WELS officially teaches amillennialism—the belief that there is no literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth before the final judgment. The 'thousand years' of Revelation 20 is understood symbolically as the current church age from Christ's resurrection until his second coming, during which Christ reigns spiritually in the hearts of believers and in the church through his Word and Spirit.

The binding of Satan (Revelation 20:2-3) is interpreted as his defeat at Christ's cross and resurrection, which limits his power but does not entirely prevent his current influence. The 'first resurrection' refers to spiritual rebirth through faith in Christ, while the 'second resurrection' is the literal bodily resurrection of all at the final day. There is no special future role for ethnic Israel as a nation; the church is understood as the fulfillment of Israel and heir to the promises.

WELS does not affirm a rapture doctrine of any kind—not pretribulational, midtribulational, or posttribulational. Christ will return once for all people at the final day to judge and to raise the dead. While WELS permits individual study and discussion of various eschatological views, amillennialism is the official doctrinal position taught in WELS seminaries and congregations.