Before Jerusalem Fell
by
Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
Back
Cover
What does it matter when the book of Revelation
was written? Much more than one might imagine! In fact, this seemingly
obscure historical detail has become the central focus in the debate over
Bible prophecy. The ramifications of the debate reach far beyond the
theoretical. When Revelation was revealed to John and written down for the
Church to read and understand, it had an immediate impact. Christians were
about to witness one of the most devastating judgments in history—the
destruction of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
For centuries scholars have argued over when the
Book of Revelation was written—before or after the destruction of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The most accepted but not the most compelling date
is around the time of Domitian, at the end of the first century when John
would have been nearly 100 years old. A more compelling date for the
writing is during the reign of Nero Caesar, just a few years before
Jerusalem’s destruction at the hands of the Roman commander Titus.
The evidence for this conclusion is found within
the pages of Scripture. The Bible itself tells us when the Book of
Revelation was written. We do not have to depend on people who wrote a
hundred years or more after the fact to get the accurate story. God’s
own Word sets the record straight. Through careful and painstaking work,
Dr. Gentry deals with all the evidence. He weighs all the arguments.
What does any of this have to do with us? For too
long the Book of Revelation has been used to hold many Christians in the
cult-like grip of pessimism, defeatism, and apathy. Each seemingly
newsworthy event is seen as a predestined "sign" of the
impending "end times" as a modern Church, woefully weak in its
historical studies, awaits miraculous rescue from a sinking cultural ship.
But there is another view that takes the Bible seriously at every point.
The Book of Revelation is a prophecy about what God said would and did
come to pass. It’s a reminder that God is faithful.
Inside
Back Cover
Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D., is an ordained
pastor of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church serving Grace Orthodox
Presbyterian Church in Costa Mesa, California. He also teaches courses in
New Testament and Theology at Bahnsen Theological Seminary in Placentia,
California.
Dr. Gentry has written or contributed to more
than fifteen books from seven publishers, including several works in the
field of eschatology:
A Tale of Two Cities: A Brief Commentary on
Revelation
Four Views on the Book of Revelation
The Beast of Revelation
He Shall Have Dominion
Three Views on the End of History
The Greatness of the Great Commission
Dr. Gentry may be contacted at: KennethGentry@Compuserve.com
Inside
Front Cover
With each thinking Christian’s disenchantment
over current-event-driven prophecy, the view outlined by Dr. Gentry in Before
Jerusalem Fell has quietly grown and now stands as a remedy for the
folly of trying to predict the timing of some end-time prophetic event.
Before Jerusalem Fell
is an excellent starting point for Christians seeking a fact-based,
faith-affirming maturity regarding Biblical prophecy. Dr. Gentry’s
meticulous research and irrefutable presentation of evidence provide a
much-needed beacon of light amidst the storm of popular "end
times" hype.
