Customer Reviews

He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology

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Having read Gentry's "Before Jerusalem Fell" and leaning toward a preteristic approach to Revelation, I was prepped to abandon all the dispy ideas I'd absorbed growing up under a Dallas Seminary-trained pastor. Gentry does a good job of explaining the issue, showing the points of dispute and different interpretations between dispensationalism/premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. It's hinted at throughout the book--and blatantly obvious in the appendices--that Gentry believes that postmillennialism directly leads to the acceptance of theonomy and perhaps the Christian Reconstruction movement, which prescribes Old Covenant law as the basis for civil governments. He did a fine job of showing the many errors in dispensationalism and gave good reason to prefer postmillennialism over amillennialism, but I am left without a satisfying explanation as to why a victorious Kingdom of God on earth equals the continuance of the Law. The NT view of the Law is a complex issue, not to be dealt with by merely shooting down a bad argument in an appendix. I wish Gentry would have either left the theonomy issue out of the book completely or given a more comprehensive description of how it necessarily complements postmillennialism and how this might practically be approached in the present days.

If you have ever really thought about the words to Isaac Watt's Christmas carol, "Joy to the World", you would either refuse to sing it (because it doesn't fit your theology), or you would sing it with all your heart because you believe the truth that Jesus Christ is now reigning as the Risen Lord over all things, as the Scriptures say. Gentry does a fine job defending biblical eschatology (the study of last things). He is not ashamed of proclaiming that Christ reigns now, and that we do not have to wait for a future millennium to enjoy the blessings of His reign. In an age when modern theologians and Christian believers in general are certain of future doom and gloom, this book is a breath of fresh air that states plainly that the future is bright and glorious because "all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord" (Numbers 14:21).

The title is a quote from the prophecy of evil Balaam who attempted to prophesy evil regarding God's people but could only prophesy good because God's Spirit would not allow him to do otherwise (from Numbers 24:17-19). Frankly, we all can take a lesson from that stubborn naysayer.

I found that Gentry's argument for gradualistic postmillennialism--the conviction that Christ will return to judge the earth after a long period of history in which all things are progressively subjected to His authority and all nations are given His gospel--was founded on Scripture, on historical evidences and on clear reason. I have been through the whole gamut of eschatological views--premillennial, then amillennial--but am convinced that these views fall short when measured against the overwhelming Bible teaching about the last days.

If you would challenge this, I highly recommend you read Gentry. He answered all the arguments I raised and now I've changed my skeptical mind. In fact, because of the inspiration of this book, I have followed the example of Isaac Watts and written a couple hymns of my own.

I'll make this brief. This book is the most biblical, insightful, common-sense eschatalogical treatise in print. This book is about victory! Jesus is Victor. Dr. Gentry leaves no stone unturned. He deals seriously with ALL of the arguments typically leveled at Postmillennialism. Read it for yourself. Gentry proves that Postmillennialism is the eschatology and philosophy of history that is contained in HOLY Scripture.

I have read a number of Gentry's writings, and this one is the best so far. It is the only integrated postmillennial eschatology I have found to date. It is a must-read for end times scholars, but would be rather weighty for most other believers.

Gentry introduces his work by speaking of the significance of eschatology, showing its relation to all other areas of theology. He comes across as somewhat condescending, unfortunately, in his assessement of all other millennial views as "pessimistic." On this very complex and controversial Biblical topic, an ability to agree to disagree MUST be cultivated.

Gentry shows how postmillennialism is weaved into all aspects of Biblical history with five chapters on creation, anticipation, realization, expansion, and consummation. Each chapter is filled with Scripture references. Gentry allows the Bible to speak for itself, and does not try to impose his theological system upon it. The author then moves to various eschatological themes and characters, interpreting each in the light of postmillennialism.

An added bonus is the inclusion of a brief commentary on the book of Revelation. He addresses various concepts and characters in Revelation, then skims through the book chapter by chapter. Gentry closes with a response to several common objections that have been raised to postmillennialism.

This work is more like a textbook, and is definitely NOT light reading. Having made those two points, however, this volume IS very readable for its scope and size. For the scholar or the pastor, this book is a great investment providing a thorough explanation and solid defense of postmillennialism.

Kenneth Gentry is undoubtedly among the greatest biblical scholars alive today, and this book is his greatest triumph. He demolishes the current pre-millennial rapture drivel by employing careful, exhaustive and methodical exposition of the Word. Then he establishes the post millennial position as by far the most biblical option. Forget Tim Lahaye and his pessimistic kind; read He Shall Have Dominion and then get about the work Christ entrusted to us.

Prophesies about end-times were arguably fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Christ has been working through history to bring in an era of hope. Christians who trust in the Biblical message of victory can see a vision of rich relationships on this earth. Why settle for the despair of pre-mill thinking? This is my summary of the book's message. Gentry supports this message with outstanding evidence and logic.

This book is a thorough analysis of the doctrine of eschatology. Gentry deals with exegetical, historical, and practical issues that flow from academically-oriented eschatology. He even has three chapters on objections to his biblical postmillennialism.

If you want to understand the hope-filled, future-oriented eschatology known as postmillennialism. This is the book to get.

Gary North stated that this book is the book one must tackle in order to disprove Postmillennialism. North is right, this book is just that good. Unlike most eschatological books which deal with the exegetical and hermenuetical issues, this book looks at the philosophy of history of Postmillennialism and contrasts that with the pessimistic millennial views (dispensational premil, amil, and historic premil).

From creation to consummation, Gentry shows God's underlying plan for redemptive history, showing it is one of victory and not of gloom. No other author, that I know of, has produced a work like Gentry's, by dealing with the philosophy of history of particular millennial positions. Nor have I seen any dispensational or amillennial scholar respond to Gentry's thesis in a respectable booklength and scholarly manner.

This book will be the master guide for all postmillennial defenders.

JESUS JUST HASN'T DONE ENOUGH FOR THESE PEOPLE!