“New” Millennium, Where Are You
To my knowledge, there are three formal views, yet there are those which take bits and pieces from some or each, which do not fall completely into one category. If you would, I ask that you post which view you subscribe and maybe a small why description, that we may all see the “other” side. Thanks!
Below each, I have noted why I accept or reject each view.
postmillennial viewpoint—Christ’s Kingdom is spreading throughout the world, and God’s justice will prevail across the earth prior to Christ’s return. After his reign is established through his people for a long duration (not necessarily a literal thousand years), Christ will physically return to an already utopian world.
Simply knowing human history through the pages of scripture, I find it difficult to believe that mankind would have the spirituality and/or power to bind the workings of Satan to allow Christ to return to a “utopian world”.
premillennial viewpoint—which would include much of dispensational theology and the teaching of a variety of scholars throughout church history—the Millennium will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ, which will begin immediately upon his return when he defeats his enemies in the battle of Armageddon. During these thousand years, God’s promises of the Messiah’s earthly reign will be fulfilled. Redeemed Jews will live in their homeland, and (according to some teachings) the church will govern the world with Christ. The Millennium will end with a final rebellion, and the old Earth will be replaced by, or transformed into, the New Earth.
I personally subscribe to this view as the truth or at the least the closest to biblical truth. It appears to grasp or flow from scripture easily without any need to search, twist, or reach for biblical support.
amillennial viewpoint—including most Reformed theology and the teaching of many scholars throughout church history—the Millennium isn’t a literal thousand years, nor is it a future state. Rather, the events depicted in Revelation 20:3-7 are happening right now as Christ’s church reigns with him over the earth, in victorious triumph empowered by his death and resurrection. The saints rule over the earth from the intermediate Heaven, where they dwell with Christ.
I find fault with this view in conjunction with: Revelation 20:3, And cast him [Satan] into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Below each, I have noted why I accept or reject each view.
postmillennial viewpoint—Christ’s Kingdom is spreading throughout the world, and God’s justice will prevail across the earth prior to Christ’s return. After his reign is established through his people for a long duration (not necessarily a literal thousand years), Christ will physically return to an already utopian world.
Simply knowing human history through the pages of scripture, I find it difficult to believe that mankind would have the spirituality and/or power to bind the workings of Satan to allow Christ to return to a “utopian world”.
premillennial viewpoint—which would include much of dispensational theology and the teaching of a variety of scholars throughout church history—the Millennium will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ, which will begin immediately upon his return when he defeats his enemies in the battle of Armageddon. During these thousand years, God’s promises of the Messiah’s earthly reign will be fulfilled. Redeemed Jews will live in their homeland, and (according to some teachings) the church will govern the world with Christ. The Millennium will end with a final rebellion, and the old Earth will be replaced by, or transformed into, the New Earth.
I personally subscribe to this view as the truth or at the least the closest to biblical truth. It appears to grasp or flow from scripture easily without any need to search, twist, or reach for biblical support.
amillennial viewpoint—including most Reformed theology and the teaching of many scholars throughout church history—the Millennium isn’t a literal thousand years, nor is it a future state. Rather, the events depicted in Revelation 20:3-7 are happening right now as Christ’s church reigns with him over the earth, in victorious triumph empowered by his death and resurrection. The saints rule over the earth from the intermediate Heaven, where they dwell with Christ.
I find fault with this view in conjunction with: Revelation 20:3, And cast him [Satan] into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
It appears to me that the nations have been and still are being deceived by Satan before, during, and after the crucifixion even up till today. I don’t see a time in history where Satan has been supposedly bound for any amount of time, nor do I believe we are currently in the “little season”.
panmillennial viewpoint—for the sake of a friend of mine that just believes “it will all pan out in the end”.
How can I disagree? We know Christ wins in the end.
Thank goodness we serve the God of gods, Lord of lords, and Kings of kings!
panmillennial viewpoint—for the sake of a friend of mine that just believes “it will all pan out in the end”.
How can I disagree? We know Christ wins in the end.
Thank goodness we serve the God of gods, Lord of lords, and Kings of kings!
I have pulled the definitions of each from here, but I did not read the entire article.
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