Postmillennialism
Postmillennialism is a view of the end times (eschatology) that believes the gospel will gradually spread throughout the world and bring about a long period of righteousness, peace, and blessing before Jesus returns.
Christ's First Coming → Gospel advances through history → Long era of kingdom blessing (Millennium) → Christ returns → Resurrection → Final Judgment → New Creation
This view was held in various forms by theologians such as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, and more recently Kenneth Gentry and Greg Bahnsen.
Jesus is reigning now
After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus began His reign as King from heaven.
He is currently ruling over all things.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
The gospel will be victorious
Through preaching, discipleship, missions, and the work of the Holy Spirit, more and more people and nations will come to Christ.
Christianity will have a transforming influence on society.
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD" (Isaiah 11:9).
The Millennium is not necessarily a literal 1,000 years
Many postmillennialists see the "thousand years" of Revelation 20 as a symbolic description of a long period of gospel prosperity.
During this time, Christ's kingdom advances throughout the earth.
The world gets better before Christ returns
Unlike premillennialism, which expects increasing worldwide darkness before Christ's kingdom is established, postmillennialism expects the kingdom of God to grow and expand in history.
Evil will not disappear completely, but the gospel will become the dominant influence.
Jesus returns after the Millennium
The name "postmillennialism" means Christ returns after ("post") the millennium.
When He returns, there will be:
The resurrection of the dead
The final judgment
The new heavens and new earth
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)
They argue Christ would not command this if the mission were ultimately unsuccessful.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed..." (Matthew 13:31-32)
The kingdom starts small but grows into something large.
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven..." (Matthew 13:33)
The gospel gradually influences the whole lump of dough, symbolizing the world.
"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD."
Nations stream to God's mountain and learn His ways.
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."
They do not believe humans create the kingdom by their own efforts.
They do not believe the world becomes perfect before Christ returns.
They do not deny the existence of sin, persecution, or setbacks in history.
They believe Christ wins through the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit.
Imagine a tiny seed planted in a field.
At first it seems insignificant. Over time it grows into a large tree. The growth is gradual, sometimes hard to notice, but it is steady and unstoppable.
Postmillennialists believe the kingdom of Christ is like that seed. Through the gospel, Christ's reign expands throughout the world until His kingdom's influence is widespread. Then Christ returns in glory to bring history to its final conclusion.