Did the Early Church Fathers believe in a Literal Millennium?

Did the earliest Christians believe that Christ would establish a temporary, earthly kingdom on earth for a millennium prior to the general judgement? Did the 4th century Church suddenly abandon that belief due to the influence of Christian Platonism? In this episode, we explore chiliasm—the belief in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth—as it appears in the writings of the Church Fathers of the second century.Drawing from second century sources and recent scholarship, we nuance this oft-told tale about the history of eschatological hope and reflection. Whether you’re interested in early Christianity, eschatology, or the development of Christian doctrine, this episode provides historical context and primary-source insight into one of the most debated topics in Christian theology.