Description

"Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond" is a book that explores and presents three different perspectives on the biblical concept of the millennium and its implications for the future. The book features contributions from three prominent theologians, each advocating a distinct viewpoint: postmillennialism, amillennialism, and premillennialism.

• Revelation 20:1-6 (NLT) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
• Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
• This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

Postmillennialism

The postmillennialist perspective is rooted in the belief that the spread of the gospel and the influence of Christianity will gradually bring about a time of unprecedented peace, righteousness, and spiritual prosperity on Earth, known as the millennium. Proponents of this view argue that the Great Commission, which commands Christians to make disciples of all nations, will ultimately be fulfilled as the message of salvation permeates every corner of the world.

Postmillennialists draw support for their perspective from biblical passages that speak of the advancement of God's kingdom. They highlight verses such as Isaiah 2:2-4, which envisions all nations coming to worship the Lord, and Matthew 13:31-33, where Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a small seed that grows into a large tree.

According to postmillennialism, the millennium represents a time of social, cultural, and moral transformation as the principles of God's kingdom become increasingly evident in society. This view sees the Church as playing a vital role in this process, influencing various spheres of life, including politics, education, economics, and the arts. By establishing godly institutions and practicing biblical principles, believers will contribute to the overall improvement of society.

The return of Christ is seen as the culmination of the millennium, signaling the end of this period of spiritual prosperity and inaugurating the final judgment and the eternal state. However, postmillennialists differ in their understanding of the nature of Christ's return. Some envision a literal, physical return, while others see it as a symbolic representation of Christ's victory and the establishment of his eternal reign.

Critics of postmillennialism often raise the challenge of the persistence of evil and suffering in the world. They argue that the present reality seems far from the ideal envisioned by postmillennialists. In response, postmillennialists emphasize...