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Conclusion
When reading the works of the Ante-Nicene fathers, it is clear that some of them
believed in a literal kingdom on earth to be established by Jesus Christ at his return. They
expected this kingdom to endure for at least one thousand years.
Many of the fathers expressed ideas that the modern reader would recognize as
similar to modern ideas concerning the millennium. However, it is just as clear that their
ideas were not developed systematically as millennial beliefs are today. Those who were
closest to doing this were probably Tertullian and Irenaeus, but they were still very far
from modern formulations of premillennialism.
Probably the most important thing that can be said about this overview of early
church chiliasm concerns the issue of hermeneutics. It is clear that these men were at least
attempting to deal with scripture in a literal fashion. Origen comes to our aid in pointing
this out! That they observed tribulation, antichrist, a rebuilt Jerusalem and other related
ideas demonstrates that they were seeing the same types of things that modern pre-
millennialists do today.
One should not conclude, however, that the chiliastic views of the Ante-Nicene
fathers are synonymous with modern premillennial and especially dispensational views.
There are some similarities and many differences.
40
40
Alan P. Boyd, A Dispensational Premillennial Analysis of the Eschatology of
the Post-Apostolic Fathers (Until the Death of Justin Martyr). (Dallas: Dallas Seminary
Press, 1977). Boyd goes to great lengths to demonstrate the inaccuracy of Charles Ryrie's
statement about premillennialism being the historic faith of the church in his book The
Basis of the Premillennial Faith. As this paper has shown, the view was not universally
held among Christians during this broad time period.