All Nations Stood Before The Throne

J. E. Gautier Jr. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb..." Revelation 7:9 "Scripture connects as one theological Event - the Advent - Christs birth, life, resurrection, ascension, the outpouring of His Spirit upon the Church in A.D. 30, and the outpouring of His wrath upon Israel in the Holocaust of A.D. 6670." (David Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, p. 285) "We conclude that the day of visitation refers partly to the incarnation. This event brought a double-edged crisis. Jesus earthly ministry brought the gracious presence of Gods redemption to those who received him, but set the stage for a soon-to-occur visitation of wrath and judgment to Jerusalem and the impenitent children of Israel." (R.C. Sproul on Luke 19:43-44 , The Last Days According To Jesus, p.81) "...in Acts 2:16ff. the Pentecostal tongues event in Jerusalem was pointed to as a harbinger of the day of the Lord that was coming. Tongues-speaking was a warning sign to Peters hearers of the necessity of their being saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40) before the great and glorious day of the Lord (Acts 2:20)." (Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Before Jerusalem Fell, p.234) Acts 2:14-21 (Joel 2:28-32) "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them , Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Signs and Wonders... When? "And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood..." This type of language can best be described as "prophet-speak." In his article, Split Decision, Olivet Stands United, Daniel E. Harden explains prophet-speak as:the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth..." Chronologically correct. The type of "apocalyptic cosmic imagery" in Joel and Revelation 6, precedes "the day of the Lord." Didnt our Lord speak in similar language when describing His coming at AD 70? Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." Chronologically correct. ALL three of the above passages use prophet-speak to describe the coming "day of the Lord."

"I Have Reserved to Myself... A Remnant" In all three passages, the next "event" that immediately follows is: Joel 2:32 - 3:1 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem." Revelation 7:1-4 "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Matthew 24:31 "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Again, in chronological order, ALL three passages refer to the same event: Joel - "The remnant... bring(ing) again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem." Revelation - "angels holding the four winds of the earth... having the seal of the living God... seal(ing) the servants of our God in their foreheads... and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Matthew - "angels gather(ing) together his elect from the four winds..."

Romans 11:1-5, 26-27 "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men (compare 144,000 at AD 70), who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal (compare "who had not worshiped the beast or his image" Rev.20:4). Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace... ...And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, [Isaiah 59:20-21] There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Joel 3:21; Rev.7:14)." Joel 2:32-3:1 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem."

"The Valley of Decision" "...the Bible speaks of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and the destruction of Israel as being the same event, for they were intimately connected theologically. The prophet Joel foretold both the Day of Pentecost and the destruction of Jerusalem in one breath." (David Chilton, The Great Tribulation, p. 21)

According to Joels prophecy, AFTER the "pouring out of (Gods) spirit on all flesh," AFTER the "sun turned into darkness, and the moon into blood ," AFTER "the remnant of Judah and Jerusalem" are gathered... What would occur? Joel 3:2-21 "I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe (Rev.14:15-20; Matthew 13:36-43): come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more (see Eph.2:12-13,1922). And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord (Rev.7:17, 21:6, 22:1,17) and shall water the valley of Shittim. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed (Roms.11:27; Rev.7:14): for the Lord dwelleth in Zion." According to Revelation chapters 6 and 7, what would occur AFTER the"sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood" and AFTER the "one hundred and forty and four thousand of Israel were sealed"? Revelation 7:9, 14, 17 9. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 14. ...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Joel 3:21; Roms.11:27). 17. ...the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: (Joel 3:18) and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Isnt this the same chronological order as Joels prophecy? In his book, Before Jerusalem Fell, Dr. Ken Gentry says this about the 144,000, and those who came out of the Great Tribulation: "In Revelation 7:1-8 we find an interesting temporary divine protection of the land where four angels are seen holding back the winds of destruction... Then follows the sealing of the 144,000 from the Twelve Tribes of Israel... Clearly the reference to the Twelve Tribes is to Christians... of Jewish extraction... they are contrasted with the "great multitude" from "every nation" who praise God (v.9). ...While speaking in the Olivet Discourse of the destruction of the very Temple to which the disciples could physically point... He also clearly taught that all of these things would happen to "this generation" (Matt. 24:32). Indeed, this coming event was to be "the great tribulation" (Matt. 24:21) the very tribulation of which John writes (Rev. 7:14)." pp.232-234 "The Greek word for "tribe"...which in Scripture most frequently refers to the Jewish tribes. ...The term obviously has that import in Revelation 7:4ff., where it is used of each of the specifically named Twelve Tribes. ...Of course, where the term is found in connection with "every kindred, tribe, tongue, and nation" in Revelation, such would not be the exclusive reference (cf. Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6)." pp.127-128 So, Dr. Gentry admits that: 1) the reference to the Twelve Tribes is to Christians of Jewish extraction... they are contrasted with the "great multitude" from "every nation" who praise God (v.9). The Greek word for "tribe" is not an exclusive reference to the Jewish tribes in Rev. 7:9.

2) Indeed, this coming event was to be "the great tribulation" - the very tribulation of which John writes (Rev. 7:14). In these statements, Dr. Gentry is saying that Revelation 7:1-14 is to be considered as fulfilled by AD 70.

How then does Dr. Gentry "split" the Olivet Discourse and claim that the separation of the sheep and goats (all nations) is still a yet future-to-us event? see Daniel E. Hardens articles: When is a Heretic, not a Heretic? gathering of the elect," then... What comes next? Split Decision, Olivet Stands United the

The Judgment of the Nations: The Sheep and Goats. Matthew 25: 31-34 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him , (Mtt.16:27; 24:30-31) then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory (Rev.7:9 "before the throne and before the Lamb"): And before him shall be gathered all nations: (Joel 3:2,14 "I will also gather all nations... multitudes in the valley of decision"/ Rev.7:9 "a great multitude... of all nations stood before the throne") and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats (Joel 3:12 "there will I sit to judge all the heathen"): And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom (Dan.7:18-27) prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" "...inherit the kingdom..." - Throughout the New Testament, "the kingdom" was said to be "at hand." If this kingdom that the Sheep would inherit is not the same New Testament kingdom that was "near," then what kingdom is it?

Matthew 16:27-28 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with the angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Jesus said that some of His disciples would live to see Him come in His glory, with His angels, and in His kingdom to reward each according to their works! Do we believe Him? Matthew 25:31-32, 34 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (Mtt.13:49) ...Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." How are these two passages not referring to the same coming and kingdom? In both passages we have: the Son of Man coming in His glory, with His angels, and His kingdom to judge ALL! How can "the kingdom" of Matthew 16:28, NOT be "the kingdom" of 25:34?

It seems clear, that the partial preterist who wants to insert a 2,000 year gap into the Olivet Discourse, must also insert it between verses 1 and 2 of Joel chapter 3. 1. "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (remnant of Israel, 144,000 sealed of the tribes), 2. I will also gather all nations (the heathens), and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat...(judgment in the valley of decision, there will I sit to judge all the heathen)" "in those days, and in that time... I will also gather all nations... for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about." A 2,000 year gap between two verses? The partial preterist claims that AD 70 marked a "type of coming" in judgment upon apostate Israel ONLY. These verses say otherwise.

The "splitting" partial preterist must also contend that the "day of the Lord" of Joel 2:31, is not the same "day of the Lord" of Joel 3:14, which was said to be "near"! The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." 2:31 - (AD 70) "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." 3:14 (must be future for partial preterism) Two different "days of the Lord"? And the latter, when the nations (the heathen) are judged was said to be near!

The same holds true for Revelation 7. For Dr. Gentry, he must bounce back and forth from AD 70 (v.8), to our future (v.9), and back to AD 70 (v.14). 8. "of the tribe(s)... were sealed..." - AD 70 9. "a great multitude... of all nations... stood before the throne, and before the Lamb" - must be future, if Matthew 25:31-34 is not yet fulfilled. 14. "These are they which came out of great tribulation..." - back to AD 70 again. A 2,000 year gap between verses 8 and 9 of Revelation 7, then back 2,000 years to AD 70 again for verse 14? "The prophet Joel foretold both the Day of Pentecost and the destruction of Jerusalem in one breath." (David Chilton, The Great Tribulation) According to the partial preterist, how many more breaths must we take before Joels prophecy is fulfilled? And how many kingdom(s) are they saying the New Testament teaches?

"And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed" Dr. Gentry, in Before Jerusalem Fell says that the Parable of the Vineyard should be applied to AD 70. "There are a good number of prophetic statements in Christs teaching regarding Jerusalems demise (e.g., Matt. 21:33-46...)" p.234

Matthew 21:38-45 "But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance (Psalm 2:8 "the nations for Thine inheritance"). And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Mtt.25 "the nations... inherit the kingdom") And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them." Lets take a look at Matthew 25:34 again: "...Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Is Dr. Gentry postulating that the New Testament teaches two kingdoms? One that came in the first-century, and another to come at some future date? When did Christ or any of His apostles (or any of the Old Testament prophets for that matter), ever teach such a notion? Where are the verses that support it? To the contrary, the only kingdom that was ever taught, was said to be "at hand" or "near" or "about to be." Indeed the New Testament does not teach two different kingdoms. It is only the partial preterist system that, out of necessity, forces this to be. Instead of the biblical teaching of only one New Testament coming of Christ that would bring in the one never-ending kingdom; the partial preterists kingdom has an end, with an ushering-in of another kingdom at their future-to-us coming of Christ. once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Now this, Yet once more, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken..." The writer of Hebrews tells us that the first-century Christians were in the process of receiving a kingdom which could not be shaken. And that the things which could not be shaken would remain.We are receiving! Not that someday were going to receive, but we are receiving. But, they hadnt quite received it yet... It was a process." (David Chilton, Conference on Bible Prophecy, Oklahoma City,1997) Dr. Gentry concurs: "The Jerusalem holocaust was coming in that generation... I Thessalonians 2:16 speaks of Jews who always fill up the measure of their sins and upon whom the wrath has come...to the utmost. Hebrews 12:18 -29 contrasts Judaism and its fulfillment, Christianity, and notes that there is an approaching shaking of the old order coming." ( Before Jerusalem Fell, p.235) Is there another kingdom that will remain after the kingdom which cannot be shaken, is shaken? Partial preterism would have God say, "Yet twice more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Luke 1:33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." The New Testament speaks of only one kingdom that would come. It was said to be, "at hand," "near," or "about to be." "And of His kingdom there will be no end." The New Testament speaks of only one coming judgment that was about to be, that would attend the kingdom. Both of these "events" would occur at the one New Testament "coming of the Son of Man." The partial preterist system has accepted the traditional view of a future-to-us "eternal phase of the kingdom at Christs Second Advent." (Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry, House Divided - The Break-Up of Dispensational Theology, p.188) They have a sort-of transference of the kingdom into its "eternal phase" at a future Advent. Where are the verses that support this? Of course the consistent preterist would agree, "Youre absolutely right, the eternal phase of Christs kingdom would come at His Second Advent. But, that was two thousand years ago."

The "Now, Not Yet" Experience "...we hold with the great majority of evangelicals the idea of a now, not yet kingdom..." ( House Divided, p.188) The reason that Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry hold to this "now, not yet" idea is because, thats what the New Testament teaches! But, who was it that experienced the "now, not yet"? It was the first-century, New Testament-times Christians. They lived during the "now, not yet." "but we are receiving. But, they hadnt quite received it yet... It was a process." (David Chilton, Conference on Bible Prophecy, Oklahoma City, 1997) Again, in their book, House Divided, Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry: "Thus, the Gospels emphasize on several occasions the nearness of His kingdom (Matt. 3:2; 4:12, 17; 10:7; 16:28; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 21:31). After the Gospels there is no longer any preaching of the kingdom as at hand because: The Kingdom Was Established During Christs Ministry." p.180 Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry say that "the kingdom was established during Christs ministry," and they show scriptural support for this. A more fitting term would be, introduced. The kingdom was introduced during Christs min istry. BUT, Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry would also say, "the kingdom did in fact come (emphasis JEGjr) in Christs ministry" (House Divided, p.180). Well, which is it? They say, "After the Gospels there is no longer any preaching of the kingdom as at hand." Is this a true statement? Several of the verses that they have supplied are shown to not support their theory (see further below for Mtt.16:28 and Mk.9:1). Lets take a look at one of those verses: Luke 21:31 "Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh." Yes, Jesus may have said this during His ministry which was recorded in Lukes gospel, but to what was He referring? "...Lukes account in Luke 21, which definitely speaks of the A.D. 70 destructio n of the physical temple to which the disciples actually pointed. (Gentry, Beast of Revelation, p. 128) Luke 21:31 is found in Christs Olivet Discourse. In the previous verses, Jesus tells His disciples of the "signs" to look for before His Return. One of those signs is found in Luke 21:20, "But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand." Jesus spoke these words some thirty years before "these things" actually happened. But He told them that when these things began to come to pass, to know that the kingdom of God is nigh, or near. (note Rev.11:18s resurrection) David Chilton on Revelation 11:15, Days of Vengeance: "At this point in history Gods plan is made apparent: He has placed Jews and Gentiles on equal footing in the Covenant. The destruction of apostate Israel and the Temple revealed that God had created a new nation, a new Temple, as Jesus prophesied to the Jewish leaders: Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it (Matt.21:43). Thus the Kingdom of God, the Fifth Kingdom prophesied in Daniel 2, becomes universalized, as the heavenly choir sings: The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." p.287-288 Marcellus Kik, An Eschatology of Victory, "The catastrophe of Jerusalem really signalized the beginning of a new and world-wide kingdom, marking the full separation of the Christian Church from legalistic Judaism. The whole system of worship, so closely associated with Jerusalem and the Temple, received, as it were, a death blow from God himself." p.138 Revelation 12:10-11 "And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom

of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death." "The result of Michaels (Dan.12:1, JEGjr) victory over the Dragon... Now have come the salvation - the victorious deliverance into a "wide, open space" - and the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. The outcome of the Holy War is this: The Kingdom has arrived!" (Chilton on Rev.12:10-11, Days of Vengeance, p.315) The passages in Revelation 11 and 12, speak of the soon-to-occur fulfillment of Daniels prophecy. Daniel 7:18, 21, 27 "But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom (Heb.12:28 "we are receiving [now, not yet] a kingdom"), and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. ...and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time (Rev.12:10 "now is come... the kingdom of our God") came for the saints to possess (Mtt.25:34, the sheep, those on His right, inherit the kingdom) the kingdom. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Dr. Gentry even supports that the kingdom actually came at AD 70: "In Mark 9:1 Jesus promises that some of his hearers would not "taste of death" before witnessing the "coming of the kingdom with power." This almost certainly refers to the destruction of the temple at the behest of Christ..." ( Before Jerusalem Fell, p. lii) Dr. Gentry failed to mention Mark 8:38. These two verses together (a most unusual place for a chapter division to say the least), Mark 8:38 and 9:1, parallel Matthew 16:27 and 28. Mark 8:38-9:1 "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power ." Matthew 16:27-28 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom ." Theres the "now, not yet." The time between Christs ministry (the introduction of the kingdom), and His coming (the consummation of the kingdom) at AD 70 is what is reflected throughout the New Testament. The first-century Christians who lived during that time experienced the "now, not yet." NOT US! Audience Relevance! We must take off our Nikes and put on their sandals. (see pastor David Curtis sermon: "The Transition Period - Philippians 3:12-16") Note what Matthew 16:27 and 28 teaches: At Christs coming in His kingdom, with His holy angels, with the glory of His Father, He would reward every man according to his works; and that some of His disciples would live to see it! No gimmicks, just plain language.

"In the judgment with this generation" Matthew 10:11, 14-15, 23; 11:20-24; 12:41-42, 45 "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. ...And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done , because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you . And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee . The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation , and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. ...Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation ." Isnt AD 70 when "this wicked generation" was judged? Matthew 23:29-35 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets (Lev.26: 40-42). Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city (Mtt.10:23): That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." The heathen nations would be judged along with that wicked generation of vipers! The partial preterist insists that Christs coming in AD 70 was simply a "type of coming" in judgment upon Israel. But we have already shown that this is not the case. Christ Himself said, "every man" (Mtt.16:27), that is almost verbatim Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one acccording to his work" which Dr. Gentry says is AD 70. Joels prophecy, "in those days, and in that time... I will also gather all nations, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen" (Joel 3:1-2,12) was proven to be an AD 70 event. The judgment of the sheep and goats, "all nations" (Mtt.25:32) was shown to be the soon-to-occur fulfillment of Joels prophecy. Revelation 7, which Dr. Gentry posits at AD 70, was shown to be that same group ( the sheep) from Matthew 25s "sheep and goats." And in the above passages, when Christ "upbraids the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done," He includes the Gentiles within the same judgment of impenitent Israel. How does this not represent the so-called "universal Judgment of all mankind"? These are the very same verses that before, were thought to support the idea of a future-to-us Coming. Since it has been shown that the Gentiles were also judged at AD 70 ("At this point in history Gods plan is made apparent: He has placed Jews and Gentiles on equal footing in the Covenant." David Chilton, Days of Vengeance, p.287), where are the verses that teach a future-to-us Final Universal Judgment?

"World Without End"

Dr. Gentry from, The Great Tribulation in Progressive Dispensationalism (Part 3) - Dispensationalism in Transition, September, 1998 "...I do not believe that I am THEOLOGICALLY committed to requiring that both judgments (A.D. 70 and Second Advent) appear in Matthews Olivet Discourse. My evangelical creedal commitments require a Second Advent, to be sure, but not necessarily a Second Advent in Matthew 24-25. Indeed, these chapters could theoretically speak ONLY of A.D. 70 (even though I believe such would be quite awkward). I do not have any unyielding theological commitments against applying the entire Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25 to A.D. 70. If these chapters apply only to A.D. 70, so be it!" To reiterate the sentiment of some well known premil-dispensationalists who engage Dr. Gentry in debate (paraphrase from House Divided, p.274): If [Gentry] were to take the whole Olivet discourse as already fulfilled... then he is left with the problem of where does the Bible actually teach the second coming? Dr. Gentry states that he is willing to have the entire Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24 and 25, apply to AD 70. If this is the case, God sure does down-play the supposed "End of the World!" doesnt He? It seems that more and more passages are being "applied" to AD 70, and less and less to the end of the world. But, Dr. Gentry will continue to hold to that future-to-him coming because of his "evangelical creedal commitments." How much more of the New Testament is the partial preterist going to give away to AD 70 before they realize, "You know what, Ive run out of verses, the Bible really doesnt say anything about the end of the world does it?" Actually, the Bible does address the "end of the world" issue: "What Peter is saying (II Peter 3:7-13 JEGjr) is that, once the Old era is gone, the New Covenant will be established. An era in which righteousness dwells. The New World Order of the Lord Jesus Christ has arrived. And according to Gods promise, the saving knowledge of Him will fill the earth as the wate rs cover the sea (Is.11:9, JEGjr). ...there are scripture passages that indicate that the world isnt going to end in a fiery holocaust, its going to continue on forever. Scripture references for those: Psalm 78:69; 104:5; 119:90; Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Ephesians 3:21." (David Chilton, Conference on Bible Prophecy, Oklahoma City, 1997) Psalm 78:69 "And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever." Psalm 104:5 "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever ." Psalm 119:90 "Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth." Ecclesiastes 1:4 "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever." Ephesians 3:21 "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Also: Genesis 8:21-22 "And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done . While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Psalm 148:4-6 "Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass."

If these verses dont mean what they plainly say, then what do they mean? (see pastor David Curtis sermon: "The End of the World? - Matthew 13:40" )

Welcome to the Dance Since the kingdom has already come, one verse really says it all. II Timothy 4:1 NKJV "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." In his book Before Jerusalem Fell, where he is attempting to prove the pre-AD 70 dating of the book of Revelation, Dr. Gentry prefers the "more literal fashion" translation of the Greek mello - by Alfred Marshall. The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, however, (is) quite literal in both instances. The relevant phrases read: "the things which are about to occur" (Rev.1:19) and "being about to come" (Rev.3:10)." p.141 I have to agree with Dr. Gentry here. If I had my choice in the matter, I also would prefer the "more literal fashion" over the not-so-literal fashion. In their book, House Divided - The Break-Up of Dispensational Theology, Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry: "...a more accurate translation of the verse suggests another more reasonable interpretation (which we adopt): I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom." p.188 In their fight against premil-dispensationalism, Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry chose to use the NASB, which they consider to be a "more accurate translation" of II Timothy 4:1. Continuing on in House Divided, Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry quote a portion of II Timothy 4:1 from Alfred Marshalls, The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. "...The charge, then, would be with a two-fold emphasis on the basis of the fact that Christ Jesus, who is the Judge, will judge the living and the dead, both [by] the appearance of him and [by] the kingdom of him, that is, by His Second Advent and by His Kingdom." p.188 In both books, Before Jerusalem Fell and House Divided, Dr. Gentry prefers the "quite literal" and "more literal fashion" translation of Alfred Marshall. Dr. Gentry approves of Alfred Marshalls translation of the Gr. mello as about to, in Revelation 1:19 and 3:10, and uses it to serve his purpose of dating the book of Revelation. As we have seen, he also quotes a portion of Alfred Marshalls translation of II Timothy 4:1, to serve his purpose against the proponents of premil-dispensationalism. One question: Why wasnt II Timothy 4:1 quoted in its entirety? Why was it simply picked up at, "both [by] the appearance of him..." Could it be, that had Drs. Bahnsen and Gentry quoted the entire verse from Alfred Marshalls translation of II Timothy 4:1, that it would have meant LIGHTS OUT for partial preterism? Lets take a look at how Mr. Marshall translates II Timothy 4:1 No, wait a minute, lets first see how our NASB, NIV, NKJV and Alfred Marshall translate the identical form of mello - was about to open his mouth..." NIV - "Just as Paul was about to speak..." NKJV - "And when Paul was about to open his mouth..."

Marshall - "And being about - Paul to open his mouth..." Now, look how Marshall translates THE SAME EXACT WORD in II Timothy 4:1: "I solemnly witness before - God and Christ Jesus, the [one] being about to judge living [ones] and dead, both [by] the appearance of him and [by] the kingdom of him." One verse really does say it ALL, doesnt it? By Drs. Bahnsen and Gentrys own admission, the Judgment was to have taken place " both [by] the appearance of him and [by] the kingdom of him." "...the fact that Christ Jesus, who is the Judge, will judge the living and the dead, both [by] the appearance of him and [by] the kingdom of him, that is, by His Second Advent and by His Kingdom." That was the whole point that they were trying to make in this section of House Divided. They are correct on both counts. The Judgment would occur "by His Second Advent and by His Kingdom." Its just that they are off by 2,000 years!For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Dr. Gentry on Hebrews 9:22-10:7, specifically verse 9:26: "Notice the key phrase: in the end of the world. In the original Greek, it reads: completion of the ages. This phrase must be taken literally, but its literal frame of reference was the fall of Jerusalem and the annulment of the temples sacrificial system. The author was therefore prophesying the imminent end of national Israel as Gods covenant people." (The Beast of Revelation, p.xiv) But wait a minute, isnt this the passage that speaks of Christs Second Advent? Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Dr. Gentry is not inserting another 2,000 year gap at verse 27 is he? This "second time" must be referring to Christs coming at AD 70, which "end(ed) national Israel as Gods covenant people." Where did our phrases, "Second Coming," and "Second Advent" come from? Surely, it was Hebrews 9:28! In the above, Dr. Gentry has stated that the "completion of the ages" refers to the fall of Jerusalem. And elsewhere, "...the end of the Temple and the Jewish age (Matt.24:2, 3, 15-16)." (Before Jerusalem Fell, p.242) I Corinthians 2:8 "...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." During what "age" was our Lord crucified? Titus 2:12 "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" Dr. Gentry must concur that Pauls "this age" and "the present age" refer to the same "completion of the ages" that would see their end at the destruction of the Temple and Jewish age. Paul wrote during that Jewish age. He died before the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, Pauls " present age," must be the Jewish age.now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ...so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Titus 2:12-13 "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and

godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Notice that in this passage, I Peter 5:1-4, Peter is telling his fellow elders that they would receive their crown at His appearing. "I, a fellow elder, exhort the elders among you, I being also witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a part of the glory that will (Gr. mello, is about to, JEGjr) be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." II Thessalonians 1:4-10 (Weymouth, New Testament In Modern Speech, 1909) "...we ourselves (Paul, Silas and Timothy) make honourable mention of you (Thessalonian Christians) among the Churches of God because of your patience and faith amid all your persecutions and amid the afflictions which you are enduring. For these are a plain token of Gods righteous judgement, which has in view your being deemed worthy of admission to Gods King dom (Mtt.25:34 "inherit the kingdom"), for the sake of which, indeed, you are sufferers. A plain token of Gods righteous judgement, I say, since it is a righteous thing for Him to requite with affliction those who are now afflicting you; and to requite with rest you who are suffering affliction now - rest with us at the reappearing (Heb.9:28 "appear the second time") of the Lord Jesus from Heaven, attended by His mighty angels (Mtt.16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31). He will come in flames of fire to take vengeance on those who have no knowledge of God, and do not obey the Good News as to Jesus, our Lord. They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His glorious majesty, when He comes on that day..." Take a close look at this last verse, and compare to: Matthew 25:41, 46 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire... And these will go away into everlasting punishment..." Actually, compare the entire sheep and goats passage (Mtt.25:31-46) with the above II Thessalonians passage. In both we have: Christ coming with His angels. The living Christians inheriting the Kingdom. And the unrighteous paying the penalty. So, Christ would appear a second time at the completion of the then present age, in His kingdom... but II Timothy 4:1 hasnt happened yet? II Timothy 4:1 NKJV "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will (being about to, JEGjr) judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." According to Drs. Bahnsen and Gentrys interpretation, Christs " appearing" was His Second Advent: "...the fact that Christ Jesus, who is the Judge, will judge the living and the dead, both [by] the appearance of him and [by] the kingdom of him, that is, by His Second Advent and by His Kingdom." ( House Divided, p.188, emphasis JEGjr) From Ernest Hampden-Cooks The Christ Has Come, 1891: "The belief that Christs Second Advent, with its accompaniments of a resurrection and a judgment, took place at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem rests on precisely the same basis as the expectation of the events ever taking place; namely, on the plain, emphatic, and continually repeated statements of our Lord and His apostles given beforehand...He himself predicted that these events would take place at the close of the Jewish dispensation. To Christian believers this affords the strongest possible presumption that they did take place...The burden of proof in the argument rests not on those who assert, but on those who deny the past advent...To deny the truth of His predictions because we are unable historically to verify a certain portion of them is simply to make manifest the shallowness of our faith in Him. To disprove the truth of those predictions

would be to shake the Christian religion to its very foundations. Let God and Gods Son be true, and, if need be, every mere man a liar!" Because in the opinion of some, not by sound exegesis, the living and the dead have not been judged yet, II Timothy 4:1 is therefore reserved for some future-to-us appearing and kingdom. So, according to partial preterism, Christ has appeared, but it wasnt The Beast of Revelation pp.23-24) Just out of curiosity, if Dr. Gentry really wanted to show the great zeal he has for the proper translation of the Greek word mello, why didnt he also go to Youngs Literal Translation of the Bible, for its translation of mello in:I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign" Or in: Acts 24:15 "having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous" If he had done this, he could have shown: 1) just how inconsistent it is to take the Resurrection of Revelation 11 and 20, out of "the things that are about to come after these things." (Rev.1:19) And 2) that there must be a driving presupposition that forces an individual to pick and choose, when and where hes going to allow for the proper translation of a word to effect his interpretation of a certain passage, or not. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end... And he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." The New Geneva Study Bible: 12:4 seal the book. Sealing the book preserves it unaltered as it awaits fulfillment. p.1355 In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus opens the seal. Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet ..." Daniel 12:11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up..." Daniel 9:27 "...in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to the sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined..." "The usefulness of this passage is enhanced by the fact that Christ draws from it in His Olivet Discourse (cf. Matt. 24:15) which is clearly related to the A.D. 70 destruction of the Temple (cf. Matt. 24:1-2)." (John F. Walvoord on Daniel 9:24-27, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 35) Matthew 24:21 is virtually verbatim Daniel 12:1. Both describing the "Great Tribulation" period which partial preterists place at AD 70. Even the New Geneva Study Bible recognizes the correlation:For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." Daniel 12:1b "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time." Daniel 12 screams of AD 70 fulfillment, and the partial preterist knows it, so it is posited there. But what about those pesky resurrection verses? They sure do throw a monkey wrench into the works dont they? Daniel 12:1-2, 13 "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time

(Mtt.24:21): and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Rev.20:12-15) "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." - "At that time Michael shall stand up... and there shall be a time of trouble... and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake..." Are these two different "at that time(s)"? One "at that time" that is placed at AD 70, then the next "at that time" still off into our future? And dont forget that in verse 4, we must come back to AD 70 again! These are resurrection passages! If you were a Jew, having been taught Daniels prophecy your whole life, when would you have expected the resurrection and the "end of the days" to be? Upon a simple, straightforward reading, your only conclusion could be: Daniel 12:1,7,11 "...there shall be a time of trouble... when the power of the holy people is completely shattered... And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up..." "...the fall of Jerusalem and the annulment of the temples sacrificial system." (G entry, Beast of Revelation, p.xiv) Matthew 23:36-24:2 "Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... See! Your house is left to you desolate... Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." "While speaking in the Olivet Discourse of the destruction of the very Temple to which the disciples could physically point..." (Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell, p.233) In the very next verse, Matthew 24:3, why did the disciples ask what they did? How did they know what questions to ask? "...Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" "...the end of the Temple and the Jewish age (Matt.24:2, [3], 15-16)." (Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell, p.242, emphasis JEGjr) Jesus just finished telling them that their Temple and city would all be destroyed. How did the disciples know to tie the destruction of Jerusalem, with His coming and the end of the age? Could it be because they knew Daniel 12?

Daniel 12:7b "...and when the power of the holy people is completely shattered, all these things shall be finished." Daniel is told that "all these things shall be finished," the resurrection included, "when the power of the holy people is completely shattered." This should remind us of another passage that says "all" would be fulfilled by AD 70.

Luke 21:20, 22 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near...For these are the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled." Note that many Bibles reference Daniel 12:2 to Matthew 25:46 (sheep and goats). Daniel 12:2 "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." AD 70 context. Matthew 25:46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous (the sheep, Rev.7:9s "great multitude of all nations, clothed with white robes") into eternal life." Olivet Discourse, AD 70 context.

Daniel 12:8-9 "Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, My lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Daniel 10:14; 8:26 "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come. ...therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future." Daniel is told to "close up and seal" the words and visions of his prophecy because they refer to "many days yet to come." Weve already seen that Christ opened that seal, and that the things which Daniel prophesied would "all" be accomplished by AD 70. The Book of Revelation begins and ends (Rev.1:1,3 and 22:6,10) with the phrase, "the things which must shortly take place... for the time is at hand." Revelation 22:10 "And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand ." The apostle John is told to NOT seal the Book of Revelation because the time is at hand. All Old Testament prophecies would see their fulfillment "shortly." Jesus said that "all things that were written" would be fulfilled by Jerusalems destruction. The angel told Daniel that "all these things" would be fulfilled "at that time." thousand years in the future could be considered "at hand" ...How could such events so remotely stretched out into the future be "at hand"? But if the expected events were to occur within a period of from one to five years... then all becomes clear." Unbelievable! How in the world does Dr. Gentry (and partial preterism) get away with taking the Resurrection of Revelation 11 and 20, out of "at hand"? Does God allow for it? Do we have any verses that say, "All things except the resurrection"? Is John told, "Seal up the resurrection because it is not till many days in the future, but Do Not seal up all other things for their time is at hand"? We are taught through Daniel 12 that the resurrection would occur at the destruction of Jerusalem! We are taught by Christ in the Olivet Discourse that Daniels prophecy would see fulfillment in that generation (Mtt.24:34). And we are taught in Revelation that ALL these things were to shortly take place! What part of Scripture is the consistent preterist violating because he says, "the resurrection was an AD 70 event"? I guess, if you want to blatantly take verses 1, 2 and 13s resurrection out of Daniel 12, and blatantly take Daniel 12 out of its certain AD 70 context; and if you blatantly take the resurrection of Revelation chapters 11 and 20 (verbatim Dan.12 language), out of "the things which must shortly come to pass... for the time is at hand" non-sealed sandwich of Revelation 1 and 22; and if you say, "Well yes, He did say, 'all things would be fulfilled', but He didn't really mean ALL things", and if you arbitrarily "split" the Olivet Discourse, and if you wanted to flat-out deny the true meaning of the Greek word mello when it suits you...thousand years in the future could be considered 'at hand' ...How could such events so remotely stretched out into the future be "at hand"? (Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell, p.141)

I couldnt have said it better myself.

Mello - In the footnotes on page 141 of Before Jerusalem Fell, Dr. Gentry shows his favor, by listing these literal translators of the Greek word, mello: Green, Marshall, Weymouth, and Young. In the verses below, all of these men translate mello as "about to" or "soon to be" in their Literal Translation Bibles. All taken from Jay P. Green Srs., Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, 1976. Unless otherwise specified. Then I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, He being about to judge living and dead [at] His appearance and His kingdom." Acts 24:25 (exact form of mello as II Timothy 4:1 and Acts 18:14) "And [Paul] having reasoned concerning righteousness and self control, and the Judgment that is about to be, becoming afraid, Felix answered, For the present, go; but taking time later, I will call for you." Hebrews 10:25-27 (exact form as II Timothy 4:1 and Acts 18:14; 24:25) "...not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, as [is the] custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much more as you see the Day drawing near. For [if] we [are] willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries (compare II Thess.1:1-10)."

Acts 28:6 (NASB translates as "was about to") "But they expected him to be about to become inflamed, or suddenly to fall down dead." Acts 24:14-15 (exact form as Acts 28:6) "But I confess this to you that according to the Way, which they say [is] a sect, so I worship the ancestral God believing all things according to that having been written in the Law and the Prophets, having a hope toward God, which these themselves also admit, [of] a resurrection being about to be of [the] dead, both of the just and unjust ones."

Matthew 16:27-28 (exact form as Rev.1:19, that Dr. Gentry favors) "For the Son of man is about to come with His angels in the glory of His Father. And then He will give reward to each according to his action. Truly I say to you, There are some standing here who in no way will taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom." Acts 17:31 (exact form as Mtt.16:27 and Rev.1:19 ) "...because he set a day in which he is about to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, a guarantee offering to all having raised up him out of [the] dead." Alfred Marshalls, The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament

I Peter 5:1,4 (exact form as Rev.3:10, that Dr. Gentry favors) "I, a fellow elder, exhort the elders among you, I being also witness of the sufferings of Christ, and [being] sharer of the glory about to be revealed. ...And [at] the appearing of the Chief Shepherd, you(fellow elders JEGjr)will receive the never-fading crown of glory"

Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits for service, being sent out because of the [ones] being about to inherit salvation (compare Heb.9:28 "Christ shall appear a second time without sin to those expecting Him for salvation")."

In conclusion, I believe that the partial preterist position violates much of the plain teaching of Scripture, simply because they refuse to let the Scriptures plainly teach. Their predilection of a future coming of Christ, forces a still future resurrection. That in turn, makes for all sorts of twists and turns: 2,000 year leaps from AD 70, to our future, back to AD 70 again; picking and choosing when and where audience relevance should or shouldnt apply... How did the time-statements ever change one coming into two anyway? "Oh, I can dump all of those bothersome time-statements off at AD 70, and still keep my future-to-me Coming?" No, you cant! The partial preterist position is constantly in transition. You never know whats going to be given up to AD 70 next. Who knows maybe II Timothy 4:1?

"The more I pondered the awesome implications of Jesus words, the more I realized their truly revolutionary significance for eschatology. Without exception, every event foretold by the Biblical prophets was fulfilled within that generation, as Jesus said." "Scripture foretells a Second Coming not a third!" (~David Chilton, Foreword to What Happened in AD 70? By Ed Stevens, 1997)