The Millennium

The Millennium

In order to communicate effectively, people must come to an agreement concerning the definitions of words and phrases. Whenever there is disagreement about what a term or terms mean, they must be clarified before any meaningful discourse can take place.

The term Millennium is one that many people have trouble with. Some say that it is not a Biblical term, or even a Biblical concept. It is this confusion that I want to address in this brief paper.

When we study the Bible we often rely upon work done by others in previous generations, sometimes even of different views. We review, analyze and sometimes incorporate some of their terms into our own language in order to maintain continuity of meaning when discussing a given concept. This is the case with the term millennium. We take it over from the Latin translation of the bible, as we do many theological terms ( like Rapture) due to the fact that for centuries the Latin was the officially recognized version of the bible and these questions were debated mostly during that time.

In Rev.20: 4- 7 the original Greek text mentions a phrase six times, which is translated in the English versions as “Thousand Years”. 

The Greek reads “Chilia Etae”   ( χιλια = 1,000; , ετα = years). The term used for the first three hundred years by the Christian Church to refer to Christ’s one thousand-year reign as described clearly in Revelation was “Chiliasim” kil’é æ zm. The Latin translation reads “Mille (thousand) Annum (years). So it is very easy to see that not only is the Millennium a Biblical concept, but it is also an exact Biblical phrase. (By the way, the exact same thing is true concerning the Rapture; Greek =  ἁρπάζω  =  harpazo = caught up = Latin = raptus).

Those who want to deny the reality of the Millennium will have to do so not by denying that it is in the Bible, but by declaring that the Bible does not mean what is says in plain language.

Following is a short description of the various positions that are taken regarding the Millennium.

 ¶   Premillennialism – there will be a literal thousand year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Saints on the earth at the end of the age. There are differing prophetic schools of thought in the premillennial camp, all of which are Futurists. Major distinctions are made concerning the timing of the “Rapture of the Saints”.

       Amillennialism – there will never be a literal Millennium. First introduced by Augustine. Later adopted by the Catholic Church and held by most of the Reformers. The Christian church will transform the world into the kingdom of God, then Christ will return and there will be a general resurrection followed by a general judgement of all people. Others see prophetic fulfillment only in Heaven (no reign on earth at all). There is no distinct Tribulation Period just general tribulation that the church undergoes throughout the ages, and no Rapture (viewed as a non-Biblical concept). There is no distinction between Israel and the Church in this view (replacement theology), since the old covenant has been “replaced” with the new. This view is held by modern Historicists, Pretorists, Semi- Pretorists, Reformed, and Covenant theologians.

        Postmillennialism – similar to the Amillennial position in that it teaches that the kingdom of God is now being extended throughout the world by the Church resulting in the Christianization of the whole world, culminating in a long period of peace and righteousness known as the “Millennium”. After which Christ returns followed by the general resurrection, the general judgement, and the full implementation of Heaven and Hell. The tribulation is only general and there is no Rapture as such, only a momentary meeting in the air between the Lord and the saints of all ages, both living and dead, and then an immediate return to the earth with Christ, which altogether constitutes the second coming. Held by traditional Historicists, some Preterists, Liberals, and Theonomists (those who promote the re-institution of the Mosaic Law, but this time over all of mankind).