postmillennialism

1 9.9

The belief that the world will improve by people's efforts before Christ returns

noun
/ˌpoʊstmɪˈlɛniəlɪzəm/

Specialized

: postmilenarismo

Scholarships on postmillennialism explore how historical events shaped the belief in a peaceful era leading to the end of the world.

Examples

Although the process of incorporation was effected only through the transformation or attenuation of the enthusiastic element (and the postmillennialism of Jonathan Edwards is a prime example of this).

Academic text (1991)
Many religious groups advocate for postmillennialism, believing that human efforts can create a better world before Christ's return.
The debate about postmillennialism often centers on whether society can achieve lasting peace through human initiative.

Synonyms

millenarianism

vspostmillennialism

1 9.9

Belief that society will change completely, often by a future thousand-year rule of Christ

frames the change as gradual human improvement, not sudden transformation from outside

millennialism

vspostmillennialism

Specialized

1 9.9

Belief that a future thousand-year period of peace will come, especially in Christian teaching

emphasizes human effort and gradual improvement to bring that peaceful period

millenarism

vspostmillennialism

9.9

A belief that a thousand years of peace and happiness will come to earth, as some Christians expect

stresses change by human progress rather than only divine intervention

millenniumism

vspostmillennialism

Specialized

9.9

Belief that Christ will rule on earth for a thousand years as in the Book of Revelation

sees the period as arriving through human-led moral progress before the final event

Surface Forms

postmillennialism singular

postmillennialisms plural

Morphology

postmillennialism = postmillennial (transparent) = post + millennium + al + ism

Formed regularly by adding productive suffix '-ism' to the adjective 'postmillennial'; the meaning ('the doctrine relating to postmillennialism') follows standard morphology.

Etymology

Postmillennialism combines post- ('after') and millennial from millennium ('a thousand years') plus -ism ('belief'), so the word literally points to what comes 'after' a long, special period. That's why postmillennialism means the belief that a long time of peace and goodness will come before the Second Coming of Christ and that the world will improve before the end.