THE THREE MILLENNIUMS

by Jacques More

There are 3 main views of the millennium:

A-millennium
Pre-millennium
Post-millennium

A-millennium is the view that there is no literal millennium nor is there a millennium rule either literal or spiritual, but that all prophetic passages or all unfulfilled prophetic passages are to be read symbolically. Basically the 'a-' in front of 'millennium' means it is opposed to its existence altogether. As my new article Christians will reign, rule and judge shows, this view is in direct contrast to the reign, rule and judge period expected to occur for Christians.

Pre-millennium is the view that there is a literal period of 1,000 years in which Jesus will rule on earth. There are variations of this view, but all hold to a literal time of 1,000 years when Jesus will reign on earth. Basically the 'pre-' in front of 'millennium' means we are living now in a time which precedes the period of 1,000 years. This view is in accord with the reign, rule and judge period expected to occur for Christians.

Post-millennium is the view that there is no literal millennium but a spiritual or symbolic rule which involves the church age. The word millennium here is understood as a banner name for a kingdom age on earth, as a result of righteousness and justice brought about by the Christian message, as it spreads throughout the world during an indefinite length of time prior to Jesus' return. Basically the 'post-' in front of 'millennium' means that instead of not existing at all it is understood as a golden era of 'kingdom' timeline before Jesus' return. This view is contradicting the reign, rule and judge period for Christians as a reward and in a time following Jesus' return.

Pre-millennium therefore is the biblical view. This in itself can be split into other groupings dependent on the timing of the rapture, the tribulation and so on. But, with the basic reality that Christians are explicitly given as to rule, reign and judge on earth following Jesus' reward, then neither the a-millennium nor the post-millennium views are worth investigating further.

Of course part of the difficulty in believing in a literal 1,000 year period of time has been that this extent of time is given to us only in the book of Revelation in the bible. There are however a multitude of passages particularly in the prophetic books of the Old Testament which speak of a literal rule on earth, but not as to how long this period will be. Surely you would have thought this mass of scripture involving the Lord's rule on earth would deny a symbolic, nor a view of a non-literal time on earth for the millennium. Here are 3 examples:

The nations come to worship the King
When Jesus returns, he sets up rule in Jerusalem. And year on year all the remaining nations of the earth send representatives to give homage to the King.

If in doubt this is a reference to Jesus - as if the Lord of hosts was not enough of a reference to the divine link - then here is the description of the reaction of the remaining Jews in Jerusalem when they look to see the identity of this deliverer from the skies.

This reference to the One pierced is that of Jesus when he was pierced on the cross (John 19:34). The immediate reference to repentance and such mourning applies on the day to the local Jews. All Israel is saved then on as all remaining Jews join in this revival as they hear the news of the truth that the long awaited for Messiah is no other than Jesus himself (Romans 11:26-27).

The King sets up a banner in Jerusalem
As Jesus rule begins he declares a call for all scattered Jews to return.

Jesse is the name of King David's father. David was the second king to reign over all Israel following the rebellion and death of Saul the first king. David was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) and started life as a shepherd boy. David went on to overcome the enemies of Israel and reign in peace from Jerusalem. He was the 1st to use Jerusalem as his capital and it is sometimes termed the city of David. Jesus is prophesied as to reign upon the throne of David.

At Christmas time Isaiah 9:6 is often read as a reference to Jesus' birth. The passage goes on to tell us about his 2nd coming and his rule over the throne of David. As the Son of God and revealed Person of God he existed before David, and thus is also known as being before David's father Jesse, hence the name 'Root of Jesse'. We can therefore see Isaiah 11 just quoted is a reference to Jesus.

The king rules with a rod of iron
In my article Christians will reign, rule and judge we read how Christians will rule as Jesus does with a rod of iron over the nations (Revelation 2:27). Here is the prophetic passage from the Old Testament.

As Jesus rules from Jerusalem the nations that do not co-operate and submit to the King of kings, they are subdued. So, there you have it. 3 O.T. passages that speak of Jesus' rule on earth during the millennium. A time of prosperity and peace where the world sees how it is possible to live in righteousness and justice.

Ref. S.066

© copyright Thomas Nelson Inc. 1979,1980,1982.

© copyright Jacques More 2007. All Rights Reserved.

INFORMATION On copying & on giving