In episode 38, I will discuss the millennium in Revelation 20 from an Amillennial perspective, which is very similar in timing and nature (but different in extent) to Postmillennialism. In this podcast, I will discuss things like: the kingdom of God, Satan’s little season, and more. The Bible presents a generally optimistic view of church history, while also presenting a realistic view of persecution, suffering, and tribulation. May God use this to encourage and exhort the body of Christ. _______ CLARIFICATION: I quoted A.A. Hodge on the millennium because I like his description of it and generally agree with it, but I failed to mention that he seems to take the Puritan view that the millennium is a future “golden age.” I disagree with the millennium being future, or that it is a literal 1,000 year period. I think the term “millennium” is symbolic for a lengthy period of time, and I believe it began when Christ came. That qualification given, I love his description of the millennium: “The Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, clearly reveal that the gospel is to exercise an influence over all branches of the human family, immeasurably more extensive and more thoroughly transforming than any it has ever realized in time past. This end is to be gradually attained through the spiritual presence of Christ in the ordinary dispensation of Providence, and ministrations of his church…The period of this general prevalency of the gospel will continue a thousand years, and is hence designated the millenium…At the end of these thousand years, and before the coming of Christ, there will be a comparatively short season of apostasy and violent conflict between the kingdoms of light and darkness.” The main difference for me is that I would say that the gospel already has had more influence and transforming power over the past 2,000 years under the new covenant than it did under the old covenant, and again, that the millennium is not a literal 1,000 year period of time. I should have made that clearer in the video, but nevertheless, I hope it serves as a good example of how you can slightly disagree with someone, and yet still appreciate and learn from their position. I enjoy learning from older wiser men, but I take what they say back to Scripture, and sometimes end up with a modified view, which is a benefit of being 2,000 years downstream in the history of the New Testament church. We can take 2,000 years of teaching, learn from it, and refine it where needed. If I were to re-write his quote in my own words, I would say: “The Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, clearly reveal that the gospel is to exercise an influence over all branches of the human family, immeasurably more extensive and more thoroughly transforming during the entire course of the new covenant era than any it has ever realized in time past under the old covenant. This end is to be gradually attained through the spiritual presence of Christ in the ordinary dispensation of providence, and ministrations of his church. The period of this general prevalence of the gospel will continue for ‘a thousand years,’ which is to be taken symbolically for a lengthy period of time, and is hence designated in Revelation as ‘the millennium.’ At the end of this millennium, and before the coming of Christ, there will be a comparatively short season of apostasy and violent conflict between the kingdoms of light and darkness.”
