The Millennium

The millennium, from the Latin term "mille" (thousand) and annus (year) hence a thousand years is a subject which gets lots of attention in the study of eschatology (biblical last things).

It is generally believed to be the period of Christ's reign in his kingdom prior to the final judgment. Several eschatological views have placed such emphasis on the 1000 years reign that they are defined by the term. Such is premillennialism (Christ returns to rapture Christians from the world before the thousand years.

A variation of this view is mid-tribulational premillennialism which understands the thousand years reign of Christ to occur during the middle (three and a half years) of a seven year tribulation period prior to the thousand years.

Next is postmillennialism. This view has variations also, but primarily, it views the 1000 years reign as occurring before the second coming in final judgment. Some postmillennialists are futurists (see the Parousia of Christ as future) while others are preterists, (hold that the coming of the Lord is past)

Others place such little emphasis on the term that they are defined by their lack of attention to the subject, i.e. amillennialism as in "no" millennium.

The big controversy on the 1000 years reign is whether it represents a literal 1000 years or whether it is figurative. Preterists and ammillennialists view it as figurative. The former see it as defining the 40 year period from Pentecost or slightly before (A.D. 26) to A.D. 70. The latter view it as ongoing from Pentecost of A.D. 30 up to the present and which will not end until an alleged return of Christ in our future.

There are also preterists who view the 1000 years reign as occurring after Satan is bound. J.Stuart Russell saw the binding of Satan as occurring within the short, at hand message of Revelation but he takes the 1000 years and extends it beyond that time. More on the Millennium