What are the different views of the Millennium?

The Millennium is a term used in Christian eschatology to refer to a future thousand-year reign of Christ. Different theological traditions interpret the Millennium in various ways, leading to several distinct views: Amillennialism, Millennialsim, Dispensational Premillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialsim, and Historical Premillennialism. Here, we will explore each view and examine why Historical Premillennialism is considered the biblical perspective, supported by Bible references.

The Different Views of Millennium

Some ask: What are the different views of the Millennium? And which is the correct view? Here are the different views on the Millennium:

Amilenialism

Amilenialism teaches the rejection of the doctrine that Jesus will have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. This term, literally means “no millennialism.”

Millennialsim

Millennialsim teaches that there will be a ‘golden age” on earth in which Christ will reign for a thousand years before the final judgement.

Dispensational Premillennialism

Dispensational Premillennialism teaches that Jesus will return before a seven-year tribulation period and take Christians to heaven by means of a secret rapture. Christ would then physically return after the tribulation.

Premillennialism

Premillennialism teaches that Christ’s second coming occurs before the millennium.

Postmillennialsim

Postmillennialsim teaches that Christ’s second coming occurs after the millennium.

Historical Premillennialism

Historical Premillennialism teaches that Jesus will physically return before the millennium. In contrast to dispensational premillennialism, historical premillennialism teaches that Christ comes for all His people after the tribulation but before the millennium.

The Biblical View – Historical Premillennialism

Historical Premillennialism is often seen as aligning most closely with the plain reading of Scripture, particularly Revelation 20:1-6. This view maintains the following key points:

1. Literal Interpretation of the Millennium: Historical Premillennialism takes the thousand years in Revelation 20 as a literal period following Christ’s return.
2. Post-tribulation Return: Christ’s return will follow a period of tribulation, leading to the establishment of His millennial kingdom in heaven.
3. Resurrection of Believers: Believers will be resurrected to reign with Christ during the Millennium.

Revelation 20:1-6 (NKJV):

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

This passage is central to the Historical Premillennial view, supporting the idea of a literal thousand-year reign following Christ’s return.

Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV):

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

This passage supports the idea of Christ’s return following a period of tribulation.

Chronological Order of Events

Events at the Beginning of the 1,000 Years

1. Devastating earthquake and hailstorm (Revelation 16:18-21; Revelation 6:14-17).
2. Second coming of Jesus for His children (Matthew 24:30, 31).
3. The dead in Christ raised to life (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
4. The Righteous given immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).
5. The saved will be given new bodies (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21).
6. All righteous caught up into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
7. Living wicked slain by the breath of the Lord’s mouth (Isaiah 11:4).
8. Wicked in graves remain dead until the end of the 1,000 years (Revelation 20:5).
9. Christ takes righteous to heaven (John 13:33, 36; 14:1-3).
10. Satan bound with no one to deceive (Revelation 20:1-3).

Events During the 1,000 Years

1. The earth in a ruined condition from huge hailstones and a devastating earthquake (Revelation 16:18–21)
2. The earth desolate, as a “bottomless pit” (Jeremiah 4:23, 28)
3. The devil bound on the earth (Revelation 20:1–3)
4. The righteous in heaven participate in the judgment (Revelation 20:4)
5. The wicked are dead by the glory of Christ’s second coming (Jeremiah 4:25; Isaiah 11:4)

Events at the End of the 1,000 Years

1. Third coming of Jesus with the redeemed (Zechariah 14:5).
2. Holy city settles on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4, 10).
3. The Father, His angels, and all of the righteous come with Jesus (Revelation 21:1–3; Matthew 25:31; Zechariah 14:5).
4. The evil dead are resurrected; the devil is loosed (Revelation 20:5, 7).
5. The devil deceives the entire world (Revelation 20:8).
6. The sinners surround the holy city (Revelation 20:9).
7. The lost are destroyed by fire (Revelation 20:9).
8. New heavens and earth created (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
9. The redeemed enjoy eternity with God on the new earth (Revelation 21:2–4).

Conclusion

The different views of the Millennium— Amillennialism, Millennialsim, Dispensational Premillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialsim, and Historical Premillennialism—reflect diverse interpretations of biblical prophecy. While each view has its theological interpretation, Historical Premillennialism is often considered the biblical view due to its literal interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 and its alignment with other prophetic scriptures.

Historical Premillennialism emphasizes a future, literal thousand-year reign of Christ in heaven with the saints following His return and the resurrection of believers to reign with Him. This perspective provides a coherent and straightforward reading of the relevant biblical texts, offering a compelling case for its adherence to the scriptural narrative.

For the events that happen during and at the end of the Millennium, check the following The Millennium.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team