The Three Different Views Describing The Relationship Between The Second Advent And The Millennium
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday July 4, 2010
The Day of the Lord: The Three Different Views Describing the Relationship Between the Second Advent And The Millennium
Lesson # 39
Please turn in your Bibles to Revelation 19:11.
This morning we will note the three major views describing the relationship between the Second Advent of Christ and the millennium: (1) Post-millennial (2) Amillennial (3) Pre-millennial.
In this study, we will note which view is the correct view and which ones are not and why and why it is important that the Christian adhere to the correct view and reject the others.
The term “premillennialism” derives its meaning from the belief that the Second Advent of Christ will be premillennial or in other words, that it will be before the millennium.
The English term is made up of the following Latin elements: pre means “before,” mille means “thousand,” and annus means “years” in relation to Christ’s Second Advent.
Thus, “premillennialism” means that Christ will return to the earth “before the thousand years.”
The corresponding Greek expression in Revelation 20:4-7, chilia ete, gives rise to the term “chiliasm,” properly a synonym for “millennialism.”
The term “chiliasm” has been superseded by the designation “premillennialism,” which is a system of doctrine that is based upon a literal interpretation of Scripture and prophecy.
Dispensational “premillennialism” contends that Christ will return to earth, literally and bodily, before the millennial age begins and that, by His presence, He will establish His kingdom, over which, He will reign.
The kingdom will continue for a thousand years, after which the Son will give the kingdom to the Father when it will merge with His eternal kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:25-28).
“Premillennialism” was the earliest of the three millennial systems to arise but fell out of favor during the Middle Ages but was revived by the Puritans in the seventeenth century and is the viewpoint of a majority of those who are conservative in their approach to biblical interpretation.
The “premillennial” view is the biblical view and therefore, correct view since it is consistent with the prophecies that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled literally during His First Advent and reflects a normal, literal interpretation of the Scriptures.
This view was the only view in the church in the first and second century.
The chronology of events recorded in Revelation 19:11-20:6 reveal quite clearly that Christ’s Second Advent will take place before His millennial reign.
Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12, His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13, He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14, And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15, From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16, And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ 17, Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, ‘Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.’ 19, And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20, And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21, And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. 20:1, Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2, And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3, And he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4, Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5, The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6, Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
“Postmillennialism” teaches that Christ’s kingdom is now being extended throughout the world through the preaching of the gospel and that a majority of people will be converted to Christ resulting in a consequent Christianization of the current world’s society.
This flies in the face of what the Scripture teaches that there will be a growing and increased animosity by the world to Christians and Christ and the Bible just preceding Christ’s return at His Second Advent.
The “post-millennial view,” which is popular among covenant theologians of the post-Reformation period, contends, that through the preaching of the Gospel the entire world will be Christianized and brought to submission to the Gospel before the return of Christ.
“Post-millennialism” contends that Christ will return after the millennium.
This view believes that the current age in which we live is the millennium and that through spiritual means there will be a progressive growth of righteousness, prosperity and development in every sphere of life as a growing majority of Christians eventually subdue the world for Christ.
Then after Christianity has dominated for a long time, which they call the churches glorious reign of victory, Christ will return.
World War II brought about the demise of this system of theology.
This view is based on the figurative interpretation of prophecy, which leads to subjective rather than objective interpretations.
Unlike the Scriptures, this view does not make a distinction between Israel and the church and does not have God fulfilling the promises contained in the four unconditional covenants to Israel but rather ascribes these promises as being fulfilled through the church.
This view is incorrect since the chronology of prophetic events recorded Revelation 19:11-20:6 make clear that the Second Advent of Christ precedes the establishment of His millennial kingdom.
The “amillennial” view holds that there will be no literal millennium on the earth following the Second Advent of Christ and the church is fulfilling all the prophecies concerning Israel and the kingdom.
This view teaches that from the ascension of Christ in the first century until His Second Advent (they don’t believe in the rapture), both good and evil will increase in the world as God’s kingdom parallels Satan’s kingdom.
The destructiveness of this view is that it denies a literal reign of Christ upon the earth and contends that Satan was bound at the First Advent.
This view contends that the present church age between the first and second advents is the fulfillment of the millennium and of course, this does not fit the facts of human history.
In our study of the millennium, we have noted that the Scriptures that the millennium will be spiritual in character and that there will be perfect economic, social and political conditions during the millennium.
At no time in human history in the past have we seen these conditions taken place nor at the present time in human history have we seen them taking place.
Some who hold this view believe like Augustine that the millennium is being fulfilled on the earth and others like Warfield say it is being fulfilled in heaven.
This view was not around during the first century and came about as a result of opposition to premillennial literalism because Christ had yet to come back to the earth to establish His reign.
“Amillennialism” is destructive in that it holds to a non-literal view of the millennium and spiritualizes the kingdom prophecies.
It rejects a future for the nation of Israel and of God fulfilling the promises contained in the four unconditional covenants to Israel and makes no distinction between Israel and the church.
It is popular today because it is an inclusive system including various types of theology such as liberal Protestant, conservative Protestant and Roman Catholic.
Liberal amillennialism denies the doctrines of the resurrection, judgment, the Second Advent, eternal punishment and Roman amillennialism evolved the system of purgatory, limbo whereas conservative amillennialism still holds to literal doctrines of resurrection, judgment and eternal punishment.
This leads us to the communion service and so therefore, could we have our ushers pass out the communion elements and let us take a few minutes to meditate upon the Lord and prepare ourselves for the Lord’s Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:23, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 25 In the same way {He took} the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink {it} in remembrance of Me.’ 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.”