[1] Last Things: Millennium and End Time Events

[24] Last Things: Millennium and End Time Events

78. How does the Bible describe the millennium? When will it occur?

a. Latin millennium means "thousand years" (Rev 20:2-5). It refers to a period of perfect peace and righteousness on earth when Jesus will reign.

b. 3 theological viewpoints regarding the millennium:

(1) Premillennialism: second coming of Christ will occur before a millennium of 1000 years. This is held by most evangelicals.

(2) Postmillennialism: second coming will occur after a millennium of 1000 years.

(3) Amillennialism: There is no future millennium. The present Church Age is the millennium.

c. Premillennialism: (1) Sequence of events: (see next question)

(2) There are two different schools within premillennialism about the timing of rapture:

(a) Classical (or historical) premillennialism: the rapture will occur at the end of the tribulation (posttribulational rapture). They will immediately come back to the earth with Christ.

(b) Dispensational premillennialism: the rapture will occur before the tribulation (a secret return of Christ). They will enjoy 7 years of celebrations in the air where there will be a judgment of believers for rewards. After 7 years of tribulation on earth, all believers and Christ will come back to the earth (a public return of Christ).

(3) Biblical support for premillennialism: (a) There are some OT and NT passages describing a future period far greater than the present age yet not a perfect world like the new creation. This is probably the millennium (Ps 72:8-14; Isa 11:2-9; 65:20; Zec 14:6-21; 45-48; Zec 14:5-17; 1Co 15:23-25; Rev 2:26-27; 12:5; 19:15).

(b) As an argument against amillennialism, the imprisonment of Satan in Rev 20:1-3 implies a far greater restriction than anything in the present age, this is a proof that the millennium is not what we now witness in this world.

d. Postmillennialism: (1) Sequence of events:

The progress of the gospel and the growth of the church will gradually increase, so that a large proportion of the world’s population will be Christians. With significant Christian influences on society, a millennial age of peace and righteousness will occur on the earth.
At the end of this period, Christ will return to earth. There will be a resurrection of both believers and unbelievers. All believers (including those still living) will receive glorified indestructible bodies. Judgment will then occur, followed by the new creation.

(2) Biblical support for postmillennialism: (a) Since Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, and since He promises to be with us in the fulfilment of the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20), we would expect that the gospel would eventually triumph in the whole world. Objection: Christ may not use the full extent of His authority to bring about the numerical growth of the church.

(b) The parables on the gradual growth of the kingdom (Mt 13:31-33) indicate that it eventually will fill the earth with its influence. Objection: The parables do not indicate the growth will extend to the whole world. The Bible indicates that only "few" will be saved (Mt 7:13-14).

(c) The church is growing and spreading throughout the world, even at the same time it is persecuted and oppressed. Objection: The world is clearly becoming more evil with the decline of morality, even among Christians.

e. Amillennialism: (1) Sequence of events:

The millennium described in Rev 20:1-10 is the present church age. This is an age in which Satan’s influence over the nations has been greatly reduced by God’s salvation. Those who are said to be reigning with Christ in the millennium are Christians who have died and are already reigning with Christ in heaven.
The present church age will continue until Christ returns. There will be a resurrection of both believers and unbelievers. All believers (including those still living) will receive glorified indestructible bodies. Judgment will then occur, followed by the new creation.

(2) Biblical support for amillennialism: (a) There is only one passage in the whole Bible about the millennium. Some passages describe the breaking of Satan’s power in the present age (Mt 12:28-29; Lk 10:18). Objection: There are hints of a future earthly millennium in other passages (see above).

(b) The Bible teaches only one resurrection (Jn 5:28-29; Ac 24:15; Dan 12:2). Objection: There are other passages about first and later resurrections (Rev 20:4-6,13).

(c) There is no convincing purpose for a millennium. Objection: It is possibly to vindicate God’s righteousness, showing that rebellious nature of man is not due to evil society or bad environment. There may be other reasons that we cannot imagine.

79. What is the sequence of events at the end time?

The exact sequence of events depends one’s position on millennialism. The 3 millennial viewpoints differ on the nature and timing of the millennium, the rapture, and the judgment.

The following sequence is based on classical (posttribulational) premillennialism.

Church Age

signs preceding the second coming

Tribulation (7 seals, 7 trumpets)

midpoint of Tribulation period: rebellion of the Antichrist (Dan 9:27; 7:25)
Great Tribulation (7 bowls)
resurrection of all dead believers
gathering all living believers with the voice of the archangel and loud trumpet call (Mt 24:31; 1Th 4:16)

Rapture (Mt 24:31,40-41; 1Th 4:17) – Dead believers will be resurrected and living believers will be transformed. All of them will receive glorified indestructible bodies (1Co 15:52) and will be caught up in the air to join Christ

wedding of the Lamb: Jesus as the groom and the Church as the bride (Rev 19:1-9)

Second Coming of Christ (Rev 19:11-16) – Christ and His Church descended to earth

Battle of Armageddon (Zec 14:1-8; Rev 16:14-16; 19:19-21): the invasion of Israel by foreign armies which will be defeated by God
imprisonment of Satan

Millennium (Rev 20:3-6) – 1000-year kingdom established by Christ on earth; many (but not all) of the unbelievers still on earth will turn to Christ and be saved; Jesus will reign with believers in perfect righteousness and there will be peace on earth.

temporary release of Satan (Rev 20:7)
rebellion of Gog and Magog (Eze 38; Rev 20:8-9) – Satan join forces with many unbelievers to battle against Christ
Satan defeated (Rev 20:10)
resurrection of unbelievers (Rev 20:12-13)

Judgment Day at the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11-14)

second death of unbelievers (Rev 20:15)

New Creation (Rev 21-22)