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In 1989, a well-known spokesman for the theonomist camp, Kenneth L. Gentry, published a work devoted to proving that John the Apostle wrote Revelation during the sixties of the first century A.D. Basing his position heavily on Rev 17:9-11 and 11:1-13, he used internal evidence within the book as his principal argument for the early date. ... Inconsistency marks Gentry's hermeneutical pattern. Predisposition keeps him from seeing the book's theme verse as a reference to Christ's second coming. His explanation of Rev 17:9-11 is fraught with weaknesses, as is his discussion of 11:1-2. Two major flaws mar Gentry's discussion of...

Much fuss has been made in our Jewish evangelism circles regarding "replacement" theology, the idea that the church has "replaced" the Jewish people in the plan of God. Some have even accused all who think New Covenant believers are "Spiritual Israel" as being guilty of this "replacement theology", that is, of replacing the Jewish people with the church. Charges have been made that this idea of "Spiritual Israel" leads to anti-semitism. Ironically my first exposure to the idea of all believers being spiritually Israel came about through involvement in "Messianic Judaism"! Way back in 1975 I attended a seminar by...

A Journey Home By Pastor Randy Booth How natural and easy it is to assume the beliefs we have grown up with to be correct. Yet, we are often unable to give solid biblical reasons to support many of the things we believe. Failing to clearly understand our own views, we may be tempted to attribute wrong motives and reasons to those who hold contrary positions. Among Protestant Christians the doctrine of baptism seems especially vulnerable to such sloppiness. Our symbols are important to us because they represent who we are. When someone messes with our symbols, then they...

Todd Baker, a dispensationalist theologian, wrote an article for the Levitt Letter in the June/July 2002 edition, which accused those who hold to non-dispensational views as being responsible in part for the Holocaust and other atrocities committed against the Jews, or at least to creating an environment suitable for such events. Particularly in light of the controversy over The Passion of the Christ, the charges of Christian anti-Semitism have arisen with new furor. We must of necessity look at his position and whether it is a valid one. Baker, like other dispensationalists, holds to a viewpoint, contrary to historic Christian...

What does John Piper believe about dispensationalism, covenant theology, and new covenant theology? There are three main theological camps on the issues of law, gospel, and the structuring of God's redemptive relationship with humankind: dispensationalism, covenant theology, and new covenant theology. Many have written to us asking about the differences between these three views, and so before discussing John Piper's perspective we will give an overview of each. DispensationalismIt can be hard to summarize dispensational theology as a whole because in recent years multiple forms of it have developed. In general, there are three main distinctives. First, dispensationalism sees God...