Postmillennialism has been a mainstream thought throughout the Church
history:

Augustine's influence lasted for 1000 years.

"Among Postmillennialists should be mentioned first of all the great
Augustine, whose eminently sound interpretation of Scripture set the
standard for the Church for nearly a thousand years."
http://www.worldwithoutend.info/bbc/books/millennium-lb/pt_01/0102.htm

"Augustine has moulded and directed theological thinking in general, has
offered an interpretation of the kingdom of God, the church, the millennial
imagery of the Apocalypse which held undisputed sway for more than a
shousand years and even after all the enlightenment of modern times, whith
highly technicalized terminology and specialized study, maintains his hold.
He was followed by all the great Latin Fathers, Leo the Great, Gregory the
Great, Albertus Magnus, Thomas Acquinas, etc."(Dr. William H.
Rutgers, )Premillennialism In America, p. 71 (1930)

Reformation and Post-reformation thinkers were Postmillennialists:
"This quick survey of leading Christian thinkers in the nineteenth century
has established, therefore, that the postmillennialism which characterized
John Calvin, the second generation reformers, the early English Puritans,
the Westminster Assembly, Presbyterians and Independents in England,
American and Scottish Calvinists, German and Dutch scholars, the great
missions movements and awakenings, early American Presbyterians (whether Old
Light or New Light), social and intellectual movements ? this same
postmillennialism continued with driving force among missionary leaders,
Christian writers in England, Scotland, Germany, and america, leading
Presbyterians in the Northern, Southern, and Reformed Presbyterian Churches,
as well as the great Princeton theologians. One cannot draw back from
concluding that postmillennial eschatology is central in the heritage of
Reformed theology; optimism for the church’s endeavors on earth is deeply
engrained in historic, international Calvinism. The preceding survey, then,
exhibits the groundlessness of Berkhof’s contention that amillennialism is
“the only view” expressed or implied in the historic confessions of the
Church “and has always been the prevalent view in Reformed circles.”[123]
Such a claim cannot stand up in the face of solid and pervasive
original-source testimony. So also, claims that postmillennialism
originated with Daniel Whitby in 1703, or was generated in the environment
of nineteenth-century, humanistic optimism, are deprived of credibility.
The Reformed heritage is permeated with postmillennial eschatology. This
surely does not demonstrate that the postmillennial belief is correct;
however, it cannot but commend the position to our attention and demand our
scriptural examination of the doctrine. It is nothing less than precarious
for us to sweep aside lightly the testimony of so many expert and
trustworthy theologians of repute. One’s theological tradition may be
wrong, but it cannot be ignored. Therefore, all who affirm the truths of
Reformed theology ought carefully to consider and weigh the teaching of
postmillennialism rather than thoughtlessly or hastily brushing it aside ?
always, of course, in the Reformation spirit of sola Scriptura!"
http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt031.htm

At present postmillennialism has strong influence on the Chuch.
"Since Postmillennialism has been so ably supported by outstanding
theologians and ministers whose influences continue at the present time, and
since it occupies such a prominent place in a number of standard theological
works, it seems rather curious to find Premillennialists attempting to
assign it merely an antiquarian interest."
http://www.worldwithoutend.info/bbc/books/millennium-lb/pt_01/0102.htm

Premillennialism has been a minor thought throughout the Church history:
"We must remember that Premillennialism too was in almost total eclipse for
a thousand years, between the time of Augustine and the Reformation, and
that during the Reformation period and for a long time afterward it was held
by only a few small sects that were considered quite heretical."
http://www.worldwithoutend.info/bbc/books/millennium-lb/pt_01/0102.htm

"Chiliasm(Premillennialism) was thus banished, rejected by the church, and
arose centuries later only in schismatic and sectarian movements, where it
periodically flourishes up to the present day. In its crude and unscriptural
form it never was countenanced by the governing faith of the church" (Dr.
William H. Rutgers, Premillennialism In America, p. 71 (1930))

2007年5月12日