This article specifically relates to Premillennialism in Christian eschatology; for political millenarianism and other uses of the word see Millenarianism

Premillennialism in Christian eschatology is the interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation in the Bible which sees Christ's second coming as occurring before or pre- his literal thousand year reign on earth which some envision to be centred literally on King David's throne in Jerusalem. Premillennialism is distinct in that it usually interprets these "thousand years" literally; other views often interpret this as a figurative term for a long, undefined period of time (particularly, amillennialists and many postmillennialists). Premillennialism also holds this period of one thousand years is eschatological, and has not yet begun.

History of Premillennialism

Many early church fathers were proponents of premillennialism, before Augustine's writings in the fourth century popularized amillennial theology In the second century, Justin Martyr, affirmed his belief in the doctrine, while also acknowledging that it was not universally held by all; in his Dialogue with Trypho the Jew (Chapter 80), he stated: "I admitted to you formerly, that I and many others are of this opinion, and ^*

Some premillennialists throughout Church history were also Covenantalist such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon, but in its current form Premillennialism is almost completely linked to Dispensationalism and eschatological futurism (regarding the rest of the Book of Revelation).

Premillennialism is by far the most common interpretation of the "millennium" in Revelation 20 amongst Christian evangelicals, particularly in America. Premillennialism is most often associated with 'futurism' as regards the rest of the Book of Revelation. Premillennialism's widespread acceptance can be partly attributed to the success of such dispensational end times thrillers as Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth in the 1970s and more recently Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series.

Premillennialism stands in contrast to Postmillennialism and Amillennialism.

Dispensational vs. "Historic" Premillennialism

Premillennialism can be further broken down into two general schools of thought.

Dispensational Premillennialism

This view tends to be the more prevalent of the two in recent years. Dispensation Premillennialism holds that the return of Christ is preceded by the secret rapture of Christians, followed by the rise of Antichrist during a literal seven year Tribulation then Armageddon, followed by the return of Christ.

Dispensational premillenialism traces its roots to the 1830s and John Nelson Darby, a Calvinist theologian.

"Historic" Premillennialism

"Historic," or Classic Premillennialism states that the rapture of the church will occur following the seven year Tribulation, with the church being caught up to meet Christ in the air and accompany him to earth to share in his literal thousand year rule.

See also

• Summary of Christian eschatological differences
• Christian eschatology
• Postmillennialism
• Amillennialism
• Idealism
• Futurism
• Preterism
• Historicism
• Biblical hermeneutics
• Rapture
• Tribulation

External links

• Comparison Of Four Eschatological Positions
• Was the early church amillennial?
• Premillennialism
• A Survey of Early Premillennialism (pdf)
• Catholic Encyclopedia "Millennium and Millenarianism"

Theology | Christian eschatology

Pré-milenarismo