PENTECOST, J

J. Dwight Pentecost (b. 1915), Distinguished Professor emeritus of Bible exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, has the distinction of teaching the Bible for nearly half a century (Philadelphia College of Bible, 1948-55; Dallas Theological Seminary, 1955-present). His lucid classroom expositions of Scripture and his writing on biblical themes have educated believers in a premillennial understanding of Scripture. Dr. Pentecost has the distinction of being only one of two professors honored as Distinguished Professor in the history of Dallas Theological Seminary. In addition to his classroom teaching and his writing, Pentecost has had a Bible conference ministry that has covered the globe from the British Isles and Europe to the Middle East and Far East, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. These ministries have given believers new insight in consistent, literal, grammatical, historical interpretation of the Scriptures.

Perhaps the magnum opus of Pentecost's writings is Things to Come, a definitive work of dispensational premillennial eschatology, published in 1958. In developing a biblical eschatology, Pentecost exposes the weakness of allegorical interpretation and demonstrates the need for consistent literal interpretation. Literal interpretation is the normal, ordinary, customary usage of words. It is the grammatical-historical method of interpretation. Interpretive principles involve interpreting words in their normal meaning, interpreting according to context and historical setting, considering the grammar of the text in the original languages, as well as recognizing figurative language. This interpretation provides consistency and leads to premillennialism.

The foundation of premillennial eschatology lies in the unconditional covenants of the OT. These covenants are to be understood as literal, eternal, unconditional, and as made with a covenant people (Things To Come, 69). The Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) contains the promise of a national land, elaborated in the Palestinian covenant (Deut. 30:1-10); the promise of redemption, elaborated in the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34); and the promise of numerous descendents to form a great nation, elaborated in the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-16). The Abrahamic covenant guarantees Israel a permanent national existence, perpetual title to the land of promise, and the certainty of material and spiritual blessing through Christ.

The unconditional Palestinian covenant (Deut. 30:1-10) enlarges the Abrahamic covenant and is Israel's title deed to the land. It awaits future, literal fulfillment by the physical descendants of Abraham. The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16) enlarges the seed promises of the Abrahamic covenant. The essential features are implicit in three words: house, kingdom, and throne (2 Samuel 7:16). House refers to David's physical descendants; throne implies the dignity and right to rule by David's seed; kingdom has reference to David's political kingdom. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) guarantees salvation to the nation Israel and is ultimately fulfilled with Israel when there is a national conversion at the second advent of Christ. The church does not fulfill the new covenant.

Things to Come provides a definitive, biblical treatment of the dispensational premillennial scheme of eschatology. Pentecost provides a strong defense for the pretribulation rapture of the church, the basis resting on literal interpretation, which recognizes Israel and the church as two distinct groups. Having been in print for nearly half a century, Things To Come must be recognized as the definitive, biblical explanation of premillennial eschatology. Prophecy for Today and Will Man Survive? develop the same prophetic exposition on a popular, non-technical level.

The Words and Works of Jesus Christ marks the publication of a subject that Dr. Pentecost has taught for over forty years. He developed a new approach to understanding the life of Christ by noting, not the geographical movements of Christ, but recognizing that the gospel writers wrote the life of Christ, from thematic viewpoints. Literal interpretation results in the thematic understanding of the life of Christ. Pentecost explains, "Jesus Christ was introduced to the nation Israel as her Messiah. By His words and His works He authenticated this introduction and offered Israel her promised and covenanted kingdom. The nation considered the offer and, because of the opposition of the leaders, rejected it. Christ announced judgment on that nation and turned from a public ministry to that of preparing chosen men to continue His ministry following His death and resurrection. The rejection by the nation led to His death, by which salvation was provided for sinful men; but the genuineness of His offer was authenticated by the Resurrection" (Things to Come, 9). This approach to understanding the life of Christ recognizes the uniqueness of Israel as a people of God, distinct from the Church.

Pentecost develops the kingdom theme in, The Parables of the Kingdom. Concisely written, the format ("The Setting," "The Problem," "The Solution") enables the reader to readily interpret the parables. Pentecost particularly deals with the parables concerning the kingdom of heaven. These present the new form of the theocracy unforeseen in the OT but revealed through Christ's teaching (Parables, 18). The parables of the kingdom anticipate the Messiah — the final theocratic Administrator who is a descendant of David and who will rule on David's throne. Unlike many other books on the parables of Jesus, Pentecost's volume properly interprets the parables within the dispensational scheme, anticipating Messiah's earthly rule.

But the apex of Pentecost's discussion concerning the kingdom is committed to Thy Kingdom Come, a monumental work in its treatment of God's mediatorial rule on earth from prehistory to the future millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom of God. The term kingdom is perhaps one of the most misunderstood words in Scripture, and yet, without knowledge of the term, proper interpretation falters. This volume will help students of the Scriptures to understand the mediatorial kingdom of God as the unifying structure binding the Bible together. In Thy Kingdom Come, Pentecost traces the mediatorial kingdom of God as administered through God's appointed representatives from Genesis to Revelation, beginning with Adam and culminating with Christ. Pentecost defines the word kingdom as incorporating three interrelated concepts: (1) the right to rule — the authority vested in a king; (2) the realm in which the ruling authority is exercised over people; (3) the reality of the rule in which there is an actual exercise of royal authority. Moreover, there are two aspects of the kingdom: it is not only universal and eternal, but also temporal, local, and mediated. Beginning with the angelic realm and proceeding to the sphere of the mediatorial kingdom on earth, Pentecost traces the kingdom of God through His appointed representatives including Adam, Moses, the kings, the prophets, and concluding with the millennial kingdom of Christ and the eternal state. This volume is an unusually helpful treatise in understanding the program of God on earth and what God is sovereignly and actively doing through His appointed representatives.

The Sermon on the Mount clarifies considerable misunderstanding over the dispensational interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount. False accusations have frequently been hurled at dispensationalists suggesting they reject the Sermon on the Mount as having any present-day application. The Sermon on the Mount dispels this notion, showing dispensationalists indeed do apply the Sermon to life today. But Pentecost first interprets it, showing that "it is a revelation of the righteousness of God and reflects the demands that the holiness of God makes upon those who would walk in fellowship with Him" (p. 17). Pentecost shows "how this sermon of Christ affects the conduct of those who would walk with God and thus how we can 'use the law lawfully"' (p. 17).

Also helpful in maintaining the distinction between Israel and the church is Pentecost's exposition of Hebrews, A Faith That Endures. Hebrews is addressed to Jews that had been identified with Christ through baptism and for this reason were cut off from the commonwealth of Israel and were experiencing persecution. For this reason the author exhorts them to patient endurance amid their circumstances. The author of Hebrews warns the believers against neglecting God's revelation in Christ and spiritual regression. While there are difficult passages in Hebrews, A Faith That Endures expressly interprets the book in its historical context and avoids the confusion of so many commentaries.

Pentecost reinforces the distinction between Israel and the Church, illuminating the uniqueness of the Holy Spirit's work in the church age in The Divine Comforter. This knowledge is key not only as doctrinal truth, but also for spiritual living.

Having authored over twenty volumes, Pentecost's expositions have illuminated the Scriptures for the Christian public in a clear, non-technical way, helping believers understand them in their historical context, properly distinguishing Israel and the Church. g

DWIGHT J. PENTECOST