Bible Question: What is the most common view among reformed theologians about the end times: amillennialists, postmillennialists, and premillennialists?   Bible Answer: Most reformed theologians are amillennialists. A fewer number embrace postmillennialism and premillennialism. Amillennialists and postmillennialists do not believe there will be a literal 1,000 year kingdom on this earth. Premillennialists do believe in a literal 1,000 kingdom. Here is a quick overview of the three views.      Postmillennialism. Postmillennialism is not very popular today as it once was because postmillennialists teach that the world will get better and better with time. They believe the world will continue to improve until the world turns into God’s kingdom - heaven. Then Christ will come. This view was very popular in the 1800s but when the catastrophes of World War I and World War II occurred and Christians began to realize the world was getting not better but worse, many changed their views and postmillennialism lost its appeal. Those who do hold to this view do not believe in a tribulation or a literal 1,000 year kingdom.      Amillennialism. Amillennialists also reject a seven year tribulation and a literal 1,000 year, earthly kingdom. However, they do believe the world will get worse and worse with time. Eventually, Christ will come, defeat the nations of the world, judge the living and the dead and usher in the eternal kingdom of heaven.      Premillennialism. Premillennialism teaches that the world will become worse with time just as amillennialism. Eventually, a time of severe tribulation will come, a seven year period, followed by a literal 1,000 year, earthly kingdom. They believe that at the end of the kingdom after a brief conflict, the living and the dead will be judged. This will be followed by the kingdom.      Why The Difference? Amillennialism and premillennialism are very close in their general timeline. They both believe the world is getting worse. This Jesus predicted.     Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (NASB) Matt. 24:12-14   Both believe there will be a time of severe tribulation (Matt. 24:21), but amillennialists do not believe this time of tribulation is seven years, nor that it is called the Tribulation. Amillennialists and premillennialists both believe in an earthly kingdom, but the amillennialists say the earthly kingdom is the eternal kingdom on earth. Premillennialists believe the earthly kingdom follows the Tribulation, followed by judgment and then the eternal, heavenly kingdom.         < Back   Next >
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