Fodaoson, These three terms are all based on different interpretations of the same Scripture, Revelation, Chapter 20, and they bear defining:
One of the most fascinating subjects and most heated discussions within Christian theology is eschatology, otherwise known as the study of the end times. There are three major interpretations of the relationship between Jesus Christ’s Second Coming and the 1,000-year millennial period described in Revelation 19 and 20– premillennialism, postmillennialism and amillennialism.
1.Amillennialism is the name given to the belief that
there WILL NOT BE a literal millennium (1,000-year reign of Christ) following his 2nd coming (return to earth). The people who hold to this belief are called Amillennialists.
Amillennialism (Greek: a- "no" + millennialism) is the view in Christian eschatology which states that Christ is presently reigning through the Church(??), and that the "1000 years" of Revelation 20:1-6 is a metaphorical reference to the present church age which will culminate in Christ's return.
Again, Amillennialism (Greek: a-"no" + millennialism), or amillenarism, in Christian eschatology, affirms the millennial reign of Christ began after his ascension and will continue until Christ's return, in other words,
that it is taking place now.2.Premillennialism, in Christian eschatology, is the belief that Jesus will physically return to the Earth (the Second Coming)
before the Millennium, a literal thousand-year golden age of peace.
Premillennialism teaches a literal interpretation of the end times, seeing the events in Revelation, chapters 19 and 20, as a progressive chronology of twelve phases, which will take place in the future.
Premillennialism holds to a literal interpretation of the end times. It sees the events in Revelation 19-20 as a futuristic, progressive chronology, which include:
The Rapture
The rise of a single antichrist
A 7-year tribulation
The Second Coming of Christ
The Battle of Armageddon
The judgment of the antichrist and the binding of Satan
The resurrection of the dead
The establishment of a 1,000-year reign of peace (the Millennium)
The release of Satan and one final rebellion
The final judgment
And finally:
The beginning of the New Heaven and the New Earth (“the eternal state”)
Historic versus Dispensationalist Premillennialism
Within premillennialism, adherents are divided into “Historic” (or “Covenant”) Premillennialists (CP), and “Dispensational” Premillennialists (DP). Both groups fall under “premillennialism” because they believe that the Second Coming will occur prior to the 1,000-year millennial period. However, there are significant differences between these two perspectives, regarding the rapture and modern-day Israel.
3.Postmillennialism, or Postmillenarism, in Christian end-times theology (eschatology), sees Christ's second coming as occurring
after (Latin= Post) the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper, but without Christ's physical presence.
Postmillennialist believes that the millennium is a future era (not a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, but NOT from a literal and earthly throne, but, rather through the gradual effect of the Gospel's power to change lives; brought about, in other words, through the human effort of His church leaders.
Again, Postmillennialism is one interpretation of Revelation chapter 20, just as are both Amillennialism and Premillennialism. All are different views of the same Scripture.
Fodaoson wrote:
Posters keep posting about the last days. There are three dominant interpretations of the last days . Amillennialism, premillennialism post millennialism . thoughts