The Biblical basis of Postmillennialism.

Part 2

Return to Part 1 of Postmillennialism

Contents (part 2):

The Old Testament.

The Prophets: *

Psalms *

Objections to Postmillennialism.

The pessimism of traditional eschatology:

War will continue to the end *

A time of great distress *

The last days will be terrible days *

The man of lawlessness must be revealed before Christ comes. *

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. *

Many are invited but few are chosen *

Are only a few people going to be saved. *

The Olivet discourse Mat 24:4-34. *

When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? *

Revelation in General *

Appendix 1 - The message of NT preaching.

Bibliography

The Old Testament.

(Num 14:21 NASB) but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.

As you look at some of these OT scriptures some of you who are premillennial will say - but these are 'my' verses. Scriptures such as Isa 11:9 'They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea'. But you see this is the whole point of the debate, these scriptures can refer to conditions on earth prior to the return of Jesus. Isn't it possible, that if we took the Great Commission seriously, that conditions on earth could be better in the future than they are today?

The Prophets:

Isa 2:1-4 see also Micah 4:1-3 - all nations will stream to it

(Isa 2:1-4 NIV) This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: {2} In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. {3} Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. {4} He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

(Micah 4:1-5 NIV) In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. {2} Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. {3} He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. {4} Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. {5} All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Isa 9:6-7 - Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end

(Isa 9:6-7 NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. {7} Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isa 11:9-12 - the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea

(Isa 11:9-12 NIV) They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. {10} In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. {11} In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. {12} He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.

The new Heavens and a new earth.

(Isa 65:17-25 NIV) "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. {18} But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. {19} I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. {20} "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. {21} They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. {22} No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. {23} They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. {24} Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. {25} The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.

This is not necessarily a postmillennial passage, but it is surprising that this passage, which reminds us of the new heaven and new earth of Rev 21:1, still refers to death, see verse 20. It also contains the well known passage "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD " (Isa 65:25).

All mankind will come and bow down before me. Isa 66:23.

(Isa 66:18-23 NIV) "And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory. {19} "I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations--to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. {20} And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD--on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the LORD. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels. {21} And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the LORD. {22} "As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure. {23} From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says the LORD.

My servant David will be king over them

(Ezek 37:24-28 NIV) "'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. {25} They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. {26} I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. {27} My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. {28} Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.'"

Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows.

(Ezek 47:1-9 NIV) The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. {2} He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. {3} As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. {4} He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. {5} He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in--a river that no one could cross. {6} He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. {7} When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. {8} He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. {9} Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

You are to consider them as native-born Israelites

(Ezek 47:21-23 NIV) "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. {22} You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. {23} In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign LORD.

The rock that filled the whole earth Dan 2:35.

(Dan 2:34-35 NIV) While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. {35} Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end.

(Dan 2:44 NIV) "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

One like a son of man Dan 7:13.

(Dan 7:13-14 NIV) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. {14} He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

(Dan 7:26-27 NIV) "'But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. {27} Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.'

Psalms

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance

(Psa 2:6-12 NIV) "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." {7} I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ; today I have become your Father. {8} Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. {9} You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. {12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD

(Psa 22:26-28 NIV) The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever! {27} All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, {28} for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham

(Psa 47:6-9 NIV) Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. {7} For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. {8} God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. {9} The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth

(Psa 67 NIV) For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah {2} that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. {3} May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. {4} May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah {5} May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. {6} Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. {7} God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

(Psa 72:8-11 NIV) He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. {9} The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. {10} The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. {11} All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed

(Psa 72:17 NIV) May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you

(Psa 86:9-10 NIV) All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. {10} For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet

(Psa 110:1-6 NIV) Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." {2} The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. {3} Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. {4} The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." {5} The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. {6} He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.

Objections to Postmillennialism.

The pessimism of traditional eschatology:

The objection to postmillennialism is largely due to our own preconceived notion that everything is downhill until either the Rapture or the Second Coming. Typically we think of the great tribulation and the coming of the Antichrist prior to end of the world. We see the world becoming more and more evil until the light of the gospel becomes extinguished. At the height of man's rebellion Christ returns and defeats his enemies in one climactic cosmic act. Historic premillennialism then sees a thousand year reign of Christ in which God demonstrates how things should be but even then there is a final rebellion.

Among the many issues raised by such a negative outlook are:

• Does Christ reign now? Is he Lord of lords and King of kings now?
• Does God rule over the nations now?
• How powerful is the gospel?
• The sovereignty of God and his plan for the world
• How effective was the work of Jesus in saving the world?
• Do we have a form of godliness but deny the power of God?
• Is Satan more powerful than God?
• The power of the Holy Spirit in applying the result of the Son's work?
• The power of grace over sin
• Will we be successful in carrying out the Great Commission?
• Will Christ return to a weed field and not a wheat field?
• Should we sing 'Christ has won the victory'?

To do justice for the reasons why we feel so negatively requires a book to discuss fully and may be the topic of another essay. However, historically it was not always so, the puritans were mostly postmillennial. I will only cover a few scriptures that I think cause us to be unduly negative about the future. Mathison discusses this topic in more detail ^[17]. It also needs to be noted that we have never yet lived in a period in history when many Jews have turned to Christ, we have not yet experienced the greater riches that their fullness will bring (Rom 11:12)

War will continue to the end

(Dan 9:26 NIV) After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

The above verse most likely refers to the fall of Jerusalem. It is only a problem if postmillennialism teaches that there is no war and if the Daniel quotation refers to end of time not the end of Jerusalem. Certainly Mathison quotes Isa 2:4 ^[18] 'He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore'.

A time of great distress

(Dan 12:1-2 NIV) "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. {2} Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

This is, in my opinion, a difficult verse for preterists. However we should first note that a prophecy can refer to any part of the last days from Pentecost onwards. For example Peter quotes Joel 2:28-3:2 in Acts 2:17-21 and takes it to refer to Pentecost.

The last days will be terrible days

(2 Tim 3:1-5 NIV) But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. {2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, {3} without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, {4} treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- {5} having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

(Micah 4:1 NIV) In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

We should note that the last days begin with the book of Acts, see Peter's speech in Acts 2:16-17. Also note that in 2 Tim 3:5 Paul instructs Timothy to have nothing to do with them, thus the conditions described in the preceding three verses existed then. Micah 4:1 also says that in the last days people will stream to the temple.

The man of lawlessness must be revealed before Christ comes.

(2 Th 2:1-12 NIV) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, {2} not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. {3} Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. {4} He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. {5} Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? {6} And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. {7} For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. {8} And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, {10} and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. {11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie {12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Postmillennialism does not deny a rebellion right at the end.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

(Mat 7:13-14 NIV) "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The narrow gate refers to Jesus, and in the context of the time that Jesus was speaking few Jews would indeed recognize him. Many would be destroyed in the destruction of Jerusalem see Luke 19:44. Mathison comments that the passage is descriptive (of the current time), not prescriptive (for all time) italics mine.^[19]

Many are invited but few are chosen

(Mat 22:14 NIV) "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

We have already discussed this parable about a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son Mat 22:2 and that the wedding hall was full of guests 22:10. Only one particular guest did not have wedding cloths and was thrown out. We should note that the wedding hall was full and only one person thrown out, there was not a wholesale booting out of people from the wedding hall.

Are only a few people going to be saved.

(Luke 13:23-30 NIV) Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, {24} "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. {25} Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' {26} "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' {27} "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' {28} "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. {29} People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. {30} Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

This paragraph refers to the Jews and Jesus as the narrow door. The people from east and west and north and south refer to the Gentiles. The point being that many Jews will find themselves locked out of the kingdom of God because they refused to recognize Jesus who is the narrow door. Jesus said "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep" (John 10:7). Revelation 7:9 says that the number of those saved will be a 'great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language'.

The Olivet discourse Mat 24:4-34.

(Mat 24:5-8 NIV) For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. {6} You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. {7} Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. {8} All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Many of us get our pessimism about the future from these verses. We have noted that birth pains get more frequent and more intense as the inevitable end approaches. We have also noted the great number of wars and the increase in earthquakes in the last 100 years and concluded that the end is not far off. However the conditions spoken about above were also true in the first century. Caird speaks of: ^[20]

AD 60 Earthquakes.

AD 62: Defeat of Roman army by Parthian Vologeses on eastern frontier.

AD 64: Persecution of Christians following the fire of Rome.

Acts speaks of persecution (Acts 8:1, 13:50) and famine (Acts 11:28) and even an earthquake (Acts 16:26) and a false-prophets (Acts 13:6). Josephus also goes into more detail about the conditions pertaining to the all of Jerusalem. As I will briefly show there is good evidence that Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and not some event in our future.

(Mat 24:9-14 NIV) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. {10} At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, {11} and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. {12} Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, {13} but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. {14} And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

(Mat 24:21-22 NIV) For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. {22} If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

I have discussed the great tribulation at some length on my web-site. A comparison with the parallel passage in Luke 21 clearly shows that the great distress of Mat 24:21 refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

• We should note that this is not world-wide it is limited to the area around Judea, both Matthew and Luke say that those in Judea are to flee to the mountains. Luke mentions Jerusalem surrounded by armies. Matthew mentions 'holy place' which either refers to the temple or Jerusalem.
• Matthew's reference to the Sabbath indicates that it refers primarily to Jews. Luke says that there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people which can only refer to the Jews.
• The fact that Jesus says 'and never to be equalled again' leaves room for further history so that the end of the world is not what this period of great distress refers to.
• The time indicators Mat 24:34 and Luke 21:32 indicate that these things will happen to the generation alive when Jesus is speaking.

Mat 24:9-14

(Mat 24:9-14 NIV) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. {10} At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, {11} and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. {12} Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, {13} but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. {14} And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

If we discuss Mat 24:9-14 above, we should note that it most probably refers to the same time-period. From the time of the great persecution that started with the stoning of Stephen Acts 8:1 to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Even if you do not adopt a preterist view, of past fulfilment of Mat 24:15-22, postmillennialism does not deny an apostasy at the end; and this passage still indicates that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations before the end comes Mat 24:14.

When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

(Luke 18:6-8 NIV) And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. {7} And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? {8} I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Mathison makes the following comments on this passage. ^[22]

It is sometimes argued that this passage teaches the scarcity of faith on earth at the Second Coming of Christ and therefore that it contradicts postmillennialism. There are several reasons to believe that it teaches no such thing:

• Luke 18:1 indicates that the purpose of this parable is to teach the disciples "to pray and not to lose heart." In other words, the purpose of the passage is ethical, not necessarily eschatological.
• The Greek text does not require either a negative or a positive answer to Christ's question. The answer is not implied in the Greek construction.
• Which "coming" Christ is referring to here is open to serious debate. There are several indications that he is speaking of his impending coming in judgement, not His second coming:
• In the preceding chapter (Luke 17:20-37), he speaks of the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
• In 18:7, Christ assures His listeners that God will not delay long in bringing about justice for his elect. It could be argued that two thousand years I a long delay.
• In verse 8, Christ assures us that God will bring about justice speedily. Again, this would seem to indicate a fulfilment within a short amount of time.

Since this passage probably does not refer to the Second Coming, and since it does not demand a negative answer in any case, it can hardly be considered to stand in opposition to postmillennialism.

Revelation in General

Revelation provides a problem to postmillennialism if it is looked at futuristically, which is why both Chilton and Gentry who are postmillennial argue for a preterist interpretation of Revelation based on the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. If Revelation was fulfilled by the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 then it is behind us and presents no problem to postmillennial thinking which also explains the loose connection between partial preterism and postmillennialism. A futuristic interpretation of Revelation causes the following problems for postmillennialism:

1. The defeat of the two witnesses by the beast in Rev 11:7, even though they later come to life.
2. The defeat of the saints by the beast in 13:7 and 13:10.
3. Revelation seems to come to a progressive and climactic end, the seven trumpets leading to the even worse seven bowls.

Appendix 1 - The message of NT preaching.

There are two things to look at in NT preaching, the content and the response required. If we look at the public preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, the disciples, Peter and Paul we find that the response demanded to the hearers of the message is reasonably consistent. Namely to repent for the forgiveness of sins, repent meaning to change ones mind (metanoeo:G3340). John the Baptist also says that we should produce fruit in keeping with repentance and then gives interesting examples. In Acts 26:20 Paul says that he "preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds". We should also remember that repentance is not just turning away from doing bad it includes doing good. As an example Paul teaches that the thief should no longer steal but should work so that he may have something to share with those in need (Eph 4:28). In Paul’s instructions to Titus he tells him to tell the new converts in Crete to be ready to do whatever is good (Titus 3:1, see also verses 8 and 14). The teaching to do good is common to Jesus, John, James, Peter and Paul (Luke 6:35, Gal 6:10, Eph 2:10, 1 Tim 6:18, Heb 13:16, James 1:27, 1 Pet 3:11, 1 John 3:17).

Usually those who heard the word and who believed were also baptised. See Acts 2:38, 2:41, 8:12, 8:36, 9:18, 10:47, 16:15, 16:33, 18:8, 19:5. We should also note that the content of the message would vary according to the audience, for example to the Jews (Acts 2:14-40), to the Greeks (Acts 17:16-32). However for both Jews and Greeks the requirement is the same.

NT Preaching:

John the Baptist:

(Mat 3:2 NIV) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

(Mark 1:4 NIV) And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins¼ .{8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance¼ .{9} The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

Jesus:

Mat 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

(Mark 1:14-15 NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. {15} "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

(Luke 5:31-32 NIV) Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {32} I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

(Luke 13:2-3 NIV) Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? {3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

(Luke 24:46-47 NIV) He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Disciples:

(Mark 6:12 NIV) They went out and preached that people should repent.

Peter:

(Acts 2:37-38 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" {38} Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 3:19 NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

(Acts 10:34-43 NIV) Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism {35} but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. {36} You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. {37} You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- {38} how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. {39} "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. {42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Note: (Acts 11:18 NIV) When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

Paul:

We should note in Paul’s preaching that when he preached to the Jews, his message was that Jesus is the Christ. However in general his preaching included repentance. (Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

As to content, Paul say’s that he preached Christ crucified:

(1 Cor 1:21-25 NIV) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Later Paul says what is of first importance, i.e. that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised on the third day.

(1 Cor 15:2-9 NIV) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. {3} For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. {9} For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

(2 Tim 2:8 NIV) Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

Summaries of Paul’s preaching are as follows:

Acts 9:20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

(Acts 16:30-33 NIV) He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

(Acts 17:24-31 NIV) "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. {25} And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. {26} From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. {27} God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. {28} 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' {29} "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. {30} In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. {31} For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

(Acts 18:4-8 NIV) Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. {5} When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. {6} But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." {7} Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. {8} Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

(Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

(Acts 26:20 NIV) First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

We can summarise the NT message as preached by the apostles as – repent and believe the gospel, which is that Christ died for our sins and rose again. Those who accept the word should get baptised as a public declaration of their acceptance of the message.

Bibliography

Books linked to

1. Keith A Mathison. Postmillennialism: an eschatology of hope, 1999, 287 pp. This book gives a detailed description of postmillennialism. It deals with the history, OT and NT, and theological considerations including objections to postmillennialism. It includes a brief 14 page critique of full preterism (see J S Russell). For a deeper look at postmillennialism see Gentry's 'He Shall Have Dominion'.Amazon
2. Darrell L Bock. Three views on the Millennium and Beyond. Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Amillennialism. Zondervan, 1999, 333pp. The postmillennial side is by Gentry.Amazon
3. John Jefferson Davis, The Victory of Christ's Kingdom: An introduction to Postmillenialism. Amazon
4. Kenneth L., Jr. Gentry, He Shall Have Dominion : A Postmillennial Eschatology Hardcover (September 1992) Inst for Christian Economics; ISBN: 0930464621 Amazon He Shall Have Dominion is as convincing as it is Biblical! This book is the most biblical, insightful, common-sense eschatalogical treatise in print. This book is about victory! Jesus is Victor. Dr. Gentry leaves no stone unturned. He deals seriously with ALL of the arguments typically leveled at Postmillennialism. Read it for yourself. Gentry proves that Postmillennialism is the eschatology and philosophy of history that is contained in HOLY Scripture.
5. David Chilton, Paradise restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion, 1985. Postmillennial. Amazon See free books from the Institute of Christian Economics
6. Stanley J. Grenz, The Millennial Maze: Sorting Out Evangelical Options. IVP, 1992, 239 pages. Amazon.
7. Gary North, Gary Demar, Christian Reconstruction: What It Is, What It Isn't. Paperback - 219 pages (June 1994) Inst for Christian Economics. In today's world, Christians have been told that there is nothing they can do to improve society. This idea is the devil's own lie. Christians have believed this, but the results have been anything but neutral: secular humanism, New Age mysticism, and abortion on demand. In the name of neutrality, Christians have handed the world over to Satan and his covenanted disciples.Amazon
8. J. Marcellus Kik, Eschatology of Victory Paperback (February 1992) Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company; Amazon For those Christians who think the world is going to get worse and worse, with the Church becoming more and more impotent, until we're all taken up by the so-called "Rapture," this book provides a seriously different, and more Biblical, perspective. It gives the clearest, most coherent interpretation of Matt. 24 I have ever read. I would like to challenge all dispensationalists to read this book and see if your perspective isn't changed.
9. Kenneth L. Gentry The Greatness of the Great Commission : The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World Amazon
10. George Eldon Ladd, Presence of the Future : The Eschatology of Biblical Realism. Amazon After surveying the debate over eschatology, Ladd discusses the promise of the kingdom, the fulfillment of the promise, and the consummation of the promise. Throughout the book he develops his thesis that the kingdom of God involves two great movements--fulfillment within history and consummation at the end of history.
11. Iain H Murray, The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation of Prophecy. Banner of Truth Trust. 1971. Amazon From a historical survey, Murray details the relationship of Puritan postmillennialism to their motivation for world missions. Missionaries went boldly into various parts of the earth knowing that Christ has already won the victory over Satan's kingdom at the cross and had promised the victory of the church in history. "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth, go therefore and teach...make disciples of all nations...I am with you even unto the end of the age." "I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."
12. T Omri Jenkins, The Great Commission. Evangelical Press, 1997
13. Mustard Seed Vs. McWorld : Reinventing Life and Faith for the Future by Tom Sine, Ravi K. Zacharias. Amazon Emphasizes how Christians can adopt Jesus mustard seed perspective by recognizing that God works through the seemingly small and insignificant to bring about lasting change. For McWorld, the ultimate is economic growth and efficiency; from a mustard seed perspective, spiritual and societal transformation are the ultimate goals.

Links

1. Babylon - The Great City of Revelation Author: Joseph R. Balyeat Book Review by Kenneth J. Davies
2. Postmillennialism by Loraine Boettner (From The Millennium by Loraine Boettner)
3. The Premillennial Deception Chiliasm Examined in the Light of Scripture By: Brian Schwertley
4. For more articles see Foundation for Biblical studies

Footnotes:

1. See also Rom 11:15, 11:23-24, 11:31
2. Darrell L Bock. Three views on the Millennium and Beyond. Zondervan. 1999. p 34.
3. Bock p 130.
4. Bock p 13.
5. Keith A Mathison. Postmillennialism An eschatology of Hope, P & R Publishing Company 1999. p10.
6. Mathison p 46.
7. Mathison p. 187
8. Mathison p. 190
9. Compare with the two witnesses in Revelation who are 'the two olive trees and the two lampstands', two olive trees refers to the Holy Spirit. See also Acts 5:32; John 15:26,27; Matt 10:18-20 and Rev 22:17
10. Bock p 41
11. Mathison p 108
12. Gen 10:5, 18, 20, 31, 32
13. Mathison p 63.
14. See Acts 10, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:47, Acts 15:16-17, Rom 9:25-26, Eph 2:11-22, Eph 3:6, Gal 3:26-29
15. Mathison p 119
16. Mathison p 43
17. Mathison p 197.
18. Mathison p 84.
19. Mathison p 209.
20. G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St John the Divine, Black's new testament commentaries, A & C Black. 2nd Ed 1984.
21. http://www.apocalipsis.org/ see essays
22. Mathison p 212.

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