Reformed Views on the Millennium

[Knight]

Here we go. Since this is becoming a more prevalent topic lately I thought it would be a good time to set up a thread where this can be discussed.

I've also included a poll to get all cards on the table.

Please exercise civility in all discussions and debates.

 

[ChurchandCrown]

I am Postmillenial

 

[ClementofRome]

I voted other, as I am an inaugurated millennialist. I believe that the millennium is a figurative complete period of time, in which we are now living. You could call me amil, but the particle of negation does not work well with my thelogy. I prefer to hold that the millennium began either at the resurrection or on Pentecost and continues through today to some point in the future when all will be consummated.

 

[Rolf Ernst]

I voted other, as I am an inaugurated millennialist. I believe that the millennium is a figurative complete period of time, in which we are now living. You could call me amil, but the particle of negation does not work well with my thelogy. I prefer to hold that the millennium began either at the resurrection or on Pentecost and continues through today to some point in the future when all will be consummated.

Agreed, Clement. Most polls are not detailed enough to cover the issue thoroughly. I marked amillinial not because I do not acknowledge that we are now in the period some refer to as the millinium, but because that was not an option offered in the poll. So the closest I could get was to deny that the Millenium, as most people understand it, will ever come to pass.

 

[ClementofRome]

Agreed, Clement. Most polls are not detailed enough to cover the issue thoroughly. I marked amillinial not because I do not acknowledge that we are now in the period some refer to as the millinium, but because that was not an option offered in the poll. So the closest I could get was to deny that the Millenium, as most people understand it, will ever come to pass.

Certainly agreed there Rolf! I am just a good old trouble maker!

 

[Proeliator]

Huh? Can someone explain the different views for those of us that have not had much Eschatology study?

 

[Knight]

Agreed, Clement. Most polls are not detailed enough to cover the issue thoroughly. I marked amillinial not because I do not acknowledge that we are now in the period some refer to as the millinium, but because that was not an option offered in the poll. So the closest I could get was to deny that the Millenium, as most people understand it, will ever come to pass.

Given the proliferation of diverse views on the millennium and the inherent pickieness of some people on this topic I do not believe that any poll could fully include everything.

Nevertheless, this is intended to capture the majority of opinions.

 

[edie19]

I'm pretty much amillennial.

I believe that we've been living in the "last days" since Christ ascended and will be in those last days until His return.

Shadrach - don't be concerned about not having studied much of eschatology. Personally, I think too many of us put way too much focus on it - we're supposed to be concerned with the here and now and with fulfilling the great commission.

That said, last summer (2004) my church held an eschatology conference - Sam Waldron was the featured speaker, although there were others. The series is available on sermonaudio.com

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=prbc1689&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=Reforming+Eschatology

I would also recommend:
A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger
More than Conquerors by Wm. Hendricksen

 

[ChurchandCrown]

I would also recommend:
A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger
More than Conquerors by Wm. Hendricksen

As would I

 

[ClementofRome]

Given the proliferation of diverse views on the millennium and the inherent pickieness of some people on this topic I do not believe that any poll could fully include everything.

Nevertheless, this is intended to capture the majority of opinions.

HEY, I resemble that remark!

 

[lmnop9876]

there's no option there for my belief, that is, Christ is coming as a thief in the night, and we have to watch and pray and be ready for Him.

 

[Jon_]

I voted other, as I am an inaugurated millennialist. I believe that the millennium is a figurative complete period of time, in which we are now living. You could call me amil, but the particle of negation does not work well with my thelogy. I prefer to hold that the millennium began either at the resurrection or on Pentecost and continues through today to some point in the future when all will be consummated.

Agreed, Clement. Most polls are not detailed enough to cover the issue thoroughly. I marked amillinial not because I do not acknowledge that we are now in the period some refer to as the millinium, but because that was not an option offered in the poll. So the closest I could get was to deny that the Millenium, as most people understand it, will ever come to pass.

Not to box you two saintly gentlemen in, but you both sound pretty amillennial to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course!

I'm wondering what the strongest point of contention you have against amillennialism would be. I only ask because I'm not aware of many different views on amillennialism. I thought they all pretty much hung together.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[HiredGoon]

Undecided, as in I haven't studied this issue and have no desire to in the near future. Eschatology does not interest me. I'm extremely historically minded, so I'm almost always thinking about more interesting things in the past.

 

[Beoga]

I lean postmillenial after reading several articles .

Always a valuable resource:
http://monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/eschatology.html

 

[DrWarfield]

I am a Postmillenialist! The best theologian to write on this subject is Benjamin B. Warfield. His writings on the matter are in his collected writings.

Regards,
DrWarfield.

 

[DrWarfield]

Undecided, as in I haven't studied this issue and have no desire to in the near future. Eschatology does not interest me. I'm extremely historically minded, so I'm almost always thinking about more interesting things in the past.

I do hope that you get around to examing the subject of eschatology. It is not the be all and end all as the dispo's make it out to be, but it is very important. I would contend that one's view of eschatology affects many other parts of his/her theology. Also one's eschatology affects one's world view.

Regards,
DrWarfield

 

[Irishcat922]

I lean heavily towards A-mil but some aspects of Post-mil has a strong biblical appeal to me.

 

[ClementofRome]

Not to box you two saintly gentlemen in, but you both sound pretty amillennial to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course!

I'm wondering what the strongest point of contention you have against amillennialism would be. I only ask because I'm not aware of many different views on amillennialism. I thought they all pretty much hung together.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

I was appropriately called "picky" earlier by Knight. It is that I do believe in a millennium, but it is a figurative one. "Amil" literally means "no mil." As I do believe that there is a millennial reign of Christ, inaugurated and not yet consummated, I cannot say "no mil."

picky, picky, picky,.,.......that's me! A real hair spllitter I am!

 

[Erinwilcox]

I was pretty dispensational for many years. You never saw a bigger "Left Behind" fan. But, I had no idea that there were even any other ways to interpret the end times (although I knew my Bible as an Arminian, I was IGNORANT regarding any other forms of doctrine or even the Arminian doctrine. I don't even think I knew what doctrine was!). When I became Reformed, I learned of the amill position. So. . .after some study, I became an amill. Any wind-mills out there?

 

[Jon_]

I was appropriately called "picky" earlier by Knight. It is that I do believe in a millennium, but it is a figurative one. "Amil" literally means "no mil." As I do believe that there is a millennial reign of Christ, inaugurated and not yet consummated, I cannot say "no mil."

picky, picky, picky,.,.......that's me! A real hair spllitter I am!

Well, even though "amil" literally means "no mil," the view is more that the millennial period of Rev. 20 is figurative. (Apart from denying parts of Scripture, it's impossible to get around the "millennium problem." It begs some kind of interpretation.) In fact, most postmils hold the same view. The biggest distinction is that amils say there will be increasing disparity between the faith and order of the elect and the apostasy and chaos of the world. That is, the state of the world will continue to worsen and the church will undergo great tribulation prior to Christ's return. Postmils see the opposite happening, but do see a period of apostasy prior to Christ returning (per 2 Thess. 2:1-3).

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon