Revelation (The John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries)

by John Walvoord

Generally speaking, major views of the millennium fall into three categories, which must be understood in order to arrive at a proper interpretation of this chapter. These are (1) the literal and premillennial interpretation, which this exposition reflects, that the thousand-year reign of Christ in the earth is a literal period of time preceded and followed by resurrection and judgment. Smith also notes that “the early church was unanimous in holding this view”2; (2) the amillennial view which, as the name suggests, denies the literal nature of an earthly millennial kingdom over which Christ reigns for a thousand years; and (3) the postmillennial view, which basically states that Christ will return at the end of the millennium, seen as a “golden age” of ever-increasing righteousness and victory for the church. In this view, Christ’s triumphant return is the capstone to this glorious period.