-enni-, -ennial, -ennium

Those who believe that Christ will come before a seven-year period of intense tribulation to take His church (living and dead) into heaven.

After this period of fulfillment of divine wrath, He will then return to rule from a holy city (that is, the New Jerusalem) over the earthly nations for one thousand years.

After these thousand years, Satan, who was bound up during Christ's earthly reign, will be released to deceive the nations, to gather an army of the deceived, and to battle against the Lord.

This battle will end in both the judgment of the wicked and Satan and the entrance into eternal glory by the righteous.

This view is called "premillenialism" because it places the return of Christ before the millennium and it is called "dispensational" because it is founded in the doctrines of dispensationalism:

A time period of one thousand (1,000) years: The archaeologists found remains that span a millennia and are a fantastic discovery. © ALL rights are reserved.

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When used in reference to Scripture, and eschatology specifically, it is the future time in which many believe Christ rules on earth for 1,000 years (New Testament, Revelation 20:1-4).

When studying the millennium, one encounters three differing views: "premillennialism", "postmillennialism", and "amillennialism".

From the Bible, Revelation 20:1-15 with reference to the millennium

1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3. and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
6. Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
7. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
8. and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number [is] as the sand of the sea.
9. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
10. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [are]. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Relating to or referring to several thousands of years

Done or recurring every ninth year.

1. Occuring every eight years.
2. Lasting or taking eight years

1. Lasting through the year; that is, continuous: "Perennial air pollution continues to cause problems in many major cities of the world."
2. Lasting indefinitely; perpetual, constant, continual: "She sits there with that perennial grin on her face."
3. In botany, having a life span of more than two years; such as, a perennial plant: "There are many perennial plants that produce flowers every year."

1. Descriptive of something which lasts a very long time; enduring; recurring: Communication between the different offices in the building seems to be perennial, because the secretaries often convey information about their jobs to each other, and sometimes this causes problems!
2. Characteristic of a plant which lives for many years: Several kinds of herbs are perennial, in that they don’t have to be planted every year in order to exist.
3. Concerning a person who evidently is quite involved in a certain way of life or role: There are students who are perennial and go to their universities year after year and earn many qualifications!
4. Relating to a spring or waterway which flows continuously throughout the year: Tom's family relies on the perennial stream close to their cabin for their water supply. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.