postmillenarian
|post-mil-len-ari-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌpoʊstˌmɪlɪnˈɛəriən/
🇬🇧
/ˌpəʊstˌmɪlɪnˈɛəriən/
after the millennium (theological belief)
Etymology
'postmillenarian' is formed by prefixing the Latin-derived prefix 'post-' meaning 'after' to 'millenarian', which itself comes from Latin 'millennium' (from 'mille' meaning 'thousand' + 'annus' meaning 'year').
'millennium' (Latin) gave rise to Medieval Latin forms such as 'millennarius' and later to 'millenarian' in English; 'postmillenarian' was formed in English by adding 'post-' to that existing term to denote the belief that the millennium comes before Christ's return.
Originally the elements meant simply 'after' + 'thousand years'; over time the combined term came to denote specifically the theological position that Christ will return after a prophesied thousand-year golden age.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who believes in postmillenarianism — the doctrine that Christ's second coming will occur after a golden age or millennium of Christian prosperity on earth.
Many early reformers were postmillenarian, expecting a long era of Christian improvement before the final return.
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Adjective 1
relating to or supporting the belief that Christ's return will follow a millennium of righteousness and peace.
The sermon presented a postmillenarian interpretation of prophecy, arguing that society would gradually be transformed before Christ's return.
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Last updated: 2026/01/06 03:56