Chapter 1
The word millennium does not occur in the bible. It simply means one thousand years--
from the Latin words „milus’ a thousand, and „annum’-years. In Christian terms, the word
millennium refers to the thousand years period that is mentioned six times in the first seven verses
of Revelation 20.
Revelation 20:1-10.
a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and
years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when
together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the
out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire
night forever and ever.”
This passage is one of the most controversial in the bible, because it is the foundation on
which many are led to believe that Christ will physically live and reign on the earth with His saints
for a literal period of one thousand years--before their eternal heavenly existence. This is despite
the fact that such a thousand year reign is not mentioned anywhere else in the bible.
The three principal millennial beliefs are set out briefly below. It is impossible to give exact
definitions of each because there are many variations within each system. These outlines are
submitted as being an essentially correct account of the most widely held view of each doctrine.
PREMILLENNIALISM (Pre = before--Christ will return before the millennium)
The saints will be raptured from earth before the tribulation. There will be a literal seven
year period of tribulation during which Antichrist will set up his throne in Jerusalem and have a
world wide religious and political kingdom. At the end of the tribulation period, Christ will return
with His saints, and Antichrist will be deposed. Christ will set up a worldly kingdom in Jerusalem,
and all nations will be subjected to Israel. The temple will be restored, and the Jewish animal