Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2
Differing Opinions:
Postmillennialism
by Rev. Gregg Strawbridge, Ph.D.
Biblical postmillennialism is not liberalism, social-gospelism, universalism, perfectionism, or nationalism. Rather, it is the Biblical conviction that chronologically, Christ's return follows His kingdom rule. Hence, His return is "post" (after) His "millennial" reign. The nature of Christ's (millennial reign) kingdom is a world transformation by means of the gospel, the effects of which reverberate to all aspects of life. We are to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The Westminster Larger Catechism 191 defines:
In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come), acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel-officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate: that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for ever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.
Postmillennalists believe that by the victorious redemption of King Jesus, this prayer will be answered and the kingdom shall grow to fill all the world (Dan. 2:35, Mk. 4:32). Like most postmillennialists today, I believe the time-frame of this kingdom reign is between the Ascension and the Consummation when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead.
The two critical points to demonstrate, then, are that the reign of Christ is prior to the coming of Christ (over against premillennialism) and that the kingdom is world-transforming and not limited to an unobservable spiritual realm (over against amillennialism). One passage addresses both of these matters clearly, 1 Corinthians 15:22-26:
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Here we have the chronological sequences of the reign of Christ in relation to His coming. The "end" is "when" "He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father," and at the time "after He has abolished all rule and all authority and power" (15:24). Paul teaches that the kingdom is consummated at the "end/His coming." This is not when the kingdom begins (contra premillennialism). Further (contra amillennialism), His victory does not happen all at once. His abolition of rule, authority, and power (of His enemies) has taken place prior to the end.
From this text postmillennialism (His coming after His reign) is compelling for at least three reasons. (a) The last enemy (death) is overcome at the Resurrection (at His coming. So, His reign is prior to the Resurrection of believers at the end. (b) Paul expresses this reign (vs. 25) in a paraphrase of Psalm 110:1: "Sit at my right hand [reign] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." The Bible is clear that this reign began when Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33, 34, 5:31). (c) Though Christ is ruing in the "midst of His enemies now" (Ps. 110:2), His reign, according to Paul, will overcome all of His enemies. Thus the kingdom will be demonstrably victorious.
This passage fully confirms the time-frame of His reign and the victorious character of the kingdom. Just as death will be vanquished (1 Cor. 15:54), so shall all His enemies perish (Gen. 3:15; Jdg. 5:31). Emphatically and repeatedly we are taught that Christ is currently at the right hand of God the Father (Mk. 16:19; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 1 Pet. 3:22). Thus, the ascended Christ is on a throne (Acts 2:30), reigning over His kingdom (Col. 1:13), having dominion (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 Pet. 4:11, 5:11), and even ruling "the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5).
To many today who get their prophecy notes from CNN, this is unbelievable. How could Jesus currently subdue His enemies? They expect a perfectionistic kingdom rather than a redemptive one. Yet His rule requires the death of a glory-stealing Herod (with worms, no less, Acts 12:23), or vengeance on a Lamb-less Temple (Mk. 13:2), or the desolation of a Christ-rejecting Jerusalem (Mt. 23:38). The blessedness of His reign, however, is that He also conquers His enemies with the gospel of grace. He calls a Christless Pharisee like Saul to be the Christ-filled Paul, the very apostle to the Gentiles he once despised. He causes us who were once hostile in nature toward God to "volunteer freely in the day of [His] power" (Ps. 110:3; Mt. 28:19-20). Jesus is Lord and so the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Is. 11:9). Thus, we expect the general and universal advancement of the kingdom by means of the gospel with a final consummation of this victory at His coming when even death will be utterly and completely abolished. Maranatha!
What you believe matters. Holding to Biblical postmillennialism has radical implications urging a long-term, multi-generational view of obedience to all of Scripture. Contrary to the Rapture fever infecting our land with an epidemic of defeatist escapism, we are to take dominion (Gen. 1:28) and thus glorify God in every area of life, as well as make the nations His disciples (Mt. 28:19-20). We pray and work with the confidence that all His enemies shall be subdued. Let us sing in the very words of Scripture—"The kingdom of this world, has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever."
See also historic premillennialism, amillennialism, and responses.
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