Postmillennialism - What is it?

TL;DR:

Postmillennialism teaches that the church will establish a peaceful, Christianized world before Christ returns, relying on human progress and influence. However, a literal interpretation of Scripture emphasizes increasing wickedness and tribulation before Christ’s return; it is His sovereign power, not human efforts, that will bring about His kingdom.

what does the bible say?

Postmillennialism is one of several end-times interpretations, alongside premillennialism and amillennialism, that seeks to understand the timing and nature of Christ’s return. It emerged in the eighteenth century, influenced by cultural optimism, technological progress, and the belief that human society could improve under Christ’s influence. Unlike premillennialism, which sees Christ’s return as initiating His kingdom, postmillennialism teaches that the church will establish a peaceful millennial age before Jesus returns. It shares amillennialism’s spiritualized view of prophecy and the belief that the church has replaced Israel in God's plan.

Postmillennialism envisions a golden age where Christ reigns in the hearts of believers, gradually transforming society through evangelism, social progress, or even political control. Different forms range from classical postmillennialism, which emphasizes worldwide evangelism, to dominionism, which seeks political rule under biblical law. The millennium is seen as a symbolic period, either beginning at Christ’s resurrection or developing over time. According to this view, after an era of peace, Jesus will return, defeat Satan, and bring final judgment and resurrection.

Postmillennialism does not align with a literal interpretation of Scripture as it relies on symbolic readings of key prophetic passages. The Bible clearly describes a future time of increasing wickedness and tribulation before Christ’s return, not a golden age of peace brought about by human effort (Matthew 24:6-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). Additionally, Revelation 19:11-21 portrays Christ's return as a decisive victory over evil, not a result of the church's efforts to establish a peaceful world. Therefore, postmillennialism's focus on human-driven progress contradicts the biblical narrative that Christ Himself will bring His kingdom in power and glory.

from the old testament

Postmillennialists believe that Christ’s kingdom is being built through the Church’s influence and will eventually lead to a Christianized world while premillennialists believe that Christ Himself will establish His kingdom at His return, not through gradual human effort (Daniel 2:44, Zechariah 14:3-4).
Postmillennialists believe many prophecies about Christ’s reign are symbolic, referring to spiritual victory rather than a literal kingdom (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14). Premillennialists believe biblical prophecy should be interpreted literally whenever possible, meaning Christ’s 1,000-year reign is a real, physical event (Revelation 20:4-6).

from the new testament

Postmillennialists believe the world will gradually improve as the gospel spreads, leading to a "golden age" where Christianity dominates before Christ returns (Isaiah 2:2-4; Matthew 13:31-33). Premillennialists believe the world will get progressively worse, with increasing sin, apostasy, and tribulation before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:21-22).
Postmillennialists believe that Satan was bound at Christ’s resurrection, meaning his influence is significantly weakened as the gospel advances (Matthew 12:28-29; John 12:31-32). Premillennialists believe that Satan is still active in the world and will only be bound after Christ returns (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:1-3).
Postmillennialists believe Jesus returns after the millennium, once the Church has prepared the world for His coming (1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Psalm 110:1-2). Premillennialists believe Jesus returns before the millennium to personally rule and reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-6).

implications for today

Postmillennialism has an optimistic view of humanity and its ability to create a peaceful society. In the postmillennialist’s view, technology and the call to the better angels of our nature will create a world worthy of having Christ as King. This belief is both a draw and a danger. Humanism is a seductive philosophy because it is so optimistic; we want to believe we can do better. But no man-made institution can lead the entire world into a period of peace, no matter how influenced by Christ. Following the Bible, championing social causes, and influencing politics can be expressions of Christ's influence on us, but they cannot create a world so peaceful it is worthy of a gift to God.

A literal interpretation of the Bible makes no false promises that mankind can save itself. Instead, it consistently tells us how dependent we are on God for every good thing (James 1:17). End times prophecy continually explains how wicked the world will grow (2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Peter 3:3-7). The time before Christ's arrival will be one of curses (Revelation 6–16) and war (Revelation 17:14), not peace. And Revelation 19:11-21 makes it clear that it is the power of Jesus that will bring in His own kingdom, not the works of the church.

The Bible does not teach that the Church will perfect the world before Christ returns.It teaches that Christ Himself will return to restore all things. Scripture consistently describes humanity's increasing wickedness before Jesus comes to judge and reign (Matthew 24:6-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). The promise of His kingdom is not based on human progress but on His sovereign power to fulfill His covenants (Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 14:9). For this reason, postmillennialism does not match a literal interpretation of Scripture, as it relies on human progress to establish Christ’s kingdom rather than Jesus’ direct and decisive return as foretold in prophecy (Revelation 20:1-6).

understand

Postmillennialism believes the church will establish a peaceful, Christianized world before Christ’s return.
Postmillennialism interprets prophecies symbolically, seeing Christ’s reign as spiritual.
A literal interpretation of Scripture emphasizes increasing wickedness and Christ’s sovereign return, not human effort.

reflect

How do you view the relationship between human efforts and God's sovereign power in shaping the world?
How does a literal interpretation of Scripture challenge or refine your understanding of the end times?
How can we balance hope in human progress with the recognition of humanity’s dependence on God?

engage

How does postmillennialism's optimistic view of human progress compare with the Bible's portrayal of increasing wickedness before Christ's return?
What are the potential dangers of relying on human efforts to create a perfect world in light of biblical teachings on the end times?
How might understanding Christ’s return as a sovereign act rather than a result of human progress shift our approach to evangelism and societal change?