Contemporary expressions of Postmillennial optimism have all too often been marked by unsettling levels of unrealistic triumphalism. Hence, it is not surprising that the godly instincts of many Reformed Christians have urged them to embrace the seemingly more moderate "Optimistic Amillennial" position.
At the same time, we must not forget that historic Postmillennialism is neither triumphalistic concerning the future nor unrealistic concerning this present world. Its most careful exponents recognize that the victory of Christ's kingdom in history will never eradicate the mixed nature of the visible church, the believer's predominant longing for heaven and the Second Advent, or the ordinary connection between godliness and cross-bearing. Such exponents also recognize that the large-scale victory of the gospel (over false religion, secularism, and national 'Christlessness') may not necessarily occur in the immediate future and will not occur via any other method than gospel preaching and discipleship.
Once placed within this more balanced theological framework and evaluated solely upon its exegetical merits, I believe that historic Postmillennialism becomes far more attractive to "Optimistic Amillennialists" who were perhaps scared off (and rightly so!) by the excesses of contemporary Postmill writers.
In any event, below is a passing treatment of this subject by Scottish exegetical wizard, Patrick Fairbairn, in his masterful work, The Typology of Scripture. In this excerpt, there is much to glean regarding the flavor and feel of historic Postmillennialism, as well as the eschatological significance of Davidic Typology. Enjoy!
There are
revelations in the Gospel, however, which point to events still future in the
Messiah’s kingdom…. We do not refer to the last issues of the Gospel
dispensation, when the concerns of time shall have become finally merged in the
unalterable results of eternity; but to events, of which this earth itself is
still to be the theatre, in the closing periods of Messiah’s reign. This
prospective ground is in many points overlaid with controversy, and much
concerning it must be regarded as matter of doubtful disputation. Yet there are
certain great landmarks which intelligent and sober-minded Christians can
scarcely fail to consider as fixed. It is not, for example, a more certain mark
of the Messiah who was to come, that He should be a despised and rejected man,
should pass through the deepest humiliation, and, after a mighty struggle with
evil, attain to the seat of empire, than it is of the Messiah who has thus
personally fought and conquered, that He shall totally subdue all adversaries
of His Church and kingdom, make His Church co-extensive with the boundaries of
the habitable globe, and exalt her members to the highest position of honor and
blessing.
For my own part, I should as soon doubt that the first series of
events were the just object of expectation before, as the other have become
since, the personal appearing of Christ; and for breadth and prominence of
place in the prophetical portions, especially of New Testament Scripture, this
has all that could be desired in its behalf. But how far still is the object
from being realized? How unlikely, even, that it should ever be so, if we had
nothing more to found upon than calculations of reason, and the common agencies
of providence.
That the
progress of society in knowledge and virtue should gradually lead, at however a
distant period, to the extirpation of idolatry, the abolition of the grosser
forms of superstition, and a general refinement and civilization of manners,
requires no great stretch of faith to believe. Such a result evidently lies within
the bounds of natural probability, if only sufficient time were given to
accomplish it. But, achieved ere the glorious King of Zion should have His
promised ascendancy in the affairs of men, and the spiritual ends for which he
especially reigns should be adequately secured! This happy consummation might
still be found at an unapproachable distance, even when the other had passed
into reality; nor are there wanting signs in the present condition of the world
to awaken our fears lest such may actually be the case. For in those countries
where the light of divine truth and the arts of civilization have become more
widely diffused, we see many things prevailing that are utterly at variance
with the purity and peace of the Gospel – numberless heresies in doctrine,
disorders that seem to admit of no healing, and practical corruptions which set
at defiance all authority and rule.
In the very presence of the light of
heaven, and amid the full play of Christian influences, the god of this world
still holds possession of by far the larger portion of mankind; and innumerable
obstacles present themselves on every side against the universal diffusion and the
complete ascendancy of the pure principles of the Gospel of Christ. When such
things are taken into account, how hopeless seems the prospect of a triumphant
Church and a regenerated world! Of a Saviour holding the undivided empire of
all lands! Of a kingdom in which there is no longer anything to offend, and all
appears replenished with life and blessing! The partial triumphs which Christianity
is still gaining in single individuals and particular districts, can go but a
little way to assure us of so magnificent a result. And it may well seem as if
other influences than such as are now in operation would require to be put
forth before the expected good can reach its accomplishment.
Something, no
doubt, may be done to reassure the mind, by looking back on the past history of
Christianity, and contrasting its present condition with the point from which
it started. The small mustard-seed has certain sprung into a lofty tree,
stretching its luxuriant branches over many of the best regions of the earth.
See Christianity as it appeared in its divine Author, when He wandered about as
a lowly and despised teacher, attended only by a little band of followers as
lowly and despised as Himself; or again, when He was hanging on a malefactor’s
cross, His very friends ashamed or terrified to avow their connection with Him;
or even at another and more advanced stage of its earthly history, when its
still small, and now resolute, company of adherents, unfurled the banner of
salvation, with the fearful odds everywhere against them of hostile kings and
rulers, an ignorant and debased populace, a powerful and interested priesthood,
and a mighty host of superstitions, which had struck their roots through the
entire framework of society, and had become venerable, as well as strong, by
their antiquity.
See Christianity as it appeared then, and see it now standing
erect upon the ruins of the hierarchies and superstitions which once threatened
to extinguish it – planted with honor in the regions where, for a time, it was
scarcely suffered to exist – the recognized religion of the most enlightened
nations of the earth, the delight and solace of the good, the study of the wise
and learned, at once the source and the bulwark of all that is most pure,
generous, free, and happy in modern civilization.
Comparing thus the present
with the past – looking down from the altitude that has been reached upon the
low and unpromising condition out of which Christianity at the first arose, we
are not without considerable materials in the history of the Gospel itself, for
confirming our faith in the prospects which still wait for their fulfillment.
On this ground alone it may scarcely seem more unlikely that Christianity
should proceed from the elevation it has already won to the greatly more
commanding altitude it is yet destined to attain, than to have arisen from such
small beginnings, and in the face of obstacles so many and so powerful, to its
present influential and honorable position.
But why not
revert to a still earlier period in the Church’s history? Why withhold from our
wavering hearts the benefit which they might derive from the form and pattern
of divine things, formerly exhibited in the parallel affairs of a typical and
earthly kingdom? It was the divine appointment concerning Christ, that He
should sit upon the throne of David, to order and to establish it. In the
higher sphere of God’s administration, and for the world at large, He was to do
what had been done through David in the lower and on the limited territory of
an earthly kingdom. The history of the one, therefore, may justly be regarded
as the shadow of the other.
But it is still only the earlier part of the
history of David’s kingdom which has found its counterpart in the events of
Gospel times [i.e., thus far in history]. The Shepherd of Israel has been
anointed King over the heritage of the Lord, and the impious efforts of His
adversaries to disannul the appointment have entirely miscarried. The
formidable train of evils which obstructed His way to the throne of government,
and which were directed with the profoundest cunning and malice by him who, on
account of sin, had been permitted to become the prince of this world, have
been all met and overcome – with no other effect than to render manifest the
Son’s indefeasible right to hold the scepter of universal empire over the
affairs of men. Now, therefore, He reigns in the midst of His enemies; but He
must also reign till these enemies themselves are put down – till the
inheritance has been redeemed from all evil, and universal peace, order, and
blessing have been established.
Is not this also
what the subsequent history of the earthly kingdom fully warrants us to expect?
It was long after David’s appointment to the throne, before his divine right to
reign was generally acknowledged; and still longer before the overthrow of the
last combination of adversaries, and the termination of the last train of
evils, admitted of the kingdom entering on its ultimate stage of settled peace
and glory. The affairs of David himself never wore a more discouraging and
desperate aspect than immediately before his great adversary received the
mortal blow which laid him in the dust. After this, years had to elapse before
the adverse parties in Israel were even externally subdued, and brought to
render a formal acknowledgement to the Lord’s anointed. When this point, again,
had been reached, what internal evils festered in the kingdom, and what
smouldering fires of enmity still burned! Notwithstanding the vigorous efforts
made to subdue these, we see them at last bursting forth in the dreadful and
unnatural outbreak of Absalom’s rebellion, which threatened for a time to
involve all in hopeless ruin and confusion. And with these internal evils and
insurrections, how many hostile encounters had to be met from without! some of
which were so terrible, that the very earth was felt, in a manner, to shake
under the stroke (Ps. 60). Yet all at length yielded; and partly by the prowess
of faith, partly by the remarkable turns given to events in providence, the
kingdom did reach a position of exampled prosperity, peace, and blessing.
But
in all this we have the development of a typical dispensation bringing the
assurance that the same position shall in due time be reached in the higher
sphere and nobler concerns of Messiah’s kingdom. The same determinate counsel
and foreknowledge, the same living energy, the same overruling Providence, is
equally competent now, as it is alike pledged, to secure a corresponding
result. And if the people of God have but discernment to read aright the
history of the past, they will find that they have no need to despair of a
successful issue, but ever reason to hope that judgment shall at length be
brought forth into victory. [Typology of Scripture, Vol. 1, pp. 184-188]
