Millennialism

This is one of the eschatological belief of some Christian denominations holding that there will be a paradise on earth when Yahoshea Meshiyach will reign for the period of one thousand years before the final judgement and the world to come of new heaven and new earth.

Some of these denominations hold that between the period of millennium and the end of the world, there will be a final battle between Yahoshea and his arch messengers against satan and his rebellious messengers, a battle that will bring to an end of satan and his system of things.

Millennialism are separated into three groups or practices as the – premillenialism, postmillenialism and amillenialism.

History Of The Belief

Millenialism predates the era of Yahosheanism as it was one of the principal eschatological belief of the Zoroasteranism of Persia. Zoroasteranism held that there have existed successive thousand – year periods in which each ended in heresy and destruction.  This catalytic eras will end when the “Saoshyant” the triumphant king of peace will manifest at the final millennial age to finally destroy the evil and spirit of evil, and to make the creatures pure again and to resurrect the future existence.

This Zoroasterian belief influenced the religious tradition of the Yahudaism when they were in Persian captivity.  The Yahudean religious tradition copied the idea of existence of Satan and his rebellious celestial messengers from the Persian traditions.  The belief of the dual forces of supernatural was a central practice of the Persian traditions and such was carried over by the Zoroasterianism.

Blending of the cultures of Persia to those of the Yahudeans, the concept of millennialism became part of Yahudean religious belief.  The Yahudeans began to adopt that the universal age was divided into three periods and that the first two millenniums were idolatrous and Yahweh's presence was not seen in the universe.

The Yahudism hold that the second millennial periods commenced with the birth of Abraham which signified the period of Yahweh's presence or consciousness. This period spread across the eras of the scriptural account of the Hebrew nation, the First and Second Temples in Yerusalem, the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 Ad and the period of Bar Kokhba revolt in 130 Ad.

Yahudeans held that period after the Bar-Kokhba when the people of Yahuda were scattered all over the world and non is allowed to enter into the city of Yerusalem except for the day of the feast of Tisha B'av commenced another two millenniums of non-Yahweh's presence. They believe that the true Meshiyach will manifest at the end of the two millennial.

During the ministration of Yahoshea Meshiyach and his apostles, the belief of existence of satan was rejected and viewed as one of the mythical belief of the pagan civilizations.  The earlier Yahosheans laid more emphasis on the coming of the Comforter as prophesied by Yahoshea.  The second coming of Yahoshea and the millennial rule was never a religious eschatological belief of the Hebrew Yahosheans rather the succession of the covenant was expected to be shouldered by the coming Comforter.

This belief changed with the activities of the Gentile Yahosheans who blended the practices of Yahosheanism with ideas of Utopia.  This development gave rise to millennial thinking of “three ages philosophy” that were commonly referred as the “three eras”.

The “Three Eras” or millennial thinkers held that the universal history is split into three eras that consists of – the age of the father (Old Testament) the age of the son (New Testament) and the age of the holy spirit that began with the ascension of Yahoshea leaving the Holy Spirit to guide the movement.

Adopted By Early Church Fathers

The term “millennial” is drawn from Italian word – “millennium” which means “thousand years”. The Greek term it as the “Chilliasm”.  It is a religious thought that relate to the traditions of pagan Rome and Greek.  It was a well known doctrine in the early gentile Yahosehans or later Christians of the Eastern and Western Roman Colonies until 4th century that it was declared as a heresy.

The doctrine was held by pagan Romans and not rooted in Yahosheanism. It can be explained through the writings of Justin Martyr as was discussed on premillennial beliefs in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew, chapter 110   where he observed the following  - “I admitted to you formally, that I and many others are of this opinion, and believe that such will take place, as you assuredly are aware, but, on the other hand, I signified to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith and are true Christians, think otherwise”.

This passage of Justin explain in full detail meant that when he was in the world with others, he held to the belief of millennialism but when he was converted to Yahosheanism, he and other faithfuls began to think otherwise or opposite.

The non clear – millennial stand of Justin influenced Pothinus in 175 Ad and Irenaeus in 185 Ad. Other Church fathers like Melito of Sardis and Hyppolytus of Rome of 2nd and 3rd centuries respectively were mild millenialists.  Others includes Tertullian of 220 Ad, Commodian in 240 Ad, Egyptian Bishop Nepos in 250 Ad, Lactantius in 310 Ad, Bishop Ambrose of Milan in late 4th century etc.

Opposition To The Belief

As millennial thinking was one of the central belief of the 2nd and 3rd century Yasheanism or later Christianity, some of the Gnostic fathers or figures rejected the concept. One of the famous gnostics that rejected the millennial concept was Marcion who was termed as a heretic by the church fathers of those generations.

During 4th century, the church strongly rejected the belief and included it as one of the heresies.  This was effected in the Council of Necea in 325 Ad where it was resolved that Yahweh's kingdom shall have no end as against the thought of Millenians of a kingdom of Yahweh that will last for one thousand years.

Based on this edict, the mainline churches distanced themselves from the millennial thinking rather began to prosecute those holding to the belief. Starting from Augustine of Hippo, the universal condemnation of the concept accelerated to the modern age of Catholic Church.

The Orthodox Church strongly rejected the belief and declared it heretical during the synod of Iconium in 230 Ad and supported by the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381 Ad that equally declared the belief as a heresy.

Some Christian group that held to the belief were declared as heretics.  These sects included the Montanism and other Gnostic sects.

Influence Of Protestant Reforms

Millennialism was boosted during reformation age as the reformers began to explain various verses of the book of revelation to suit the belief of Millennialism.  The belief that Yahoshea will return to earth to rule physically for the duration of one thousand years and the chaining of Satan in that period as well as its release for final battle became part of eschatology of the protestant reformers and their movements.

Previously, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches held to the return of Yahoshea as a thief in the night and activities of the Anti-Yahoshea became challenged by the expanded millennial teachings of the Reformed Churches.

Types Of Millennialism

There are three types of millennialism that can be summarized as the premillennialism which views Yahoshea's second coming as an event that will occur before the millennial rule which will end with the final judgment.  The premillenians hold that the reign of Yahoshea during the period will be of physical occurrence.

The second type is the postmilleniacism which hold that the second coming of Yahoshea will synchronise with the millennial rule as well as to run concurrently with the final judgment. This group hold that the Yahoshea's reign will be of spiritual occurrence and through his assembly.

The third group is the Amillennialism which disagrees with the concept of one thousand years reign of Yahoshea rather it holds that the reign of Yahoshea is currently  in and through the assembly.

Premillennians are waiting for the sign of the second coming of Yahoshea while other millennians like the Anabaptist followers of Thomas Muntzer hold that Yahoshea's one thousand years reign has commenced in spirit with the awareness of only its members.

Another Christian denomination that strongly hold to millennialism is the Jehovah witnesses who believe that Yahoshea will rule spiritually for one thousand years as king over the earth with support of 144,000 saints.

The Millenium teaching of Jehovah witnesses hold strongly on the battle of Armageddon where  it is believed that Yahoshea and his spiritual messengers will engage in a decisive battle against Satan, wicked spirits and their system of things.  The witnesses hold that Yahoshea will triumph over the forces of evil, get rid of the wicked spirits and mortals and usher a paradise on earth that will be a fulfillment of biblical promise of “New Heavens and New Earth”.

The millennial view of Jehovah witness differed from others like the Baptists, Church of God, Church of Christ etc on the nature of the new heavens and new earth as it hold that the world will not be physically destroyed but the human fold and their characteristics will be changed.  The Baptists and others hold that the world will be destroyed and replaced with a new earth.

The witnesses are amongst the strongest believers of Millennialism because of its stronghold to the doctrine of existence of satan and its acclaimed system of things. The millennial reign of Jehovah witnesses holds among other things that the 144000 selected righteous persons that commenced from the twelve apostles will reign with Yahoshea Meshiyach and engage with the satan and its evil forces at the battle of Armageddon. After this event, those righteous people who survive the great tribulation will reign with Yahoshea who will after the millennium hand over the earth to his father – Yahweh.

According to the belief of the witnesses, this will usher in the era of peace or paradise amongst the universal family.

Other Christian denominations like the Adventists, Church of God, Church of Christ etc hold to the idea of Millennialism.

Some political and social movements are influenced by the millennial thinking.  For example the authoritarian rule of Adolf Hitler of German held to the thinking of Millennialism through his Third Reich vision that he aimed at lasting for a thousand years to come although it only lasted for 12 years.

The concept of third Reich that was originally proposed by the German thinker Arthur Moeller Bruck held that the “First Reich” was the era of the Father which occurred during the Holy Roman Empire that began with Charlemagne in 800 Ad.  The “Second Reich” was the era of the Son that occurred during the German Empire that started with Hohenzollem dynasty while the “Third Reich” was held to be the era of the Holy Spirit that commenced in the rule of Adolf Hitler.

The millennial thinking is equally available in social movements which hangs on issues that relate to one thousand year duration.

Conclusion

The millennialism is basically an anti-Yahoshea or apostles thinking.  The Hebrew Messiah came to restore the original belief of the Semitic religion that started with patristic Abraham and Prophet Moses.  This view did not incorporate the idea of the existence of satan.

The idea of satanic existence infiltrated into the religion of Yahudaism through its Persian captivity.  So, when Yahoshea Meshiyach came, he opposed the doctrine of satan's existence.

This is a total prove that the primitive Yahosheanity did not include the thinking of millennialism as one of its religious practices.  So, the idea that Yahoshea will come and rule the earth in a thousand year with target of eliminating the satan and its system of things is a proponent of the apostolic fathers who were absorbed with the thinking of pagan civilizations.

The Continuing Yahosheanism though held that Yahweh makes moves in various millenniums to redress the misconducts of humanity but does not agree with the thinking that Yahoshea will come back and rule for the duration of one thousand years.

In line with the eschatology of the Continuing Yahosheanism, the Comforter as promised by Yahoshea came in the person of Prophet Yahmarabhi whose teachings will penetrate into the entire globe to redress the misconducts of humanity after which, Yahoshea will descend to initiate the Comforter's Earthly Kingdom (CEK).

To Yahosheanity, there will be no loss in spirit, thereby no separation of people between Yahweh and the opposing force.  Rather all mortals will be subject to the kingdom of  Yahweh of both spiritual or physical planes.