sorts of would-be “prophecy experts” to fill the demand. Instead of being nourished on the sincere milk of the word, the new Christian is too often fed a milkshake of confused approaches to Revelation.
The Divorce of Israel presents a “redemptive-historical” approach to Revelation. In it John presents a forensic drama wherein God is divorcing his old covenant wife Israel so that he can take a new wife, the new covenant “Israel of God” composed of Jews and Gentiles alike. Thus Revelation presents a vitally important redemptive-historical transition from the land-based, ethnically focused, temple-dominated old covenant economy to its worldwide, pan-ethnic, spiritual new covenant fulfillment.
Author and commentator Gary DeMar reviews the work on his podcast.
1800+ pages in 2 hardback volumes (shrink-wrapped), including Scripture, subject, and name indexes -- this is the last remaining set of the first printing of this historic work!
Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., holds degrees from Tennessee Temple University (B.A.), Reformed Theological Seminary (M. Div.), and Whitefield Theological Seminary (Th. M.; Th. D). He also attended Grace Theological Seminary for two years. He is Research Professor in New Testament (Whitefield Theological Seminary), a theological writer, and conference speaker. He has written numerous books and articles on issues such as theology, ecclesiology, eschatology, theonomy, six-day creation, presuppositionalism, worldview, Christian education, and more. He also offers a Christian writing correspondence course. He is the Director of GoodBirth Ministries, a non-profit religious educational ministry committed to sponsoring, subsidizing, and advancing serious Christian scholarship and education. He is a retired Presbyterian minister holding his ordination vows in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Assembly.
“The interpretation of the book of Revelation is a daunting task, not one that should be undertaken lightly or without an awareness of the diversity of opinion regarding its authorship, date of writing, and the myriad of approaches to the interpretation of its prophetic visions. Ken Gentry’s commentary is up to the task. While making a case for his distinctly preterist, historical-redemptive interpretation of the book, he respectfully and keenly engages interpreters with whom he differs. Among recent commentaries on Revelation, Gentry’s extensive, two-volume work deserves to be included as arguably the most thorough representation of the (partial) preterist approach.”
Cornelis Venema, Ph.D.
President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary
Author, The Promise of the Future
“Ken Gentry’s two-volume exposition of the book of Revelation is no doubt the most thorough treatment of that work from an essentially preterist point of view to date. Yet Gentry is careful to emphasize not only the historical setting of Revelation leading up to the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in AD 70, but especially the redemptive meaning of the book, which is the divine divorce of Israel due to her idolatry which culminated in the rejection of Jesus. Thus the seven churches of Revelation are a warning to Jewish Christians not to turn back to an irrelevant and discarded Judaism. The seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments describe God’s systematic defeat of Israel and ultimately the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Romans from AD 66-70. Revelation finishes with the majestic portrayal of God’s new wife, the church of the New Covenant which is the New Jerusalem. Both the theology and the historical details of Gentry’s magnum opus will appeal to interested readers in Revelation for years to come.”
C. Marvin Pate, Ph.D.
Chair of Theology
Ouachita Baptist University
“Gentry's writings have largely set the standard for orthodox preterist writings but now, with this commentary, he for sure leads the pack. Agree with it, in full or in details, this commentary has much to offer all who care to grapple with his views. I commend it highly. You have not studied the Book of Revelation fully until you have done so.
Jay Adams, Ph.D.
Author, The Time Is At Hand: Prophecy and the Book of Revelation
“Gentry has devoted much of his scholarly career to understanding and elucidating the book of Revelation, and the present work is a veritable goldmine of exegetical insights. He offers here arguably the most extensive, vigorous preterist exegesis of Revelation in at least a generation. Non-preterist interpreters of Revelation must reckon with Gentry if they are to be taken seriously.”
P. Andrew Sandlin, STD
Founder and President, Center for Cultural Leadership
“With fresh exegesis, creative application, and a keen sensitivity to recurring canonical themes, patterns, and types, Gentry deftly offers a near-exhaustive analysis of the Revelator's vision that is as fruitful as it is hopeful. These volumes belong on the shelves of every pastor, scholar, and student."
Dustin Messer, Th.D.
Biblical Worldview and Cultural Engagement Coordinator, Legacy Christian Academy (Frisco, TX)
Fellow at the National Review Institute
"Dr. Kenneth Gentry’s long awaited commentary on Revelation is the standard for partial preterism and the big challenge for futurism and idealism. He as the leading Revelation scholar proves why the redemptive-historical interpretation is the most convincing method to unveil Revelation, the conclusion of the Bible."
Youngmog Song, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament at Kosin University, S. Korea
"Reads like a historical conspiracy thriller! But it really happened! Since I was raised on the silliness of Hal Lindsey, and then the nonsense of Left Behind, Reading The Divorce of Israel was like reading the book of Revelation for the first time, wondering what was going to happen next. And Gentry's masterful storytelling exegesis does not disappoint. The facts are much more satisfying than all those End Times fictions out there. Preterism has been a growing movement within Christendom, but this commentary is a Biblical trumpet of the last days of "Left Behind" eschatology."
Brian Godawa
Author, best-selling novel series, Chronicles of the Apocalypse