An Overview of Kenneth Gentry's “The Divorce of Israel”           By Jack Kettler   Introduction:   Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.'s two-volume work, “The Divorce of Israel: A Redemptive-Historical Interpretation of Revelation 18:1-19:3,” represents a significant contribution to the field of biblical eschatology, particularly within the frameworks of redemptive-historical interpretation and preterism. This scholarly commentary delves into the prophetic literature of the Book of Revelation, offering a detailed examination through the lens of realized eschatology.   Redemptive-Historical Interpretation:   Gentry's approach employs redemptive-historical hermeneutics, which posits that the Bible's narrative is not merely a collection of disjointed events but a cohesive story of God's redemptive acts throughout history. In “The Divorce of Israel,” Gentry argues that the fall of Babylon, as depicted in Revelation, should not be understood as a future, end-times event but as an event within the historical context of the New Testament, particularly the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This perspective aligns the events of Revelation with the culmination of Old Testament prophecies, where the failure of Israel to uphold the covenant leads to its 'divorce' from God, symbolized by the fall of Babylon.   Gentry meticulously traces this theme through biblical texts, suggesting that the judgment on Babylon (Israel) in Revelation represents the final act of God's historical dealings with the Old Covenant nation, thereby ushering in the New Covenant era. His method involves synthesizing Old Testament prophecies with New Testament fulfillment, arguing that the destruction of Jerusalem was both a literal historical event and a profound theological statement about the transition from the Mosaic to the Messianic covenant.   Preterist Perspective:   Central to Gentry's commentary is his commitment to preterism, specifically a partial preterist viewpoint. In this context, Preterism interprets much of the prophecy in Revelation as having been fulfilled in the first century, particularly around the Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of the Temple. Gentry's preterist interpretation of Revelation 18-19 posits that these chapters primarily concern the judgment on Jerusalem, not a far-future apocalypse.   He argues that the language of divine judgment in Revelation reflects a common biblical motif that describes significant historical and theological turning points, such as the destruction of Babylon, Tyre, and Nineveh in the Old Testament. Gentry’s detailed analysis includes historical accounts from Josephus and other sources to support his claim that the events described in Revelation align with the first-century Jewish calamity.   Thematic Focus:   1.                  Covenantal Dynamics: Gentry explores the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, culminating in a 'divorce' due to Israel's unfaithfulness, which he correlates with the destruction of the Temple. 2.                  Symbolic Language: He interprets the symbolic language of Revelation not as literal future events but as a theological commentary on contemporary historical events, using apocalyptic imagery to convey divine judgment. 3.                  Eschatological Fulfillment: Gentry contends that Israel's eschatological hopes find fulfillment in the coming of Christ and the establishment of the church rather than in a future millennial kingdom. 4.                  The Role of Babylon: According to Gentry, the city of Babylon in Revelation is not a literal city in the end times but a symbol of the corrupt socio-religious system of Jerusalem under the Old Covenant.   Critical Reception:   Gentry's work has been both praised for its detailed exegesis and criticized for its interpretive framework. Critics often challenge his preterist views, arguing that such interpretations do not account for certain prophecies that seem to transcend the first-century context. However, supporters applaud his rigorous scholarly approach and ability to integrate historical data with biblical theology.   Conclusion:   “The Divorce of Israel” by Kenneth Gentry is a comprehensive exploration of the redemptive-historical and preterist interpretations of crucial passages in Revelation. His work challenges traditional futurist interpretations and invites a reconsideration of how eschatological prophecies might have been fulfilled in the historical events of the first century. Gentry's commentary provides a rich, albeit controversial, resource for scholars, theologians, and students of biblical prophecy, offering a nuanced perspective of divine judgment and redemption in Christian theology. Note: The Divorce of Israel is mentioned by Paul, “For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:24) The divorce of Israel is not permanent, as Paul explains, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Romans 11:26)   The above study was Groked and perfected with Grammarly AI at the direction of Jack Kettler.   “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)   Mr. Kettler is an author who has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife, Marea, are active Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church members. Mr. Kettler's work includes 18 books defending the Reformed Faith, which are available for order online at Amazon.