It's the End of the World aswe Know it - Intro to Views

At this point we will begin our discussion on the differing views, both in the area of millennial position and also in the area of hermeneutics. Both areas contain four primary views.

MILLENNIAL VIEWS
Amillennialism
Postmillennialism
Classical Premillennialism
Dispensational Premillennialism

THEOLOGICAL MATH
Theological math is a funny thing. You start with two views and somehow end up with four. 1 + 1 = 4. Since the Millennial positions contain both a “timing” element (when the millennium begins and ends along with it's spacial length) and a “nature” element (what things happen before, during and after), the positions double. As an example, both Amillennialism and Postmillennialism argue that Christ will return AFTER the Millennium and most agree it is a present day event. But Postmill differs in seeing the millennium as an ever increasing time of prosperity for the Church culminating in a world wide acceptance of the Gospel, while Amill’s argue that good and evil will have equal amounts of representation, possibly ending with a great apostasy of the Church.

So, even though both agree for the most part on the timing issue, there is great disagreement on the nature of the millennium. Hence, one view becoming two. Here are some quick definitions for the above views.

Classical Premillennialism - Very old view that Christ returns before the millennium and can be covenantal (Reformed)

Dispensational Premillennialism - Recent (1830’s) and novel view. Similar to Classical, but adding a “pre-tribulation” Rapture – also known as Left Behind Theology. Is not Covenantal and not Reformed (despite the protestations of some of my close Calvinist Baptist friends)

Amillennialism - Sees the return of Christ at the end of a “figurative” millennium

Postmillennialism - Same as Amillennialism in regards to timing issues, but teaches an “optimistic” view of world wide conversion before the physical return of Christ

HERMENEUTICAL OPTIONS
Spiritualism/Idealism
Historicism
FuturismPreterism

Though the above mentioned hermeneutical approaches to prophetic passages have been mostly played out in the understanding of the book of Revelation, the same methods are used elsewhere in Scripture as well (ie Olivet Discourse, Daniel 9, etc). It should also be noted that Dispensationalism is a subset of the Futurist hermeneutic method with some very unique positions attached exclusively to it’s view (more on that later).

Like above, here are some very quick definitions. Remember that the hermeneutic views impacts the interpretation of Revelation primarily.

HISTORICISM - Revelation is a chronological picture of history

IDEALISM/SPIRITUALISM - Revelation is figurative and cyclical – good vs. evil

FUTURISM - All New Testament prophecy is yet future

*PRETERISM - Most New Testament prophecy is now history and seen as relating to primarily 70 AD

*Some Preterist are full-Preterist and believe that all prophecy is complete and there is no literal future Second Coming of Christ. That view will not be in mind when the term Preterist or Preterism is used.