Basic Definitions
(Click on the names for wiki articles with for more depth.)
- Eschatology: Biblical theology pertaining to the last things, Greek “eschatos.”
- Millennialism: A thousand year time period found in Revelation 20, either symbolic or literal.
- Tribulation: A time period mentioned in the Bible of great suffering. Pre-tribulation, a time of tribulation after the rapture. Mid-tribulation, a time during the tribulation in which the rapture happens. Post-tribulation, a time period of suffering before the rapture.
- Rapture: A catching away of the saints of God and given a new resurrected body.
- Preterism: The belief that the prophecies found in Daniel and Revelation had all taken place before 70 AD at the destruction of the Jewish Temple, examples; “the anti-christ, bowls of wrath, etc.” Also, all the promises in the Old Testament made to Israel now only pertain to the Church in New Testament.
- Futurism: The major prophecies of Daniel, Revelation, and Jesus in Matthew 28 pertain to both the Church and Israel in the future.
Three Main Positions
1-Pre-Millennialism
Jesus will come first, then reign a literal 1,000 years with resurrected believers over normal people left over after the Battle of Armageddon. Pre-millennialists can differ on pre/mid/post tribulation, whereas, both post and a-millennialism are all post-tribulationist. Also, all pre-millennialist are “futurist,” whereas, both post and a-millennialist are preterists. This is my personal belief, along with the Assemblies of God, Southern Baptist, Left Behind Series, etc.
2-Post-Millennialism
The 1,000 year reign of Christ in Revelation 20 is symbolic time period for a literal earthly time of either (a) the current Christian age or (b) a climax in the Christian age which brings a “golden age” or state of bliss before Jesus comes back. Many of the reformed preachers of past and present believe this.
3-A-Millennialism
The 1,000 year reign of Christ is not a literal earthly reign but simply a symbol of Jesus reigning in heaven with the believers until His second coming. Roman Catholic and some reformed believers hold to this view.
The Video Debate/Discussion
Moderated by John Piper featuring Doug Wilson (Post-Millennialism), Sam Storms (A-millennialism), and James Hamilton (Pre-Millennialism).