millennialists

Millennialists are individuals or groups who believe in a future millennium, a period of a thousand years, characterized by righteousness and peace. This belief is often rooted in interpretations of religious prophecies, particularly within Christianity, where it draws heavily from the Book of Revelation. Various interpretations of millennialism exist, often categorized as premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism, each differing on the timing and nature of Christ's return in relation to the millennium.

Premillennialism typically posits that Christ will return before the millennium, ushering in a literal thousand-year reign on Earth. Postmillennialism suggests that the millennium will be established through human efforts and the spread of the Gospel, with Christ returning at the end of this period. Amillennialism, on the other hand, views the millennium not as a literal future period but as a symbolic representation of the current church age or the state of souls in heaven.

While most commonly associated with Christian eschatology, similar beliefs in a coming golden age or transformative period can be found in other religious and philosophical traditions. The core concept involves an anticipation of a significant, divinely ordained, or historically inevitable era of profound positive change.