Models of Premillennialism was hard work for me. I kept rereading paragraphs and asking, “Wait, what are you saying?” The subject has a language of its own, and I did not always find my way through it easily.
Still, the book helped me understand something worth knowing: premillennialism is not one neat little box. People can use the same label while working with quite different understandings of Scripture.
What does premillennialism mean?
Premillennialism is the belief that Jesus will return before the millennium, the thousand-year reign described in Revelation 20. Eschatology is the study of Christian teaching about the last things, including Jesus’ return, resurrection, judgment, and the renewal of creation.
Sung Wook Chung and David L. Mathewson explore several forms of premillennial thought, including historic premillennialism, classical and progressive dispensationalism, thematic premillennialism, and historic premillennialism in a Korean context. These approaches differ over how biblical promises fit together, particularly promises concerning Israel and the church.
Dispensationalism describes an approach that distinguishes stages in God’s dealings with humanity and gives particular attention to Israel’s place in biblical prophecy. There are differences within that approach too. Progressive dispensationalism and thematic premillennialism are distinct proposals, rather than two names for the same position.
Labels I needed to understand better
The most useful part of this reading was the clarity it brought. I realized I had used some of these labels without really understanding what they meant. The book forced me to slow down and look at the frameworks underneath them.
It felt more like working through scholarly papers than reading a book that carried me along. I would not call it an enjoyable read. But enjoyment and usefulness are different questions. I came away better able to distinguish views I had previously grouped together.
Where I found myself
Honestly, the book did not have a huge immediate personal impact. It did not leave me especially eager to pray or worship. What it did was help me name where I stood.
I remain in agreement with the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s premillennial expectation of Jesus’ return. The Christian phrase blessed hope expresses the confidence that his coming will bring the fulfillment Christians long for. I found myself more drawn toward a thematic premillennial approach than toward a highly detailed dispensational system.
For ministry, my response was to keep the main thing in view: Jesus is Coming King, Healer, Sanctifier, and Savior. Understanding the different models matters, but I want that study to serve a clearer understanding of Jesus.
Where Christians read differently
Premillennialism is one Christian interpretation of Revelation 20. Amillennial Christians generally understand the millennium as Christ’s present reign; postmillennial Christians expect a period of gospel flourishing before his return. These positions also have variations. Compare the biblical arguments about the millennium → The related question of Israel’s place in God’s promises is explored in our guide to prophecy and Israel.
Book discussed
Sung Wook Chung and David L. Mathewson, Models of Premillennialism, with a foreword by Craig L. Blomberg. Cascade Books, 2018.
Sources & further reading
A question in the margin is a good place to begin.