Chiliasm

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɪ.lɪæ.z(ə)m/

Definitions

1. A doctrine that anticipates a millennium of peace and prosperity on Earth, often associated with religious eschatology and messianic expectations
2. The belief in a forthcoming era characterized by significant transformation and divine governance, frequently tied to religious prophecy
3. A theological perspective that emphasizes a future age of peace and righteousness on Earth through divine intervention and eschatological events

Etymology: Chiliasm is the belief that Christ will return to earth and reign for a thousand years before the final judgment, a doctrine often called millenarianism. The name comes from the Greek "chilioi", meaning "thousand", with the suffix "-asmos" forming a noun of belief or practice, so the word is essentially "thousand-ism". The Greek form "khiliasmos" gave English a learned coinage built on a plain number, and the thousand years it names come from the biblical book of Revelation. The idea behind the word is older than its English form. Early Christian writers who expected a literal millennium of Christ's rule were drawing on the twentieth chapter of Revelation, where a thousand-year reign is described. Because the word refers to that specific number of years rather than to any general hope, it stays tied to a particular expectation of history coming to a climax, which is why it is so often applied to utopian movements that promise a perfect society within a set period.

Synonyms: millenarianism, apocalypticism