The question we are concerned with is: Did the early church fathers believe in premillennialism, ammillennialism or postmillennialism? The following information is direct quotes from the multi-volume set known as The Ante-Nicene Fathers. The quotes are provided so that the reader can discover what the early church fathers said, rather than potentially altering their message. In addition, a quote is provided from Dwight Pentecost’s book Things to Come.
Papias (c. A.D. 60-130)
Justin Martyr stated that Papias (c. A.D. 60 – 130) said Christ would reign for a thousand years on this earth. Papias added that this would occur after the resurrection of the righteous dead. That resurrection must and will occur at the second coming of Christ in order for the Old Testament saints to live in the kingdom (Daniel 12:13; John 5:28-29). He did not say this would happen after the judgment described in Revelation 20:11-14. Papias was a disciple of the Apostle John.
It may also be worth while to add to the statements of Papias already given . . . that there will be a millennium after the resurrection from the dead, when the personal reign of Christ will be established on this earth.1
Papias clearly believed in a millennial kingdom in the future when Christ will reign over the earth.
Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100-165)
Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100-165) also writes in his Dialogue with Trypho,
But I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built. . . [as] the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare.2
This early church father reveals that he and others believed in the millennial kingdom, with Jerusalem being its capital. Revelation 20:4-6 clearly tells us that after the second coming of Christ, He will reign over a kingdom that will last for one thousand years. Justin Martyr believed the prophecy was true and literal. When he states that this was taught by Ezekiel and Isaiah, he reveals that he also understood those prophecies to be literal and that they applied to the nation of Israel. He did not understand the prophecies figuratively.
Irenaeus (c. A.D. 130-200)
Irenaeus (c. A.D. 130-200) wrote about the antichrist during the tribulation, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the righteous, and the millennial kingdom in Against Heresies 5.30.4. It is important to note that he stated the antichrist would reign for 3.5 years. He did not understand the 3.5 years figuratively. He also said that the antichrist would sit in the temple in Jerusalem followed by the second coming of Christ. He added that the antichrist and the unrighteous would be sent to hell and then the kingdom would follow. That agrees with the teaching and understanding of premillennialism. This means that premillennialism was taught very early in the life of the church. The amillennialism and postmillennialism doctrines did not occur until St. Augustine (354–430). Irenaeus’ comments are consistent with the chronology given to us in Revelation 20. He wrote,
But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom.3
Since Irenaeus believed the the antichrist would reign for 3.5 years, it is clear that he believed the prophecies of Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:2-5 were literal. They prophesied about the last half of the tribulation. He also believed Matthew 24:1-31 and Revelation 19:11-21. The last part of his quote reveals he believed Revelation 20:4-6 referred to the long-awaited earthly kingdom. In addition, he said that Abraham would receive the promise of land at the time of the resurrection of the just, that is, the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6).
Now God made promise of the earth to Abraham and his seed; yet neither Abraham nor his seed, that is, those who are justified by faith, do now receive any inheritance in it; but they shall receive it at the resurrection of the just.4
Then in Against Heresies 5.36.3, he wrote that the apostle John saw in the prophecy of the book of Revelation that the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5-6), or the resurrection of the just, would occur before the kingdom was established on the earth. Here are his words,
John, therefore, did distinctly foresee the first “resurrection of the just,” and the inheritance in the kingdom of the earth; and what the prophets have prophesied concerning it.5
Earlier he added in Against Heresies 5.35.2, that the judgment of the wicked would follow the kingdom (Revelation 20:11-14).
For after the times of the kingdom, he says, “I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat upon it, from whose face the earth fled away, and the heavens; and there was no more place for them.” And he sets forth, too, the things connected with the general resurrection and the judgment, mentioning “the dead, great and small.” “The sea,” he says, “gave up the dead which it had in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that they contained; and the books were opened. Moreover,” he says, “the book of life was opened, and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works; and death and hell were sent into the lake of fire, the second death.”Now this is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord styled eternal fire.6
Irenaeus taught what is called premillennialism in our current time.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. A.D. 170-236)
Hippolytus was a leading presbyter in the Church of Rome. The following quote from his existing fragment on the book of Daniel demonstrates that he believed in an earthly reign of Christ and the saints reigning with him (Revelation 20:6).
For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they “shall reign with Christ,” when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse.7
Commodianus (c. A.D. 240)
Commodianus was a church leader in Massilia. In the following quote, he speaks of Christians being resurrected to meet Christ again(1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). He is referring to the rapture and not the second coming of Christ. For he adds that the Christians will already be “living without death,” that is in heaven. A posttribulation rapture is inconsistent with his statement. He also refers to the martyrs who will be killed by the antichrist during the tribulation (Revelation 13:6-10; 20:4-6) and those who will still be living at the end of the tribulation (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:4-6). He refers to the antichrist. Finally, he refers to the millennial kingdom, which is the thousand years reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4-6).
We shall arise again to Him, who have been devoted to Him. And they shall be incorruptible, even already living without death. And neither will there be any grief nor any groaning in that city. They shall come also who overcame cruel martyrdom under Antichrist, and they themselves live for the whole time, and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things; and they themselves marrying, beget for a thousand years.8
Lactantius (c. A.D. 250-325)
Lactantius was a prominent Roman teacher who later in life became a Christian. He wrote the following in his Divine Institutes. In this quote, we notice that he refers to the tribulation as the time when God will destroy the wicked (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6-16). Then he speaks of the righteous being recalled or resurrected (Revelation 20:4-6). This will occur at the second coming of Christ. Finally, he refers to the reign of Christ for one thousand years and the saints reigning with Him.
Therefore the Son of the most high and mighty God . . . when He shall have destroyed unrighteousness, and executed His great judgment, and shall have recalled to life the righteous, who have lived from the beginning, will be engaged among men a thousand years, and will rule them with most just command.9
31 References to Premillennialism
J. Dwight Pentecost in Things to Come quotes G. N. H. Peters’ lengthy list of thirty-one early church writers who clearly made references to premillennialism. This affirms that premillennialism was in fact taught and believed in the early years of the church. Notice how men wrote and the dates of their writings.
1. Pre-Mill. Advocates of the 1st Century
(1) Andrew, (2) Peter, (3) Philip, (4) Thomas, (5) James, (6) John, (7) Matthew, (8) Aristio, (9) John the Presbyterall these are cited by Papias, who, according to Irenaeus, was one of John’s hearers, and intimate with Polycarp …. Now this reference to the apostles agrees with the facts that we have proven: (a) that the disciples of Jesus did hold the Jewish views of the Messianic reign in the first part of this century, and (b) that, instead of discarding them, they linked them with the Sec. Advent. Next (10) Clement of Rome (Phil. 4: 3), who existed about A.D. 100 …. (11) Barnabas, about A.D. 40-100 …. (12) Hermas, from A.D. 40 to 140 …. (13) Ignatius, Bh. of Antioch, died under Trajan, about A.D. 50-115. . . . (14) Polycarp, Bh. of Smyrna, a disciple of the Apostle John, who lived about A.D. 70-167 …. (15) Papias, Bh. of Hierapolis, lived between A.D. 80-163 …
2. Pre-Mill. Advocates of the 2nd Cent.
a (1) Pothinus, a martyr …. A.D. 87-177 …. (2) Justyn Martyr, about A.D. 100-168 …. (3) Melito, Bh. of Sardis, about D. 100-170 …. (4) Hegisippus, between A.D. 130-190 …. (5) Tatian, between A.D. 130-190 …. (6) Irenaeus, a martyr … about A.D. 140-202. (7) The Churches of Vienne and Lyons. . . . Tertullian, about A.D. 150-220 …. (9) Hippolytus, between A.D. 160-240.
3. 3. Pre-Mill. Advocates of the 3rd Cent.
a (1) Cyprian, about A.D. 200-258 …. (2) Commodian, between A.D. 200-270 …. (3) Nepos, Bh. of Arsinoe, about A.D. 230-280. . . (4) Coracion, about AD. 230-280 …. (5) Victorinus, about A.D. 240-303 …. (6) Methodius, Bh. of Olympus, about AD. 250-311. … (7) Lactantius … between A.D. 240-330 ….10
Conclusion
The writings of the early church fathers reveal that they were not amillennialists or postmillennialists. They were premillennialists because they believed in a chronological sequence of events that included the tribulation, the second coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom. They believed the last half of the tribulation would last for 3.5 years. Their writings indicate universal agreement that the second coming of Christ occurred at the end of the tribulation with the Old Testament believers being resurrected which will be followed by the millennial kingdom. During the kingdom, both Christ and the saints will reign. At the end of the millennium, the unrighteous will be judged and sent to hell. This gives great support to the fact that premillennialism was the foundational eschatological view of the apostles and early church fathers.
We also discovered that they believed the millennium was the prophetic fulfillment of the promise of a land for Abraham and his seed given in the Abrahamic Covenant. They believed that the kingdom was promised to Israel. It is clear they interpreted the prophecies of a kingdom and the Messiah for Israel in both Ezekiel and Isaiah as literal and not figuratively referring to the church.
Thus, the claim that premillennialism is an invention of the 1800’s ignores the obvious. The apostles and early church fathers believed and taught premillennialism. Come, Lord Jesus!
References:
1. Papias, “Fragments of Papias,” in The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, vol. 1, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 154.
2. Ibid., 239.
3. Ibid., 560.
4. Ibid., 561–562.
5. Ibid., 567.
6. Ibid., 566.
7. Hippolytus of Rome, “Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture,” in Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, trans. S. D. F. Salmond, vol. 5, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886), 179.
8. Commodian, “The Instructions of Commodianus,” in Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, trans. Robert Ernest Wallis, vol. 4, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 212.
9. Lactantius, “The Divine Institutes,” in Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, trans. William Fletcher, vol. 7, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886), 219.
10. G. N. H. Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, I, 482-83. quoted by J Dwight Pentecost in Things to Come. Zondervan Publishing. House. 1972.