Amillennialism
AMILLENNIALISM
What is Millennialism: Based upon a passage in the 20th chapter of the Book of Revelation, a framework of multiple paradigms has developed to describe what is the “Thousand Years” reign mentioned in this chapter.
The oldest view: One theory referred to as historical Amillennialism (in the midst of the Millennium) believed the thousand years is a representative or figurative period that denotes the entire Church age or period since the ascension of Christ after the resurrection. This theory held sway in the Church for most of the past two thousand years and believed that the ruling of Christendom is the Millennium on earth….thus Historical Amillennialism. Satan is bound from deceiving the nations until just before the final second coming of Christ. This is the dominant view of Catholicism.
A newer theory is Millennialism (Pre, Mid and Post tribulation) which sees the Millennium as a literal thousand-year period after the return of Christ. While some early church fathers such as Irenaeus held a similar view in 2nd century, this theory was not fully developed and propagated until John Darby began teaching it in the 1830s. It is the dominant view in Evangelical Christianity. The millennium is taught as a literal 1000 year period where Christ will physically reign on the earth. Before the beginning of this literal Millennium, the Saints will be secretly resurrected and raptured (back to heaven) either before, during, or after a seven-year period of tribulation. Those left behind will suffer the tribulation and judgments of God. Then Christ will return for the Second Coming, Christ’s enemies will be defeated and cast into the lake of fire, and the earth will be ruled by Christ for a thousand years (Millennium). During this period, temple worship will be restored on earth, new generations will be born on the earth, and these new human beings must choose to follow or reject Christ. At the end of this period, Satan will be released, and the unbelievers, led by Satan, will rebel against Christ and surround the camp of the Saints, the battle of Armageddon will be fought, after which will come the final White Throne Judgement.
A third, view called Post Millennialism was taught by Daniel Whitby in the 17th century. It believes in the later days of the church, the work of God will be greatly revived and a golden age of triumph over evil will come. This will involve the discipleship of all the nations. This will represent the Millennium. Because of the explosion of evil during the 20th and 21st centuries and the current apostasy on earth, most Christians have abandoned this view. It is still held and taught by a very small number of reformed Christians.
From the perspective of this author, a more correct recent interpretation of Amillennialism, taught 1600 years ago by St Augustine in his writings on the City of God, has reemerged. This view is that the Millennium is a time (whether literally 1000 years or figuratively a complete period) during which Satan is bound from “deceiving the nations” and the Church is permitted to grow and prosper on earth. In this same period of time, those who have passed through the 1st resurrection (happening continuously at the death of believers) will rule and reign with Christ in heaven (thus the two cities of Augustine’s City of God). At a time set by God, Satan will be released from his restraint to gather/deceive the nations to fight against God. Key is to understand that Satan has always been active during the Church age but was “restrained” from deceiving the nations to organize and rise up against God. Satan will lead a war on the Church during a period referred to as the tribulation. After the tribulation period, Christ will return in the clouds with all the resurrected Saints (Old and New Testament saints who were in Heaven with Christ), catch up those remaining faithful still alive on earth, and defeat/destroy Satan and the nations aligned against God. Then will come the second resurrection of the unbelievers and the final judgement, followed by eternity.
It is this authors opinion that the view taught by St Augustine (updated to reflect the 1600 years of history since he wrote his thesis) is the correct view of Amillennium. The following is an explanation of that view.
Amillennial Precepts
Uses Augustinian view/method of scriptural interpretation (see below).
Uses the New Testament (NT) as the basis for interpretation of the Old Testament (OT).
Uses NT scripture to interpret OT prophetic concepts
Luke 17:20-21 (Indicates the Old Testament Kingdom of God concept refers to the rule of God in the hearts of his saints/believers as described by Christ.)
Rom 2:28-29, Rom 9:6-8, Rom 11:25-26, Gal 6:16 (Indicates that believing Israel = the believing Church). In other words, there is no difference between OT and NT saints in either how they are redeemed or how they are handled in the prophetic future.
Recognizes the criticality of historical events, historical theology and the importance of other scriptures in interpreting prophetic passages
Emphasizes importance of understanding spiritual meaning when viewing prophetic texts (example: “sacrifice” = spiritual worship & obedience I Sam 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Ps 51:16-17)
Rejects the implausibility of Millennialism (i.e. the concept of a future Temple sacrifice during the Millennium (remember Christ said it is finished) and Christ ruling on the earth while humans’ rebel against his authority).
Methods of Scriptural Interpretation
Literal Interpretation. “The Bible must be interpreted according to the manner in which it is written….Luther comments: ‘Neither a conclusion nor a figure of speech should be admitted in any place of Scripture unless evident contextual circumstances or the absurdity of anything obviously militating against…require it.’…closely related to the grammatico-historical method… which focuses on the historical setting in which Scripture was written and pays close attention to the grammatical structure of the biblical text.” – R. C. Sproul, Grace Unknown, The Heart of Reformed Theology, pp 56-57
Augustinian View. …”how would it harm me, O my God thou Light of my eyes in secret, if while I am ardently confessing these things-since many different things may be understood from these words, all of which may be true…if I should interpret the meaning of the sacred writer differently from the way some other man interprets? Indeed, all of us who read are trying to trace out and understand what our author wished to convey; and since we believe that he speaks truly we dare not suppose that he has spoken anything that we either know or suppose to be false. Therefore, since every person tries to understand in the Holy Scripture what the writer understood, what harm is done if a man understands what thou, the Light of all truth-speaking minds, showest him to be true”… (Albert Outler) says: “This is the basis of Augustine’s defense of allegory (or deeper meaning) as both legitimate and profitable…He did not mean that there is a plurality of literal truths in Scripture but a multiplicity of perspectives on truth which amount to different levels and interpretations of truth.” – The Library of Christian Classics, Augustine: Confessions and Enchiridion, Translated and Edited by Albert C. Outler, pp 284-285
Amillennial Perspective. “Historically, Protestant interpreters have argued that the New Testament provides the controlling interpretation of the Old Testament. The goal of the interpreter of eschatology is to determine how prophecies made in the Old Testament are treated and applied by writers of the New. …(Secondly), eschatological themes are reinterpreted in the New Testament, where we are told these Old Testament images are types and shadows of the glorious realities that are fulfilled in Jesus Christ…A third critical factor is “the analogy of faith.” This refers to the importance of interpreting an unclear biblical text in light of clear passages which speak to the same subject rather than taking the literal sense in isolation from the rest of Scripture.” – Kim Riddlebarger, A Case for Amillennialism p 37
Author’s Conclusion. Most literalists avoid the Augustinian use of allegory/metaphor, and choose only meanings that would be derived literally or grammatically from the text. They also believe in a continuous timeline of events (events in later prophetic chapters must occur after events in previous chapters) when they teach the events of Revelation (and this is a critical mistake in understanding John’s Revelation). They feel, in general, that there is not a need to reconcile the literal reading of scripture with empirical truth know from our human existence (history, traditional Christian understandings from the fathers of the church, science, life experience etc). On the other hand, the Augustinian method recognizes that there is truth in the General Revelation, that “all” truth is God’s truth, and reason would lead us to conclude that all known truth should be compatible with scriptural truth. It is fair to say, that even within the literalist view, there is significant disagreements on when a literal meaning should be applied as universal and when a literal meaning creates an “absurdity” that begs a figurative – allegorical -metaphorical understanding. It is my view that scripture may NOT speak falsely concerning any truth revealed by God. It is also my view that there are known empirical truths in human & church history, and truths revealed by study of the material world, that are true. Consequently, when a literal interpretation of scripture leads to an “absurdity of truth” when compared to other scriptural texts or to empirical truth…human reason and the Holy Spirit leads us to the conclusion that we must reconcile these truths. If the textual criticism allows for 1) a deeper or figurative or metaphorical meaning, 2) other scripture demands a different meaning, or 3) “an absurdity of truth” would exist by a literal interpretation, “deeper interpretation” of the text should be permitted.
Author’s Amillennial Paradigm
Continuity of Biblical history – Salvation always based on faith in both OT and NT.
Rejects automatic scriptural & prophetic divisions based on Israel vs. church (unless scripture specifically indicates). Thus, the NT teaching that the Church is the Israel of God indicates the seamless nature of the sainthood of believers.
Recognizes God’s three different governances (pre-Abrahamic world, Israel, and Church) but does not see this changing the sainthood of believers.
Sees no scriptural basis for belief in a physical Millennium on earth after Christ’s return.
Believes (as Augustine did) that the 1st resurrection is a continuous event happening for believers at death (and occurring ever since Christ arose and took captivity captive…took the saints waiting for the consummation of Israel in Abraham’s bosom to heaven). (II Cor 5:6-8, Joh 5:25, Matt 27:52-53, Luke 23:43, I Peter 3:18-20, Eph 4:8, I Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Believes we will see Anti-Christ and go through Tribulation (II Thessalonians 2, Matt 24, Luke 17, Mark 13)).
Believes in one second return of Christ (with the saints at which time those still alive will join Him in the air) after which Christ will make an end of all things. This will be followed by the 2nd resurrection (unbelievers) and the 2nd death.
Believes Satan was cast out of heaven after the cross (Revelation 12)– confined to earth – “bound” from deceiving nations for 1000 years (Revelation 20, Jude 6, II Peter 2:4, Matt 12:29) – released to deceive/organize the nations – persecutes the church – sets up kingdom of 4th Beast (Daniel) – opposes Christ’s coming – and will be cast into hell.
Believes Christ will make all things new (new heavens and new earth) and will reign over this new creation for eternity.
New heaven and new earth & new Jerusalem are in eternity (not the Millennium) Rev 20 & 21
Resurrections: Amillennialism believes there are only two resurrections (vice the four of Premillennialism)
Believes 1st resurrection took place at resurrection/ascension of Christ and takes place at the death of believers/saints & that Christ is ruling with resurrected saints in the heavenly kingdom.
2nd Resurrection occurs at the return of Christ (to make an end of all things) and is only for unbelievers (also called the 2nd death) Rev 20:11-15