![]() ![]() As Greg Bahnsen explains, “the essential distinctive of postmillennialism is its scripturally derived, sure expectation of gospel prosperity for the church during the present age,” (“The Prima Facie Acceptability of Postmillennialism,” in The Journal of Christian Reconstruction, III, Winter 1976-77, p. Eventually the greater part, but not necessarily all, of the world’s population will be converted to Christ. This gradual (but constantly growing) success of the gospel will be brought about by the power of the HS working through the Church. The continuing spread and influence of the gospel will increasingly, and in direct proportion thereto, introduce the kingdom. ![]() The means by which the kingdom extends itself is the gospel of Jesus Christ. ![]() The “arrival” of the kingdom, therefore, is gradual (by degrees).ī. Indeed, the very name POST millennialism indicates that Christ will return only after the kingdom has come in its fullness. The kingdom is not to be thought of as arriving instantaneously or wholly via some cataclysmic event at the end of the age (an event such as the second coming of Christ). Several important features of the kingdom in PostM thought are:Ī. In other words, the kingdom “arrives” and is “present” wherever and whenever men believe the gospel and commit themselves to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ as Lord. Thus the kingdom is truly present in this age and is visibly represented by the church of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God - The Kingdom of God, according to Postmillennialism (hereafter cited as PostM), is primarily the rule or reign of God spiritually in/over the hearts of men. Fundamental Tenets of Postmillennial Eschatologyġ. The distinctive postmillennial view of Christianity’s progressive victory, in time and history, into all of human life and culture, is postmillennialism’s application of the doctrine of Christ’s definitively completed salvation” (“Whose Victory in History?” in Gary North, ed., Theonomy: An Informed Response, 215).ī. The personal status of the believer and the corporate standing of the Church in salvation is. ![]() “The postmillennial conception of victory is of a progressive cultural victory and expansive influence of Christianity in history. Hence, our system is post millennial in that the Lord’s glorious return occurs after an era of ‘millennial’ conditions” (“Postmillennialism,” in Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond, 13-14). After an extensive era of such conditions the Lord will return visibly, bodily, and in great glory, ending history with the general resurrection and the great judgment of all humankind. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in history prior to Christ’s return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of people and of nations. “Postmillennialism expects the proclaiming of the Spirit-blessed gospel of Jesus Christ to win the vast majority of human beings to salvation in the present age. But it does mean that evil in all its many forms eventually will be reduced to negligible proportions, that Christian principles will be the rule, not the exception, and that Christ will return to a truly Christianized world, ” (L. This does not mean that there ever will be a time on this earth when every person will be a Christian, or that all sin will be abolished. The world at large will then enjoy a state of righteousness such as at the present time has been seen only in relatively small and isolated groups, as for example in some family circles, some local church groups and kindred organizations. The changed character of individuals will be reflected in an uplifted social, economic, political and cultural life of mankind. It is an indefinitely long period of time, perhaps much longer than a literal one thousand years. The Millennium to which the Postmillennialist looks forward is thus a golden age of spiritual prosperity during this present dispensation, that is, during the Church age, and is to be brought about through forces now active in the world. “We have defined Postmillennialism as that view of the last things which holds that the Kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the Gospel and the saving work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of individuals, that the world eventually is to be Christianized, and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace commonly called the ‘Millennium.’ It should be added that on postmillennial principles the second coming of Christ will be followed immediately by the general resurrection, the general judgment, and the introduction of heaven and hell in their fullness. ![]()
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