Amillennialism is a view that there will be no millennium, no earthly reign of Christ, as opposed to the premillennial and some postmillennial views of the ,book of Revelation chapter 20. By contrast, the amillennial view holds that the number of years in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number, not a literal description, that the millennium has already begun and is identical with the church age (or more rarely, that it ended with the destrucion of Jerusalem in AD70and that while Christ's reign is spiritual in nature during the millennium, at the end of the church age, Christ will return in Final judgment and establish permanent physical reign.
STRENGTH OF AMILLENNIAL
One of the greatest strengths of Amillennialism is its simplicity: no complex sequence of events is required before the return of Christ. The "Beast," the "Mark of the Beast," and other symbols in Revelation are not applied to specific entities in the future; they represent forces at work in every generation. The Battle of Armageddon and the Final Battle before the Final Judgment are thus one event. The Judgment in Matthew 25 and the Judgment in Rev. 20:11-15 are also one event. He does not return to set up a kingdom , but to usher in the eternal state and create a new heaven and earth–the final consummation
Many of the prophecies about signs of the end in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 are generally regarded as having been fulfilled when Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 69-70. Thus, Amillennialists believe that the one, visible return of Christ may occur at any time, followed by one Judgment Day.
WEAKNESSES OF AMILLENNIAL
The weaknesses of Amillennialism is that the church age does not readily fit the Biblical descriptions of the Millennium. Isaiah 66 seems to foresee a time when "the wolf and the lamb
shall feed together," and when he who dies at age 100 will be considered to have died young. Ezekiel 47 describes a time when the Dead Sea will become a freshwater lake with fish living in it. These scenarios do not seem to describe heaven, but they do not fit church history, either.
15 comments:
I think the Amillennial view is just simply too... simple. It is like neither this nor that.
However, it is a good reminder to us all that the book of Revelations is very symbolic.
dear jason, having read your posting, will you be so kind as to give your own view on this subject matter. GB
Hi Freddie,
At first i assumed it only have 3 views: the pre, post and mid, but now as I read your post I found out there is another view. This view didn't seem to hold any concrete backing from the bible. Even though I can't out rightly said it will not possible. Probably give your view about this stand, do you believe in it.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for insightful explanation on the strength and weakness to Amillennialism. I think you forgotten to state your view. Could you able to elaborate on your opinion on this issue? I wouls say it is too simple to hold ground with conflicting scripture references on this belief. Not that I don't believe in symbolism but taking everything that could not be explained clearly as just a form of symbolism seems naive.
Hi, Joe and Freddie, Jason has done a great job of describing the weaknesses and strengths of the Ameillennial stand, must he state his personal view? I think it is very good if he has already stated whether this view conforms to the Bible or not which he did very well describing the weaknesses of this view. Not many scholars subscribe to this view, more and more are subcribing to the Premillennial view, what say you?
To Jason... Thanks for covering some facts on amillennialism I didn't. Should I say in regards to the simplicity of amillennialism being its strength, is also its weakness. Maybe truth is to be found somewhere in between complexity and simplicity..?! I'm still searchin..
Dear Jason,
You mentioned one of the greatest strengths of the Amillenialist is their simplicity but I believe as the apostle Peter says in II Peter 3:15-16 that there are some who twist the scriptures to their own undoing.It is not their strength but their folly.The word of GOD is quite clear on the tribulation and the millenial reign of Christ.It looks like the Amillenialist do not believe in what is mentioned in Rev.20 4-6 where it is quite clearly stated that Jesus will come to set up the millenial kingdom in this earth after the tribulation for a period of 1000 years.
Hi Jason,
Thank you for the detailed explanation. But you did not explain what do you think about the Amillennial do you agree with the view?
Hah Jason, so you've got this topic of "Amillennial, good luck!
It is simple does not make it right, what strength? Why everyone wants to know your view? What do you think the Bible says? Does it support Amillennial or otherwise?
Dear Jason, you mention that "in Rev. 20:11-15 are also one event. He does not return to set up a kingdom , but to usher in the eternal state and create a new heaven and earth–the final consummation." What about Rev. 20:4-6 "4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a[a] thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." I believe the Bible really says that there will be an earthly reign of 1000 years, not just symbolically, you yourself has pointed out that the 1000 years can not possibly refer to the church age. However, the "Present Age" has already occurred, the "Age to Age" also is "ALREADY BUT NOT YET!" Most probably the post-millennium view is more biblical.
By the way, Jason, how many resurrections do the Amillenialists believe? What are their nature? Spiritual or Physical?hee, hee ! Sorry to make you scratch your head yah!
Hi Jason,
I would like to post you another question. In Andrew's article, he quoted from Anthony Hoekema on Amillennialism; that Amillennialist do believed in millennium but only not on the 'literal' 1000 years reign of Christ on earth. Do you have any pesonnal comment on this?
That's what I meant that the Amillennialist view reminds us that the book of Revelations is pretty symbolic. They don't believe in the literal interpretation of a thousand years, but rather it is the perfection of perfect reign, complete and whole.
As for how many resurrections, I think they will accept that there are two resurrections, but their argument is that the first is spiritual and then only the second is physical.
Hi Jason,
Still waiting for you reply, by the way what does the Bible say about Amillennial? any reference?
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