The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Amil vs Postmil

A good friend and I are having a discussion on Amillennialism and Postmillennialism.
As long as I have known him, he like myself has called himself an A-millennialist.
Until very recently, because now he believes the term Amillennialism is dumb.

He is a huge reader in theology and has read many authors on Eschatology. He tells me and quoted many ardent Amils, such as Venema, Berkouwer, Riddlebarger, and a few others all agree that the term Amillennialism is dumb.
He goes on to show me this.


Cornelis Venema (The Promise of the Future, 2000)


I told him, I have no trouble still calling myself an Amillennialist, like those authors, as long as we understand what the term means.


He now says he prefers to call himself a Postmillennialist; mainly because there is very little difference between the two eschatological beliefs.
He also added that the term Amillennialism is only about 100 years old.

It is not that he disagrees with Amillennialism, but will no longer use the term.

Thought?

Tom

Sure, the term is rather dubious in that it does not accurately describe the view. "A" in Greek means "no,none" which if applied would mean there is no millennium. So, like Venema and others, I do prefer the term "Realized Millennium" which accurately to a point, does better describe the position that the millennial age is being realized; starting with Christ's first appearance and will end at His second appearance. Honestly, however, to answer the question posed as to what I identify as on the doctrine of last things, I find it rather 'odd' to say, I am a "Realized Millennialist". Typically, however in most every situation I find having to explain what Amillennialism is vs. for example a Dispensationalist or Premillinialist, etc. So, it provides a 'teaching moment'. Why Amillennialism was coined I don't remember but surely it was to distinguish itself from either Post or Pre millennial views. The term may be 100 years old but the view is centuries old, even held as fare back as by Augustine of Hippo.

Now, it is true that there are similarities between classic Postmillennialism and historic/Reformed Amillennialism, but I would not agree that "there is very little difference between the two". see here: Why Not Postmillennialism?

IF you add in the Preterist equation, the differences become significant.

Post Mil though would not see us as being right now into the Kingdom, but that God will use the Church proper to establish that upon this earth for a period of time and then the Second Coming event, so more like "kingdom Now" theology

Pilgrim

Thankyou, for that. I found it quite helpful.

I also enjoyed and found the article to be fairly easy to understand and when he talked about Postmillennialism, i believe he represented it properly. Sometimes he even mentioned “some Postmillennialists believe…”.
I appreciate him using the word “some”, because like other eschatological positions, they are nuanced as well.

The kingdom is here now, but not in its fullness. Colossians 1:13.