Christians believe Christ will return but disagree on how His return will progress. An understanding of the coming millennium is essential to how someone will interpret this concept. 

• Eschatology is the study of the last things.
• The Church does not possess unity in interpreting Revelation 20’s description of the 1,000-year reign of Christ.

Premillennialism 

• The prefix –pre means “before.”
• Premillennialism is the belief that the return of Christ will precede a literal, earthly kingdom on earth for a millennium.
• This view would support a chronologically successive interpretation of Revelation 19’s final battle and 20’s millennium. 
• Within this belief, two different versions exist: dispensational premillennialism and historic premillennialism.

Historic Premillennialism 

• This view holds that the present age will eventually experience a brief period of tribulation followed by Christ’s return to usher in a kingdom on earth.
• Christ’s return will be accompanied by a resurrection of believers and a public rapture.
• Jesus will physically reign as king over all the earth.
• Satan is bound during that time but will be released, leading many astray.
• Christ defeats all rebellion, judges all humanity, and initiates the final state.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Is Israel’s restoration spiritual or national?
• Is the progression biblically acceptable, chronologically understandable, or both?

Dispensational Premillennialism 

• Dispensational theology was introduced in the nineteenth century by John Nelson Darby, who believed that biblical history is divided into certain ages or dispensations.
• Dispensational premillennialists hold that the existing Jewish state will literally experience the Old Testament prophecies regarding the kingdom.
• This view believes that the millennium is a literal thousand years.
• The distinguishing characteristic of this view has to do with the prominence of Israel’s restoration.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Does God have different plans for Israel and the Church?
• Is this belief system too new to be accurate?

Amillennialism

• The prefix –a means “no.”
• Amillennialists believe that Christ is currently reigning in heaven between His two comings.
• This group takes 1,000 years to be a symbolic number representing the gospel’s advancement and the world’s hostility.
• During this time, Satan is hindered but not wholly ineffective.
• Satan will increase opposition before Christ’s return, only to be soundly defeated.
• Amillennialists interpret all kingdom descriptions within the tension of already/not yet (some promises we experience now; some will be shared after Christ’s return).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• While Satan was defeated at the cross, has he been “sealed in the abyss” during this present time?
• Are we experiencing the reign of the saints in the world?

Postmillennialism

• The prefix –post means “after.”
• Postmillennialists believe that Christ will return after the millennium.
• Those holding this belief do not interpret the millennium as a literal thousand years.
• While sharing many views with amillennialists, postmillennialism holds that the Church will gradually experience success and achieve a golden age on earth.
• They hold that the gospel will continue to impact the world until we reach a majority level of human flourishing.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Are we witnessing gradual and continual progress around the world?
• Does the Bible teach a symbolic or literal rule for the people of God?

Essentials

• If your view has Christ victorious in the end, you can find commonality with others who disagree on the details.
• Ensure that your eschatology comes from Scripture more than stories or speculation.