Premillennial; Christ returns before thousand-year reign; literal interpretation
The True Jesus Church affirms a premillennial eschatology: Christ will return before the millennium, a literal thousand-year period in which Christ will reign on earth. This is based on a more literal reading of Revelation 20:1-7 and related biblical passages. Before the millennium, Christ will return visibly, the dead will be raised, and believers will be caught up to meet Him.
During the millennium, Christ will rule, Satan will be bound, and believers will experience a period of unprecedented peace and righteousness on earth. After the thousand years, Satan will be released, there will be a final rebellion, and then the eternal state will begin with a new heavens and new earth. This view is consistent with much Pentecostal theology and reflects the church's expectation that history will culminate in a visible, physical reign of Christ on earth.
The premillennial view is contrasted with amillennialism (which the True Jesus Church considers erroneous) and dispensational premillennialism (which it modifies slightly). The church's emphasis on the literal second coming and the literal millennium reinforces its belief in the physical, visible restoration of all things under Christ.
Key Distinctions
- Millennium view:
- premillennial
- Rapture view:
- literal return expected
- Israel role:
- varies
Scripture References
Sources
- True Jesus Church premillennial doctrine
- Eschatological teachings from TJC publications