premillennium

Premillennium is a term used in Christian eschatology to describe a theological viewpoint regarding the millennium, a period of 1,000 years mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Premillennialism holds that Christ's second coming will occur before the millennium. This means that the 1,000-year reign of Christ on Earth will happen after his return, not during an intermediate period before it.

There are various interpretations within premillennialism. Historic premillennialism believes the millennium will begin after Christ's return and the resurrection of believers. Disensation premillennialism, a more recent development, posits a series of distinct periods or "dispensations" in God's plan, with Christ returning before a literal 1,000-year earthly reign. This view often includes a pretribulation rapture, where believers are taken to heaven before a period of great tribulation.

A key tenet of premillennialism is the belief in a literal, future earthly reign of Jesus Christ. This reign is seen as a time of peace, justice, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. While the specifics of the millennium and the events leading up to it vary among different premillennial perspectives, the central idea remains the same: Christ's return precedes his thousand-year kingdom on Earth.