Generally it is helpful to understand your opponent’s eschatological postion in order to better know your own. In this succinct study I will summarize the essential distinctive features of amillennialism. Until the early twentieth century the term “amillennial” did not exist. Amillennialism was subsumed under the term “postmillennialism.” But after World War I and the onset of pessimism in our culture, “amillennialism” came into its own and worked its way out from under the “postmillennial” umbrella. The following features will show why it is not properly a part of postmillennial view.
1. The Church Age is the kingdom which the Old Testament prophets predict. God expands his people from the one nation of Israel in the Old Testament to the universal Christian church of the New Testament, making this phase of God’s people the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16).
2. Christ binds Satan during his earthly ministry at his first coming. His binding prevents Satan from stopping gospel proclamation. This allows for multitudes of sinners to convert to Christ and insures some restraint upon evil.
3. Christ rules spiritually in the hearts of believers. We may expect occasional, short-lived influences of Christianity on culture and society, especially when Christians live out the implications of their faith.
4. History will gradually worsen as evil’s growth accelerates toward the end. This will culminate in the great tribulation, with the arising of a personal Antichrist.
5. Christ will return to end history, resurrect all men, and conduct the Final Judgment, and establish the eternal order. The eternal destiny of the redeemed may be either in heaven or in a totally renovated new earth.
“4. History will gradually worsen as evil’s growth accelerates toward the end. This will culminate in the great tribulation, with the arising of a personal Antichrist.”
Isn’t this a feature of historic Premillenialism as well? How do the two positions differ beyond this feature?
Historic premillennialism, dispensationalism, AND amillennialism all agree here. This is a major difference in the postmill view.
Listen, its very simple…rather than WORLD…insert OLD COVENANT JUDAIC ways….
It was the END OF THE AGE….the age of Phariseeism, Judaic laws and now they were to do works not by the flesh but by the WORK OF THE SPIRIT…..the entire world is under this NOW.
I am so glad to be Postmill !!!
Me, too! Aren’t we lucky!
If the world is becoming more “discipled” and peace is increasing, then why is there so much teaching in the NT on suffering? Jesus seems to always talk about suffering, as do the epistles. 2 Tim 3 and John 15:
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
If Christ is persecuted, then we’ll be likewise.
Thanks for your help and wisdom!
The NT is what we call “occasional literature.” That is, it arises within a particular historical context and geographical setting and confronts the current cultural issues of the day. Jesus is speaking of the first-century persecution that his followers must endure. This is why several of the key prophecies regarding suffering are controlled by short-term temporal indicators. For instance, the Olivet Discourse says that these things will come to pass “in this generation” (Matt 24:34). The Book of Revelation informs the seven churches of Asia (Rev 1:11) that these things “must shortly take place” (Rev 1:1) because “the time is at hand” (Rev 1:3).
Of course, as is the situation with occasional literature and as is expected in divinely-inspired revelation from God: Wherever similar circumstances arise in other contexts and times, the principles of endurance befitting the first-century audience should be brought to bear on later audiences as well.
Nevertheless, the suffering warnings have an immediate and direct relevance the first century; they do not prophesy unending persecution through the remainder of history.
Gentry: “Nevertheless, the suffering warnings have an immediate and direct relevance the first century; they do not prophesy unending persecution through the remainder of history”
It’s great to be reminded of this. Thanks!
Helpful information. I discovered your site accidentally, and am glad I did! I bookmarked it.
Up until just recently I was a conscious amillennialist. However, after learning the importance of the preteristic hermeneutic, I have been ( slowly but surely) moving towards a postmillennial view of the kingdom. Thank you, Ken for your continual labor in the Lord!
Definitely understand that which you stated. Thanks for explaining the view.