The Difference Between Premillennialism and Historical Premillennialism?
Many People Don’t Understand…

Premillennialism is a Christian eschatological view that Christ will return to Earth before (pre-) a thousand-year reign, known as the Millennium, during which He will establish a kingdom of peace and righteousness. This concept has evolved and changed over time, leading to distinctions between what we will call historical premillennialism and the modern forms of premillennialism we hear about today, particularly what is often labelled “Dispensational Premillennialism.” Here’s a summary/breakdown of the differences:

Historical Premillennialism

Origins and Background:
Historical premillennialism has roots in the early Church, as well as like Papias, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr expressing millennial views (Early church to 400 ad). It became less dominant after Augustine’s amillennialism gained prominence but has seen a resurgence over the last century or two.

View of the Church:
Historical premillennialists in simple terms,  believe the Church has replaced Israel as the people of God, meaning that promises made to Israel in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the Church, as the Church is now grafted onto the old vine. This is also known as covenant theology.

Eschatological Events:
This view holds that the return of Christ will be followed by the resurrection of the righteous, the defeat of evil, and the establishment of the millennial kingdom on Earth. After the Millennium, there will be a final judgment.

Tribulation:
Historical premillennialists typically believe the Church will go through the tribulation, a period of suffering before Christ’s return. See Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 24:8-14.

8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mat 24)

Continuity with Early Christianity:
The historical version emphasizes continuity with early Christian teachings and focuses on a straightforward reading of Revelation without a rigid timeline or detailed predictions.


Modern Premillennialism (Dispensational Premillennialism)

Origins and Background:
Dispensational premillennialism arose in the 19th century with the teachings of John Nelson Darby and gained widespread popularity through the Scofield Reference Bible and later through popular literature like the “Left Behind” series.

View of the Church and Israel:
Dispensational premillennialists maintain a sharp distinction between Israel and the Church. They believe God has two distinct plans: one for Israel and one for the Church. They argue that promises made to Israel in the Old Testament will be literally fulfilled in the future during the Millennium.

Eschatological Events:
This view introduces a detailed timeline of end-time events, including a rapture (where believers are taken up to heaven), a seven-year tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, and then the final judgment.

The Rapture:
One of the most distinctive features is the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture, where the Church is taken up to heaven before the tribulation begins. This event is separate from the Second Coming of Christ, which occurs at the end of the tribulation.

Impact on Modern Evangelicalism:
Dispensational premillennialism has significantly influenced contemporary evangelical thought, especially in the United States, shaping views on geopolitics, particularly concerning Israel.


Summary of Key Differences

Church vs. Israel:
Historical premillennialism sees the Church as the fulfillment of Israel’s promises, while dispensational premillennialism views Israel and the Church as distinct entities with separate destinies. Modern premillennialism believes that Israel must be restored and usually believes that we have a responsibility to make it happen. 

Tribulation:
Historical premillennialism typically believes the Church will go through the tribulation, whereas dispensational premillennialism teaches a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.

Timeline and Detail:
Historical premillennialism is less focused on a detailed timeline of events, while dispensational premillennialism has a highly structured timeline involving multiple phases, including the rapture and tribulation.

Theological Emphasis:
Historical premillennialism emphasizes continuity with early Christian thought, while dispensational premillennialism introduces new theological frameworks, particularly concerning the relationship between Israel and the Church.


Conclusion

These differences highlight the evolution of premillennial thought and how different historical and cultural contexts have shaped its interpretation over time. In the second part of this series, if we are compelled to choose one of these theological positions, I will identify what I see as the significant problem with modern premillennialism which is its restoration of the temple, etc. However, I still believe we don’t necessarily have to choose either of them, but we do need to understand the differences between them and understand the early church did have a different belief even the same word is often used to describe them premillennialism.