A. DEFINITION
The prefix post means after. The word millennium means thousand years. (The Postmillennialist does not take these thousand years literally. ) A Postmillennialist, accordIngly, is a person who believes that Jesus will return after the thousand years. Now if this were all there was to it I would immediately call myself a Postmillennialist. See Lesson 20 (Parts 1 and 2). The reason why I, nevertheless, refuse to be labeled a Postmillennialist is that historically the typical Postmillennialist has poured a content into the term which immediately excludes me from his ranks.
The typical Postmillennialist believes that the world is getting better and better. Some Post’s believe that this gradual betterment is due to the natural process of evolution. I shall leave them out of this discussion, and speak only about evangelical Post’s. The latter hold that even now the kingdom of peace, righteousness, and prosperity is being established on earth, largely though not exclusively by evangelical means, and that when this kingdom will have been realized to a very high degree Jesus will come again. You see, perhaps, why I refuse to be called a Postmillennialist.
B. A REMARKABLE BOOK
In the course of the years there have been many Post’s. The Hodges of Princeton, Dr. W. C. T. Shedd, Dr. R. L. Dabney, Dr. A. H. Strong, Dr. B. B. Warfield have been counted among them. The work of J. H. Snowden, The Coming Of The Lord, also postmillenarian, is among the books lying on my desk as I am writing these lines. Probably the most outstanding literary product of very recent years, in defence of Postmillennialism, is the remarkable book by Dr. Loraine Boettner, The Millennium (published by Baker Book House, 1958). Some of the keenest criticisms of the Premillennialistic poSition that I have seen any· where are found in this book. And Boettner is an able and lucid author.
But what shall we say with respect to that author’s own brand of Postmillennialism? Well, it is as follows. Boettner believes that the world is gradually becoming better and better. It will continue to do so until evil in all its forms will be reduced to negligible proportions (p. 14). The world, then, will be eventually christianized. Even now the false religions are dying and Christianity is the only growing religion (p. 43). Thus a golden age of righteousness and peace is being gradually established (p. 21). The best is yet to be (p. 47) . The U. S. is appropriating vast sums for foreign aid (p. 39). The Bible has been translated into all the major languages of the world. The Christian message is being broadcasted everywhere (pp. 40,41). Prosperity, too, is on the way. Think of the revolution in transportation, communication, and home-furnishings. Knowledge is becoming more widespread. The span of life is being lengthened. Our arid Southwest is beginning to resemble the garden of Eden. We’re even getting better fertilizer and improved cultivation (pp. 50, 51). Now when this millennium of propriety. peace, and plenty will have been established to a sufficient degree Jesus wiJi return. Do not the prophecies point in this direction? Read Psalm 72:7–11,17; Daniel 2:44; Jeremiah 31:34. And see also such New Testament passages as Matthew 13: 33; Revelation 7:9,10 (pp. 22–29,48) . Such is Boettner’s theory. I shall leave the criticism to you. See the Questions.
Questions
1. Does Scripture contain any passages which show that the world will not be getting better and better right along until evil will have been well-nigh eliminated? Do the facts of life support Boettner’s theory?
2. Do the passages from Scripture which Boettner quotes ill support of Postmillennialism really prove it?
3. If you were told to choose between Premillennialism and Postmillennialism what would you do?
4. Is it our duty to try to make the world better and better?
5. What is an A-millennialist?
6.Why is the term A-millennialist an unhappy one?
7. By way of review of a positive nature: briefly state the actual teaching of Revelation 20:1–6. This will also be a good transition to our next Lesson.