My Millennial Views Pt. 1

So I have decided to put forth my interpretation of the millennial passage of Revelation 20:1-6. As I stated in the Eschatology and Quizfarm.com post, I am an “optimistic amillennialist.” Well, I need to refine that and just admit that I am a post-millennialist. I have read the passage again a couple of times over the last few days. I have reread my exegesis that I will be posting in later posts here at Think Wink. I read up on the theonomy that accompanies post-millennialism and I agree with it, as I understood it in my own study.

My primary sources of information come from two books. The first is called The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views edited by Robert Clouse. In this book, a representative from each of the four main views of this passage writes an essay defending their position; then the other three authors write a response to the given position from each point of view. Representing historic premillennialism is George Eldon Ladd, a widely known author today. Representing dispensational premillennialism is Herman A. Hoyt. Representing amillennialism is Anthony A. Hoekema. Representing post-millennialism is Loraine Boettner. I really recommend this book, even though it was published in 1977 by IVP, because it allows you to read every view point and to check the responses to ensure fairness.

My other source is Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. This is a good systematic theology for the lay person, but also for the scholar as well. It is more pastoral in goal and so not as intellectual, which makes it easy for non-scholars to read. I really enjoyed reading it. He is quite fair to the other side of the issues that he has his own opinion about.

I will interact primarily with Ladd and Grudem as they present more of an argument. Boettner agreed with the exegesis of Hoekema of Revelation 20:1-6 and did not focus on that passage but turned to others. Thus I will be using Hoekema in more in Revelation 20:1-6. When I come to differentiating myself from amillennialism, I will come back to Boettner more. After all, post- and amillennialism is known as anti-chiliasm (referring to the idea that the 1000 years is not literal). I hope to post some information about methods of interpretation later today to show why I fundamentally am not a dispensationalist before ever needing to look at Revelation 20:1-6.