The concept of Christian millenarianism is a future-oriented philosophy that posits the notion of the future or second coming of Jesus Christ. Within this notion the second coming of Christ is to occur within a specific number of millennia after his death. Such a perspective encompasses an apocalyptic fatalism with the close of a millennium, although in the year 1000 and 2000 no such coming occurred. As one theology scholar maintains, ôThis vision has an affinity for worldly activism, as believers are religiously obligated to strive for the righteous social reforms that are necessary to establish the millennial periodö (Williams 1). Those who ascribe to millenarianism believe that contemporary societies and rulers are corrupt and unjust and not right with God. Only a dramatic change, like the second coming of Christ, will restore societies in a way that is right with God.
If we examine the views of Immanuel KantÆs philosophical millenarianism in Idea for A Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View, we see that his ideas and concepts are akin to Christian millenarianism. This analysis will discuss KantÆs views in order to demonstrate how his ideas and concepts in this work relate to Christian millenarianism.
The main idea behind Christian millenarianism is that societies and individuals will not be right with God until some cataclysmic event such as the apocalypse and second coming of Christ. The Christian millenarianism will not immediately restore individuals or societies to GodÆs favor. First, God will need to secure victory over Satan in a battle often referred to as Armageddon. Once God is victorious over the forces of evil, then and only then will a new heaven and new earth be realized. Because it will take such a cataclysmic event to shape individuals and societies in accordance with the will of God, many Christians believe that following GodÆs will is more effective than trying to change socie...