152 pp. Paperback. Scripture and Subject Indexes.
What is the Great Tribulation?
When will it occur?
What significance does it have for understanding the New Testament?
These and other important questions are carefully answered in this book as Dr. Kenneth Gentry analyzes Jesus' Olivet Discourse. In this addition to the Made Easy Series you will discover an insightful and compelling verse-by-verse exposition of the Lord's longest discourse. Not only so but you will also be introduced to vitally important contextual cues essential for properly interpreting it.
Christ's teaching on the great tribulation has long intrigued and transfixed Christians. This is especially true in the modern evangelical church today. What Bible-believing Christian has not been alarmed by Christ's prophetic warning about a time in which men will experience "wars and rumors of wars" (Matt 24:6)? "Famines and earthquakes" (Matt 24:7)? "False prophets" who "will mislead many" (Matt 24:10)? These are fearsome images presented by our Lord to his people.
Unfortunately, most Christians leap into the Olivet Discourse with little understanding of how Matthew carefully sets it into the context of Jesus' whole ministry. As a result they wholly misconstrue its message. Since Jesus gave us this much prophetic material and at the very climax of his ministry, we need to understand it as he intended.
In this work the reader will find thirteen evidences that Matt 24:34-36 is transitioning from an AD 70 focus to the future Second Advent. This material serves as an important corrective to two errors: (1) Many scholars teach that Jesus mixes the two events together in such a way that it is difficult to sort out which elements of the Discourse belong to AD 70 and which belong to the Second Advent. (2) Some writers see the whole of the Discourse focusing only on AD 70, overlooking the fact that Jesus is answering two questions his disciples pose in Matt 24:3.
In this work, Dr. Gentry re-issues the call of the discourse itself: "let the reader understand" (Matt. 24:15b).
Contents
Preface
1. Olivet's Narrative Context (Matthew 1-22)
2. Olivet's Specific Impetus (Matthew 23)
3. Olivet's Central Focus (Matthew 24:1-3)
4. Olivet's Interpretive Key (Matthew 24:34)
5. False Expectations of the End (Matthew 24:4-14)
6. The Beginning of the End (Matthew 24:15-28)
7. The Coming of the End (Matthew 24:29-31)
8. The Transition Passage (Matthew 24:32-36)
9. Conclusion
Reviews
Exceptional, Unique, Edifying
I just finished reading "Olivet Discourse Made Easy." It is exceptional, unique, and edifying — among best I've read on this topic.
I find it ironic that though Matthew is my favorite NT book (I've examined it inside and out over the last 25 years) and YET he has presented it in an entirely different, unique, and spiritual light. In other words, I don't think I really knew Matthew's Gospel at all until I read "Olivet Discourse Made Easy."
I've always viewed Matthew's Gospel as sort of an ad hoc, arbitrary, and yet well-organized self-contained collection of facts about Jesus without a ton of rhyme or reason apart from the basic Gospel message that Jesus came to atone for our sins. It requires mastery of the entire Bible, non-canonical literature, history, language, and a lifetime of study to understand the fuller "Preterist" intent of books like Matthew's Gospel.
Gentry has uncovered, illustrated, and explained an entirely different intent for the entire Gospel that few have ever seen: Matthew's Gospel is fundamentally eschatological, Preterist, and Christian centric in its entirety from beginning to end. He’s even uncovered details that full Preterist authors have failed to see, identify, or even care about.
Although rather profound from beginning to end, "Olivet Discourse Made Easy's" biggest strength, contribution, and revelation may be Chapter 1 in my humble opinion. There Gentry makes the case that Matthew's Gospel is Pretero-Eschatological in its entirety from beginning to end, starting with the genealogy, and carefully unfolding with each event in the life and times of Jesus. That is, Matthew's Gospel is not just a well-structured collection of arbitrary facts about Jesus for instructional purposes, but rather each event is designed to carefully illustrate how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of God's Kingdom come in the form of a world-wide Christian church on Earth. How could I have missed the simple intent of my favorite Bible book for 25 long years?
Gentry could have stopped with Chapter 1 and made a big dent in Judeo-Christian theology. Who needs the Apocalypse of St. John if you truly understand Matthew's Gospel? It would be great if he could one day do a one page summary of each New Testament book from a Pretero-Eschatological perspective, if not the entire Bible.
Dr. David F. Rico, PMP, CSEP, FCP, FCT, ACP, CSM, SAFe
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Sam Storms, Kingdom Come, p. 238 n. 10.
Regarding the view that all of Olivet pertains to AD 70, Storms writes: "for a careful and convincing response, see Kenneth Gentry, The Olivet Discourse Made Easy."
Reader Response
I just finished the book on the Olivet Discourse - very enlightening. Thanks again for your hard work and efforts for the rest of us.
Jim S.
Showing reviews 1-10 of 16 | Next
Posted by Elton L Hollon on 22nd Sep 2020
Gentry's treatment of the Olivet Discourse is one of the best preterist expositions of Matthew 24 in print today...along with Gibbs's doctoral dissertation. While I do not share the preterist interpretation of the famed apocalyptic 'son of man' passages, the presentation is winsome to all. As a result, The Olivet Discourse Made Easy is an educational and enjoyable read.
Gentry does the reader a service be keeping the jargon down to a minimum but keeping the arguments at their best. A fine line to walk indeed.
The book arrived shortly after ordering and is listed at a great price, contrast $70 at Amazon. I highly recommend shopping the bookstore for all of Gentry's published work in eschatology.
Posted by Russell Prickett on 17th Aug 2020
I enjoyed every page of Dr. Gentry's book on the Olivet Discourse. Everything is based on the Bible and support text scriptures. Also, the quotes from the eyewitness to events of that time by Josephus were excellent.
Posted by Bill on 15th Jul 2020
I am new to the preterist view. It was a great introduction to the Olivet discourse. Really enjoyed the overview of Matthew.
Posted by Patrick Rauh on 16th Jul 2018
The Olivet Discourse Made easy is a true blessing for the Church. It reveals Matthew's gospel as a comprehensive work with a distinct agenda which builds up to the Olivet Discourse. The judgment of OC Israel IN 70AD is the the triumph of Christ over His enemies after His victorious resurrection. Ken Gentry does a masterful job is presenting the Truth while revealing the false doctrine of futurism. I am Amil and there is nothing not to love about this book...Ive given a dozen or more copies away because it is such a blessing! The fog has cleared! I can see history and prophecy and Scripture perfectly melded together...thanks to Mr Gentry
Posted by Molly Griffith on 12th May 2016
This book cleared up the questions I had about the Olivet Discourse and what it means for us today.
Posted by Unknown on 29th Mar 2016
Counters the stray teachings of dispensationalist.
Posted by Anthony U. on 23rd Dec 2015
Dr. Gentry - I'm absolutely loving The Olivet Discourse/Postmill/Revelation Made Easy series of books - thank you. I ordered your mp3's on Postmill and can't wait to get them too.
Posted by Daniel C. Greer on 3rd Nov 2015
It's difficult to add to the praise given this work by the other reviewers. However, may I say after reading it that it leaves the reader wanting more. Such scholarship is in short supply and when one has the good fortune or the hand of providence lay a book of this quality in your lap, one cannot but want more and more. Gentry is indeed a scholar of considerable merit and his work always informs. May he be blessed with many more years of brilliance in exposition and writing.
Posted by Anthony Clem on 10th Aug 2015
Dr. Gentry's exegesis and exposition of the Olivet Discourse is second to none. The arguments are well-founded, biblically based,supported by the historical and extra-biblical evidence, and faithful to the context of scripture. I highly recommend this work to the Bible student and as a basis for a closer, more careful look at this controversial text of scripture.
Posted by jason on 30th Mar 2015
In order to better understand what has been made a very difficult section in Matthew, I purchased this book. It is very detailed yet is easy to understand. The references in it, Biblical and from outside, are very strong references. I recommend this book for anyone looking to better understand this important prophecy given by Christ.
Showing reviews 1-10 of 16 | Next