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The differing approaches to the Millenial Reign of Christ, help to define the doctrines and dogma of many Christian and even cultic denominations. The three basic approaches, as we have addressed before are:
A-Millenialism
Post-Millenialism The difficulty many have with this position is that the descriptions of the Millenial Reign do not fit with historical descriptions: there has been no place in history where for a thousand years, world peace was established, with no sorrow, pain or trouble, or where 'the wolf lies down with the lamb' or children play on asps nests. Even if one takes these passages broadly and metaphorically, the Thousand years following Christ's death were bloody with massacres, persecutions, false church systems and brutality. While the Roman Catholic Church growing out of the Holy Roman Empire did reign, the corruption was so massive that it could hardly be described as reigning metaphorically as Christ. Secondly, the events described in the Bible detail Satan as being bound, not just restrained but removed from power during the Millenium. If anything, the opposite was true. Post-Millenialism & the JewsThe reason Post-Millenial views can pose doctrinal problems regarding the Jews is similar to the reasons for Amillenialism. The Church in a Post-Millenial Period, would already be under the reign of Christ, although most find it difficult to grasp this position in this century of Genocide. The Jews become absolutely displaced as God's Chosen, not held in suspension as scripture advocates [Romans 9-12]. If the Church has taken the reigns and is not pre-millenial, then Christ is not on his way in a second advent: He may return at the end in a final judgment, but the events of Revelation have already occurred. This leaves out the "bringing back" and gathering of Israel yet to occur in the future, when the " true" branch is grafted back into the vine which is theirs: instead of a slumbering which is God ordained for the grafting in of the Gentiles who will believe, there is a complete 'lopping' off of the branch of Israel. Some post-millenialists will argue against this premise, but behavior toward Israel is in effect the same. Until the beginning of this century many held this position, but after two world wars and multiple genocides, many abandoned the notion that we had seen the fulfillment of the Millenial Reign, even in proxy. Post and Amillenialism are similar in their views of the Church as proxy for Christ-in-the-World some viewing a literal return as preposterous and others looking for an final endtime return, but not as head of a 1000 year millenial kingdom. Interestingly, the 1000 year reign of Christ around which these doctrines argue, was emulated by the Third Reich, or 3rd Reign, which was to be headed by Hitler and his men. Theologians of many backgrounds often note the demonic emulation of the Gospels in events of Evil in the world. In summary, the Jews lose their place as the chosen people, and except for a few, most are not seen as potential believers in a future gathering. |
brand of Amillenialism
one may have a literal 1000 year reign with the Church as the governing agent,
or an 'era' of time in which the Church representing Christ on earth reigns
(sometimes seen as from literal Jerusalem sometimes as 'spiritualised" Jerusalem
but where no literal return of Christ in physical form occurs.
There are 'newer' forms of Amillenialism in which the Church reigns in preparation
of the return, and the return is seen in a variety of ways.
Among Churches espousing a form or type of Amillenialism are: United Methodist;
United Presbyterian USA, Roman Catholicism, some more Liberal Evangelical and
Assembly of God theologians espouse the view; and among those with new brands
are 'dominion theologians' and some 'replacement' theologians.