Over the course of the past few weeks we have been discussing the different millennial views of Christianity. Last week we wrote about the Amillennial view, this week we will give our thoughts on Post-millennialism, and we will finish next week with our view of Pre-millennialism. This week I will endeavor to keep this post rather short and to the point.
Post-millennialists hold to a non-literal interpretation of Revelation 20, the chapter where the millennium and its happenings are discussed with detail and brevity. To my understanding the post-millennialist and the amillennialist favor a figurative interpretation of Scripture, and to me seem very similar. Yet, they differ in the concept of the millennium itself, amillennialism holds a “no millennium” view, and post-millennialism favors a millennium with a rather vague deifnition. This view does believe that Christ returns after a period of time, although, no specific period of time is defined. The “1000 years” described in Revelation 20:4-6 is not taken as a literal millennium but refers merely to an extended or long period of time.
This view believes, as well, that before Christ returns Christians will establish God’s kingdom on earth. But as we discussed last week in “Conflicts with Amillennialism,”[1] this cannot be supported with a literal interpretation of Revelation 20. There can be no peace brought to earth while Satan roams free, and he will not be bound until the coming millennial reign of Christ. James Attebury, in his article “Problems with Postmillennialism” states the same thing albeit in a different manner when he says, “Postmillennialism is the belief that before the second coming of Christ almost the entire world will embrace the gospel.”[2] Mr. Attebury continues his article by listing several passages of Scripture that seemingly disavow this theory of global acceptance of the gospel. 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Daniel 7:21,22; Rev. 19, these are just a few, but they all appear to point to a world in conflict at the return of Christ.[3] Therefore, denying that Christ returns to a world at peace with the gospel message.
Look at what Paul says about the time before Christ’s return in 2 Timothy 3:1-7. Paul talks about how Godless the last days will be, “in the last days there will come times of difficulty (v.1).”[4] He continues on to say that, “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”[5] Doesn’t really sound like Paul is describing a situation where people are accepting of the gospel. Nor, does it sound like Christ is coming back to an already ushered in kingdom of God if this is how the world will look at His Second Advent. If we truly want to be honest, this passage kind of reads like we are looking out the window. That should have us getting prepared and looking for His arrival.
We could continue to delve into passages that could refute the ideas behind post-millennialism, but I think some research should be left on the part of the disciple. Although, I will say that I for one am biased to a literal interpretation of Scripture, to take God’s Word at face value is the only way I feel that the truth can be found and understood correctly.
As always, I will conclude with this. If you have not declared Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, now is the perfect time.
Blessings,
Pat
[1] https://threeinthefire.com/conflicts-with-amillennialism/
[2] https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2019/04/06/problems-with-postmillennialism/
[3] https://jamesattebury.wordpress.com/2019/04/06/problems-with-postmillennialism/
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ti 3:1.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ti 3:2–5.