Editing Millennialism (section)

== Christianity ==
Most Christian millennialist thinking is based upon the [[Book of Revelation]], specifically Revelation 20,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20|KJV}}</ref> which describes the vision of an angel who descends from heaven with a large chain and a key to a bottomless pit, and captures Satan, imprisoning him for a thousand years:
{{Blockquote|He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the pit and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be let out for a little while.|Revelation 20:2–3<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20:2-3|KJV}}</ref>}}

The Book of Revelation then describes a series of judges who are seated on thrones, as well as John's vision of the souls of those who were beheaded for their testimony in favor of Jesus and their rejection of the mark of the beast. These souls:

{{Blockquote|came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years|Revelation 20:4–6<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20:4-6|KJV}}</ref>}}

=== Early church ===

==== Premillennialism ====
During the first centuries after Christ, various forms of chiliasm (millennialism) were to be found in the Church, both [[Eastern Church|East]] and [[Western Church|West]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-03 |title=Theology Today – Vol 53, No. 4 – January 1997 – ARTICLE – Paul Tillich and the Millenialist Heritage |url=http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1997/v53-4-article3.htm |access-date=2023-06-16 |pages=464–476|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050103083254/http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1997/v53-4-article3.htm |archive-date=2005-01-03 }}</ref> Premillennialism held by the Early Church is called "[[historic premillennialism]]",<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Blomberg |first1=Craig L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=huMlsCYyI5YC&dq=Early+Church+historic+premill&pg=PT73 |title=A Case for Historic Premillennialism: An Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology |last2=Chung |first2=Sung Wook |date=2009-02-01 |publisher=Baker Academic |isbn=978-1-4412-1056-2 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> and it was supported in the early church by [[Papias of Hierapolis|Papias]],<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Davies and Allison |title=A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, Volume 1, ICC |page=13}}</ref> [[Irenaeus]], [[Justin Martyr]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Historic Premillennialism |url=https://www.monergism.com/topics/eschatology/all-millennial-views/historic-premillennialism |access-date=26 February 2018 |website=Monergism}}</ref> [[Tertullian]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chung |first1=Sung Wook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AlcXEAAAQBAJ&dq=Tertullian+premillennialism&pg=PA12 |title=Models of Premillennialism |last2=Mathewson |first2=David L. |date=2018-08-27 |publisher=[[Wipf & Stock Publishers]] |isbn=978-1-5326-3769-8 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> [[Polycarp]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chung |first1=Sung Wook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OcpwDwAAQBAJ&dq=Papias+historic+premill&pg=PT16 |title=Models of Premillennialism |last2=Mathewson |first2=David L. |date=2018-08-27 |publisher=[[Wipf & Stock Publishers]] |isbn=978-1-5326-3771-1 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> [[Epistle of Barnabas|Pseudo-Barnabas]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philip Schaff: ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus – Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.vi.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.ccel.org |at=Volume 2, p. 382 |quote=Among the Apostolic Fathers Barnabas is the first and the only one who expressly teaches a pre-millennial reign of Christ on earth. He considers the Mosaic history of the creation a type of six ages of labor for the world, each lasting a thousand years, and of a millennium of rest, since with God 'one day is as a thousand years.' Millennial Sabbath on earth will be followed by an eight and eternal day in a new world, of which the Lord's Day (called by Barnabas 'the eighth day') is the type}}</ref> [[Methodius of Olympus|Methodius]], [[Lactantius]],<ref>''Insruct. adv. Gentium Deos'', pp. 43, 44.</ref> [[Commodianus]],<ref>According to the ''Encyclopedia of the Early Church'' "[[Commodian]] (mid 3rd century) takes up the theme of the 7000 years, the last of which is the millennium (''Instr''. II 35, 8 ff.)." M. Simonetti, "Millenarism," p. 560.</ref> [[Theophilus of Antioch|Theophilus]],<ref>Against Marcion, book 3, chapter 25</ref> [[Melito of Sardis|Melito]],<ref>Simonetti writes in the ''Encyclopedia of the Early Church'' "We know that Melito was also a millenarian" regarding [[Jerome]]'s reference to him as a chiliast. M. Simonetti, "Millenarism," p. 560.</ref> [[Hippolytus of Rome]], [[Victorinus of Pettau]],<ref>Note this is Victorinus of Pettau not Marcus Piav(v)onius [[Victorinus]] the Gaelic Emperor</ref><ref>In his ''Commentary on Revelation'' and from the fragment ''De Fabrica Mundi'' (Part of a commentary on Genesis). Jerome identifies him as a premillennialist.</ref> [[Book of Nepos|Nepos]], [[Julius Africanus]], [[Tatian]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Foster |first1=K. Neill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xaVvBAAAQBAJ&dq=Book+of+Nepos+premillenialism&pg=PT14 |title=Essays on Premillennialism: A Modern Reaffirmation of an Ancient Doctrine |last2=Fessenden |first2=David E. |date=2007-02-01 |publisher=Moody Publishers |isbn=978-1-60066-959-0 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> and [[Montanus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Foster |first1=K. Neill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xaVvBAAAQBAJ&dq=Montanist+premillenialism&pg=PT14 |title=Essays on Premillennialism: A Modern Reaffirmation of an Ancient Doctrine |last2=Fessenden |first2=David E. |date=2007-02-01 |publisher=Moody Publishers |isbn=978-1-60066-959-0 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> However, the premillennial views of Montanus probably affected the later rejection of premillennialism in the Church, as [[Montanism]] was seen as a heresy.<ref name=":2" /> {{Christian Eschatology}}

==== Amillennialism ====
In the 2nd century, the [[Alogi]] (those who rejected all of John's writings) were [[amillennial]], as was [[Caius (presbyter)|Caius]] in the first quarter of the 3rd century.<ref>Eusebius, 3.28.1–2</ref> With the influence of [[Platonism]], [[Clement of Alexandria]] and [[Origen]] denied premillennialism.<ref>De Principiis, 2.11.2–3</ref> Likewise, [[Dionysius of Alexandria]] (died 264) argued that Revelation was not written by John and could not be interpreted literally; he was amillennial.<ref>Eusebius, ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Church History]]'', 7.24.3; 7.25</ref>

[[Justin Martyr]] (died 165), who had chiliastic tendencies in his theology, mentions differing views in his ''[[Dialogue with Trypho the Jew]]'', chapter 80:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Schaff |first=Philip |title=Philip Schaff: ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus – Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.lxxx.html |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.ccel.org}}</ref><blockquote>"I and many others are of this opinion [premillennialism], and [believe] that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise."<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Augustine in his early days affirmed [[premillennialism]], but later changed to amillennialism, causing the view to become popularized together with [[Pope Gregory I|Pope Gregory the Great]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olson |first=Roger E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jI_MdHZViPwC&dq=Amillennialism+early+Christian&pg=PA146 |title=The SCM Press A-Z of Evangelical Theology |date=2005 |publisher=Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd |isbn=978-0-334-04011-8 |language=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>G. Folliet, "[http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/638 La typologie du ''sabbat'' chez Saint Augustin. Son interpretation millénariste entre 386 et 400] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172051/http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/638|date=2011-07-18}}," RE''Aug'' 2 (1956):371-90. Referenced in David R. Anderson, "The [[Soteriology|Soteriological]] Impact of Augustine's Change From Premillennialism to Amillennialism: Part One," ''The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society,'' Vol. 15 (Spring 2002), 27. Johannes Quasten also writes "Augustine made a "short shrift of millenarianism after having accepted it at first himself (''[[City of God (book)|De civ. Dei]]'' 20, 7; ''Serm'' 259.2) by explaining Apoc. 20:1-5 in an allegorical sense (it regards the spiritual resurrection of the body – real bodies even though no longer corruptible)" (''De civ. Dei'' 22, 1-28)." Johannes Quasten, ''Patrology,'' Vol. 4 (Westminster, Maryland: Christian Classics, Inc.), 452.</ref>

The ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' notes that the 2nd-century proponents of various [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] beliefs (themselves considered heresies) also rejected millenarianism.<ref>Kirsch, J.P. Transcribed by Donald J. Boon. Millennium and Millenarianism</ref>

=== Reformation and beyond ===
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2020}}
[[File:Millennial views.svg|right|thumb|360px|Comparison of Christian millennial interpretations]]
Christian views on the future order of events diversified after the [[Protestant Reformation]] ({{circa|1517}}). In particular, new emphasis was placed on the passages in the [[Book of Revelation]] which seemed to say that as Christ would return to judge the living and the dead, [[Satan]] would be locked away for 1000 years, but then released on the world to instigate [[Armageddon|a final battle against God and his Saints]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20:1–6|KJV}}</ref> Previous [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] theologians had no clear or consensus view on what this actually meant (only the concept of the end of the world coming unexpectedly, "like a thief in the night", and the concept of "the [[Antichrist]]" were almost universally held). Millennialist theories try to explain what this "1000 years of Satan bound in chains" would be like.

Various types of millennialism exist with regard to [[Christian eschatology]], especially within [[Protestantism]], such as [[Premillennialism]], [[Postmillennialism]], and [[Amillennialism]]. The first two refer to different views of the relationship between the "millennial Kingdom" and Christ's second coming.

Premillennialism sees Christ's second advent as preceding the millennium, thereby separating the [[Second Coming]] from the [[Final Judgment]]. In this view, "Christ's reign" will be physically on the earth.

Postmillennialism sees Christ's second coming as subsequent to the millennium and concurrent with the final judgment. In this view "Christ's reign" (during the millennium) will be spiritual in and through the [[Christian church|church]].

Amillennialism sees the 1000 year kingdom as being metaphorically described in Rev. 20:1–6 in which "Christ's reign" is current in and through the church. Thus, while this view does not hold to a future millennial reign, it does hold that the New Heavens and New Earth will appear upon the return of Christ.

===19th and 20th centuries===
====Catholic Church====
The [[Catholic Church]] strongly condemns millennialism as the following shows:

{{Blockquote|The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the "intrinsically perverse" political form of a secular messianism.|[[Benedict XVI|Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger]]|Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1995<ref>Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +[[Benedict XVI|Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger]]. Doubleday, New York, 1995, p. 194.</ref>}}

====Bible Student movement====
The [[Bible Student movement]] is a millennialist movement based on views expressed in "The Divine Plan of the Ages," in 1886, in Volume One of the ''[[Studies in the Scriptures]]'' series, by Pastor [[Charles Taze Russell]]. (This series is still being published, since 1927, by the [[Dawn Bible Students Association]].) Bible Students believe that there will be a universal opportunity for every person, past and present, not previously recipients of a heavenly calling, to gain everlasting life on Earth during the Millennium.<ref>''Studies in the Scriptures'', Volume One, ''The Divine Plan of the Ages,'' Study IX, "Ransom and Restitution," pp. 149–152</ref>

==== Jehovah's Witnesses ====
[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Christ will rule from heaven for 1,000 years as king over the earth, assisted by the [[Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation#The .27anointed.27|144,000]] ascended humans. According to them this 1,000 year reign the earth will become a paradise, like the Garden of Eden, and humans will themselves return to the perfection lost by Adam and Eve.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Goes to Heaven?|url=https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/go-to-heaven/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529173319/https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/go-to-heaven/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |access-date=19 July 2021 |website=[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]}}</ref>

==== The Church of Almighty God ====
Also known as [[Eastern Lightning|Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God]] mentions in its teachings the Age of Millennial Kingdom, which will follow the catastrophes prophesied in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SA15CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA96 |title=Lightning from the East: Heterodoxy and Christianity in Contemporary China |isbn=9789004297258 |last1=Dunn |first1=Emily |date=27 May 2015 |publisher=BRILL |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

==== New Apostolic Reformation ====
Counter to much of the [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] movement, which tends towards belief in premillennialism, the rise of the Antichrist, and the decay of the world prior to the Second Coming, the [[New Apostolic Reformation]]'s focus is instead on an "optimistic" eschatology. It holds that most end-time prophecies have long since been fulfilled and that modern-day [[Apostolic-Prophetic Movement|prophets and apostles]] have divine authority; the end times will be an era in which obedient Christians, through using [[spiritual warfare]] and shaping all aspects of society into aligning with their Christian beliefs ([[Seven Mountain Mandate]]), will bring about the Second Coming.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Teigen |first=Arne Helge |date=2020 |title=Profetiene om Donald Trump, USA og NAR-bevegelsen: En kritisk undersøkelse av profetier om Donald Trump, USA og Guds rike innen New Apostolic Reformation-bevegelsen |trans-title=Prophecies about Donald Trump, the USA and the NAR movement: A critical examination of prophecies about Donald Trump, the United States, and the Kingdom of God within the New Apostolic Reformation movement |url=https://theofilos.no/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Theofilos-vol-12-nr-2-3-2020-academia-6.pdf |journal=Theofilos |language=no |volume=12 |issue=2–3 |pages=296–297}}</ref><ref name="GeivettPivec2014">{{Cite book |last1=Geivett |first1=R. Douglas |url=https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2015/a-new-reformation |title=God's Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement |last2=Pivec |first2=Holly |date=December 2014 |publisher=Weaver |publication-date=December 2014 |chapter=A New 'Reformation' That Many Don't Realize They’ve Joined |via=[[Biola University]]}}</ref>