Editing Millennialism (section)

=== Reformation and beyond ===
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[[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.