The End Times
In my last post, we defined the terms Dispensation and Millennium. In this post, we will explore the Three Main Views of the Millennium. [1] Like the Four Views for interpreting the Book of Revelation, it may be helpful to print the PDF version out to keep it handy as we go through our study, especially when we get to chapter 20.
Premillennialism: |
This is the belief that the second coming of Yeshua will precede the Millennial Kingdom. Many expect a literal 1,000-year period here on earth wherein Yeshua will reign with His Believers prior to the New Heaven and New Earth being established. The Millennial reign will be characterized by international peace and justice resulting from the universal rule of Yeshua. At the end of this period, Satan will be released from the bottomless bit and a brief period of freedom will follow to put the Believers to a final test before the final White Throne Judgment of God.
There are two varieties of premillennialism: Historic and Dispensational. The later differs from the former in its emphasis on the continuing centrality of national Israel in God’s eschatological program and in anticipating a Rapture of Believers [2] to heaven before the beginning of the Tribulation. Premillennialists are most likely to be those who have adopted the Futurist view of interpreting Revelation. |
Postmillennialism: |
Postmillennialists teach that Yeshua will return at the end of the Millennial period. Per this camp, the Millennial Kingdom will be established through the evangelical mission of the church. This endeavor will be so successful that most people will become Believers resulting in a lengthy period of peace on earth before Yeshua’s Second Coming.
Postmillennialists are most likely to be those who have adopted the Preterist view of interpreting Revelation. |
Amillennialsim: |
Amillennialists understand the thousand years of Revelation 20 as a symbolic number representing an indefinitely long period of time which happens to correspond to the entire span of time from the First Coming of Yeshua until His Second Coming. In short, the Church Age.
Amillennialists are found amongst Historicists, Preterists and Idealists, but rarely among Futurists.
|
I’ve recently learned that my WordPress theme doesn’t do a very good job of formatting 4 column charts. The following attached PDF chart summarizes the four views of Millennialism for various categories. Click here.
In my next post, we will begin to explore the Revelation of Yeshua the Messiah to Yochanan. As we go through the letter, I’ll do my best to present the different views as we come to passages that are interpreted differently by the adherents to those views of interpretation presented in Part 1 of the Glossary.
Click here for the full PDF version of the post.
[1] Most of the material in the first portion of this post is taken from “Revelation: Four Views, Revised & Updated” by Steve Gregg.
[2] I will be dealing with the issue of the Rapture in a later post when we get to Chapter 4.
[3] The Moody Handbook of Theology
My Heart is for Israel 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good breakdown between the three views of what they are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanx.
LikeLiked by 1 person