Christians: Are you Premillenial, Postmillenial or Amillenial in your eschatology?

Question

Premillennialism teaches that there will be a future, literal, earthly millennial kingdom, and that it will begin when Christ returns. The pre- indicates that Christ will return before the millennial kingdom is established. This is the literal 1000 year reign that I would say most protestants hold.

Amillennialism teaches that there will be no literal millennial kingdom. The prefix a- indicates a simple negation. They believe that we are living Christ's reign, and thus the millenium is essentially spiritual.

Postmillennialism teaches that Christ will return after (post-) the millennial kingdom concludes. They believe that the world will become more and more Christian and that the 1000 year reign will be ushered in by the world getting better and better until it is Christ's reign.

Here's a good website explaining it, though I don't vouch for any of its views:

http://www.superior.net/~covenant/millennial.htm

Answer 1

100% amillennial. Revelation is the only book that is almost totally symbolic, a vision given to John while on Patmos. Given that info alone, I cannot go with any other kind of millenial view -- 1000 has far more symbolic than literal meaning. I mean, Satan fighting with the archangel HAD to have taken place before the Fall, so to put it in a future context in Revelation also has to be symbolic. Bowls, vials, seals -- all symbolic.
The only thing about the millenial discussion that causes a problem is the fact that people think they'll have time to repent after Jesus' return. Other than that issue, the same people will be in and out of Heaven no matter the reality of the issue, simply b/c it isn't a cornerstone to salvation.

Btw, what Protestants are premillenial? Lutherans (most of 'em) sure aren't.

Answer 2

Your definitions are good. I'm not sure if I can connect which one I'm in.

I understand Revelations 20 to say, satan will be bound for 1,000 yrs..

Those who do not have the mark of the beast on forehead or hand, are those who did not worship the beast.

These came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand yrs.

This is the first resurrection. They will be blessed and holy. They will be priest of God and of Christ. They will reign with Him for a thousand years.

The second death has no power over them.

satan will be released when the 1,000 yrs. are over. He will go out and deceive the nations. He will gather an army to surround God's people. Fire will come down and devour them.( The devil's army) Then the devil, will be thrown in the lake of sulfur where the beast and false prophets are.

Then there will be the judgment day.

Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
The Holy City, the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven

God then will dwell with men, and be their God, and we His people.

Thank you for bringing up Revelations.

Revelations 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Answer 3

(cut and paste)
1. Premillennial only: you believe in an earthly millennium; you don’t know about a “real” tribulation; not sure about rapture as often taught.

2. Postmillennial: you believe the Church, through the magnificent work of the Spirit, will eventually convert the entire world.

3. Preterist: you think just about everything said about eschatology in the Bible was fulfilled in 70 AD and in the Church/kingdom.

Now for some more particular views that are variants of #1:

4. Pretribulation: Jesus will come before the tribulation; 7 years; then Second Coming; then Millennium.

5. Midtribulation: Jesus will come in the middle of the tribulation….. (=pre-wrath)

6. Posttribulation: Jesus will come at the end of the tribulation….

7. Second Coming only: you simply believe in the Second Coming and don’t know when or how and think those who do are wrong. You do not think there will be an earthly Millennium; you may equate “millennium” with church age. (Amillennialism.)

8. Skeptical: you’re not sure about any of this; think most of it, if not all of it, is metaphor and rhetoric.
(end c&p)

There's a great deal more to it IF you are a theologian.

Which I'm not. And, I don't really see why, how, when or where it would be terribly relevent to my faith.

Answer 4

I tend to believe the correct contextual view of Revelation (and all eschatological literature in the Bible) is the amillenial view. I believe that almost everything in the book of Revelation pertained to either the events in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, or the fall of the Roman Empire. I actually think most of it has to do with the latter. However, there are many prophesies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled twice. I believe in the possibility that all apocalyptic literature could be fulfilled again at the end of the world. So, while I do believe that many of the events in Revelation COULD literally happen, I don't feel that is the primary interpretation.

Answer 5

Premillenial

Answer 6

I think I would be a premillennialist but I haven't really studied it in depth.

I think amillennialism reflects reality but it has been 2000 yrs.

Perhaps postmillennialism is then true?

Answer 7

This is one of those things I don't waste much thought on, since a) no one on earth actually knows which view is right b) we'll deal with it when it happens and most important: C) the Bible concepts that are most debated and open to interpretation take valuable time and energy away from the simple requirements and actions that ARE so clear that "he who runs may read." I concentrate on doing what I do understand; the debatable stuff, I leave to God.

Answer 8

I am probably more amillennial in my leaning. I guess you could also say I'm a partial preterist. I believe much of the Olivet Discourse and Revellation is focused on the events of 70 AD in Jerusalem.

I'm fine with people differing with me on this. It's not a primary issue for me.

Answer 9

I am an amillennialist. I tend to interpret Revelation with a proper understanding of its 1st century context and genre. Revelation belong to the Apocalyptic literature genre and if you have a true understanding of the genre then you tend to lean towards amillennialism and a preterist view of the text.

Answer 10

I'm a Premillenial Dispensationalist all the way.