Poimen
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
I was hoping to get some feedback on this summary of eschatological positions. The purpose is not to teach one against the other but simply to fairly represent the opposing views. It is intended for laymen so it is intentionally simple.
FYI, I am an amillenialist so it may be that my bias shines through. If so please let me know.
VIEWS ON ESCHATOLOGY
I. Amillenialism
Amillenialism has a long history in the church going back to Augustine who propagated the view that the millennium is a period of time that encompasses the whole of history after the ascension of Christ. Thus Amillenialism literally means “no millennium.” (i.e. not a literal thousand years but an era) In my opinion amillenialism is the view held by the majority of Reformers but some might disagree with me.
Amillenialism agrees with pre-millenialism that we should not expect a Golden Age or time of a ‘world’ conversion before the time of Christ but rather increasing persecution and unbelief. Christ reigns over all but He calls believers to suffer now and await glory in heaven. Amillenialism agrees with post-millenianism that Christ returns after the millennium.
A typical criticism of amillenialism is that it is allegorical i.e. not literal. It interprets the structure of eschatology in Scripture as symbolic rather than historical. Postmillenialists usually criticize it as being too pessimistic since it ignores the scriptures declaration of Christ’s victory over all things.
Some prominent amillenialists: Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, William Hendriksen, Herman Ridderbos, Geerhardus Vos. Most (Dutch) Reformed Christians are amillenialists.
II. Post-millenialism
Post-millenialism believes that Christ will return after the millennium. Usually if not always a postmillennialist will assert along with the amillenialist that the thousand years is not a literal thousand years but an era. The difference is that they insert a so-called “Golden Age” into the end of the millennium. This Golden Age asserts that Christ has won a full victory over sin and death and so we can expect to see the (full?) result of His reigning over His enemies in this life. Thus much of the world will be converted; there will be a time of great peace and the establishment of God’s law as a standard for all nations.
Modern day post-millennialists tend to see other views as highly pessimistic and disavowing of the victorious life that Christ has called us Christians to live. Amillenialists and pre-millenialists usually characterize this view as disregarding the Lord’s (and the apostles) warnings about the difficulties of the last days.
Many of the Puritans were post-millennialists. Today it is advocated by men such Joey Pipa, R.C. Sproul, Steve Wilkins and Douglas Wilson. It tends to be popular in Presbyterian circles, particularly by those who embrace theonomy.
III. Pre-millenialism
Pre-millenialists all agree, contrary to amillenialism and post-millenialism, that Christ will return before the millennium. With this view Christ will come and establish a “Golden Age” after He returns and He will reign on earth with those saints who have died for a thousand years. Then will come the resurrection, judgment and eternal life.
However pre-millenialism is divided into two basic camps. The first are classic pre-millenialists whose tradition goes back to the early church fathers (who are called “Chiliasts” ). They assert the above but they believe that God has one people or one covenant in the new covenant that includes Jews and Gentiles. This latter truth, of course, is not revolutionary for you or I because it is the accepted teaching of the Christian Church for thousands of years. The late Dr. James Boice, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, is a good example of this type of pre-millenialist.
The second camp of pre-millenialists, usually called dispensationalists, assert however that Christians at the time of the “Rapture” (usually taught as occurring before the Great Tribulation) will be taken up into heaven after which the Jews, God’s chosen people, will reinstitute the sacrifices and spread the gospel throughout the world. This, in effect, will commence the millennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem along with the raptured saints. This thinking has been popularized in the “Left Behind” series and is propagated by J.N. Darby, John MacArthur, Louis Sperry Chafer, and Jack Van Impe. It is the most prevalent type of eschatology within evangelicalism though most of its adherents live within North America. This latter type of pre-millenialism is usually criticized for its wild speculations concerning the return of Christ and the invention of the rapture to support its theology.
VIEWS ON PROPHECY
Related to the study of eschatology are also the different views on prophecy (mostly related to how one interprets the OT prophets and Revelation). I will briefly list them here:
I. Futurism
This view believes that most of the prophecies have yet to be fulfilled. This view is largely, if not exclusively, popular within pre-millenial camps.
II. Iterism
Iterists assert that most prophecies are repeated in every generation. It is, however, generally considered that there will be an increase in the intensity of such fulfillments until the time of Christ’s return. For example, every age will experience persecution but it will grow in severity as time goes on. Many amillenialists are iterists.
III. Preterists
Preterists believe that most prophecies have been fulfilled. They focus on AD 70 wherein the temple was destroyed as fulfillment of what Christ speaks of in Matthew 24 and what John focuses on in Revelation. Many post-millennialists are preterists, especially in it’s most popular forms of exposition.
-Rev. Kok
FYI, I am an amillenialist so it may be that my bias shines through. If so please let me know.
VIEWS ON ESCHATOLOGY
I. Amillenialism
Amillenialism has a long history in the church going back to Augustine who propagated the view that the millennium is a period of time that encompasses the whole of history after the ascension of Christ. Thus Amillenialism literally means “no millennium.” (i.e. not a literal thousand years but an era) In my opinion amillenialism is the view held by the majority of Reformers but some might disagree with me.
Amillenialism agrees with pre-millenialism that we should not expect a Golden Age or time of a ‘world’ conversion before the time of Christ but rather increasing persecution and unbelief. Christ reigns over all but He calls believers to suffer now and await glory in heaven. Amillenialism agrees with post-millenianism that Christ returns after the millennium.
A typical criticism of amillenialism is that it is allegorical i.e. not literal. It interprets the structure of eschatology in Scripture as symbolic rather than historical. Postmillenialists usually criticize it as being too pessimistic since it ignores the scriptures declaration of Christ’s victory over all things.
Some prominent amillenialists: Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, William Hendriksen, Herman Ridderbos, Geerhardus Vos. Most (Dutch) Reformed Christians are amillenialists.
II. Post-millenialism
Post-millenialism believes that Christ will return after the millennium. Usually if not always a postmillennialist will assert along with the amillenialist that the thousand years is not a literal thousand years but an era. The difference is that they insert a so-called “Golden Age” into the end of the millennium. This Golden Age asserts that Christ has won a full victory over sin and death and so we can expect to see the (full?) result of His reigning over His enemies in this life. Thus much of the world will be converted; there will be a time of great peace and the establishment of God’s law as a standard for all nations.
Modern day post-millennialists tend to see other views as highly pessimistic and disavowing of the victorious life that Christ has called us Christians to live. Amillenialists and pre-millenialists usually characterize this view as disregarding the Lord’s (and the apostles) warnings about the difficulties of the last days.
Many of the Puritans were post-millennialists. Today it is advocated by men such Joey Pipa, R.C. Sproul, Steve Wilkins and Douglas Wilson. It tends to be popular in Presbyterian circles, particularly by those who embrace theonomy.
III. Pre-millenialism
Pre-millenialists all agree, contrary to amillenialism and post-millenialism, that Christ will return before the millennium. With this view Christ will come and establish a “Golden Age” after He returns and He will reign on earth with those saints who have died for a thousand years. Then will come the resurrection, judgment and eternal life.
However pre-millenialism is divided into two basic camps. The first are classic pre-millenialists whose tradition goes back to the early church fathers (who are called “Chiliasts” ). They assert the above but they believe that God has one people or one covenant in the new covenant that includes Jews and Gentiles. This latter truth, of course, is not revolutionary for you or I because it is the accepted teaching of the Christian Church for thousands of years. The late Dr. James Boice, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, is a good example of this type of pre-millenialist.
The second camp of pre-millenialists, usually called dispensationalists, assert however that Christians at the time of the “Rapture” (usually taught as occurring before the Great Tribulation) will be taken up into heaven after which the Jews, God’s chosen people, will reinstitute the sacrifices and spread the gospel throughout the world. This, in effect, will commence the millennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem along with the raptured saints. This thinking has been popularized in the “Left Behind” series and is propagated by J.N. Darby, John MacArthur, Louis Sperry Chafer, and Jack Van Impe. It is the most prevalent type of eschatology within evangelicalism though most of its adherents live within North America. This latter type of pre-millenialism is usually criticized for its wild speculations concerning the return of Christ and the invention of the rapture to support its theology.
VIEWS ON PROPHECY
Related to the study of eschatology are also the different views on prophecy (mostly related to how one interprets the OT prophets and Revelation). I will briefly list them here:
I. Futurism
This view believes that most of the prophecies have yet to be fulfilled. This view is largely, if not exclusively, popular within pre-millenial camps.
II. Iterism
Iterists assert that most prophecies are repeated in every generation. It is, however, generally considered that there will be an increase in the intensity of such fulfillments until the time of Christ’s return. For example, every age will experience persecution but it will grow in severity as time goes on. Many amillenialists are iterists.
III. Preterists
Preterists believe that most prophecies have been fulfilled. They focus on AD 70 wherein the temple was destroyed as fulfillment of what Christ speaks of in Matthew 24 and what John focuses on in Revelation. Many post-millennialists are preterists, especially in it’s most popular forms of exposition.
-Rev. Kok
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Paul, you make me smile!
