Editorial August 11, 1986 Issue

Millennium now

CAROLYN B. SWAN

Some people circumscribe the millennium to a thousand-year period of holiness during which Christ will reign on earth. But the message from which this literal information is derived (Rev. 20:1–6) is actually figurative in character. More generally, the millennium is regarded as a future era of great joy and utter peace, not really limited to a time period. And surely no Christian would think joy could be complete or peace invulnerable without active representation on earth of the eternal presence and power of the Christ, the divine message which Jesus taught and practiced.

Although Christians might not agree on exactly what the millennium should be or how it will come about, most would probably concede that its arrival is indefinite, hinging on the second coming of Jesus. But must this second appearing be considered a future event? The healing history of the Church of Christ, Scientist, which Mary Baker Eddy founded, bears out what she writes: "The second appearing of Jesus is, unquestionably, the spiritual advent of the advancing idea of God, as in Christian Science."^{Retrospection and Introspection, p. 70.}

We can catch a glimpse of the fact that the millennium is attainable now. And from the standpoint of prophecy, or spiritual vision, afforded by the divine revelation that came to her, Mrs. Eddy was able to discern and to demonstrate something of this heaven-on-earth, and to describe it. She explains: "The millennium is a state and stage of mental advancement, going on since ever time was. Its impetus, accelerated by the advent of Christian Science, is marked, and will increase till all men shall know Him (divine Love) from the least to the greatest, and one God and the brotherhood of man shall be known and acknowledged throughout the earth."^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 239–240.}