Amillennialism is a view in Christian eschatology which holds that the “thousand years” mentioned in Revelation 20 is symbolic and does not refer to a literal thousand-year reign of Christ. The amillennial view interprets the millennium as the current church age or the interval between Christ’s first and second comings. It stands in contrast to premillennialism and postmillennialism, which see the millennium as a future literal thousand-year period. The term amillennialism was introduced in the 1930s, but the view itself has been common throughout church history.
Key Tenets of Amillennialism
Here are some of the key tenets of amillennialism:
- The binding of Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) refers to the limitation of his power during the current church age.
- The millennium is symbolic and began with Christ’s resurrection and binding of Satan. It represents Christ’s spiritual reign in the hearts of believers in this age.
- Christ’s victorious reign consists of his ascension, seating at God’s right hand, and outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.
- The first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6) is not a future physical resurrection but a spiritual resurrection, which is conversion and union with Christ.
- The battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16) depicts Christ’s spiritual conquest over the forces of Satan.
- The great tribulation (Matthew 24:21) occurred with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
- The antichrist is not a future personal figure but something present in the church age, such as a tendency to apostasy, lawlessness, or other forces opposed to Christ.
- The second coming and final judgment will be accompanied by the resurrection and eternal destiny of all the righteous and wicked.
- The eternal state follows the second coming and final judgment.
In summary, amillennialism sees most end-times prophecy as being symbolic and applicable to the entire church age between Christ’s first and second comings. It does not teach a future literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom preceded by the rapture.
Understanding the Millennium Symbolically
The lynchpin of amillennialism is its nonliteral interpretation of the millennium in Revelation 20. Amillennialists argue that a literal reading of a future earthly millennial kingdom contradicts passages indicating the kingdom has already begun (e.g. Matthew 12:28) or is a present spiritual reality (e.g. Romans 14:17). They note characteristics of the millennium, such as saints reigning in heaven (Revelation 20:4), and argue a spiritual meaning makes better sense of the passage as a whole.
Examples of symbolic numbers in Revelation are also cited, such as the seven churches, bowls, seals which are not taken literally by most. The confinement of Satan and the first resurrection are similarly viewed as metaphors describing spiritual truths about Jesus’ victory and the believer’s life in Christ. Some note that a literal millennium seems out of sequence with other end-times events described in the surrounding chapters. The portrayal of the millennium in Revelation 20 is seen as a recapitulation or re-telling of events rather than a chronological sequence.
Amillennial Perspectives on Other End-Times Passages
The amillennial interpretation of other biblical end-times passages also relies heavily on symbolism. The binding of Satan is seen to occur during Jesus’ earthly ministry (Matthew 12:29) or possibly at the cross. The great tribulation in Matthew 24:21 is equated with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, which served as judgment for rejecting the Messiah. The apostasy, lawlessness, and deception warned about in Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, and 1 John 2:18 are viewed as present realities which have affected the church throughout the interadvent age.
Amillennialists understand the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 16:16 as depicting Christ’s definitive victory over Satan’s forces, achieved through his death and resurrection. The beast and false prophet in Revelation are not seen as individuals but symbolizing forces in opposition to Christ. Some identify the beast as pagan Rome and the false prophet as emperor worship or local cults. Others interpret them in broader terms of political power and ungodly ideologies which lead people astray.
Understanding the Two Resurrections
The two resurrections described in Revelation 20:4-6 are at the root of contrasting amillennial and premillennial views. For amillennialists, the first resurrection refers to regeneration and conversion, moving from spiritual death to life (John 5:24; Ephesians 2:1-6). The second resurrection happens at the end when believers are raised to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment (Daniel 12:2; Acts 24:15). Premillennialists see these as two physical resurrections separated by the millennium. Amillennialists respond that their interpretation makes better sense of theDescriptions of the first resurrection as “blessed” (Revelation 20:6), partaking of Christ’s reign, and unaffected by the second death.
History of Amillennialism
Many church fathers such as Augustine, Athanasius, and Jerome wrote amillennial interpretations. Augustine viewed the millennium as the span between Christ’s ascension and second coming. Some early church councils condemned the belief in a literal millennium, though premillennialism gained popularity for a time. With the Reformation came renewed interest in amillennialism, especially among Reformed thinkers, though Luther promoted millennialist views. Amillennialism advanced with Calvin’s teachings and became the common view among Reformed churches. Today it remains widespread among Reformed denominations as well as Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Main Differences From Other Views
Premillennialism sees Christ’s second coming preceding a literal 1,000-year kingdom on earth. Postmillennialism expects a future golden age of Christian ethics and teaching that leads to Christ’s return. Amillennialism interprets the millennium and many end-times details symbolically, recognizing Christ’s reign now in the church age. Historic premillennialism shares some similarities with amillennialism but differs in seeing the millennium as a future intermediate kingdom on earth after the second coming.
Criticisms of Amillennialism
Critics argue that interpreting Revelation’s millennium as symbolic undermines the inspiration of Scripture by denying it means what it says. Some contend passages about Satan’s binding and the resurrections most naturally fit a future literal kingdom. Critics say amillennialism overlooks God’s promises of an earthly reign of Jesus, ruling from Jerusalem as described in the Old Testament. Amillennialism’s view of “this age” as the millennium with no textual end point is also seen by some as contradicting Christ’s return.
Responses to Criticisms
Amillennialists respond that biblical prophecy contains much symbolism and interpretive difficulties, so contexts and comparisons must be considered. They say truths about Christ’s triumph and the believer’s life are the primary meanings of the millennium passages. Their nonliteral approach does not deny biblical authority but recognizes apocalyptic genre characteristics. Allegorical and spiritual interpretations have a long history in the church, giving precedent for amillennialism’s symbolic readings. They affirm Christ’s return to punish evil, resurrect believers, and usher in the eternal state when God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Key Implications for Christians
- A focus on Christ’s spiritual reign rather than future events.
- The call to live holy lives in the present age as citizens of Christ’s kingdom.
- Comfort that Satan’s powers are limited through Christ’s work.
- Assurance that the church is safe from destruction despite opposition.
- Waiting with patience rather than predicting Christ’s return.
- Seeing prophecy as intended for spiritual exhortation more than timeline predictions.
- Putting expectations of God’s justice and absolute victory in the eternal state rather than a temporary millennial period.
Amillennialism provides perspective for kingdom living in the present age while awaiting the future completion of Christ’s reign. With its emphasis on spiritual meanings over timeline predictions, amillennialism calls believers to faithful endurance for however long this age lasts until Christ’s return.