Editing Millennialism (section)

==== 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>