The Millennium
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (NIV Rev. 20:4). The question that is in sight is based on this verse and that which surrounds it is pretty much, “When will Christ return according to the millennium?”
Postmillennialism
The prefix “post” before this word signifies that the return of Christ will happen after the millennium. “Postmillennialists look for a utopian state on earth to be brought about through the efforts of the church, and during this golden age the church, not Israel, will experience the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and David. The kingdom will be on earth, but it will be a “church kingdom” not a Jewish kingdom, and the King, Christ, will be absent from the earth, not present on it” (Ryrie ch. 9). Judging from the subject matter from popular theologians, one can see that this view seemed to be more popular during the earlier part of the twentieth century and the late nineteenth century. “Postmillennialism is the most recent of the three major millennial views. Although some elements of postmillennialism occurred earlier, Daniel Whitby (1638–1725) is usually considered the one who introduced postmillennialism” (Swindoll and Zuck 1351). The introduction of postmillennialism seemed to have little effect in the majority of scholar’s minds early on.
Postmillennialists believe that Revelation chapter twenty, verses one through six, do not portray events following the second coming but the passage tells of when Satan was defeated by Christ (ibid.). “Passages such as Daniel 2:44–45; Matthew 13:31, 32; 24:14; and Colossians 1:23 suggest the progress of the gospel prior to Christ’s return which will be a literal, visible return (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 1:7). The time of His coming, however, is unknown” (Enns 386). This is the core of postmillennialism. It is generally believed that Christ will be returning to a world that is getting better, as in, elevating in perfection.
Amillennialism
An etymological analysis on the word Amillennialism would lead one to understand that the “A” before the bulk of the word negates the existence of the millennium. “The leaders of the Alexandrian school, including Clement (155–216) and Origen (around 185–254), taught that the Bible is to be understood as an extended allegory [especially when it comes to eschatology]. Since the Bible has many difficult passages and many supposed moral problems, they said that its meaning was to be found on a deeper level, in hidden allegorical teachings” (Swindoll and Zuck 1352). Amillennianists believe that the second coming of Christ is all one event whereas for in comparison, premillennianists believe that there will be a rapture followed by the second coming.
At the heart of Amillennialism, one would find out that the following must take place before the second coming. “(1) The calling of the Gentiles (Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10; Rom. 11:25), in which the nations will be evangelized. Some among these will believe and constitute the “fullness of the Gentiles.” (2) The conversion of Israel. “All Israel” in Romans 11:26 does not mean national Israel but rather the elect number of Israelites. (3) The Great apostasy and the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:9–12, 21–24; Mark 13:9–22; Luke 21:22–24)” (Enns 381). In other words, Amillennianists think Revelation 20 is allegorical and the 1000 year period is nonexistent.
Premillennialism
“Premillennialists hold that the second coming of Christ will occur before (pre) the millennium and that Christ, not the church (as in postmillennialism) will be the one to establish the kingdom. When He [Christ] returns He will set up His kingdom for 1,000 years after which will occur the resurrection and judgment of the unsaved and the ushering in of eternity” (Ryrie Ch. 9). Premillennialism has two different categories in essence; historic and dispensational. “In historic premillennialism a distinction between Israel and the church is not maintained nor is a consistently literal interpretive method demanded” (Enns 386). Therefore, one can determine that in dispensational premillennialism there is a distinction between Israel and the church that is maintained. Historic premillennialism teaches that the church will go through the tribulation rather than be raptured before the tribulation like dispensational premillennialism (ibid.).
At the center of dispensational premillennialism, they “believe that the church will be raptured (1 Thess. 4:13–18) prior to the Tribulation period; God will judge unbelieving Gentiles and disobedient Israel during the Tribulation (Rev. 6–19). At the end of the Tribulation Christ will return with the church and establish the millennial kingdom on earth. Following the thousand-year reign, Satan will be freed once more, whereupon he and his followers will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7–10)” (Enns 389). After all of these events take place, after the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire, mankind will be entered into the state of eternity.
Personal View
Since much of theology today is based on what the early church has understood, I might gravitate more towards historic premillennialism. “The church from the beginning was premillennial in belief. The Didache (c. a.d. 100), Clement of Rome (a.d. 96 or 97), the Shepherd of Hermas (a.d. 140–150), Ignatius of Antioch (a.d. 50–115?), Papias (a.d. 80–163), Justin Martyr (b. c. a.d. 100), Irenaeus (d. a.d. 200), Tertullian (a.d. 150–225), and other sources indicate that the early church believed in the return of Jesus Christ to personally establish His earthly kingdom” (Enns 389). It would seem that the methods used in interpretation with premillennialism make more sense than the other views as well. It would also seem that there are distinctions between the church and Israel, and that God’s goal was placed on hold for the Israelites because of their actions.
One may want to have their views on the end times in order because of a situation such as this one, where another is curious about it, as in, one may want to be able to teach about the end times. A person can weigh their knowledge against someone else’s and grow in his wisdom of God. It is important for the church to have her beliefs in order concerning the millennium because not only does unity have a stronger argument, but because it shows growth, which is the desire of Christ. Getting to this goal simply takes time.
Premillennialism seems to be what many theologians and scholars often place last in their teaching of the three different views of the millennium (dispensationalism, whether one likes to acknowledge it or not, has become quite popular). Premillennialism seems like (according to the driving point) the best option for Biblical interpretation in today’s world. In the vast majority of books that teach the different views of the millennium, premillennialism in any form seems to be what sweet taste the authors want their readers to be left remembering.
Works Cited
The Holy Bible: New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984).
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995, c1972).
Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, Understanding Christian Theology (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003).
Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1997, c1989).
© Nace Howell, 2022
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