What is premillennialism?
Premillennialism is the view that Christ will return BEFORE a literal thousand-year reign on earth (Revelation 20). After this millennium comes the final judgment and the new heavens and new earth.
Two main flavors: historic premillennialism (older, common before 1900) and dispensational premillennialism (popularized by Darby and Scofield, common in many American churches).
Dispensational premillennialism adds a pretribulation rapture of the church before a seven-year tribulation, followed by the millennium.
Premillennialism is one of three main Christian views on the millennium (with amillennialism and postmillennialism). All three confess the same essentials: Christ will come, judge the world, and reign forever.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.