Why should Christians—especially those in the Reformed camp—embrace amillennialism over premillennialism or dispensationalism? In this post, I’ll share five compelling reasons that won me over, and I believe they can convince you too.
First off, the Old Testament doesn’t breathe a word about a 1000-year kingdom. Nothing. The phrase “thousand years”—or “chiliasm”—shows up just once in the New Testament, in Revelation 20:1–6. You’d expect a hint if a literal millennium was the plan. It doesn’t. Instead, you get Daniel’s vision: “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). That’s eternal, not a temporary Jewish golden age. Louis Berkhof backs this: “The idea of a millennial kingdom on earth…finds no support in the Old Testament.”Second, the gospels teach amillennialism. Jesus defines the kingdom, not as the disciples—or Pharisees—expected after three years with Him, dreaming of a political Messiah to oust Rome. They asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus had earlier told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20–21).
The apostles lift our eyes off the Canaan dust. Paul says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above… Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1–2). Hebrews notes Abraham “was looking forward to the city…whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10)—it was ultimately eternity, not Canaan, that Abraham sought. Read more»
Anthony | “Reformed and Amillennial: Five Reasons to Embrace Amillennialism”
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