A-millennial (non-millennial)

(Greek: a- "no" + millennial). The "1000 years" of Revelation 20:1-6 is a metaphorical reference to the present church age which will culminate in Christ's return. The 1000 years is symbolic.

A-millennial stands in contrast to the theories of pre-millennialism (which teaches that Christ will return prior to a literal 1000 year earthly reign) and post-millennialist (which teaches that Christ's return will follow a 1000 year golden age ushered in by the church. A “golden age” period was a common belief amongst the Millerites).

Although the term amillennial is widely used, some prefer the term realized millennial, as it describes the position more accurately than the former, which emphasizes what is not believed about the millennium, rather than what is believed.

Amillennialism teaches that the thousand year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-6) is symbolic of the current church age, rather than a literal futuristic 1000 years. This began with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and continues until His Second Coming. Amillennials holds that while Christ's reign during the millennium is spiritual in nature, at the end of the church age Christ will return in final judgment, when the physical heavens and earth will pass away, and a new heavens and earth will be created for those resurrected unto eternal life.

“…they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

II Peter 3:5-14

Theology 

• Pentecostal
• Arminian