Biblical Eschatology and the Millennium, Part I: Introduction

It will be my hope in these few next posts to argue that the Bible does not teach anything about specific timelines, what I will call here "specific eschatology," but rather a generic timeline, i.e., in present and in the future, and therefore, a "generic eschatology," i.e., the already-not yet. Hence, when it comes specifically to how things will work out in a millennium, whether pre-, a-, or post-, is not an intention of the authors of Scripture.

I will do this by first showing that each has some validity to it depending upon the verses used to support it. Then I will discuss both the verses that contradict that specific eschatology and show any errors in the use of supporting verses that may have been committed.

It is my contention that Christ's statements to the apostles that it was none of their business when these things would occur, and that only the Father knows the timelines/epochs/eras, etc., He was not stating that God would reveal it later to them. It is the secret knowledge of the Father, and not information He desires to divulge to men. Hence, the apostles use various 2d Temple Jewish frameworks to communicate both the fulfillment of generic eschatology and the nature of Christ's second advent without necessarily committing their audience to any of them.

It is my hope that this will release us from endless debates and division over timelines the Bible never sought to communicate to us in the first place.