"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." Revelation 20:1-4
It seems there is a lot of confusion in these latter days about the phrase "the kingdom of God”. This confusion has led to some bad theology, including a large movement within Protestant/Evangelical denominations that hold incorrect views on eschatology (the study of last things) as a result. The theologically incorrect views are broadly known as either “postmillennialism” or “amillennialism”, and relate to how one views the second physical coming of Jesus to the earth when He establishes a literal, physical kingdom ruled from Jerusalem. Postmillennialism is the view that Jesus will return to the earth in bodily form a second time at the end of an unspecified period of time, and rule the kingdom that has already been established on the earth by His followers. Amillennialism is the view that there is no literal one thousand year “Millennial Kingdom” where Jesus Christ is physically present on the earth. I myself hold to the premillennial view that Jesus will return physically to the earth a second time at the end of the tribulation, and will establish a literal one thousand year reign from Jerusalem, known as the “Millennial Kingdom” of the Lord.
A 2016 Lifeway Research study found in a survey of Protestant pastors that less than half (48 percent) held a premillennial view, while 31 percent were amillennial, and 11 percent held the postmillennial view. From everything I have read and heard, a poll conducted today would most likely see those results change to reflect a growing trend towards a postmillennial view. As mentioned previously, currently there is a resurgence of postmillennialism and amillennial viewpoints. Many pastors and teachers, some very well known in Evangelical circles, hold a postmillennial or amillennial theological view. As such, they do not believe in a literal Millennial Kingdom period, or if they do, it is one brought about by the actions of the church. They believe that it is the responsibility of the church to prepare the world for the return of Jesus, so that when it is ready, He will return to us. To the contrary, Jesus Himself told us that He was going to prepare a place for us, so that we could be with Him, and that He would come back to get us and take us with Him. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-3
The postmillennial view sees the church eventually claiming the entire world for God, and establishing His kingdom on the earth as a result. This view requires that things will progress by getting better and better over time, until finally the entire world is claimed in the name of God. This of course is not happening, and the Bible indicates that just the opposite will occur as we get nearer and nearer to the end times of the rapture, tribulation, and Millennial Kingdom. "But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
The name for this movement which holds to these Postmillennial views is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). There are two versions of this NAR philosophy currently very active in the Protestant/Evangelical Church. The first is known as the "Kingdom Now" movement which is the brand favored by Charismatic denominations. It has its roots in the “Latter Rain” movement of the mid 1900’s, and the “Manifest Sons of God” movement of the late 1990’s. Kingdom Now is a belief system that incorporates the true “sons of God” reclaiming all areas of life, known in Charismatic circles as the “seven mountains mandate” or “seven spheres of society” for God’s Kingdom. When this task is completed, the way will be cleared for God’s Kingdom to then be established physically on this earth. Therefore, the kingdom of God being physically established on the earth is reliant on the works of the church to be completed and fulfilled, and not the timing and authority of God Himself.
The other flavor of New Apostolic Reformation is known as the "Dominion Theology" movement. This brand is the one favored by Reformed, non-charismatic, Calvinist based denominations. It sees the realization of the kingdom of God on earth similarly to the Kingdom Now version, but with the kingdom of God being brought about on earth physically through missionary efforts and increasing political involvement instead. This movement is behind a large number of Evangelical Christians who are very active in politics right now, advocating for far right conservative values in a very vocal and active manner. Again, the bringing about of the kingdom of God physically on earth is reliant on the church’s efforts and actions through missionary and political means, and not the sovereignty and timing of God.
A clear, biblical understanding of the “kingdom of God” and the true nature of the “Millennial Kingdom” is very important in having a proper eschatological understanding of the end times. Without a proper Biblical understanding of eschatology, it is difficult to have a correct theology concerning the timing of end time events according to prophecy, the important role of Israel as God’s chosen people (the Church did not replace Israel), and the overall purpose and destiny of the Church, the Bride of Christ.
