What Are the Four Views of the End Times?

Eschatology is the study of last things, pertaining to death, judgment, and the final destiny of mankind. The term is often used in reference to the end times, Jesus Christ's second coming, the resurrection of the dead, the millennial kingdom, and so on.

Premillennialism and Postmillennialism

In biblical theology there are two main views of eschatology, premillennialism and postmillennialism, but that's a lot of syllables, so we like to shorten it to premill and postmill. These two views differ on the timing of Christ's return in relation to the millennial kingdom described in Revelation 20.

Satan will be bound and the dead in Christ will rise and reign with him for a thousand years. Will Jesus return at the start of that reign, the premill view, or will he return at the end of that reign, the postmill view?

Literal and Present Views of the Millennium

Premills believe the millennium will be an actual literal kingdom on earth when Jesus sits on David's throne in Jerusalem. Postmills believe the millennial kingdom is right now, as Christ reigns on his throne in heaven and those Christians who have died are reigning with him.

Dispensationalism, Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Classic Postmillennialism

These two views also have differing perspectives. Under premill is dispensationalism and historic premill. Dispensationalists believe in a seven-year period of tribulation that precedes the millennium while historic premills do not.

Under postmill is amillennialism and classic postmill, which disagree on how Christianized the world will be prior to Christ's return. While these four perspectives disagree on some things, they all agree Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, and those who believe in him will also reign with him.

Christian Unity in Eschatological Debates

We should not divide over this. The Bible says comfort one another with these words when we understand the text.