What Is Post Millennialism?

The term postmillennialism refers to the belief that Jesus will return after the millennium ends. This is in direct contrast to both premillennial systems, which say that he will return before the millennium begins. Another important contrast between premillennial systems and postmillennialism is the location of Christ during his millennial reign. Premillennialism places Christ physically on earth. But postmillennialism locates him physically in heaven while he reigns spiritually on earth.

In the postmillennial system, the millennium is an age of success for the gospel that prepares the earth for Christ’s return. Some believe the millennium stretches from Jesus’ ascension to his return; others think it will be the last thousand years before he comes back. But all postmillennialists hold that the general trajectory of history throughout the millennium will produce greater and greater success for the gospel and the church throughout the world. Christ’s reign will ensure that the nations come to faith. Christian morality will characterize human society. And God’s kingdom will eventually cover the whole world. To support this idea, postmillennialists point to scriptures that ensure Christ’s ultimate victory over his enemies, and interpret these as references to his reign during the millennium. For instance, listen to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:25:

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Postmillennialists generally believe that verses like this teach that Christ will successfully defeat his enemies before he returns.

Postmillennialism sees the millennium as a time of increasing victory for the kingdom of God. So, it sometimes takes a preterist position with regard to the great tribulation, believing that it took place in the first century A.D. Still, nearly all postmillennialists acknowledge Satan’s rebellion at the end of the millennium, and his defeat when Christ returns.

Like some forms of historic premillennialism, postmillennialism teaches that the rapture will include resurrected and still-living believers. These will meet the Lord in the air when he comes, and immediately return with him to earth as part of his victorious military parade. Unbelievers will also be resurrected at this time, and Jesus will render his final judgments on both believers and unbelievers. Finally, he’ll usher in the new heavens and new earth, and the final state will begin.

I think one of the most compelling, biblical reasons to affirm a postmillennial view is when you take a look at redemptive history as a whole. In different times, postmillennialists have believed in a certain thousand-year golden age. But many today that say they’re postmillennial don’t necessarily believe in any kind of golden age. What they really mean is more of a positive approach to the realities of the gospel, that it’s going forth and that the nations will ultimately come before the coming of the Christ, and that it will be an upswing. And when we look in Revelation, we see, as they look at the multitudes, the whole earth, in the new heavens and the new earth, is filled with imagers of God from every tribe, tongue and nation. And I think there’s a progressive flow to all of Scripture, pointing to this reality that ultimately God’s initial plan, his initial call to Adam and Eve, for the whole earth to be filled with his imagers, will come true. And it’ll be the true people of God over the whole face of the earth who have been redeemed and renewed in the image of Christ. [Prof. Brandon P. Robbins]