Definition
I will start my series on Postmillennialism with a definition because I realize that not everyone who reads my blog will know what it is.
The following is from the Evangelical Dictionary ofTheology - Second Edition, Edited by Walter A. Elwell: ...the postmillennialist emphasize the present aspect's of God's kingdom, which will reach fruition in the future. They believe that the millennium will come through Christian preaching and teaching. * Such activity will result in a more godly, peaceful and prosperous world. The new age will not be essentially different from the present, and it will come about as more people are converted to Christ. Evil will not be totally eliminated during the millennium, but it will be reduced to a minimum as the moral and spiritual influence of Christians is increased. During the new age the church will asume greater importance, and many economic, social, and educational problems will be solved. This period is not necessarily limited to a thousand years, because the number can be used symbolically. The millennium closes with the second coming of Christ **, the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgment.
*Another very common view among postmillennialists is that the millennium was initiated during the earthly ministry of Christ. This is my view. Jesus said that if He cast out demons, then the kingdom of God had come upon them. Jesus did cast out demons.
**My belief, which is supported by many postmil scholars, is that there is a falling away (great apostasy) before the second return of Christ. Some postmils believe that Christ returns to a Christianized earth, I believe as well as many other postmils that the apostasy takes place first.
I hope this has been helpful to serve as a definition of Postmillennialism.
posted by Josh's Loving Wife, aka Angela Brisby @ 8:43 AM
13 Comments:
A clear definition. While many of your points I would agree with, I have a hard time seeing in Scripture or practically speaking that things are actually going to get better. I know that God is able, yet I don't see this Biblically as His design for the earth prior to the coming of Christ. Still don't know what that makes me! :-)
Hi Jen, I hope to use plenty of Scripture to support my belief that it God's design that the gospel will succeed on a wide scale. I have also decided that after I give my reasons for being postmil, I will also attempt to address some common arguments against postmillennialism. Please feel free to list any reasons/arguments of your own against postmillennialism :) I enjoy theological and philosophical diologue very much, and I do not take personally any disagreements with positions I hold.
Hey Jen! I'm glad you're reading my wifey's blog.
One thing Reformed postmils would say is that they would liken our individual sanctification to cosmic sanctification. Keith Mathison does this in his book. I confess that I find it hard to believe that I will continue to grow in my sanctification, and even that I will persevere until the end. But the reason I believe I will is because God promises it in His Word. Likewise, it would be the same for the sanctification of the nations.
The question of course then is, has God promised that the Great Commission will succeed? The Commission itself is that the nations be discipled, but premillennialism and amillennialism deny that that will take place.
I of course believe that my sweetie-pie Angela the Beautiful provided some good Scriptural evidence for these promises in her previous post (pardon the pun--"post"--hehehe).
I am considering possibly doing a blog entry on this sometime before the eschaton (hehe), because the only one I did on it was very short. But then again, I may just let my gorgeous bride do it for me. :0)
In Christ Alone,
Josh Brisby
P.S.,
Angela and I are both former amillennialists ourselves, so I think this will make for a fruitful dialogue. Besides what I believe to be Scriptural proof for the postmil position, it was actually bringing what we would say was more consistency with many of the beliefs of amil that I think led us to postmil. Perhaps Angela will talk about some of these as well.
May the Lord bless this discussion!
I am loving every word of this blog! Good job Angela! Lori in GA
my problem with the above is that it looks like a historic postmill definition.
It looks like the old Puritan Postmill position.
He said that "They believe that the millennium will come through Christian preaching and teaching."
No, we are in the millennium now. I think the better phrasiology is to say that "They believe that the [b]'golden age'[/b]will come through Christian preaching and teaching."
But, I may be wrong. Are you arguing for classical postmillennialism, of the Warfield, Boettner, et al. sort?
~ josh and angela's loving friend, aka Paul Manata
Paul,
My wifey put an asterisk by that definition and mentioned that it is not her view. She (as do I) believes that we are in the millennium now, and that it started at Christ's coming.
But I'm gonna step out now and let my wifey do the rest of the talkin' here! :0)
--Joshy-pooh
Hey Paul, Yeah, What he said ;)
Tell Bre I said Hi.
Lori!!
Hi, hope all is going well. Glad you made your way to my blog. Tell Randy and the girls I said hi.
oh, I didn't see that
*blush*
carry on
Hey BJ, Lol, the only breeze that comes with motherhood is when one of my sons breaks wind :)
Actually, I make time to blog because it's one of my only connections to the "outside world" during a long day of diapers and discipline. Taking time to think deep thoughts keeps me sane.
Sweetie,
You are so adorable! That is one of the funniest things you have ever said!
B.J.,
I think that once the nations are discipled they will most certainly have to begin to ask themselves about theonomy. Many who are not theonomists have no problem with the principle of theonomy, such as myself. What they most have concerns with are some of the hermeneutics of theonomy. This, of course, is one for more discussion, and perhaps over the phone. I'll give ya another call.
Peace,
Josh
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Post a Comment
<< Home