What is the Millennium?

The Millennium is a period of time mentioned in the Bible, which will bring peace and happiness to earth. It is a topic of great interest to many people.

Various schools of thought are associated with this term, including Amillennialism, Postmillennialism and Premillennialism. There are hermeneutical, exegetical and theological differences among these viewpoints.

Amillennialism

Amillennialists interpret the millennium to be Christ’s reign with his saints during the period between the first and second coming of Jesus. They understand the binding of Satan to refer to this present reign and believe that Jesus will return after this heavenly kingdom to set up a new heaven and earth.

Postmillennialists also view the millennium to be a period of time during which God works through Jesus to change the world. They argue that Christ will return after the millennial reign and the end of the age of sin.

Historic and Dispensational Premillennialists

Historic premillennialists, whose views were developed by the early church fathers, hold that Jesus will come to earth at his second coming to establish a millennium kingdom. They believe that Christ will return in a physical, bodily form, bringing a new heaven and a new earth to the world.

They argue that the events in verses 2-3 occur at Jesus’ second coming and that the angel throws Satan into a pit to be locked up for one thousand years. During this time, Satan is unable to deceive the nations. But near the end of the millennium, Satan is released and he begins to persecute Christians throughout the world.