Bad Theology leads to bad actions which often produce horrific tragedies. We could give many examples of this from the horrific slaughter of the wars of the Protestant Reformation, to ‘Christian’ Zionism’s endless cycle of Middle Eastern Wars, to the human carnage caused by Liberation Theology in the Global South. Heresies have consequences. While all heresies are bad, one towers above most others in terms of its broad appeal, history of mass murder, and potential to end all human life as we know it. Let us consider Millennialism, a sort of foundational heresy for many of the others currently causing havoc in our world.

The heresy of Millennialism or Chiliasm (from the Greek) is a belief that a Messianic Age will be established on Earth prior to the Last Judgment and the future permanent state of eternity. A Kingdom of God on Earth. A perfect age. No sorrow. No suffering. No death. Christianity and Judaism have both produced messianic movements with such beliefs (though differing in the details such as the identity of the Messiah).

American Millennialism is split into two broad traditions. Premillennialism is the belief that Jesus’ Second Coming starts the Millennium. Postmillennialism, by contrast, teaches that Jesus will come after the Millennium has been started by an inspired mankind. https://orthodoxreflections.com/building-the-kingdom-of-god-on-earth/