Eschatology: Views of Millennialism

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ESCHATOLOGY: VIEWS OF MILLENNIALISM THE PREFIX BEFORE PREMILLENNIALISM “MILLENNIUM” REFERS TO POSTMILLENNIALISM AMILLENNIALISM THE “TIME OF CHRIST’S SECOND COMING AS IT “SECOND COMING BEFORE RELATES TO THE THE MILLENNIUM” “SECOND COMING AFTER “NO LITERAL MILLENNIUM” MILLENNIUM THE MILLENNIUM” Definition Also referred to as CHIALISTS, refers to Christ’s second coming will occur after the There will be no literal historical reign of the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth millennium. Christ on earth for 1000 years. PRIOR TO the 1000 year reign – or the millennium. Characteristics 1. Christ will return at the end of THIS The church is not the kingdom but it will The kingdom reign of Christ and His saints AGE with His saints to the earth to bring in the kingdom (a utopian, is in existence for the period of time reign for 1000 years as King. Christianized condition) by the preaching of between Christ’s two advents. (Actually is 2. In the millennium the nation Israel the gospel. happening now.) will experience the blessing God promised to Abraham and David Evolutionary process for some – “New age” The kingdom is either the church on earth pertaining to Israel’s Land, idea that we are getting better and better and (Augustine’s view now perpetuated by the Nationality or (seed), and Throne. better! Christ does not return at all for these. Roman Catholic Church) and/or the saints N.T. believers will likewise share in in heaven (Warfield’s view). some measure in the covenant Christ will not be on the earth during the blessing having been engrafted into kingdom. He will rule in the hearts of The promises to Israel about a land, seed the one people of God (Romans 11). people, but will return after the millennium. and throne are thus completely fulfilled (conservative postmill). now in a spiritual sense in the church. Summary found in Rev. 20:4-6; cf. also IS. 11; 65. Not a literal 1000 year millennium. The church – not Israel will receive the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and David in a spiritual sense. Important Advocates Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Tertullian, Daniel Whitby, Johnathan Edwards, Charles Origen, Augustine, Roman Catholic Cyprian, Tyndale, some Anabaptists, Wesley, Charles Hodge, A.A. Hodge, Church, wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Moravians, Mennonites, John Wesley, Augustus Strong, B.H. Carroll, G.W. Truett. B.B. Warfield, L. Berkhof. Ryrie, Walvoord, Graham, Criswell, Patterson, Erickson, Akin, Mohler, Swindoll, and MacArthur. .

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