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Introduction
In the modern information age, it is common to find people trying to make sense
of the many voices and opinions that so easily find expression and communication. There
would be no problem if these voices did not contradict each other! This problem is no
less true in the Christian world. Here also there are likewise many doctrines promoted by
well meaning believers who desire to advance the truth as they see it. Some try to validate
or invalidate beliefs by returning to the roots of the church and biblical interpretations of
those who were closest to the origins of Christianity. The assumption is that the closer
one gets to the origin, the purer the belief system must be. The hope is that an
understanding of the beliefs held early in the movement will help one arrive at the truth of
the matter.
1
The same is no less true of eschatological views. There are many current opinions
as to what the future will hold: Amillennial, Post-Millennial, Pre-Millennial, Pre, Mid
and Post Tribulational. These positions contradict each other at many points. Will
rewinding two millennia of history to understand what the early church believed shed any
light on these matters? The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the beliefs
of the Ante-Nicene Fathers on the subject of chiliasm. Other views which touch on
chiliasm will also be discussed. The intent is to provide a summary of some of the key
aspects of chiliastic beliefs held in the era from the death of the apostles to the Council of
Nicea in 325. Due to the space and time limitations of this paper, and in spite of the great
temptation to do so, no concerted effort will be mounted to compare the chiliastic beliefs
of the Fathers with modern pre-millennial beliefs.
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This paper will make no attempt determine the truth of this presupposition.