Here is a list of my top books and resources on Postmillennialism for those who are curious or new to it, learning more about it, or just seeking some more content.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of the Optimistic Eschatology otherwise known as Postmillennialism. I’ve written elsewhere on the importance of Eschatology to our daily Christian lives. So, for me this is an encouraging trend that I pray continues to bear fruit and grow.
The past few decades in popular Evangelicalism have been largely dominated by (what may be called) Pessimistic views of the End Times—the most popular being Premillennial Dispensationalism. For many, belief in a Rapture, coming Tribulation and the rise of an Antichrist are taken for granted as what every Christian believes about the End Times. Many within Dispensational circles are not even aware that there are other positions (other than variations on where to place the Rapture: Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc). I know, since I was once part of those circles.
However, there is a whole world of other more historic eschatological positions which are firmly rooted in a serious desire to properly interpret God’s Word. For this reason, I hope that this brief list of books and resources will help you in your eschatological journey. May the LORD bless and guide you.
NOTE: I am a Partial Preterist (which means that most, but not all, of the Bible’s prophecies have been fulfilled and we still await the Second Coming of our LORD to consumate history with the General Resurrection and usher in the Eternal State). However, not all Postmillennialists are Partial Preterists. There are also Postmillennialists who would be Historicists (such as some of the Puritans) and are worth considering. Some of the resources below reflect a Partial Preterist position. I reject Full or Hyper Preterism which denies the future bodily return of Christ and Resurrection, as do all the historical Church creeds and confessions.
As with all resources, be a good Berean and search the Scriptures for yourself to see if these things are so.
Documentary on Postmillennialism
An excellent documentary by filmmaker, Nathan Anderson, that tackles the questions:
- Is the Kingdom of God a present reality or something future?
- What will the world be like before the second coming?
- Will the church fulfill the task commissioned by Christ?
- Will the nations be discipled?
Through interviews and narrative, this documentary presents a compelling articulation of the Postmillennial vision and hope.
You can check out Nathan’s new project, Honor the Son here.
Introductory Books on Postmillennilalism
These are some great books to get you started on understanding the Postmillennial position.
The Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? by R.C. Sproul
This is probably the book I recommend the most to people just starting to explore the topic of Eschatology. R.C. Sproul is a well-known and trusted pastor and theologian who does an excellent job helping Christians correctly understand what Jesus meant in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) and other important passages in the Bible about the End Times. Speculation and theories abound about what the last days have in store for us. Dr. Sproul points believers back to the words of Christ, offering them a solid footing amid ever-shifting opinion about the age to come. Highly recommend this one if you haven’t read it!
You can also check out my article and podcast series on a partial preterist interpretation of Jesus’s teachings on the Last Days in Matthew 24.
A Postmillennial Primer: Basics of Optimistic Eschatology by P. Andrew Sandlin
At only 110 pages, this little primer explains the basics of an optimistic eschatology and why it matters. Starting at Genesis 1:1, this primer shows that an optimistic eschatology rests in an optimistic protology. The sovereign Creator fashioned a very good creation that will fulfill his kingdom-expanding dominion purposes in time and history.
Postmillennialism Made Easy by Kenneth Gentry
The average Bible-believing Christian today believes that we are living in the shadow of the Second Coming. Consequently, they hold no long-range view of the future because they expect the Rapture to snatch them out of the world at any minute. Postmillennialism, however, offers Christians an exciting hope-filled view of the future that encourages long-term planning and diligent labor for the glory of God. In 146 pages you will find a clear and succinct presentation of postmillennialism. You may also find your Christian life changed as you study the case for postmillennialism from creation through redemption to consummation.
Video Playlist on Postmillennialism
This is a curated playlist of videos on various topics related to Postmillennialism including primers and intros, answers to objections, commentary on books of the Bible, and more. (TIP: You can use the navigation button at the top-right of the video playlist to look through all the videos on the list)
Books to Dig Deeper on Postmillennilalism
These are some Postmillennial books that have impacted my life in a big way—affecting the way I think, plan and act in the world today. I would highly commend them to you for further and deeper study.
He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology by Kenneth Gentry
At 664 pages, this is definitely a heavier read. But if you’re looking for a definitive and thorough expression and defence of Postmillennialism, this is a book you must contend with. In this book you will find the whole biblical rationale for the postmillennial hope, from its incipient beginning in Genesis to its glorious conclusion in Revelation. Your faith will be re-invigorated as you begin to recognize that “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom 1:16) and that our Lord Jesus really meant it when he commanded us to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt 28:19).
The Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society by Joseph Boot
There are a few books that I would say have changed my life. This book is one of them. It is a book that I keep coming back to and which I highly recommend for anyone wanting to seriously consider how Postmillennial theology is worked out in practice.
At 674 pages, The Mission of God is a clarion call for Christians and God’s church to awaken and recover a full-orbed gospel and comprehensive faith that recognizes and applies the salvation-victory and lordship of Jesus Christ to all creation: from the family, to education, evangelism, law, church, state and every other sphere.
The Mission of God is an exhortation to halt our descent into pagan religion, economic decline, and social decay by rediscovering and returning to a robust biblical faith in the lordship of Christ for every area of life.
Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church by Gary DeMar
I have some reservations about Dr. Gary DeMar given his recent ambiguity regarding Full Preterism. However, this older book was an excellent read dispelling many of the commonly believed End Times myths. It’s a book that I recommend often to those who are caught up in Dispensational teaching or have questions about the Preterist position.
Gary DeMar sheds light on the most difficult and studied prophetic passages, including Daniel 7:13-14; 9:24-27; Matt. 16:27-28; 24-25; Thess. 2; 2 Peter 3:3-13, and many more. DeMar identifies the Beast, the Antichrist, and the Man of Lawlessness and clears the haze regarding Armageddon, the abomination of desolation, the rebuilding of the temple, and the meaning of 666. This book will be a challenging and insightful read for anyone coming from a Dispensational or Premillennial background. Whether you agree with it or not, he brings forward some good food for thought to consider when interpreting these passages.
The Greatness of the Great Commission by Kenneth Gentry
This book radically changed and enriched the way I understood the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the church. Dr. Gentry is an amazing author and compelling exegete.
This book carefully studies Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). It shows that the Christian enterprise in a fallen world is to win men and nations, individuals and whole cultures to the Christian faith. It shows the optimism for success inherent in Jesus’ commission, as well as demonstrating the universal applicability of the Christian worldview. This book helped me expand my conception of what the Mission of the Church is given to us by Christ in the Great Commission beyond merely personal Evangelism and witness. It is an excellent read that will enrich your understanding of the Great Commission greatly!
The Beast of Revelation by Kenneth Gentry
A careful historical and exegetical study of the Beast of Revelation as found in the Book of Revelation. It identifies the Beast as the Roman emperor Nero Caesar, the first persecutor of the Christian church in AD 64. The book also delves into the question of the date of the writing of Revelation, arguing that it was written by John the Apostle around AD 65 or 66. This is an important issue in considering the Partial Preterist position. While not all Postmillennialists are Partial Preterists, I do believe that this is the correct interpretation of the text of Scripture and Dr. Gentry does an excellent job laying out a compelling case.
This book is a great shorter summary of Dr. Gentry’s larger book Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation and packed full of helpful insights on the Beast of Revelation.
The Days of Vengeance by David Chilton
This is a comprehensive verse by verse treatment of the Book of Revelation. While I disagreed at points with Chilton’s Preterist interpretation, this was a very helpful read to consider in understanding Revelation. Following in the train of thought of his Paradise Restored, Chilton sees the Church triumphant to the end with Satan defeated at the return of Christ. The Apostle John presents a vision of victorious Christians who overcome all opposition through the work of Jesus Christ. Chilton asserts that for too long the Church has labored under the delusion that failure is her only role in the world. An inviting, yet non-threatening commentary for the layman as well as the scholar. Chilton shows in this careful, detailed exposition, that St. John’s Apocalypse teaches that Christians will overcome all opposition through the work of Jesus Christ.
Paradise Restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion by David Chilton
Does the Bible teach Christians to expect victory or defeat in this world? In this powerful book, David Chilton sets forth extensive biblical evidence for the historic Christian view know as postmillennialism – the teaching that, before the Second Coming of Christ, the world will be successfully evangelized and discipled to Christianity. The author emphasized that our view of the future is inescapably bound up with our view of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus is now King of kings and Lord of lords means that His Gospel must be victorious: The Holy Spirit will bring the water of life to the ends of the earth. The Christian message is one of Hope: Pentecost was just the beginning.
You can also get it for FREE as a PDF here.
Other Books on Postmillennialism
Here are a few other great titles from Postmillennial authors that you may find interesting and helpful.
- The Puritan Hope by Iain H Murray
- When the Man Comes Around: A Commentary on the Book of Revelation by Doug Wilson
- Victory in Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism by Greg L. Bahnsen
- Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope by Keith A. Mathison
- An Eschatology of Victory by J. Marcellus Kik
- Heaven Misplaced: Christ’s Kingdom on Earth by Doug Wilson
- The Truth about Postmillennialism by Kenneth Gentry (Bible Study Guide)
- In The Days of These Kings: The Book of Daniel in Preterist Perspective by Jay Rogers
- Raptureless by Jonathan Welton
- Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)
- The Book of Revelation Made Easy: You Can Understand Bible Prophecy by Kenneth Gentry
My Resources on Postmillennialism
Here are a few of my own articles and podcast episodes on Postmillennialism and Eschatology.
I hope that you have found this resource page helpful. I’ll do my best to keep it updated with more helpful and solid resources as I become aware of them. Feel free to send resource suggestions for consideration as well. 😁
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