What are the major millennial views held by Christians discussed in Revelation 20 and
what are some of the fundamental differences?
Day 2
Day 2
B. Hodge, Biblical Authority Ministries, May 19, 2020
Read Revelation 20:1-10. (Yes, we jumped ahead for a moment, but this
is by design).
Of
course, there are many differences of opinion (some that even caused church
splits) regarding the millennium (1,000-year period). But there are central
differences between the four popular views. They can be categorized as:
·
pre-millennialism
(two forms: historic and dispensational), and
·
post-millennialism
(two forms: a-millennialism, and “classic” post-millennialism).
With
pre-millennialism, Christ’s return would be
prior to the millennium. With
post-millennialism, Christ’s return would be after the millennium. A-millennialism is a variant of
post-millennialism (meaning without a “millennium”) but this is not entirely
accurate. A-millennialism does have a millennium but not in the same sense as might
be expected, it is more spiritual. Regardless, a-millennialism has Christ
returning after the spiritual millennium.
The
chart below gives a visual of foundational differences between the positions.
Note that at least three of these positions are false doctrines as they cannot
all be true at the same time. This is why the Bible needs to be consulted on
every question, regardless of theological leanings.
Table 1: Millennial
Views (in a general sense)
Dispensational
Pre-millennialism
|
Historic
Pre-millennialism
|
A-millennialism
|
Post-millennialism
|
|
Kingdom
|
Future
|
Now
|
Now
|
Now
|
Millennium
|
Future
|
Future
|
Now[1]
|
Now
|
Prosperity
|
Future
|
Future
|
[Now]
Only in a spiritual sense
|
Now
and growing
|
Date
of the book’s writing
|
Mid
A.D. 90’s
|
Mid
A.D. 90’s
|
Prior
to A.D. 70
|
Prior
to A.D. 70
|
View
in the End
|
Pessimistic
|
Pessimistic
|
Pessimistic
|
Optimistic
|
Dispensational
rapture event
|
Typically
yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Another
note of clarification is that Dispensational Pre-millennialism has two basic
forms: Pre-tribulation and Mid-tribulation where a rapture event will occur
before the tribulation period (Pre-Tribulation/“Pre-Trib”) or in the middle of
the Tribulation (Mid-Tribulation/“Mid-Trib”).
You
may also hear about Post-Tribulation/“Post-Trib” but that is essentially the
same thing as Historic Pre-millennialism where any alleged rapture event is
equated with the combined resurrection of all people to begin the an alleged
1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. A-millennialism, Historic
Pre-millennialism, and Post-millennialism do not have a rapture event like the
dispensationalists have. Any reference to a rapture in their literature was the
second coming and judgment of all people and the time of the end to begin
eternity in either heaven or hell.
Another
note of discussion is that Historic Pre-millennialism, A-millennialism, and
Post-millennialism have been historical positions of the church going back to
the early church fathers. Dispensational
pre-millennialism is the “new kid on the block” being first articulated in
detail and popularized in the mid-1800s by John Darby Nelson (d. 1882).
Darby,
an Anglican priest and lawyer who was instrumental in the initiation of Brethren
churches and founded the Exclusive Brethren, believed the churches that came
out of the reformation were in ruins and that the Christ’s coming was nigh, so
it was time to prepare to leave the world in a secret rapture event where there
is a multi-stage return of Christ.[2]
More on this discussion on Day 22.
Sadly,
theologies can have a tendency to get in the way of good straightforward
readings of Scripture. This is one significant reason why this study was developed.
To do something radical: go back and see what the Bible actually says. From
time to time, these views may be commented upon, however, this study is meant
to see what “Scripture says” on various questions concerning end-times. As you
continue in this study, you will find that some views simply fall short of
Scripture.
Read Revelation 1:10-20 twice and meditate on it.
[1] The nature of the millennium is different
between A-millennialism and Post-millennialism.
[2] Jeramie
Rinne, Will Christians Be Secretly Raptured?, The Gospel Coalition, October 9,
2014, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/will-christians-be-left-behind/;
Editors, John Nelson Darby: Father of dispensationalism, Christianity Today, accessed April 20, 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/pastorsandpreachers/john-nelson-darby.html.
