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Different Views on the Millennium (Thousand Years)

Julian Spriggs M.A.

Related articles

Introduction to the Book of Revelation Four main views of Revelation
Structure of the book Main Characters in the book
Virtual Seven Churches Jesus the Lamb
Allusions to the Old Testament
Millennium Rapture and tribulation

Commentary on Revelation

I: Prologue (1:1-8) II: Letters to seven churches (1:9 - 3:22)
III: Seven Seals (4:1 - 8:1) IV: Seven trumpets (8:2 - 11:18)
V: Seven signs (11:19 - 15:4) VI: Seven Bowls (15:5 - 16:21)
VII: Prostitute / Babylon (17:1 - 19:10) VIII: Seven judgements (19:11 - 21:8)
IX: Bride / Jerusalem (21:9 - 22:9) X: Epilogue (22:10-21)

Introduction

Among evangelical believers and scholars there are wide divisions in the understanding of the events of end-times. There are several main viewpoints, which are mostly derived from different interpretations of the thousand year reign of Jesus. This is called the millennium, from the Latin word 'mille', meaning a thousand.

Chapter 20 of Revelation tells about a period of a thousand years, during which Satan is bound so he can deceive the nations no longer (20:3). The saints and martyrs rule with Christ for a thousand years (20:4-6). At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released and goes out to deceive the nations (20:8). They march and surround the camp of the saints, when fire comes down from heaven and destroys them (20:9), and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire (20:10).

Unfortunately a number of long words are used to describe these different viewpoints, which often only add to the confusion. I will attempt to explain them clearly. It is also important to be aware that within each of these major viewpoints, there are a large number of smaller variations from different teachers, and that views develop and change over the years.

Please note that the diagrams below are not drawn to scale, and are not intended to indicate the length of any the periods of time.

1. Pre-millennial view

Jesus returns before the thousand years (the 'pre-' meaning 'before'), during which he will reign on earth. This is argued from the fact Jesus appears on his white horse in chapter 19, then sets up his rule in chapter 20, so the chapters are taken strictly chronologically. It should be noted that this view makes a separation of a thousand years between second coming and the final judgement.

Within the pre-millennial view, there are two distinctly different approaches:

1a) Dispensational Pre-millennial View (Pre-tribulation rapture)

Dispensationalism is more than a particular view on 'end-times', but is a distinct approach to the understanding and interpretation of Scripture. It was started by John Nelson Darby from the Brethren in England in 1830 and was popularised through the Scofield Reference Bible. Darby divided up all of Biblical history into seven dispensations, in each of which God offered salvation to mankind in a different way. In each dispensation, God made a covenant with mankind, and each time they failed to keep it, so a new covenant was made, establishing a new dispensation. Each passage of scripture has to be assigned to its correct dispensation, known as 'rightly dividing the Word of truth'. The age of the church is the sixth dispensation, and the millennium is the seventh.

Cross &
Resurrection
Rapture 2nd Coming Final judgment
Old Testament Church Age (Gentile) 7 year tribulation
(Jews)
Millennium = 1000 years
(Jesus rules in Israel)
New heaven
and new earth

The main characteristic of this view is the complete separation of God’s dealing with the Jews from his dealing with the church, so the establishment of the modern state of Israel becomes central to the understanding of eschatology.

The understanding of history is built from the seventy weeks of Daniel chapter nine. Jesus came in the 69th week, when he offered the kingdom to the Jews, which was rejected, so the focus changed to the church and the 'prophetic clock was stopped', making a long gap between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week. At some unknown time the church will be raptured, secretly taken up to heaven, after which the 70th week of Daniel will begin. The rapture comes before the tribulation, hence it is referred to as a 'pre-tribulation rapture'. The seven-year tribulation is a terrible time when believing Jews will face persecution, and the Antichrist will rise to power. After seven years, Jesus will return and establish his kingdom in Jerusalem for a thousand years as king of the Jews, literally fulfilling the predictions in the OT of a glorious future for Israel.

There are a wide variety of differences within this basic viewpoint. Some people say the rapture will come in the middle of the tribulation (mid-tribulation rapture), or at the end of the tribulation (post-tribulation rapture), but most would teach a pre-tribulation rapture described above. This view is quite complex, with three separate events expected in the future: the rapture, the second coming, and the final judgement. This opinion is widespread today, with many popular books and films made from this perspective. However many scholars have serious doubts about this view. It has a fundamentally pessimistic view of the church and of the present age.

It should be noted that the word 'rapture' never appears in the Bible. It comes from a Latin word meaning to snatch. The equivalent Greek word is used when the Holy Spirit snatched Philip away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian (Acts 8:39). Paul used the same word when he taught that the believers will be snatched up, or caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:17). The question for us to consider is whether this happens at the same time as the second coming, or seven years before. For more about the rapture and the tribulation, please see the article about the Rapture.

1b) Historic Pre-millennial View

Cross &
Resurrection
Rapture &
2nd Coming
Final judgment
Old Testament (Time of the church) Millennium = 1000 years
(Jesus rules on earth)
New heaven
and new earth

This view is 'historic' because it was taught by some of the early church fathers, and at other times in church history. This understanding is simpler, in that there is no separation of the rapture from the second coming by seven years. At the second coming, Jesus will return to earth to establish his kingdom for a thousand years, but he will rule through his church, rather than over a Jewish kingdom. There is still a separation of a thousand years between the second coming and the final judgement. The emphasis is on God’s dealing with the church, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile believers.

2) Post-millennial view

Jesus returns after the thousand years, (the 'post-' meaning 'after'). Jesus returns after a thousand years of peace on earth. There is no separation of the second coming from the final judgement.

Cross &
Resurrection
Rapture,
2nd Coming &
Final judgment
Old Testament (Gospel spreads) Millennium
(peace on earth)
New heaven
and new earth

In the classic post-millennial view, the millennium would be brought in by the church preaching the Gospel, when the majority of the population of the world will become believers and peace will be established on earth. This was widely believed in the 19th century, when there was a dramatic growth of Christian missions around the world, but was brought to an abrupt stop by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, which ended almost a century with any major world-wide wars.

It will be noted that post-millennianism has a more optimistic view of the church, the spread of the Gospel and its impact in the world. This view would claim that Satan is bound as a result of the spread of the Gospel. However, it should be noted that there is no mention of the word 'peace' in Rev 20. The only consequence of the binding of Satan is that the nations will no longer be deceived (20:3).

A-millennial view

The millennium is not a literal thousand year period (the 'a-' meaning no millennium). Instead of a separate period of thousand years, the millennium is symbolic for the time of the church between the first and second comings of Jesus. This is the simplest view, with no separation of the second coming from the final judgment.

Cross &
Resurrection
Rapture,
2nd Coming &
Final judgment
Old Testament Millennium = a long time New heaven
and new earth

The millennium is the period when Satan is bound so he can no longer deceive the nations. Satan was bound when Jesus died on the cross, so the Gospel can now go to the Gentiles. In Old Testament times, the knowledge of God was largely restricted to the Jews. After Pentecost, the Gospel broke out of its Jewish roots to go to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The saints rule and reign with Jesus now. This view has been held consistently through all of church history, particularly by the Reformers, and continues to be held by many today.

Historical Note

It is interesting to trace changing views on the millennium at different times in history. Post-millennial thinking became popular during the 19th century, a time of increasing prosperity, fewer wars and growth in Christian mission. However, during the 20th century, the church was threatened by the growth of secular thinking and liberal theology, and had to face the terrible suffering of two world wars. As a result, the pre-millennial view, especially dispensationalism, became widespread. Many Christians had little hope for the present age, but eagerly anticipated the rapture, when they would be taken out of this world. This had an unfortunate impact on the evangelical church, as it withdrew from the social involvement which characterised the evangelical movement of the 19th century, leaving the church largely irrelevant to society. Because they believed in an immanent rapture, the church also had nothing to say about environmental issues, leaving much of the environmental movement to be taken over by New Age groups. Towards the end of the 20th century post-millennial views were increasing again. This may be linked with the renewal of the church, particularly in the non-western world, and the increasing interest in world mission, as optimism in the church increases once again.

Related articles

Introduction to the Book of Revelation Four main views of Revelation
Structure of the book Main Characters in the book
Virtual Seven Churches Jesus the Lamb
Allusions to the Old Testament
Millennium Rapture and tribulation

Commentary on Revelation

I: Prologue (1:1-8) II: Letters to seven churches (1:9 - 3:22)
III: Seven Seals (4:1 - 8:1) IV: Seven trumpets (8:2 - 11:18)
V: Seven signs (11:19 - 15:4) VI: Seven Bowls (15:5 - 16:21)
VII: Prostitute / Babylon (17:1 - 19:10) VIII: Seven judgements (19:11 - 21:8)
IX: Bride / Jerusalem (21:9 - 22:9) X: Epilogue (22:10-21)

The Bible

Pages which look at issues relevant to the whole Bible, such as the Canon of Scripture, as well as doctrinal and theological issues. There are also pages about the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and 'lost books' of the Old Testament.

Also included are lists of the quotations of the OT in the NT, and passages of the OT quoted in the NT.

Why These 66 Books?
Books in the Hebrew Scriptures
Quotations in NT From OT
OT Passages Quoted in NT
History of the English Bible
Twelve Books of the Apocrypha
The Pseudepigrapha - False Writings
Lost Books Referenced in OT

Old Testament Overview

This is a series of six pages which give a historical overview through the Old Testament and the inter-testamental period, showing where each OT book fits into the history of Israel.

OT 1: Creation and Patriarchs
OT 2: Exodus and Wilderness
OT 3: Conquest and Monarchy
OT 4: Divided kingdom and Exile
OT 5: Return from Exile
OT 6: 400 Silent Years

New Testament Overview

This is a series of five pages which give a historical overview through the New Testament, focusing on the Ministry of Jesus, Paul's missionary journeys, and the later first century. Again, it shows where each book of the NT fits into the history of the first century.

NT 1: Life and Ministry of Jesus
NT 2: Birth of the Church
NT 3: Paul's Missionary Journeys
NT 4: Paul's Imprisonment
NT 5: John and Later NT

Introductions to Old Testament Books

This is an almost complete collection of introductions to each of the books in the Old Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Genesis Exodus Leviticus
Numbers Deuteronomy

Joshua Judges Ruth
1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings Chronicles
Ezra & Nehemiah Esther

Job Psalms Proverbs

Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations
Ezekiel Daniel

Hosea Joel Amos
Obadiah Jonah Micah
Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah
Haggai Zechariah Malachi

Introductions to New Testament Books

This is a collection of introductions to each of the 27 books in the New Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Matthew's Gospel Mark's Gospel Luke's Gospel
John's Gospel

Book of Acts

Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians
Galatians Ephesians Philippians
Colossians 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy
2 Timothy Titus Philemon

Hebrews James 1 Peter
2 Peter 1 John 2 & 3 John
Jude

Revelation

Old Testament History

Information about the different nations surrounding Israel, and other articles concerning Old Testament history and the inter-testamental period.

Canaanite Religion
Israel's Enemies During the Conquest
Syria / Aram
The Assyrian Empire
Babylon and its History
The Persian Empire
The Greek Empire
The 400 Silent Years
The Ptolemies and Seleucids
Antiochus IV - Epiphanes

Old Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for OT studies. These include a list of the people named in the OT and confirmed by archaeology. There are also pages to convert the different units of measure in the OT, such as the talent, cubit and ephah into modern units.

More theological topics include warfare in the ancient world, the Holy Spirit in the OT, and types of Jesus in the OT.

OT People Confirmed by Archaeology
The Jewish Calendar
The Importance of Paradox
Talent Converter (weights)
Cubit Converter (lengths)
OT People Search
Ephah Converter (volumes)
Holy War in the Ancient World
The Holy Spirit in the OT
Types of Jesus in the OT

Studies in the Pentateuch (Gen - Deut)

A series of articles covering studies in the five books of Moses. Studies in the Book of Genesis look at the historical nature of the early chapters of Genesis, the Tower of Babel and the Table of the Nations.

There are also pages about covenants, the sacrifices and offerings, the Jewish festivals and the tabernacle, as well as the issue of tithing.

Are chapters 1-11 of Genesis historical?
Chronology of the Flood
Genealogies of the Patriarchs
Table of the Nations (Gen 10)
Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)

Authorship of the Pentateuch
Chronology of the Wilderness Years
Names of God in the OT
Covenants in the OT
The Ten Commandments
The Tabernacle and its Theology
Sacrifices and Offerings
The Jewish Festivals
Balaam and Balak
Tithing
Highlights from Deuteronomy
Overview of Deuteronomy

Studies in the Old Testament History Books (Josh - Esther)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the history books. These include a list of the dates of the kings of Israel and Judah, a summary of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and studies of Solomon, Jeroboam and Josiah.

There are also pages describing some of the historical events of the period, including the Syro-Ephraimite War, and the Assyrian invasion of Judah in 701 BC.

Dates of the Kings of Judah and Israel
King Solomon
The Kings of Israel
King Jeroboam I of Israel
The Syro-Ephraimite War (735 BC)
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah (701 BC)
King Josiah of Judah
Differences Between Kings and Chronicles
Chronology of the post-exilic period

Studies in the Old Testament Prophets (Is - Mal)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the OT prophets. These include a page looking at the way the prophets look ahead into their future, a page looking at the question of whether Satan is a fallen angel, and a page studying the seventy weeks of Daniel.

There are also a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of two of the books:
Isaiah (13 pages) and Daniel (10 pages).

Prophets and the Future
The Call of Jeremiah (Jer 1)
The Fall of Satan? (Is 14, Ezek 28)
Daniel Commentary (10 pages)
Isaiah Commentary (13 pages)
Formation of the Book of Jeremiah


Daniel's Seventy Weeks (Dan 9:24-27)

New Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for NT studies. These include a list of the people in the NT confirmed by archaeology.

More theological topics include the Kingdom of God and the Coming of Christ.

NT People Confirmed by Archaeology
The Kingdom of God / Heaven
Parousia (Coming of Christ)
The Importance of Paradox

Studies in the Four Gospels (Matt - John)

A series of articles covering various studies in the four gospels. These include a list of the unique passages in each of the Synoptic Gospels and helpful information about the parables and how to interpret them.

Some articles look at the life and ministry of Jesus, including his genealogy, birth narratives, transfiguration, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the seating arrangements at the Last Supper.

More theological topics include the teaching about the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete and whether John the Baptist fulfilled the predictions of the coming of Elijah.

Unique Passages in the Synoptic Gospels
The SynopticProblem
Genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1)
Birth Narratives of Jesus
Understanding the Parables
Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration
Was John the Baptist Elijah?
The Triumphal Entry
The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13)
Important themes in John's Gospel
John's Gospel Prologue (John 1)
Jesus Fulfilling Jewish Festivals
Reclining at Table at the Last Supper
The Holy Spirit as the Paraclete

Studies in the Book of Acts and the New Testament Letters

A series of articles covering various studies in the Book of Acts and the Letters, including Paul's letters. These include a page studying the messages given by the apostles in the Book of Acts, and the information about the financial collection that Paul made during his third missionary journey. More theological topics include Paul's teaching on Jesus as the last Adam, and descriptions of the church such as the body of Christ and the temple, as well as a look at redemption and the issue of fallen angels.

There are a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of five of the books:
Romans (7 pages), 1 Corinthians (7 pages), Galatians (3 pages), Philemon (1 page) and Hebrews (7 pages)

Apostolic Messages in the Book of Acts
Paul and His Apostleship
Collection for the Saints
The Church Described as a Temple
Church as the Body of Christ
Jesus as the Last Adam
Food Offered to Idols
Paul's Teaching on Headcoverings
Who are the Fallen Angels
The Meaning of Redemption
What is the Church?
Paul and the Greek Games

Romans Commentary (7 pages)

1 Corinthians Commentary (7 pages)

Galatians Commentary (3 pages)

Philemon Commentary (1 page)

Hebrews Commentary (7 pages)

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the study of the Book of Revelation and topics concerning Eschatology (the study of end-times).

These include a description of the structure of the book, a comparison and contrast between the good and evil characters in the book and a list of the many allusions to the OT. For the seven churches, there is a page which gives links to their location on Google maps.

There is a page studying the important theme of Jesus as the Lamb, which forms the central theological truth of the book. There are pages looking at the major views of the Millennium, as well as the rapture and tribulation, as well as a list of dates of the second coming that have been mistakenly predicted through history.

There is also a series of ten pages giving a detailed commentry through the text of the Book of Revelation.

Introduction to the Book of Revelation
Characters Introduced in the Book
Structure of Revelation
List of Allusions to OT
The Description of Jesus as the Lamb
Virtual Seven Churches of Revelation
The Nero Redivius Myth
The Millennium (1000 years)
The Rapture and the Tribulation
Different Approaches to Revelation
Predicted Dates of the Second Coming

Revelation Commentary (10 pages)

How to do Inductive Bible Study

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study the Bible inductively, by asking a series of simple questions. There are lists of observation and interpretation questions, as well as information about the structure and historical background of biblical books, as well as a list of the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible. There is also a page giving helpful tips on how to apply the Scriptures personally.

How to Study the Bible Inductively
I. The Inductive Study Method
II. Observation Questions
III. Interpretation Questions
IV. Structure of Books
V. Determining the Historical background
VI. Identifying Figures of Speech
VII. Personal Application
VIII. Text Layout

Types of Literature in the Bible

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study each of the different types of book in the Bible by appreciating the type of literature being used. These include historical narrative, law, wisdom, prophets, Gospels, Acts, letters and Revelation.

It is most important that when reading the Bible we are taking note of the type of literature we are reading. Each type needs to be considered and interpreted differently as they have different purposes.

How to Understand OT Narratives
How to Understand OT Law
Hebrew Poetry
OT Wisdom Literature
Understanding the OT Prophets
The Four Gospels
The Parables of Jesus
The Book of Acts
How to Understand the NT Letters
Studying End Times (Eschatology)
The Book of Revelation

Geography and Archaeology

These are a series of pages giving geographical and archaeological information relevant to the study of the Bible. There is a page where you can search for a particular geographical location and locate it on Google maps, as well as viewing photographs on other sites.

There are also pages with photographs from Ephesus and Corinth.

Search for Geographical Locations
Major Archaeological Sites in Israel
Archaeological Sites in Assyria, Babylon and Persia
Virtual Paul's Missionary Journeys
Virtual Seven Churches of Revelation
Photos of the City of Corinth
Photos of the City of Ephesus

Biblical Archaeology in Museums around the world

A page with a facility to search for artifacts held in museums around the world which have a connection with the Bible. These give information about each artifact, as well as links to the museum's collection website where available showing high resolution photographs of the artifact.

There is also page of photographs from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem of important artifacts.

Search Museums for Biblical Archaeology
Israel Museum Photos

Difficult Theological and Ethical Questions

These are a series of pages looking at some of the more difficult questions of Christian theology, including war, suffering, disappointment and what happens to those who have never heard the Gospel.

Christian Ethics
Never Heard the Gospel
Is there Ever a Just War?
Why Does God Allow Suffering
Handling Disappointment

How to Preach

These are a series of pages giving a practical step-by-step explanation of the process of preparing a message for preaching, and how to lead a small group Bible study.

What is Preaching?
I. Two Approaches to Preaching
II. Study a Passage for Preaching
III. Creating a Message Outline
IV. Making Preaching Relevant
V. Presentation and Public Speaking
VI. Preaching Feedback and Critique
Leading a Small Group Bible Study

Information for SBS staff members

Two pages particularly relevant for people serving as staff on the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in YWAM. One gives helpful instruction about how to prepare to teach on a book in the SBS. The other gives a list of recommended topics which can be taught about for each book of the Bible.

Teaching on SBS Book Topics for SBS