View source for Amillennialism

{{Short description|Belief that there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on Earth}}
{{Christian Eschatology}}
[[File:Antonio Rodríguez - Saint Augustine - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|[[Augustine of Hippo]] was an amillennialist.]]{{Roman Catholic Church}}
'''Amillennialism''' or '''amillenarism'''  is a [[chillegorism|chillegoristic]] [[Christian eschatology|eschatological]] position in [[Christianity]] which holds that there will be no [[Millennialism|millennial]] reign of the [[Messianic Age|righteous on Earth]]. This view contrasts with both [[postmillennialism|postmillennial]] and, especially, with [[premillennialism|premillennial]] interpretations of [[Revelation 20]] and various other prophetic and eschatological passages of the [[Bible]].

[[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 20:1–6 describes a vision in which, "for a thousand years", [[Satan]] is bound "so that he might not deceive the nations any longer", and "the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of [[Jesus]] and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped [[The Beast (Revelation)|the beast]] or its image and had not received its mark ... came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20:1-6|ESV}}</ref> Amillennialists interpret the "thousand years" symbolically to refer either to a temporary bliss of souls in heaven before the [[Universal resurrection#Christianity|general resurrection]], or to the infinite bliss of the righteous after the general resurrection, in the eternal state.<ref>Valeriy Sterkh, ''Apocalypse. Millennium: Chiliasm and Chillegorism'' (Ekaterinburg: Ridero, 2020), Section 1.</ref>

Amilennialists reject the view that Jesus Christ will physically reign on the Earth for exactly one thousand years. Rather, they interpret the "thousand years" mentioned in [[Revelation 20]] as a [[Biblical numerology|symbolic number]], not as a literal duration of time. Amillennialists hold that the millennium has already begun and is simultaneous with the current [[Dispensation (period)|church age]]. Amillennialism holds that while Christ's reign during the millennium is spiritual in nature, at the end of the church age, [[Second Coming of Christ|Christ will return]] in [[last judgment|final judgment]] and establish a permanent reign in the "new heaven and new Earth".<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|21:1|ESV}}</ref>

Many proponents dislike the term "amillennialism" because it emphasizes their differences with premillennialism rather than their beliefs about the millennium. "Amillennial" was actually coined in a pejorative way by those who hold premillennial views. Some proponents also prefer alternate names such as '''nunc-millennialism''' (that is, now-millennialism) or '''realized millennialism''', although these other names have achieved only limited acceptance and usage.<ref>
Anthony Hoekema, [http://www.the-highway.com/amila_Hoekema.html "Amillennialism"]
</ref>

==Variations==
There are two main variations of amillennianism, perfect amillenarism (the first resurrection has already happened) and imperfect amillenarism (the first resurrection will happen simultaneously with the second one). The common denominator for all amillenaristic views is the denial of the Kingdom of the righteous on Earth before the general resurrection.<ref>Valeriy Sterkh, ''Apocalypse. Millennium: Chiliasm and Chillegorism'' (Ekaterinburg: Ridero, 2020), Section 7.</ref>

===Perfect amillenarism===
* [[Marcion]] (c. 85 – 160) taught that only souls will resurrect, rejecting the bodily resurrection. He followed the teachings of [[Simon Magus]] (1st century) and Cerdo (1st–2nd centuries) [See. St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 1, 27; St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, Panarion. Against the Marcionites, Heresies 22 and 42].
* [[Origen]] (c. 185 – 254) further developed the amillenarism of Marcion in his teaching about the reign of the saints in heaven while rejecting the idea of the Kingdom of the righteous coming down to the Earth [On the First Principles, book 2, chapter 11; Against Celsus, book 2, chapter 5]. This teaching was later supported by Gaius of Rome (died c. 217) [See Eusebius], St. Dionysius of Alexandria (died 265) [See Eusebius], and Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 263 – 340) [Church History, volume 3, chapter 28; volume 7, chapters 24-25].
* [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] (1688–1772) taught about the reign of saints in heaven but denied the bodily resurrection [The Open Apocalypse, chapter 20].
* [[Alexander Lopukhin|A.P. Lopukhin]]'s ''Explanatory Bible'' (Russian: ''Толковая Библия Лопухина'') (1904–1913) argues that the first resurrection refers to the state of the righteous souls reigning in heaven, that is, "they can be guides and helpers to the Christians who are still fighting the good fight of faith on the earth. The souls find in this a new source of joy and blessing."<ref>{{cite web |title=Толковая Библия Лопухина|trans-title=Lopukhin's Explanatory Bible)|url=http://www.lopbible.ru/rev/txtrev20.htm/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528072346/http://www.lopbible.ru/rev/txtrev20.htm/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2024-05-28|at=Footnote to Revelation 20:4|website=Толковая Библия Лопухина|access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|20:4-5|ESV}}</ref>
* Joseph Sickenberger (20th century) interprets the first resurrection as the ascension of the souls of martyrs into heaven. The Millennium is for him "a symbolic number".
* Charles Homer Giblin and Tadros Malaty (20th century) see the Millennium as the life of saints in heaven.
* [[Daniil Sysoev]] (1974–2009) taught that the first resurrection is the life and reign of the righteous souls in heaven.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sysoev|first=Daniel|title=Толкование на Апокалипсис|url=https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Daniil_Sysoev/tolkovanie-na-apokalipsis/20|trans-title=Interpretation of the Apocalypse|language=Russian|chapter=Chapter 20|access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref>

===Imperfect amillenarism===
* According to [[Epiphanius of Salamis]], writing between 374 and 377, the gnostic [[Cerinthus]] (1st–2nd centuries) believed that Jesus Christ "ha[d] not yet risen but will rise when the general resurrection of the dead takes place." [See Epiphanius of Salamis, [[Panarion]], 8 and 28, §6]. Thus, Cerinthus—whom Epiphanius charged with heresey—allegedly denied a distinct first resurrection. At the same time, he is said to have held that "Jesus suffered and rose from the dead, but Christ, who had descended upon Him, went up to heaven without suffering. And the one who came down from heaven in the form of a dove is Christ, but Jesus is not Christ." [ibid., §1; St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, book 1, chapter 26].
* [[Ephrem the Syrian]] (c. 306 – 373) believed that the first resurrection would occur simultaneously with the second and both would constitute "one resurrection". The Millennium signifies "the immensity of eternal life" [Discourse 96. On repentance].
* [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]] (386–457) expressed similar views on the Millennium to those of Ephrem's. [A Brief Exposition of Divine Dogmas, chapter 21].

==Teaching==
Amillennialism rejects the idea of a future millennium in which Christ will reign on Earth prior to the eternal state beginning, but holds:<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cox|first1=William E.|title=Amillennialism Today|date=1966|publisher=Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company|isbn=978-0875521510}}</ref>
* that Jesus is presently reigning from heaven, seated at the right hand of [[God the Father]];
* that Jesus also is and will remain with the church until the end of the world, as he promised at the [[Ascension of Jesus Christ|Ascension]];
* that the millennium began with the resurrection of Jesus, the first resurrection (Colossians 1:18 [Jesus Christ] is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence; Revelation 20:4-6 [the millennium] is the first resurrection);
* that at [[Pentecost]] (or days earlier, at the [[Ascension of Jesus]]), the millennium began, citing [[Acts 2:16-21]], wherein [[Saint Peter|Peter]] quotes [[Joel 2:28-32]] on the coming of the kingdom, to explain what is happening; and
* that, therefore the Church and its spread of the gospel is Christ's Kingdom and forever will be.

Amillennialists also cite scripture passages that they believe to indicate that the kingdom of God is not a physical realm.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Amillennial View of the Kingdom of God |url=https://amillennial.org/amillennial-view-kingdom-of-god/ |website=Amillennial.org |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> Several verses cited by amillennialists in this context are:
* {{bibleverse|Matthew|12:28|ESV}}, where Jesus cites his [[Miracles_of_Jesus#Exorcisms|driving out of demons]] as evidence that the kingdom of God had come upon them;
* {{bibleverse|Luke|17:20–21|ESV}}, where Jesus warns that the coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and that it is among them; and
* {{bibleverse|Romans|14:17|ESV}}, where Paul speaks of the kingdom of God being in terms of the Christians' actions.

Because amillennialists believe that the millennium is simultaneous with the present age, they also believe that the binding of [[Satan]] in Revelation 20, which occurs at the beginning of the millennium, has already occurred; in their view, he has been prevented from "deceiv[ing] the nations" by the spread of the gospel.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Nonetheless, they maintain that [[good and evil]] will remain mixed in strength throughout history and even in the church, according to the amillennial understanding of the [[Parable of the Wheat and Tares]].

Amillennialism is sometimes associated{{by whom|date=November 2015}} with [[Idealism (Christian eschatology)|Idealism]], as both schools teach a symbolic interpretation of many of the prophecies of the Bible and especially of the [[Book of Revelation]]. However, many amillennialists do believe in the literal fulfillment of Biblical prophecies; they simply disagree with Millennialists about how or when these prophecies will be fulfilled.

==History==
[[Image:Millennial views.svg|right|thumb|380px|Comparison of Christian millennial interpretations. Some amillenniallists, such as Roman Catholics, believe in a scenario close to Post-tribulational Premillennialism, but with the Antichrist taking the place of the second coming in the timeline, the millennium after Antichrist being symbolic, and the second coming occurring at the same time as the last judgment.]]

===Early church===
{{See also|Early Christianity}}
Few [[Early Christianity|early Christians]] wrote about this aspect of eschatology during the first century of Christianity, but most of the available writings from the period reflect a [[millenarianism|millenarianist]] perspective (sometimes referred to as '''chiliasm''').  Bishop [[Papias of Hierapolis]] (A.D. 70–155) speaks in favor of a pre-millennial position in volume three of [[Papias of Hierapolis#Fragments|his five volume work]]. Aristion{{when|date=November 2017}} and [[John of Patmos|the elder John]] echoed his sentiments, as did other first-hand disciples and secondary followers.<ref>{{cite book|author= Eusebius|title= Ecclesiastical History 3.39.3-4}}</ref>  Though most writings of the time tend to favor a millennial perspective, the amillennial position may have also been present in this early period, as suggested in the [[Epistle of Barnabas]], and it would become the ascendant view during the next two centuries.<ref name="Relig. (escat.)">{{cite web|website= Religious Tolerance|title= Competing Theories of Eschatology, End Times, and Millennialism|url= http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120908054249/http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm|url-status= usurped|archive-date= September 8, 2012|access-date= September 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |degree=Master's |last=Boyd |first= Alan P. |date=1977 |title= A Dispensational Premillennial Analysis of the Eschatology of the Post-Apostolic Fathers (Until the Death of Justin Martyr) |publisher=Dallas Theological Seminary |url= https://library-files-of.dts.edu/td/197x/td.boyd-1977.pdf |quote= [P]erhaps, seminal amillennialism, and not nascent dispensational premillennialism ought to be seen in the eschatology of the period. |pages=90f}}</ref><ref name="Walvoord (Amillennialism)">{{cite web|last1= Walvoord|first1= John F.|title= Amillenniallism in the Ancient Church|url= https://bible.org/seriespage/3-amillenniallism-ancient-church|website= Bible.org|access-date= September 10, 2016|date= December 1949}}</ref><ref name="Orthodox (amillen.)">{{cite web|title= Orthodox Apologetics|url= http://orthodox-apologetics.blogspot.com/2012/08/early-christian-eschatology.html|website= Early Christian Eschatology|access-date= September 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Olson (amillen.)">{{cite web|last1= Olson|first1= Carl E.|title= Five Myths About the Rapture|url= https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=5788|website= Five Myths About the Rapture|access-date= September 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Ra McLaughlin (millennium)">{{cite web|title= Amillennialism in the Early Church|website= Third Millennium Ministries|url= http://thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/39736|access-date= September 11, 2016}}</ref>  [[Church Fathers]] of the third century who rejected the millennium included [[Clement of Alexandria]] ({{circa}} 150 – {{circa}} 215), [[Origen]] (184/185 – 253/254), and Cyprian ({{circa}} 200 – 258). [[Justin Martyr]] (died 165), who had [[millennialism|chiliastic]] tendencies in his theology,<ref>[http://lig1.tripod.com/lee/early/leeearly.htm "Always Victorious!"] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060302041749/http://lig1.tripod.com/lee/early/leeearly.htm |date= March 2, 2006 }} by [[Francis Nigel Lee]]</ref> mentions differing views in his ''[[Dialogue with Trypho the Jew]]'', chapter 80: <blockquote>"I and many others are of this opinion [premillennialism], and [believe] that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise."<ref name="CatRapture">[http://www.catholic.com/library/rapture.asp Catholic Answers on "The Rapture"] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060513181209/http://www.catholic.com/library/rapture.asp |date= May 13, 2006 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=September 2025}}</blockquote>

Certain amillennialists, such as [[Albertus Pieters]], understand [[Epistle of Barnabas|Pseudo-Barnabas]] to be amillennial, though many understand it instead to be premillennial.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mealy |first=J. Webb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X93UAwAAQBAJ&dq=Barnabas+millenium&pg=PA48 |title=After the Thousand Years: Resurrection and Judgment in Revelation 20 |date=1992-01-01 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-85075-363-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ervin |first=Matthew Bryce |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cYGjDgAAQBAJ&dq=Barnabas+premillenial&pg=PT139 |title=One Thousand Years with Jesus: The Coming Messianic Kingdom |date=2017-03-28 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-5326-1072-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Epistle of Barnabas |url=https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/epistle-of-barnabas |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> In the 2nd century, the [[Alogi]] (those who rejected all of John's writings) were amillennial, as was [[Caius (presbyter)|Caius]] in the first quarter of the 3rd century.<ref>Eusebius, 3.28.1–2</ref> With the influence of [[Neo-Platonism]] and [[Dualistic cosmology|dualism]], [[Clement of Alexandria]] and [[Origen]] denied premillennialism.<ref>De Principiis, 2.11.2-3</ref> Likewise, [[Dionysius of Alexandria]] (died 264) argued that Revelation was not written by John and could not be interpreted literally; he was amillennial.<ref>Eusebius, ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Church History]]'', 7.24.3; 7.25</ref>

[[Origen]]'s idealizing tendency to consider only the spiritual as real (which was fundamental to his entire system) led him to combat the "rude"<ref>The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol.8, p. 273</ref> or "crude"<ref>''The Anchor Bible Dictionary'' (1997) article "Chiliasm", ''The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart'' (Johann Amos Comenius, ed. 1998) p. 42 and ''Jews and Christians: The Parting of the Ways, A.D. 70 to 135'' (James D. G. Dunn, 1999) p. 52.</ref> [[Chiliasm]] of a physical and sensual beyond.

Premillennialism appeared in the available writings of the early church, but it was evident that both views existed side by side. The premillennial beliefs of the early church fathers, however, are quite different from the dominant form of modern-day premillennialism, namely [[dispensational premillennialism]].<blockquote>It is the conclusion of this thesis that [[Charles Caldwell Ryrie|Dr. Ryrie]]'s statement [that the early church fathers held dispensationalist views] is historically invalid within the chronological framework of this thesis. The reasons for this conclusion are as follows: (1) the writers/writings surveyed did not generally adopt a consistently applied literal interpretation; (2) they did not generally distinguish between the Church and Israel; (3) there is no evidence that they generally held to a dispensational view of revealed history; (4) although Papias and Justin Martyr did believe in a Millennial kingdom, the 1,000 years is the only basic similarity with the modern system (in fact, they and dispensational pre-millennialism radically differ on the basis of the Millennium); (5) they had no concept of imminency or of a pre-tribulational Rapture of the Church; (6) in general, their eschatological chronology is not synonymous with that of the modern system. Indeed, this thesis would conclude that the eschatological beliefs of the period studied would be generally inimical to those of the modern system (perhaps, seminal amillennialism, and not nascent dispensational premillennialism ought to be seen in the eschatology of the period).{{sfn|Boyd|1977|pp=90f.}}</blockquote>

===Medieval and Reformation periods===
Amillennialism gained ground after Christianity became a legal religion. It was systematized by [[Augustine of Hippo]] in the 4th century, and this systematization carried amillennialism over as the dominant eschatology of the Medieval and Reformation periods. Augustine was originally a premillennialist, but he retracted that view, claiming the doctrine was carnal.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/120120.htm "City of God, Book 20, Chapter 7"]</ref>

Amillennialism was the dominant view of the [[Protestant Reformation|Protestant Reformers]]. The [[Lutheran]] Church formally rejected [[chiliasm]] in [[The Augsburg Confession]]—"Art. XVII., and condemned the [[Anabaptists]] (historically, most Anabaptist groups were amillennial) and others 'who now scatter [[Jewish]] opinions that, before the [[resurrection]] of the dead, the godly shall occupy the kingdom of the world, the wicked being everywhere suppressed.'"<ref>[[Philip Schaff]], ''History of the Christian Church'', Vol. 2 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, n.d.) 381.</ref> Likewise, the [[Reformation in Switzerland|Swiss Reformer]] [[Heinrich Bullinger]] wrote up the [[Helvetic Confessions|Second Helvetic Confession]], which asserts, "We also reject the Jewish dream of a millennium, or golden age on earth, before the [[last judgment]]."<ref>[[Philip Schaff]] ''History of Creeds'' Vol. 1, 307.</ref> [[John Calvin]] wrote in ''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]'' that chiliasm is a "fiction" that is "too childish either to need or to be worth a refutation." He interpreted the thousand-year period of Revelation 20 symbolically, applying it to the "various disturbances that awaited the church, while still toiling on earth."<ref>[[John Calvin]], ''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]'', XXV.V</ref>

===Modern times===
The [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodox Church|Oriental Orthodox]] Churches have long held amillennial positions, as has the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which generally embraces an [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] [[eschatology]] and which has deemed that premillennialism "cannot safely be taught."<ref name="CatRapture"/> Amillennialism is also common among [[Protestant]] denominations such as the [[Lutheran]], [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]], [[Anglican]], [[Methodist]], and many [[Messianic Jews]].<ref name="Denominations">{{cite book|title=The Everything Jesus Book: His Life, His Teachings |year=2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/everythingjesusb0000kenn |url-access=registration |quote=With some variations, amillennialism is the traditional eschatology of the Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Calvinist (Presbyterian, Reformed), Anglican, and Methodist Churches.|author=Jon Kennedy|publisher=[[Adams Media]]|isbn=9781593377120 }}</ref> Amillennialism represents the historical position of the [[Amish]], [[Old Order Mennonite]], and [[Conservative Mennonites]] (though among the more modern groups premillennialism has made inroads). Amillennialism is common among groups arising from the 19th century American [[Restoration Movement]] such as the [[Churches of Christ]],<ref name="Rhodes 2005">Ron Rhodes, ''The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations'', Harvest House Publishers, 2005, {{ISBN|0-7369-1289-4}}</ref>{{rp|125}} [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]] and [[Christian Churches and Churches of Christ]]. Amillennialism also has a following amongst [[Baptist]] denominations such as The Association of Grace Baptist Churches in England. [[Partial preterism]] is sometimes a component of amillennial [[hermeneutics]]. Amillennialism declined in Protestant circles with the rise of Postmillennialism and the resurgence of Premillennialism in the 18th and 19th centuries, but amillennialism has regained prominence in the West after World War II.{{citation needed|date=June 2015|reason=Both the fall in the 18th and 19th century, and the rise after WW2 need to be cited.}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
* [[Millenarianism]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Provan, Charles D. ''The Church is Israel Now: Old and New Testament Scripture Texts Which Illustrate the Conditional Privileged Position and Titles of "Racial Israel" and Their Transfer to the Christian Church, Arranged with Commentary''. Vallecito, Calif.: Ross House Books, 1987. 74 pp.
* [http://www.prca.org/articles/amillennialism.html "A Defense of (Reformed) Amillennialism"] – a series of articles by David J. Engelsma from the ''Standard Bearer'' (April 1, 1995, through December 15, 1996)
* [https://www.monergism.com/topics/eschatology/all-millennial-views/amillennialism Monergism's articles on Amillennialism]
* [https://graceonlinelibrary.org/category/eschatology/amillennialsm/ Grace Online Library: Amillennialism] – various articles on Amillennialism
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10307a.htm "Millennium and Millenarianism"] from the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040407130012/http://blueletterbible.org/faq/mill.html#amil Blue Letter Bible summary] (dispensational premillennialism perspective)
* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/ec_thousandyearreign.aspx ''On The Thousand Year Reign (Chiliasm)''] Elder Cleopa of Romania – Eastern Orthodox view
* [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/mosynod/web/endtme-1.html "End Times"] from Project Wittenberg (Lutheran perspective)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100707204834/http://www.wlsessays.net/node/488 "Millennium"] by Nathan J. Engel (Lutheran perspective)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110801000243/http://www.thenarrowpath.com/topical_lectures.html#esc Understanding Eschatology from an Amillennial Perspective] – a series of lectures by Steve Gregg
* [http://www.noble-minded.org/Eschatology.pdf Rational Christian Eschatology] – A general case for an amillennial perspective on the future
{{Doomsday}}

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