Within the theological framework of Eschatology, three primary views concerning the Millennium and the return of Christ have been prevalent in Christianity throughout the centuries.  The three positions are: amillennialism, post-millennialism, and pre-millennialism.  These views did not always exist as they do in the present day, as many varieties of millennial positions have evolved throughout church history.  The scope of this article is to briefly introduce these multiple meanings behind the term millennium.

Our word for millennium comes directly from the Latin term “millennium,” and literally means “one thousand years.”  Its theological significance comes from Revelation 20:4-5 where it speaks about a people who “came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Just prior to this thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, recorded in Revelation 20, it is said that an angel from heaven came and bound the devil throwing him into a pit, which was sealed for a thousand years.  These events and this time period is the basis of discussion, or debate, for the varying millennial positions.

The first view of the millennium is the amillennial view, which is often held by those belonging to the Reformed camp.  Within the chronology of eschatology this position essentially says that the age we are now in (often referred to as the church age) is in fact the millennial time period spoken of in Revelation 20.  The prefix “A” essentially negates the millennium (i.e., “no-millennium”); however, the negation is in the context of denying a future literal and physical 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth, not denying Revelation 20.  This position maintains that the church age will continue until Christ returns; after which, there will still be the resurrection of the dead, with believers going to their place in heaven and unbelievers to their place of judgment and eternal condemnation.  Thus, many of the theological issues such as judgment and future resurrection are not denied, rather they are not understood to be preceded by a yet future literal millennial reign of Christ on earth.

Secondly, postmillennialism means that Christ will return after the millennium (the prefix post meaning “after”).  Under this view the church age will over time turn into the millennial age, as more and more of the world’s population is converted to Christianity.  When the world has reached a point where Christian influence on society has become prominent enough, it could be said to have reached the “millennial age” of peace and righteousness.  Further, the millennial age within postmillennialism says that it will be a “long time” and not necessarily a literal thousand-year time period.  After the end of this millennial age, Christ will return, believers and unbelievers resurrected to heaven or judgment, and the new heaven and new earth will come into being.

Finally, premillennialism states that Christ will return before the millennium (the prefix pre meaning “before”).  This view holds that after the time of the tribulation Christ will return to set up his earthly kingdom and reign with the resurrected believers for 1,000 years.  Prior to and during the 1,000-year reign Satan will be bound, but released at the end of the millennium to deceive the nations.  After a final battle, where Satan and his human rebel army are defeated, all of the dead unbelievers will be resurrected to face eternal judgment.  This is simply the basic premillennial view, yet there are two other branches: Historic Premillennialism and Pretribulational premillennialism, both of which are beyond the present scope and will be examined in another article.

Will Uminn, Kevin Farmer, Phil Meade, Dana Arledge