One’s view of the millennium affects more than the way one would draw an end-time chart. As is clear from the previous posts, some see “end times” events as occurring right now whereas others believe they are yet future. This has a significant impact on what one believes about God’s work in the world today and the role of the church in society.
Amillennialism: If you believe that we are living in the millennial kingdom today, you see the spread of the gospel as bringing God’s kingdom to more people. The church is now fulfilling God’s promises to bless the world. Your future hope is in heaven in eternity, not in the fulfillment of God’s purposes on this earth.
Postmillennialism: If you believe that society will ultimately become entirely Christian, you view the church’s mission as one of permeating society in order to bring it in submission to God. The return of Jesus is dependent upon the transformation of this world into what God originally intended in the Garden of Eden.
Dispensational Premillennialism: If you believe that society will ultimately unite against God and the people of Israel, you will focus on personal evangelism so that individuals are saved before God’s wrath falls upon this earth. Because you believe in a pretribulational rapture, you do not fear the awful days predicted in Revelation. Israel is usually treated with kid gloves because God’s promises to bless his people will be fulfilled in the future.
Historic Premillennialism: If you believe that only Jesus can establish a righteous kingdom on earth, you will not put great efforts in transforming society through politics. Though you do not believe that the rapture will occur before the tribulation, you trust that God will keep his believers from apostatizing during the outpouring of his wrath. Israel has no future as an entity but individual Jews who trust Jesus will be saved in the church.