What Is the Millennial Day Theory of the End Times?

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Published September 13, 2024

“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:38-39).

It often seems that every generation has believed the second coming of Jesus Christ is close at hand. There are certainly indications that Paul believed the Second Coming would be sooner, rather than later. He might have been surprised that “later” was some 2,000 years.

And, of course, every few years, believers also seem to be willing to identify the “antichrist” to support their idea that the rapture must be right on the horizon.

There are indeed a great many theories about the what, when and where of the second coming of Christ. While many hold to a millennial period (1000 years) after Christ returns, there remain theories about the timing. Pre-millennial (Christ comes prior-to); post-millennial (Christ returns after the millennial); and mid-millennial – and even amillennial (there will be no 1000-year period, period.) I have now heard pastors say, with a smile, they tend to be “pan”-millennial. In other words, everything is going to “pan out” in the end. Of course, many of these theories – at least most – are supported by a verse or verses. Especially “pan-millennial.”

And let’s not even get started on what is called the Rapture of the Church. Will we be here for the tribulation or will we be taken up to meet Christ in the air?

In other words, any discussion involving Biblical eschatology is certain to stir up a great deal of disagreement. However, the most-widely accepted theory does appear to be pre-millennial, preceded by the Rapture of the Church. This theory seems supported by particular verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica:

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

And:

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

What we do know for sure is this – Jesus himself told his disciples that even he didn’t know the day or the hour when he would return.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).

We also know this for certain – Christ is going to come again. However, the best we can do is speculate as to when that time will be. The evidence certainly would seem to hold that the true Church will not be here when it happens – but we are closer to that time than ever before.

All that leads us to one lesser-known theory (emphasis on that word “theory”) as to when all this might occur. It is called the Millennial Day theory – and there is evidence that seems to fall into place.

The Millennial Day

The Millennial Day theory – aka Millennium Sabbath, or Sabbath millennium – contends that the second coming of Christ will occur 6,000 years after the creation of mankind, followed by 1,000 years of peace and harmony, then, our eternal life. The idea follows the thought that the first coming of Christ would be 4,000 years after human creation, then his second coming 2,000 years later.

The support for this theory comes from a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis. The argument being that human history – from Adam to the eternal state – will run 7,000 years. We know from Scripture that seven is a number representing God; it is God’s number for completion, perfection and holiness.

The number six, on the other hand, is tied to man’s weakness and frailty – a number for imperfection and lack of completion. The number of the evil one.

“This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666” (Revelation 13:18).

One additional point here – in the gospel of Mark, Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah at Caesarea Philippi (8:29.) Jesus then tells foretells his death and resurrection. Mark tells us, “And after six days…” (v. 9:2). Jesus took Peter, James and John, went “up on a high mountain by themselves” where the disciples witness the transfiguration of Jesus. Incomplete (six days) – then complete on the seventh day?

If this theory is true, that would mean that Jesus will return 2000 years after his…birth? Death? Resurrection? Transfiguration, maybe? That is an answer we don’t know.

Birth? It would seem unlikely, since that time has already passed – even on the Hebrew calendar. However, some hold to this view based on changes to the calendar since the time of Christ.

Death? Perhaps this is the answer. Since people calculate that Jesus was crucified in either 32 or 33 A.D. – then, based on the Roman calendar, his return his truly upon us. And, since his return would be immediately preceded by the seven-year tribulation period, then…well, you can do that math.

Or perhaps the transfiguration? When Christ was seemingly anointed for his coming death and resurrection. Of course, this occurred just prior to his crucifixion.

To justify the Millennial Day theory, one must support a literal translation of Genesis and the pre-millennial return of Jesus.

Old Testament Mysteries

It stands to reason that any proponent of Millennial Day must also then accept the “young earth” theory – a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis – that creation occurred in a literal six days, and on the seventh day, God rested.

While young-earth creationists believe in a literal approach to interpreting the creation verses, old-earth creationists believe that a literal approach is not the correct method. Old-earthers believe the early chapters of Genesis are primarily symbolic.

Of course, this raises two significantly interesting questions. Since the rest of the book of Genesis is historical, why would the first two chapters be interpreted differently? Why would we take Genesis 3-50 literally, yet apply a figurative test to the first two chapters? Adding to the mystery, Exodus 20:11 – another historical, literal narrative – says:

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

The Hebrew word “yom” was used here to describe “day” in both Genesis and Exodus. Why would the Word of the Lord describe specific days – and apply six literal days, and a seventh-day Sabbath if it was all simply figurative?

Young-earthers argue that it is the theories of scientific aging that are being misinterpreted and are primarily a tool for atheistic naturalists defending Darwinian evolution and are working from a position of presuppositions and agendas.

It is important to point out that both groups – young and old-earthers – are equally sincere, and neither are declaring the Bible wrong. Both trust in the Bible as God’s Word. One simply interprets more literally than the other.

Of course, we must also not forget that God’s time is not our time, as pointed out by both Moses and Peter:

“A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).

Then again, we might ask – why did God take six days for creation, when he undoubtedly could have accomplished the task in moments? After all, He’s God. Secondly, surely God never needs to rest, so why did he rest on the seventh day? Could he be that God was setting a pattern, as so often occurred in the Bible? Was the six/seven-day combination a foreshadowing of what was to come?

Some have referred to Genesis 2 as an “implied prophesy.” The concept of 6,000 years of human labor and conflict will be followed by 1,000 years of rest during the Millennial Reign of the Messiah.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work” (Genesis 2:2).

“This concept of 6,000 years of human toil and conflict followed by 1,000 years of rest is still alive among Jewish rabbis and is being taught by them,” writes Dr. David R. Reagan.

Got Questions further explains: “As we interpret it, the Bible indicates that the earth is relatively young. According to secular scientists and those who accept an old-earth reading of Scripture, the earth is very old. Since neither viewpoint can be explicitly proved, we choose to side with a plain/literal interpretation of the Bible.”

One need not look far to see how God used seven in his dealings with Israel. The Sabbath on the seventh day, of course – but also, there are seven feast days; the seven-year Sabbath for the land; the seventh year of Jubilee. We would certainly be remiss to overlook the seventy “weeks” decreed for Daniel’s people and the holy city, as delivered by Gabriel - known as the “Prophesy of the 70 Weeks of Years” (Daniel 9:20-27).

In short, while there were sixty-nine “sevens” – or seventy weeks/years spent rebuilding Jerusalem plus sixty-two weeks/years awaiting the Messiah (v. 25) – this prophecy appears to have been fulfilled, but one “seven” remains. From the death of Jesus to today, the prophesy has been suspended, awaiting the final “seven” – the seven years of tribulation leading to Christ’s return. Daniel certainly evidenced a foreshadowing of things to come.

Foreshadows of Things to Come?

Regardless of how we feel about young-earth or old-earth, one thing remains certain – the Bible is replete with prophesies that foreshadow things to come, isn’t it? Daniel’s prophecy was simply one of the better known, however there have been many others.

Of course, hundreds of Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus, but there are many other Old Testament prophesies, unrelated to Jesus, which have been fulfilled. There are also those that are somewhat fulfilled, but awaiting fulfillment at a later date. Some scholars call this “multiple fulfillment,” meaning an Old Testament prophesy may have two fulfillments: one being closer on the timeline to the prophesy, and then long past it.

2 Samuel 7:12-16 is one example. Immediate fulfillment came in the coronation of Solomon, as David’s son. However, it was also fulfilled in the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Jesus himself, in the Olivet Discourse, reiterated Daniel’s prophecy regarding the final “seven.” “When you see the ‘abomination that causes desolation’…” (Mark 13:14). Partial fulfillment had come when Antiochus IV desecrated the temple in 167 BC. In that, Jesus repeated the words after that partial fulfillment tells us there is more to come. Final fulfillment is to come during the end times.

This brings us to the minor prophet Hosea 6:1-2:

“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.”

Clearly, the message is directed at an unrepentant Israel, and points directly at Jesus’ first coming, at his death and resurrection. Is it also possible this prophecy will result in a multiple fulfillment, fulfilled at Jesus’ second coming – coming to revive us after 2,000 years (two days) and restoring us in the millennial period (third day).

Is it possible that at creation God foreshadowed things to come, and then Jesus did the same at his death and resurrection? Only He knows.

Be Prepared

While the Millennial Day theory clearly has Biblical merit, the absolute truth is that none of us knows. None of us has any real clue as to when Jesus will return. But this we do know – He is returning. And we are closer now than we have ever been before. In fact, each day, each moment, we grow closer.

What should we do? We need to take seriously the parables of Jesus that warned of his return.

As in the parable of the ten virgins – we need to be ready with oil in our lamps, prepared for his return (Matthew 25:1-13). We need to be about the work of his kingdom, as the men who received five talents or two talents – and not as the one with one talent (Matthew 25:14-28).

Jesus promised us that wherever he was, he would return and take us with him.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:3-4).

And yes, Lord, now we know the way is through you.

When will that be? Well, only the Father knows the answer to that one. It could be today, tomorrow, or…? Let us be ready.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).

Grandchamp is an author and speaker. His book, “In Pursuit of Truth, A Journey Begins,” is an easy-to-read narrative that offers answers to the most common questions new believers and non-believers have about Jesus Christ (Amazon.) Greg speaks on living out our faith in our daily lives – and on creating true disciples of Christ.
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.