Why I Subscribe to Amillennialism

Chad Lee
Oct 2, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Where is the millennium discussed?

The millennium is the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20.

What are the main views?

There are three main views. First, there is premillennialism. This means that Jesus will come back before the millennium. There are two versions of premillennialism (historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism).

Second, there is postmillennialism. This means that Jesus will come back after the millennium. The postmillennial view believes that the world will get better and become more Christianized before Jesus returns.

Last, there is amillennialism. This view also believes that Jesus will come back after the millennium. It is poorly named ("a" means "no,” as in no millennium). Why? Because many who subscribe to this view believe in a millennium. I personally believe that the millennium is a spiritual reign in heaven right now in the intermediate state. (For an article that goes into more depth on these views, please click here.)

Why do I subscribe to the amillennial view?

Here are a few of the main reasons:

#1 Why I am not premillennial

There is one place the millennium is mentioned (Rev. 20), and it is mentioned in a book filled with symbols. Thus, I do not think it necessarily needs to be a literal 1,000 years. (Many premillennialists say that it will be a literal 1,000 years, but there are some that say it will simply be a long time.)
I think various Scriptures in the rest of the New Testament don't allow a 1,000 year gap (or long period of time) in between the second coming of Jesus and the final judgment / new heavens and new earth. (For the Scriptures see the section below.)
I think the millennium will happen prior to the second coming of Jesus rather than after the second coming of Jesus. (More on this later.)
To quote Sam Storms on what also led to my departure from premillennialism, if you believe in the premillennial view, then you must believe:
- "that physical death will continue to exist beyond the time of Christ’s second coming"
- "that the natural creation will continue, beyond the time of Christ’s second coming, to be subjected to the curse imposed by the fall of man"
- "that the New Heavens and New Earth will not be introduced until 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ"
- "that unbelieving men and women will still have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ for at least 1,000 years subsequent to his return"
- "that unbelievers will not be finally resurrected until at least 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ"
- "that unbelievers will not be finally judged and cast into eternal punishment until at least 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ"[1]

#2 Why I am not postmillennial

Though I would like to believe the postmillennial view, I don't find sufficient biblical evidence for it. Sometimes I find evidence to the contrary. For example:
- I believe the world may possibly get worse rather than better (2 Tim. 3:1-4; 2 Pet. 3:3-4).
- I don't believe that Scripture teaches that there will be a golden age of Christianity before the second coming of Jesus. Instead, I think Scripture refers to the kingdom of God advancing successfully despite opposition and suffering.
Nevertheless, I share the belief along with postmillennialists that Jesus will come back after the millennium.

*Sometimes people argue against these views on the basis of experience, but I will stick to biblical arguments. For example, they may say, "Postmillennialists can't be correct because can't you see in the news that the world is getting worse?" However, not only is it an argument based on experience rather than Scripture, one's experience is dramatically affected by one's country, time period, etc. Also, we can't know the future, maybe it will get better. Thus, we must focus on the Scriptures and what they teach.

#3 Why I am amillennial

The clearer portions of Scripture help us interpret the more difficult portions of Scripture. In addition to my interpretation of Revelation 20, the gospels and Paul's letters have led me to adopt the amillennial view (see Matt. 24; 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Rom. 8:18-23; 1 Cor. 15:22-28, 50-58; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; 2 Pet. 3:8-13; Rev. 20).
Numerous times Scripture presents the second coming of Jesus, resurrection, and the judgment happening around the same time (without a prolonged period of time in between; see especially 1 Cor. 15 and the letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians).
Various OT texts that premillennialists connect to the millennium are not referred to in Rev. 20, but instead are referred to in Rev. 21 and 22 (the new creation).
The book of Revelation progresses in a nonlinear fashion (theologians often use the word "recursive"). This means that it covers certain topics over and over. It is not necessarily sequential.
I believe that when Satan is cast to the earth, is bound, and is cast to the abyss, it is referring to when Jesus came to bind the strong man and his death and resurrection. Satan was deceiving the nations outside of Israel before Jesus, but after Jesus's life, death, and resurrection people from all nations can be saved (see Matt. 12 and Rev. 12; 20). Satan is not entirely removed from the earth. He is still prowling like a lion (1 Pet. 5:8), but he is bound from deceiving the nations. The gospel can successfully move forward.
The references to the martyrs coming to life and the first resurrection is talking about those who are reigning with Christ in heaven now (in the intermediate state). The second resurrection is the physical resurrection at the second coming of Jesus. Otherwise, wouldn't it be odd to have two physical resurrections?
I believe that Christ is reigning now (see Matt. 28:18, I Cor. 15:25-26, and 1 Pet. 3:22).
Some may say that you're not taking the Bible seriously (or some may say literally), if you interpret Scripture according to the amillennial view. However, that is not true. The fact is Revelation is an apocalyptic book filled with symbols. It is intended to be interpreted in that manner. (Even premillennialists also interpret some of Revelation symbolically: Will Satan have a literal ball and chain? Will he literally be put in an abyss? Will he become a dragon?)

SUMMARY:

So, what does this mean? This means I believe that with his life, death, and resurrection, Christ bound Satan from preventing the advancement of the gospel and is reigning right now in heaven. For those who die and go to heaven (the intermediate state), they are experiencing the millennium and the first resurrection spoken of in Revelation. For those on earth: The world will likely get worse, but the gospel will continue successfully advancing. One day, Jesus will return. At that time, the resurrection of believers and unbelievers will take place (the second resurrection), the judgment will occur, and the renovation of the heavens and the earth will happen. Believers will live with the Lord forever in eternal bliss. Sadly, unbelievers will experience eternal punishment.

End Notes:

[1] Justin Taylor, "What You Must Believe If You Are a Premillennialist," The Gospel Coalition, October 7, 2009, accessed October 2, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/what-you-must-believe-if-you-are-a-premillennialist/.

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