Anyone listened to Ken Gentry?

[Guest]

Revelations; a divorce from Israel.

Previously Dr. Gentry had understood the beast from the land (Rev 13:11ff) as the Roman procurator in Israel who enforced Rome's will on the nation. Now he is convinced that the land beast is actually the Jewish high priestly aristocracy who owed their position to Roman appointment. This interpretation is even hinted at in the Gospel of John: We see this in the statement of the high priests and the Sanhedrin that Jesus must be stopped lest the Romans take away their place over Israel (Jn 11:48). We also see it in their declaring "we have no king but Caesar" (Jn 19:12, 15).

the "throne of the beast" in Rev 16:10. This is the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This change of interpretation resulted from closer contextual scrutiny of the passage, deeper study in the relationship of the Jewish high priesthood with Roman imperial authorities, and the abusive nature of the high priesthood as noted even in ancient Jewish tradition. Rome was exercising her power over Israel by controlling the corrupt high priests, thereby causing the temple to be the source of Roman power in the Land.


Earlier views show the strongly Judaic cast of Revelation. John is functioning as one of the classical prophets, strongly denouncing the corruption of Israel, her temple, and the high priesthood (e.g., Isa 1; 66:1-3; Jer 2-3; Eze 16). In John's view even the synagogue has become "a synagogue of Satan" (Rev 2:9; 3:9).

Any thoughts on this?

[Guest]

Gentry is a good scholar. I don't currently follow him on the identity of the beast...but I have been wrong before.