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II. Millennial Views
There are some who connect with the advent of Christ the idea of a millennium, either
immediately before or immediately following the second coming. While this idea is not an
integral part of Reformed theology, it nevertheless deserves consideration here, since it has
become rather popular in many circles. Reformed theology cannot afford to ignore the wide-
spread millenarian views of the present day, but should define its position with respect to
these. Some of those who expect a millennium in the future hold that the Lord will return
before the millennium, and are therefore called Premillennialists; while others believe that His
second coming will follow after the millennium, and are therefore known as Postmillennialists.
There are large numbers, however, who do not believe that the Bible warrants the expectation
of a millennium, and it has become customary of late to speak of them as Amillennialists. The
Amillennial view is, as the name indicates, purely negative. It holds that there is no sufficient
Scriptural ground for the expectation of a millennium, and is firmly convinced that the Bible
favors the idea that the present dispensation of the Kingdom of God will be followed
immediately by the Kingdom of God in its consummate and eternal form. It is mindful of the
fact that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is represented as an eternal and not as a temporal
kingdom, Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:14; Luke 1:33; Heb. 1:8; 12:28; II Pet. 1:11; Rev. 11:15; and that to
enter the Kingdom of the future is to enter upon one’s eternal state, Matt. 7:21,22, to enter
life, Matt. 18:8,9 (cf. the preceding context), and to be saved, Mark 10:25,26. Some
Premillenarians have spoken of Amillennialism as a new view and as one of the most recent
novelties, but this is certainly not in accord with the testimony of history. The name is new
indeed, but the view to which it is applied is as old as Christianity. It had at least as many
advocates as Chiliasm among the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries, supposed
to have been the heyday of Chiliasm. It has ever since been the view most widely accepted, is
the only view that is either expressed or implied in the great historical Confessions of the
Church, and has always been the prevalent view in Reformed circles.
A. PREMILLENNIALISM.
Since Premillennialism has not always assumed the same form, it may be well to indicate briefly
the form which it generally assumed in the past (without noting all kinds of aberrations), and
then to follow this up with a more detailed description of the most dominant premillennial
theory of the present day.
1. THE PREMILLENNIALISM OF THE PAST.
The view of Irenæus may be given as that which best
reflects that of the early Christian centuries. The present world will endure six thousand years,
corresponding to the six days of creation. Towards the end of this period the sufferings and
persecutions of the pious will greatly increase, until finally the incarnation of all wickedness