A longer read than most articles but well worth the time:
Chiliasm is the Greek equivalent of Millennialism. However, it has a broader meaning when used in regard to the earliest Christian eschatology. Chiliasm is not just the 1,000 years of Jesus’ millennial kingdom, but is the belief in a millennial ‘week’ of 7,000 years. Just as God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, so will mankind work on the earth for 6,000 years and rest on the Sabbath ‘day,’ known as the Millennium.
This belief, by the early church fathers, was reinforced by the following scripture. “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4). “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
Millennialism is a Christian doctrine, based on the Book of Revelation (20:1-7), that teaches Jesus Christ will establish a kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. The term comes from “millennium” (Latin mille ’one thousand’ and annum ‘year’), which means “one thousand years.” There are three different interpretations regarding the timing and nature of this 1,000-year kingdom.
Some believe that the return of Christ occurs before the millennial kingdom is established on Earth. This is known as premillennialism. Others think His return will happen after the millennial kingdom. This is known as postmillennialism.
There is a third view, called amillennialism, which interprets the millennium kingdom symbolically, and that the church is currently filling that role. The adherents to this view believe it is simply the duration of the imperfect church on Earth between Christ’s first coming and His return, and that the real kingdom of God is in heaven after the millennium on Earth is completed.
The Jews also believe in a Messianic Kingdom (although Jesus is not considered the Messiah), and it is prophesied throughout the Old Testament. This kingdom is not given a specific duration, as in the New Testament Book of Revelation, so it is considered to be eternal. One of the most famous passages of scripture regarding this kingdom is found in Isaiah 11.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for a banner of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:6-10).
Of course, we know Jesus is the root of Jesse (David’s father) mentioned in Isaiah 11:10. Jesus Christ will be a banner for the Jews and the Gentiles in the millennium. His millennial kingdom is considered a ‘rest’ or a ‘sabbath’ according to this verse.
There are also four major approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation and its meaning for the end time: the idealist, preterist (full and partial), historicist, and futurist views.
The idealist view teaches that Revelation describes, in symbolic or allegorical language, the battle throughout the ages between God and Satan, and between good and evil.
The preterist view teaches that the events recorded in the book of Revelation were largely fulfilled in AD 70 with the fall of the Jerusalem Temple.
The historicist view teaches that the book of Revelation is a symbolic presentation of church history from the first century AD to the end of the age. With this view, the prophecies of Revelation are fulfilled in various historic events, such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the Protestant Reformation, and the French Revolution.
The futurist view teaches that Revelation prophesies future events. These events include the rapture of the church, seven years of tribulation, and a millennial rule of Christ upon the earth.
See John’s Revelation of the Millennium: Part 1 :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready for more information on these different views and who supports them.
www.raptureready.com
Chiliasm is the Greek equivalent of Millennialism. However, it has a broader meaning when used in regard to the earliest Christian eschatology. Chiliasm is not just the 1,000 years of Jesus’ millennial kingdom, but is the belief in a millennial ‘week’ of 7,000 years. Just as God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, so will mankind work on the earth for 6,000 years and rest on the Sabbath ‘day,’ known as the Millennium.
This belief, by the early church fathers, was reinforced by the following scripture. “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4). “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
Millennialism is a Christian doctrine, based on the Book of Revelation (20:1-7), that teaches Jesus Christ will establish a kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. The term comes from “millennium” (Latin mille ’one thousand’ and annum ‘year’), which means “one thousand years.” There are three different interpretations regarding the timing and nature of this 1,000-year kingdom.
Some believe that the return of Christ occurs before the millennial kingdom is established on Earth. This is known as premillennialism. Others think His return will happen after the millennial kingdom. This is known as postmillennialism.
There is a third view, called amillennialism, which interprets the millennium kingdom symbolically, and that the church is currently filling that role. The adherents to this view believe it is simply the duration of the imperfect church on Earth between Christ’s first coming and His return, and that the real kingdom of God is in heaven after the millennium on Earth is completed.
The Jews also believe in a Messianic Kingdom (although Jesus is not considered the Messiah), and it is prophesied throughout the Old Testament. This kingdom is not given a specific duration, as in the New Testament Book of Revelation, so it is considered to be eternal. One of the most famous passages of scripture regarding this kingdom is found in Isaiah 11.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for a banner of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:6-10).
Of course, we know Jesus is the root of Jesse (David’s father) mentioned in Isaiah 11:10. Jesus Christ will be a banner for the Jews and the Gentiles in the millennium. His millennial kingdom is considered a ‘rest’ or a ‘sabbath’ according to this verse.
There are also four major approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation and its meaning for the end time: the idealist, preterist (full and partial), historicist, and futurist views.
The idealist view teaches that Revelation describes, in symbolic or allegorical language, the battle throughout the ages between God and Satan, and between good and evil.
The preterist view teaches that the events recorded in the book of Revelation were largely fulfilled in AD 70 with the fall of the Jerusalem Temple.
The historicist view teaches that the book of Revelation is a symbolic presentation of church history from the first century AD to the end of the age. With this view, the prophecies of Revelation are fulfilled in various historic events, such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the Protestant Reformation, and the French Revolution.
The futurist view teaches that Revelation prophesies future events. These events include the rapture of the church, seven years of tribulation, and a millennial rule of Christ upon the earth.
See John’s Revelation of the Millennium: Part 1 :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready for more information on these different views and who supports them.
The Six Thousandth Year From Creation :: By Randy Nettles
Chiliasm is the Greek equivalent of Millennialism. However, it has a broader meaning when used in regard to the earliest Christian eschatology. Chiliasm
www.raptureready.com
