This is the fourth and final week in a four-week blog. In the first week we discussed the history and briefly defined each of the main three teachings around the millennium. You can read that blog by clicking https://threeinthefire.com/2197-2/. The second week we specifically defined amillennialism, discussed how this belief influenced a person’s worldview and provided reasons why amillennialism is not plausible. You can read that blog by clicking https://threeinthefire.com/amillennialism-worldview/. The third week we did the same analysis with postmillennialism and provided reasons why it is not plausible. You can read that blog by clicking https://threeinthefire.com/postmillennialism-worldview/. This week we are going to more specifically define premillennialism and discuss how this belief influences a person’s worldview.
Premillennialism is the belief that at Jesus Christ’s second advent, the millennium will begin. That is as basic as you can get it. There are two deciding factors for me when it comes to believing premillennialism is the only true doctrine of the millennium. Those factors are the treatment of Scripture as literal, historical and grammatical as well as early church history. I think my view on the interpretation of Scripture is well documented in previous blogs so I will spend the rest of my space on the Apostolic Fathers and the early church history. The Apostolic Fathers are the Apostles and those taught directly by them.
The Premillennialist of today can trace this doctrine back to the Apostolic Fathers and the early church fathers. Premillennialism had the earliest recorded church teaching by Irenaeus’ (A.D. 130-202). [1] Irenaeus is, “widely regarded as the first great theologian of the Christian church.” [2] Irenaeus “was a disciple of Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of the apostle John.”[3] “None of the major creeds of the church include premillennialism in their statements.”[4]
We can confidently say that most if not all the Apostolic Fathers held the following beliefs which should influence the worldview of Christian’s today. First, Israel would be redeemed as a nation and “fulfill her unconditional promises as the Messianic Kingdom.” [5] They believed that Jesus Christ’s second coming would usher in the Messianic Kingdom on earth and it would last for a literal thousand years. Second, the rapture doctrine is verified by the belief that Jesus Christ could return at any time. Third, they believed that the tribulation as prophesied was real and would come at some point in the future. Fourth the antichrist would be present during the tribulation. Fifth, these views were held even after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.[6]
In Christ,
Don
[1] Gentry Jr., “Postmillennialism,” in Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond, 15.
[2] Moisés Silva and Merrill Chapin Tenney, The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, H-L (Grand Rapids, MI: The Zondervan Corporation, 2009), 348.
[3] Kim Riddlebarger, A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times, Expanded Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 37.
[4] Gentry Jr., “Postmillennialism,” in Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond, 15.
[5] Mal Couch, “Introductory Thoughts on Allegorical Interpretation and the Book of Revelation Part I,” Conservative Theological Journal Volume 1 1, no. 1 (1997): 20–21.
[6] Couch, “ITAIBRI,” Conservative Theological Journal Volume 1 1, no. 1 (1997): 20–21.