Amillennialism vs. Postmillennialism — What's the Difference?

Emphasizes the spiritual kingdom of God rather than a physical realm on Earth.

Expects the gradual growth of Christianity to improve the world.

Views evil and suffering as persisting until Christ's return.

Believes in a future earthly millennium of peace and Christian prosperity.

A view that sees the millennium as symbolic, representing Christ’s current reign from heaven.

Associates the millennium with the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Believes the church age is synonymous with the millennium.

Optimistic about the world’s moral and spiritual future.

Sees no future millennium established on Earth before Christ’s second coming.

Views the millennium as a literal future event.

Amillenarism or Amillennialism is a type of chillegorism which teaches and believed that there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on Earth. Amillennialists interpret the thousand years symbolically to refer either to a temporary bliss of souls in heaven before the general resurrection, or to the infinite bliss of the righteous after the general resurrection.This view in Christian eschatology does not hold that Jesus Christ will physically reign on the Earth for exactly 1,000 years.

In Christian eschatology (end-times theology), postmillennialism, or postmillenarianism, is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after (Latin post-) the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper. The term subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast to premillennialism and, to a lesser extent, amillennialism (see Summary of Christian eschatological differences).

(Christianity) A view in Christian eschatology that rejects the claimed future thousand-year physical reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, in opposition to premillennial and some postmillennial views of the Book of Revelation, chapter 20, claiming instead that the number of years in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number and that Christ's eventual physical reign will be permanent.

The doctrine that Jesus's Second Coming will follow the millennium.

(Christianity) An interpretation of the Book of Revelation where Christ's second coming will be after the "Millennium", a Golden Age or era of prosperity and dominance of Christianity.

Amillennialism holds that society will continue to experience both good and evil with no substantial utopian improvement until Christ returns.

Postmillennialists expect significant positive changes in society, including widespread acceptance of Christian morals and an increase in righteousness and peace.

Postmillennialists often view the current state of the world as preparatory, moving towards a future time marked by Christian ethical and moral predominance.

Postmillennialists interpret Christ's reign as an era of earthly Christian prosperity and spiritual dominance, anticipated to happen before His physical return.

In amillennial theology, current events are seen as part of the ongoing struggle between good and evil during the symbolic millennium, which is concurrent with the church age.

Postmillennialism gained popularity during the 19th century, particularly in the optimistic pre-war period when people believed in continuous progress.

Amillennialists do not expect a physical reign of Christ on Earth prior to the final judgment; they believe His reign is currently spiritual and heavenly.

Amillennialism often leads to a focus on spiritual resilience and perseverance, whereas postmillennialism might encourage active societal engagement and evangelism to bring about the prophesied era of peace.

A common misconception about amillennialism is that it completely denies any form of Christ's reign, whereas it actually affirms a spiritual reign throughout the current church age.

Postmillennialists often view the successful completion of the Great Commission—spreading Christianity worldwide—as a key event that will usher in the millennial era.

A common misconception about postmillennialism is that it guarantees a utopian society; rather, it anticipates a significant, though not perfect, dominance of Christian principles.

Amillennialists typically interpret Revelation in a more symbolic and allegorical way, while postmillennialists may incorporate a mix of literal and symbolic interpretations, especially concerning prophecies of future hope and restoration.

Both views agree on the Second Coming but differ in timing and circumstances: amillennialists see it as the conclusion of the current spiritual millennium, while postmillennialists see it following a literal golden age of Christian dominance.

Amillennialism addresses the problem of evil by asserting that it will persist in the world until the end of the current church age, which they equate with the millennium.

Postmillennialists are generally optimistic, believing in a future where Christian values progressively improve global conditions before Christ's return.

Amillennialism was particularly influenced by the early Church Fathers and became the predominant view in medieval Christianity.