End Times Part 4: Pre-Millennialism

Premillennialism is the view that Christ will return and literally establish a kingdom on this earth. Most proponents believe this kingdom will last for a literal thousand years before the eternal state is ushered in with the new heavens and new earth.

How do they see Revelation 20? Premillennialists take Revelation 20 literally. This will be a time like no other time. It seems to be a concept developed in the Old Testament. For example, "No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed." (Isaiah 65:20)
This does not seem to be a description of the present age or the eternal state. This is an age which is similar to the one we now see but under the rule of the messiah.


Proponants of this view. Keeping in mind that those who hold to this view disagree on some aspects of it there is a large range of theologians and pastors who are Premillennial. This includes men like John Macarthur, John Piper, D.A. Carson, Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, Douglas Moo, and others. My intention is not to make it seem like the overwhelming majority of theologians hold to this view. The important thing is not who holds this view but whether or not it is biblical. The fact of the matter is Premillennialism is a very old view that became unpopular for a long time until the 20th century. All of these views have been dominant at one point or another which means we should not look to the most popular view but to the biblical one.

There are three different views on the rapture within Premillennialism so we will survey them over they next few weeks.

Stephen