This article has been written by a reader as part of a series of studies that present varied interpretations of different aspects of eschatology. You can find the others here. It is an area where there are many different viewpoints, and we want to encourage healthy and constructive discussion and thought. We encourage readers to reflect on the various studies put forward, and we very much welcome comments that are made in a respectful and thoughtful manner that reflects the brotherly love we should have for one another. This forms part of a series looking at the interpretations of the millennium. If you wish to contribute an article to this particular series, then you can find our guidelines here. As things stand, we do not yet have an article promoting the post-millennial interpretation, so would welcome it if someone felt inspired to write one for us. 

In Part 1, I explained the three main ways of understanding Messiah’s thousand-year reign, with a brief history of each. Part 2 considers the evidence for and against each one − finishing with my thoughts.

Assessment of the A-millennial and Post-millennial Views

Almost all a- and post-millennialists subscribe to Replacement Theology – the belief that God has rejected Israel because they rejected their Messiah, and has replaced them with the church. They teach that all the prophecies about the regathering of Israel to their ancient homeland were either fulfilled by the return from the Babylonian Exile, in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., or they apply to the church. Some support a less anti-Semitic doctrine known as ‘Fulfilment Theology’, which says Israel fulfilled God’s calling by bringing the Messiah into the world, but either way, they all reject the idea that Israel has a significant role to play in end-time events, and regard the re-establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 as, at best, an irrelevant accident of history and, at worst, a political disaster.

Some theologians argue that the period of a thousand years is mentioned only in Revelation 20, one chapter in ‘a book full of symbolic images and numbers’, therefore, it should not be taken literally. Others, while acknowledging that Revelation does contain a great deal of symbolism, point out that the thousand years are mentioned six times in that one chapter, suggesting that, in this instance, the number is not merely symbolic.

While it is extremely unlikely that the things John saw and heard, as recorded in Revelation chapters 6 to 17, are intended to give us a strict chronological sequence of end-time events, those described in chapters 18 to 22 do seem to follow each other in a logical order, especially if one ignores the uninspired chapter and verse divisions! Everyone agrees that chapters 21 and 22 belong at the end! The problem with both the a-millennial and post-millennial positions is that, by placing the ‘thousand-year’ reign of Christ before the second coming, they put chapter 20 before chapter 19!

This raises at least two difficulties. Firstly, instead of looking forward to reigning with Christ on earth after his return, the martyrs are reigning with him now, in heaven. This would mean they have already been resurrected, whereas Scripture is clear that all believers will be resurrected at the same time, on the last day of this present evil age.¹

However, the most serious difficulty is the claim that Satan being bound for a thousand years does not mean he is completely out of the picture, it suggests nothing more than him being unable to prevent the spread of the Gospel, and stop people trusting in the Saviour. In support of this, appeal is made to Jesus’ question, “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man?” (Mt.12:29), where Jesus is the one who binds the strong man.

However, if that is what is meant by Revelation 20:2-3, then the un-named angel, who seizes the devil, binds him and throws him into the abyss, is Christ himself! More seriously, far from being imprisoned and powerless, Satan is clearly free and active in the world. He snatches away the word of God, sown in people’s hearts, and sows weeds among the wheat (Matt 13:19, 38-39). He is a liar, a thief and a murderer! (Jn 8:44; Jn 10:10). Paul calls him “the god of this age who has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel”, and says he masquerades “as an angel of light” (2 Cor 4:4; 2 Cor 11:14). Peter warns that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8), and John says “the whole world is under (his) control” (1 Jn 5:19). And how could he have had his throne in Pergamum, at the end of the first century (Rev 2:13), if he’d been cast into the abyss several decades earlier?!

In the light of all this, the idea that Satan is currently powerless to “deceive the nations” (Rev 20:3) stretches credulity to breaking point! Millions of people throughout the world have been, and are right now, deceived by false religions, false sects, false prophets, false doctrines and false science, even within the church! An a-millennial minister friend of mine admits that this is the weakest aspect of his position. Furthermore, I have never been able to discover how a- or post-millennialists understand Satan being temporarily released at the end of the thousand years; they just ignore the issue!

An assessment of the Pre-millennial View

However, the pre-millennial view is not without problems. Firstly, by the end of the tribulation, the earth will be in such a state of utter devastation as to be almost uninhabitable. Surely, it would make far more sense for Jesus to return and destroy the wicked, and then for God to create the new heaven and earth immediately, as some Christians expect?

Secondly, who will re-populate the world during the millennium? How will it be possible for saints, with their resurrection bodies (who will not marry and reproduce, Mk 12:24-25), to live alongside those with mortal bodies – if any such remain. And if there is human reproduction, what will be the spiritual status of those born during that time?

One might also ask, what would be the purpose of Jesus reigning on the old earth for a thousand years, and then Satan being released for a short time and leading a final rebellion, before being banished forever into the lake of fire? I don’t know, but perhaps it’s to demonstrate that, even with the perfect rule of a loving and righteous King; even with the restoration of peace and prosperity (Isa 2:1-4), some people will still not be content!

Since the Bible provides no answers to these tricky questions, I can understand why some Christians struggle with the pre-millennial view. However, we must base our doctrine on what Scripture does tell us, rather than on what it does not. If the evidence for pre-millennialism is convincing, we should acknowledge that God’s ways are far higher and his wisdom far greater than ours (Isa 55:8-9; 1 Cor 1:25), and leave the details to be revealed in time. So, what does Scripture say?

We should acknowledge that God’s ways are far higher and his wisdom far greater than ours (Isa 55:8-9; 1 Cor 1:25), and leave the details to be revealed in time.

As stated in Part 1, the Jews of Jesus’ time expected their Messiah to fulfil prophecy, restore the kingdom to Israel, and reign on David’s throne in Jerusalem. This kingdom would extend over the whole world, with Israel playing a key role. Although Jesus made it clear to his disciples that this was not going to happen immediately, they still expected him to return and establish it at some point. Once the book of Revelation became widely known, it was understood that his reign would last for a thousand years before the temporary release of Satan, the final judgment, and the creation of the new heaven and earth.

Although Revelation 20 is the only passage which specifies the length of that reign, there are numerous other references to the Lord or Messiah coming to rule over the entire earth and every nation, e.g., ‘(The Lord) … said to me, “You are my Son … Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre.”’ (Ps 2:7-9; cf. Rev.12:5; 19:15). Clearly, the devil understood this promise to mean more than the Son ruling the world spiritually, from heaven; otherwise, his offer to give Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world”, in exchange for worship, would not have been a temptation. When the seventh trumpet is sounded, John hears loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev.11:15), clearly referring to this world.Psalm 57 5, Heartlight.com

Jesus promises that saints will reign with him: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – He will rule them with an iron sceptre” (Rev.2:26-27), which suggests the overcomers will do as Jesus does, with his delegated authority. The 24 elders around the heavenly throne sing about the redeemed “from every tribe and language and people and nation”, who will be “a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10, cf. Rev 20:4). We will judge the world (1 Cor 6:2). In the parables of the talents and minas, Jesus taught that those who prove themselves trustworthy in this life will be given greater responsibility, such as governing cities, when he (the master or king) returns, (Mt 25:14-30; Lk 19:11-27).

And when he comes, he will land on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12; Zech 14:4,5). What is the point, if he is not going to stay? Why not just catch up any saints who survive the tribulation, destroy the wicked, and then move swiftly on to the new creation? But Zechariah 14:9 and 16 say, “The Lord will be king over the whole earth”, and all the peoples of the earth will be required to go up to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. (See also Jer 3:17). Those who refuse will have no rain, so this prophecy cannot refer either to the new earth or the heavenly Zion!

He will Reign on David’s Throne

The Old Testament contains dozens of prophecies that the remnant of God’s scattered people, Israel, will be regathered and restored to their ancient homeland. Of course, many of these were fulfilled with the return from the Exile, but others were not, and anyway, prophecies may have more than one fulfilment. This is a huge subject in its own right, but here are a few examples:

“In that day, the Lord will reach out his hand a second time, to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people ... He will gather the exiles of Israel … from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa 11:10-12)² The first time, the Jews returned only from Babylonia.

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them’.” (Jer 31:10). It’s amazing how some Christians have no problem accepting the first part of that statement, but reject the second part, or say it can apply only once!

‘“The days are coming”, declares the Lord, “when men will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites out of Egypt’, but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north, and out of all the countries where he had banished them’. For I will restore to them the land I gave their forefathers.”’ (Jer 16:14-15, cf. Jer 23:7-8). The Jews have never celebrated their return from the Exile, but every year, they certainly do celebrate the re-establishment of the state of Israel!

After nearly 2,000 years in the diaspora, the survival of the Jews as a distinct ethnic group, with their own faith and culture; the revival of the Hebrew language, and the return to their land, is nothing short of miraculous!

After nearly 2,000 years in the diaspora, the survival of the Jews as a distinct ethnic group, with their own faith and culture; the revival of the Hebrew language, and the return to their land, is nothing short of miraculous! If Jesus is not going to return to Jerusalem and reign on David’s throne (Isa 9:7; Lk 1:32-33); if Israel has no part to play in the out-working of God’s end-time events; then why has God preserved them as a distinct people group? The only logical explanation is that they are still his chosen people, his first-born son (Jer 31:9). Just as they had to be back in their God-given land for Messiah’s first advent, so they are being regathered there in readiness for his return.

Therefore, in spite of there being some difficulties, I personally would have to conclude that the pre-millennial view appears to have the strongest biblical support.

“The Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders gloriously.” (Isa 24:23)

1 See Enduring to the End, Prophecy Today, 8th April 2022
2 See also Is 43:1,4-6; Jer 31:7-8; Ezek 36:8,12,30,34-36 etc.