If none of this makes much sense, hang with me through this series. Hopefully, it will make sense soon.
- Dispensational Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Millennialism
- Historic Pre-millennialism
- A-millennialism
- Post-Millennialism
Four major views exist regarding Eschatology, each within the general realm of orthodoxy. They are Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and PostMillennialism.
We must remember, each view:
- Accepts all scripture as the inspired word of God; therefore, each professes their view to be based upon Biblical teachings.
- Teaches that there will be a future, visible, and bodily return of Christ.
- Believes that Jesus Christ is the promised Son of God, that He is God, and that He died as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- Holds that every human being will at some time receive a resurrected body which will live eternally in either Heaven or Hell.
- Holds that the difference in belief comes from the lack of ability to interpret the Bible properly rather than from a lack of loyalty to the Bible.
- Acknowledges that the other views are held by able conservative and evangelical scholars.
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism isn’t so much an Eschatological viewpoint as it is a way to read Scripture. The Old Testament (OT) takes priority over the New Testament (NT) for the sole reason that the OT can stand on its own two feet relating to meaning of words. Words have a specific meaning and we ought not to reinterpret them. Further, we ought not to take a fuller revelation (NT) and read it into the OT.
Secondly, Dispensationalism sees a hard distinction between Israel and the Church – neither shall the twain meet.
Traditionally speaking, Dispensationalism is the only Pe-Tibulation, Pre-Millennial view – Meaning they believe Christ will return before the Great Tribulation and before the Millennium. Within their view, the Rapture (where Christians are taken out of the world) happens before the Tribulation and before the Millennium, hence everything is still future. You could also say Dispensationalists are Futurists.
Historic Premillennialism
Somewhat akin to Dispenationalism’s view is Historic Premillennialism. Historic Premil also sees Christ’s return as coming before the Millennium, but after the Tribulation (Post Trib). They see Scripture as more of a single story about a single people but still draw a soft line between Israel and the Church. Historic Premils can also be classified as Futurists.
As far as Premillennial views go, Historic Premil is the traditional viewpoint. The vast majority of folks who hold the Premil view, also held the Post Trib view. Hence, Historic Premil is the historic, traditional Premil view.
Amillennialism
Amillennialists claim A-millennialism suffers from an unfortunate name. Contrary to popular belief, A-millennialists do, indeed, believe in a millennium. The difference between A-millennialism and Pre-Millennialism is the millennium has been inaugurated during Christ’s first advent, is happening at this very moment, and will be consummated at Christ’s second coming, whereas, Pre-Millennialism believes the millennium is yet solely in the future.
Literally speaking, A-millennialism means, “no millennium”. “A-” meaning no and “millennium” meaning 1000 years. Together mean “no millennium”. As those holding to the Amil position say, apart from this straw man argument against A-millennialism, it is a false charge. In reality the use of its “true meaning” is really the trick of “poisoning the well” in disguise of a “reason against” A-millennialism.
PostMillennialism
PostMillennialism is also PostTribulational. They view Christ’s Second Coming as coming after the Tribulation and After the Millennium. At first glance, you may think, “but that’s what the Amil position holds”. True enough, however, the characteristic of the Millennium is what the disagreement is about between Amil and PostMil.
Amil sees the Millennium in a negative light and PostMil sees it in a positive light. In other words, Amil sees it as “growing worse and worse” and PostMil sees it as becoming essentially “Christianized”.
Both A-millennialists and PostMils view the millennium as beginning at Christ’s first coming and will consummate at Christ’s second coming. The 1000 years (Revelation 20) is viewed as symbolic of the complete church age. Notice it is not viewed figuratively but symbolically. Due to the nature of the book of Revelation as being apocalyptic, These two views see much of the descriptions in the book of Revelation as symbols for very real realities, whereas, figurative language is a metaphor or descriptive of something non-literal or simply a figure of speech:
e.g. Figurative: Luke 13:32 “…Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” vs. Symbolic: Psalm 50:10 “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”
Of course, Jesus is using a figure of speech to describe a person because the person is not literally a fox. Jesus is conveying the meaning that a person is cunning and/or crafty.
And God owns more than just those cattle on a thousand hills. The meaning of “1000 hills”, and “1000” more specifically, is “total” or “every” or “completely”. In other words, God owns every cattle on every hill. He owns everything. He owns all of them without exception. The 1000 signifies a greater reality. The 1000 is symbolic of a greater meaning. (see 1 Chronicles 16:15)
But with all of this said, the discussion of Revelation 20, the passage which starts the discussion, ironically, should be the last part of the greater discussion of Eschatology. So we will get to Revelation 20 at the tail end of the discussion. For now, there’s a LOT to get your head around with what’s already been presented. We’ll continue another time.