Amillennialism is a term that is not commonly known to many people. It is a theological concept that deals with the end times or the eschatology of Christianity. This article aims to provide a comprehensive definition and meaning of amillennialism, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
Amillennialism is a theological view that denies the belief in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth after his second coming. This view holds that the millennium mentioned in the book of Revelation is symbolic and represents the present age of the church. Amillennialists believe that Christ’s reign is spiritual and not physical.
Origin
The origin of amillennialism can be traced back to the early church fathers, such as Origen and Augustine. However, the term “amillennialism” was coined in the 17th century by theologians who rejected the idea of a literal millennium.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, amillennialism is defined as “a Christian doctrine that denies the expectation of a millennium of bodily comfort and glory on this earth after the Second Coming of Christ.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the belief that there will be no literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.”
Associations
Amillennialism is associated with other theological concepts, such as postmillennialism and premillennialism. Postmillennialism holds that the world will gradually become better before Christ’s return, while premillennialism believes that Christ will return before the millennium and establish a physical kingdom on earth.
Synonyms
There are no direct synonyms for amillennialism. However, some related terms include realized eschatology, spiritual millennialism, and symbolic millennialism.
Antonyms
The antonym of amillennialism is premillennialism, which holds that Christ will return before the millennium and establish a physical kingdom on earth.
The same root words
Amillennialism is derived from the Latin words “a-” meaning “not” and “millennium” meaning “a period of a thousand years.”
Example Sentences
- The amillennialist view holds that the millennium mentioned in the book of Revelation is symbolic and represents the present age of the church.
- The debate between premillennialism and amillennialism has been ongoing for centuries.
In conclusion, amillennialism is a theological concept that denies the belief in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth after his second coming. It holds that the millennium mentioned in the book of Revelation is symbolic and represents the present age of the church. While it may not be a commonly known term, it is an important aspect of Christian eschatology and has been debated for centuries.