Millennial Perspectives on Revelation |
Point of View |
Amillennial |
Historical Premillenial |
Dispensational Premillennial |
Post Millennial |
| Description of View |
Viewpoint that the present age of Christ's rule in the church is the millennium; holds to one resurrection and judgment marking the end of history as we know it and the beginning of life eternal |
Viewpoint that Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years following His second coming; saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium, nonbelievers at the end, followed by judgment |
Viewpoint that after the battle of Armageddon, Christ will rule through the Jews for a literal thousand years accompanied by two resurrections and at least three judgments |
Viewpoint that Christ will return after a long period of expansion and spiritual prosperity for the church, brought about by the preaching of the gospel; the Spirit's blessing; and the church's work toward righteousness, justice, and peace. The period is not a literal thousand years but extended time of spiritual prosperity. |
| Book of Revelation |
Current history written in code to confound enemies and encourage Asian Christians; message applies to all Christians |
Immediate application to Asian Christians; applies to all Christians throughout the ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event |
"Unveiling" of theme of Christ among churches in present dispensation, also as Judge and King in dispensations to come |
Written to encourage Christians of all ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event |
| Seven candlesticks (1:13) |
Same view - Churches |
Churches, plus end-time application |
Same view - Churches |
| Churches addressed (chaps. 2-3) |
Same view - Specific historical situations, truths apply to churches throughout the ages; do not represent periods of church history |
Specific historical situations and to all churches throughout the ages; shows progress of churches' spiritual state until the end of the church age |
Specific historical situations, truths apply to all churches throughout the ages; do not necessarily represent periods of church history |
| Twenty-four elders (4:4, 10;5:8, 14) |
Twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles; together symbolize all the redeemed |
Company of angels who help execute God's rule (or elders represent twenty-four priestly and Levitical orders) |
The rewarded church; also represents twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles |
Symbolizes all the redeemed |
| Sealedbook(5:1-9) |
Scroll of history; shows God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history |
Contains prophecy of end events of chapters 7-22 |
Title deed to the world |
Portrays God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history |
| 144,000(7:4-8) |
Redeemed on earth who will be protected against God's wrath |
Church on threshold of great tribulation |
Jewish converts of tribulation period who witness to Gentiles (same as 14:1) |
Redeemed people of God |
| Great Tribulation (first referencein 7:14) |
Persecution faced by Asian Christians of John's time; symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history |
Period at end time of unexplained trouble, before Christ's return; church will go through it; begins with seventh seal (18:1) which includes trumpets 1-6 (8:2-14:20) |
Period at end time of unexplained trouble referred to in 7:14 and described in chapters 11-18; lasts three and a half years, the latter half of seven-year period between rapture and millennium |
Symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history |
| Forty-two months (11:2);1,260 days (11:3) |
Indefinite duration of pagan desolation |
A symbolic number representing period of evil with reference to last days of age |
Half of seven-year tribulation period |
A symbolic number representing an indefinite time and evil influence |
| Woman (12:1-6) |
True people of God under old and new covenants (true Israel) |
True people of God under old and new covenants (true Israel) |
Indicates Israel, not church; key is comparison with Gen 37:9 |
True people of God under old and new covenants |
| Great reddragon (12:3) |
All views identify as Satan |
