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What does millennialism teach about a thousand-year kingdom?
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eschatology
The Second Coming as depicted in “The Last Judgment,” fresco by Michelangelo, 1536-41, on the west wall of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Palace, Vatican City.
Millennialism is an eschatological belief, rooted in the Revelation to John, that Christ will establish a 1,000-year reign of peace and abundance on earth. This period, known as the millennium, is envisioned as a time when Satan is bound and martyrs or saints are resurrected to reign with Christ before the Last Judgment.123
While the core concept involves this earthly kingdom, interpretations vary regarding its timing and nature:
- Premillennialism: The belief that Christ’s second coming occurs before the millennium, ushering in this period of messianic rule.4
- Postmillennialism: The doctrine that Christ’s return will occur after the millennium, which is often viewed as a period of increasing righteousness and peace.5
- Amillennialism: The denial that a literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom will precede or follow Christ’s return, often interpreting the millennium symbolically.6
Historically, these expectations have served as a source of solace for the suffering, though they have also fueled revolutionary movements seeking to establish God's kingdom on earth.73