There are a variety of interpretations about the 1,000 year period mentioned in Revelation 20. Here is a broad overview of the major viewpoints:
Amillennialism
Amillennialism says that the 1,000 year period is not literally one thousand years. The thousand years is a way to describe a long time. The Millennial period is described as the Church Age, the time between Christ’s first coming and his second coming. During this Millennial period Christ is sitting on His throne in heaven. As soon as he returns, he will usher in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Premillennialism
Premillennialism takes the 1,000 year period to be a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on this earth after Jesus returns and before the New Heavens and New Earth. Premillennialists see that there are prophesies in Scripture that are not yet fulfilled and can only be fulfilled by Christ physically reigning on this earth.
There are two kinds of premillennialism. Dispensational premillennialism is more confident about details of the millennial kingdom and other end times events. Dispensational premillennialists also maintain a distinction between Church and Israel.
Historic premillennialism sees that there needs to be a fulfillment of God’s promises for Christ to reign on this earth, but is more open to waiting to see exactly what this literal fulfillment will look like. Just like Christ fulfilled a lot of prophesy in unexpected ways in regards to His first coming, the second coming may be just as cleverly fulfilled. Historic premillennialist also see Israel and the Church joined into one body, the body of Christ.
Another big difference between dispensational premillennialism and historic premillennialism is the timing of the rapture. Many (most? all?) dispensational premillennialists hold to a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. Historic premillennialists tend to see the second coming and the rapture as one and the same event.
Postmillennialism
Postmillennialism holds that Christ during his preaching and teaching ministry equipped believers with what they needed to share the gospel to the whole world. As time marches on, more and more people will be saved until the Millennium, a golden age of peace and love and Christian values with the majority of people being saved, will be ushered in on this earth. After the Millennium, the New Heavens and New Earth will begin.
Resources on the Millennial Kingdom
I have given a super simple explanation of each of the three major views. If you want more information that goes deeper, you can check out this article from The Gospel Coalition or you can read this book, The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views in which people who hold to each view explain their view and respond to each other’s view. It’s like being the fly on the wall as the theologians talk with one another.
What should I believe?
You should be in agreement with your local church and the eschatological views they hold. No blogger, radio preacher, or author cares for your soul like your local church pastors and elders do. And if you aren’t sure yet what you believe, that’s totally fine. There’s no hurry. Take your time reading, praying, studying, and thinking. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to work in you and show you what you need to know now. Down the road, you will understand more. Just learn today what you can learn today.
If you’d like to share your point of view, I’d love to hear it! Comment below.
If you are interested in my point of view, you can see the Articles of Faith of the Bible Fellowship Church, the denomination to which I belong.
Note: Some of the above links are Amazon affiliate links.
Recent Posts:
- What is Historic Premillennialism?
- Old Testament in a Year Bible Reading Plan
- Do We Need Biblical Reasons to Weep with Those who Weep?
- Work or Whatever: A Labor Day Family Reflection
- The Bible Book of Revelation, not Revelations
Note: I am a member of Amazon Associates. Some of the links above are affiliate links.
