Customer Reviews

The Beast of Revelation

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About 250 pages in length, this book is vintage Gentry. He spends about 100 pages or so identifying the Beast of Revelation, making an ironclad case that has proven impossible to refute. In order to buttress his position, he spends almost 150 pages (the rest of the book) answering when exactly Revelation was written. This is an abbreviated version of Gentry's "Before Jerusalem Fell," another work that conclusively affirms the Preterist perspective.
There is no better defender of the Preterist view alive today than Gentry. His works, always scholarly, yet accessible to the reader of every type, have given orthodox Preterism a solid voice in the evangelical community.
He has done a great service to the body of Christ with his research, and American Vision has fleshed out this service by putting Gentry's book back into print.
This book is comprised of 15 chapters that break down the issues very thoroughly, yet simply. READ THIS BOOK! One chapter a day, and in 2 weeks your entire perspective on the book of Revelation may be revolutionized!!
In addition to a great theological watershed, you'll get a book with a really cool cover. What else could you ask for?

In reading R. C. Sproul a few years ago, I noted his frequent mention of Kenneth L. Gentry's writings. So I decided to look into Gentry's works. Amazon.com is always my first source for good, economical books.

Boy was I impressed with Gentry's theological argumentation. And this book is one of his best. He points out from history and from the Bible that the terrifying Beast portrayed in Revelation is none other than the evil emperor Nero Caesar.

Although this is surprising at first (because of the prominence of Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye books), I didn't put the book down. Rather I read on. And was I amazed!

He points out that to understand Revelation you must read the first three verses -- and take them seriously. John very clearly tells us that he is writing about things "shortly to take place" because "the time is at hand." He also ends his book with the same statements: Rev. 22:6, 10.

Gentry shows that Nero was the sixth emperor of Rome (corresponding with the sixth head of the Beast), that when he died the next emperor ruled only a "short while" (like Rev. 17:10ff teaches), and that he sought to "make war against the saints" through persecution (Rev. 13:5ff). Nero fits these and other Revelation statement very nicely.

Thanks, Dr. Gentry, for such a helpful book!

This is a great book. While I knew it was going to nail the Roman Empire, and Caesar Nero as the head, of the beast of Revelation, there was much more discussion of Revelation than just that alone, including how the 42 days fits in, how Nero was the sixth Caesar and Galba the seventh, serving for a short time. The last half of the book is a comprehensive examination both internally from the Book of Revelation and externally from early Church Fathers, why the Book of Revelation was probably written prior to 70 AD.

This was a very analytical, erudite study of the book of Revelation. This book will open your eyes to the truth of Revelation. If you have always been a dispensationalist (ie. "Left Behind" series theology) you'll realize how ignorant of a perspective that is of Revelation. Gentry provides solid, convincing, irrefutable evidence that most of Revelation has already taken place before and during the fall of Jerusalem. An eye-opener!

The Beast of Revelation is the 2nd (only to "dating the book of revelation" Gentry doctrinal dissertation) greatest exposition on this matter. With unflinching scholarship, Gentry pursues exegetical, historical, and theological argumentation for designating Nero as the beast in revelation and placing revelation before A.D. 70 (early date). As usual Gentry is extremely clear and his writing style is superb! Ladies and Gentlemen I say unto you, Gentry has found dispensationalism Achilles hill! Rebutting the arguments by leading dispensationalist, Robert Thomas, is always extremely interesting. As Gentry thrashes through premature objections by Wheaton's finest G.K. Beale (a-mill), readers will immediately become cognizant of the depths of Gentry's studies! Zeroing in on many of the arguments asserted by late date (A.D. 92-95) advocates, Gentry demolishes each of them as establishes the early date beautifully. This is a must read for all student of eschatology... No for all students of scripture! After, completing this book... I am assured that you will desire to finish all of Gentry's books. 5 Stars hands down...

Fantastic book! This is a must read for anyone who wants to learn a thing or two. For anyone who holds to anyone other than Nero being the beast must answer this book before any consideration is to be given to the other views or candidates of being the Beast. I found this book to be very easy reading and very understandable. I didn't know at the time what I believed about this topic, but I found myself saying as I was reading, "yeah, yeah, of course everything makes perfect sense now". I had tried to figure certain things out concerning Revelation and the Dreaded Beast and it drove me nuts. This books not only makes sense but it makes biblical sense. Don't hesitate to buy it, or maybe buy a couple, you'll love it, at least you will learn from it. I can't say enough about it, I even bought 10 copies myself to loan out or give away.

I read this book after "When Jerusalem Fell" and wish I had read it first.

It is broken up into two parts.

The first part consists of dealing with who is the beast of Revelation, Dr. Gentry makes a very convincing biblical argument for who this is and you will be surprised at his findings. Especially if you are Pretrib, Premil, Dispensational.

When I describe the second part to people I describe it as all the good parts of "When Jerusalem Fell". It has more than that, but defends a pre- AD 70 writing of Revelation from a contextual and historical standpoint. Not to offend anyone, but this is basically the laymens version of When Jerusalem Fell.

Overall I highly recommend this book.

I have never read any of Dr.Gentry work.After reading this book, it won't be my last. The book is from a partial preterist view of the book of Revelation. Great points that are made for the beast of Revelation. Also the arguments for the early dating of the book of Revelation was great. One of the best part of this book is the research done on the early church fathers on the early date of this the book of Revelation. If you are a futurist or any other position, read this book. Great work Dr.Gentry.

Although Kenneth Gentry has amassed considerable evidence from historical sources in his attempt to argue for the preterist position, he rightly complains that church tradition has played too large of a role in the dating of the book of Revelation while the internal evidence often is not given its proper weight (4-5). Although Gentry must assume an early date of Revelation for his position to carry any weight, he nevertheless organizes his book so that the internal evidence is given prominent importance.

The first half of his book is spent showing just how impressively the Roman Emperor Nero appears to satisfy all the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. The second half of the book, however, is given to strengthening Gentry's position by exploring the different types of evidences for an early date of Revelation--including external evidence. While giving internal evidence the loudest voice for the dating of Revelation, Gentry by no means marginalizes external evidence. On the contrary, he gives a thorough look at the evidence used for a late date and engages late-date arguments with remarkable aptitude.

It is no wonder that the evidence and argumentation Gentry marshals for an early date and Neronic theory of the Beast has been compelling enough to cause those who still hold for future fulfillment of the prophecies of revelation to capitulate by granting an first century fulfillment of the majority of the events of Revelation--"though they attempted to argue for a double fulfillment of prophecies" (96).

The sheer amount of specific ways Nero seems to fit the prophetic imagery of Revelation--his character, his being the sixth emperor of Rome, his death by sword, his number, his being exceptionally relevant to the situation of the original audience, his ability to fit the time limitations of the prophecies, his extreme vanity and demand to be worshipped, his establishing the first and most severe official imperial persecution of Christians, his coming from the city of "seven hills," his reigning just before the civil wars of Rome that threatened the empire's power, his affiliation with the power entity that destroyed Jerusalem and the temple that ceased Torah based Judaism--is historically verifiable evidence that hits the reader like a "river that no man can cross" (18).

Never in my life have I read or heard more persuasive argumentation for the interpretation of the Book of Revelation than in Gentry's book. Although some of the pieces of Gentry's position are less persuasive, his approach as a whole makes more sense of the internal and external evidence while providing satisfying confidence about the biblical prophetic imagery.

I like this book. He really argues persuasively about the subject he covers. The first half is a very quick read, the second half is a bit slowerer going but worth it. I don't feel that this is a very good presentation of the preterist view. Ok so the beast is Nero and Revelation was written before A.D. 70, what about some of the other passages in Revelation, what are they about and more so, if that's what Revelation is about then what does the author think will happen in the end. It's as if you can't really call this a book on eschatology anymore since it's not really anywhere close to the study of last things. But overall it's good on covering those two points.

Now for the important part. I bought this book on Amazon in Dec 06 included was a card for a free year subscription to Biblical Worldview magazine. If you go to the publishers website you can get a feel for the magazine, it looks pretty good. And by calling it in and using another code on the card I got a free no shipping nothing free book by Gary DeMar whom I've never heard of but the book is $18 and the subscription is normally $25. So overall if you buy the book and it has the card (and two of my friends who bought the book around the same time also had the card) You get 43 dollars worth of stuff free. Made the book really feel like a bargain.