Can you explain the difference between Premillennialists, Postmillennialists and Amillennialists?
Here are the definitions of these three views:
Premillennialists believe that “the Second Coming of Christ occurs BEFORE (PRE means “before”) the Millennium begins.” They hold that the 1,000 year kingdom, spoken of in Revelation 20:1-6, is to be taken LITERALLY and that Christ’s return to earth is also to be interpreted literally.
Postmillennialists believe that “the Second Coming of Christ occurs AFTER (POST means “after”) the Millennium. Some Postmillennialists believe the 1,000 years are to be taken literally while others believe it simply SYMBOLIZES a long period of time. Both groups believe that the church ushers in the Millennium Kingdom through the spread of the Gospel and that after the Kingdom Age Christ will return to judge the world and then He will create a New Heaven and a New earth and eternity begins.
Amillennialists believe that “there is NO (the prefix A means “no”) Millennium. They believe any references to the Kingdom, including Revelation 20:1-6, are to be taken SYMBOLICALLY. Thus in their minds there is NO literal 1,000 year kingdom and any passages that speak of conditions that exist in the kingdom are being fulfilled SPIRITUALLY by the church. They do believe in Christ’s literal return to earth, but it is quickly followed by the eternal state.
Let’s read a number of passages from Revelation 19:11-20:4 (using the New King James Version), “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…..And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse…Then the beast…and…the false prophet…were cast alive into the lake of fire…and the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse…Then I saw an angel…having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon…who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up…And I saw thrones, and they sat on them…and they lived and REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.”
If we take these verses CHRONOLOGICALLY and LITERALLY, then we must hold to the Premillennialist view. Why? Because we read of Christ’s Second Coming BEFORE the Millennium begins. This alone rules out the Postmillennial and Amillennial views. It is vital that we take Scripture LITERALLY unless the context of a passage forces us to take them SYMBOLICALLY. There is absolutely no reason NOT to take these verses literally and if we do, then we are taught that Christ will come as the “King of kings and Lord of lords” to subdue His enemies, including Satan who will be bound in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. This is followed by the saints sitting on thrones and ruling with Christ for 1,000 years. (267.9) (DO)