Eschatology is the study of “the last things.” There will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ (Matthew 24:44). We should eagerly long for Christ’s return, the time of which is unknown (Matthew 25:13).
Primary Views Of The Millennium
- Amillennialism: There is no future millennium yet to come because the reign of Christ in Revelation 20:1-10 is now being fulfilled.
- Postmillennialism: Christ will return after the millennium, in which the influence of the church gradually increased until it brought about an age of peace and righteousness on earth.
- Premillennialism: Christ will come back before the millennium.
- Classic (historic) premillennialism: After a time of great tribulation (T) at the end of the church age, Christ will return to earth to establish a millennial kingdom. Believers who have died will be raised from the dead, and these believers will reign with Christ on earth for one thousand years. During this time Satan will be bound and will have no influence on earth until the end of the millennium, when he will lead a rebellion against Christ and will be decisively defeated. Christ will then raise from the dead and judge all unbelievers. After this, believers will enter into the eternal state.
- Pretribulational premillennialism (or dispensational premillennialism): Christ will return not only before the millennium but before the great tribulation, when he will rapture believers to himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). He will then return to heaven with them and there will be a great tribulation on the earth for seven years, after which he will come back with his saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
- The final result of Christ’s return will be the judgement of unbelievers and the final reward of believers (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), and then believers will live with Christ in new heavens and a new earth for all eternity (Romans 8:19-21). God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will reign and be worshipped in a never-ending kingdom with no more sin, sorrow or suffering (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 20:1-15).
- Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked (Matthew 25:30-46).
- Heaven is the place where God most fully makes known his presence to bless (1 Peter 3:22).
- The physical creation will be renewed, and we will continue to exist and act in it (2 Peter 3:13). Our resurrected bodies will be part of the renewed creation (Revelation 19:9).
- The doctrine of the new creation provides motivation for storing up treasures in heaven rather than earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
- The new creation will be a place of great beauty and abundance and joy in the presence of God (Revelation 21-22).
- And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” – Revelation 21:3-4.
*Resources Added From Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Here are other Frequently Asked Questions and how the Bible answers them.
