The Way

The Millennium & the Rapture (disputed)

Draft, under review

Christians across the centuries have confessed together that Jesus will return in the same way He was seen going into heaven (Acts 1:11): bodily, visibly and in glory, to raise the dead, judge the world and make all things new. Faithful, Bible-believing Christians differ on the details of the millennium, the timing of the rapture and how to read Revelation. Here each main view is presented in its strongest form, with its own key texts. These are secondary matters. Hold them with conviction and charity, and do not break fellowship over them.

Faithful Christians differ here. Views are shown side by side.

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  1. What are the main views of the millennium in Rev 20?

    • Rev 20:1–10

      1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time. Keep reading

    • 2 Pet 3:8

      8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

    • Isa 65:17–25

      17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. Keep reading

  2. What do Christians believe about the rapture and its timing?

    The pre-, mid- (pre-wrath) and post-tribulation views are presented evenly, each with its own texts. 1 Thess 4:16-17 is common ground for all of them.

    • 1 Thess 4:13–18

      13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. Keep reading

    • Matt 24:36–42

      36No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Keep reading

    • 2 Thess 2:1–4

      1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. Keep reading

    • 1 Cor 15:51–52

      51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

  3. How should Revelation be read: past, present, future, or symbolic?

    Partial preterism (much of Revelation fulfilled in the first century, with Christ's return still future) is within orthodoxy. Full preterism, which holds that the second coming and the resurrection are already past, is not. Paul rejects the claim that the resurrection has already happened (2 Tim 2:17-18). Many readers combine approaches.

    • Rev 1:1–3

      1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

    • Rev 1:19

      19Therefore write down the things you have seen, the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.

    • Rev 22:6–10

      6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.” 7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.” 8And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. Keep reading