Eschatology: Immanent or Transcendant

One of the most difficult tasks for postmillennial thought is to reconcile itself with everything that is taught about the Second Coming in the New Testament, particularly the conflict, and the "wrath to come." (e.g., Rom 2:5; 1 Thess 1:10) Furthermore, one of the most difficult tasks of heavily preterist versions of postmillennial thought is to reconcile itself with what is taught about the resurrection in the New Testament. The eschatological focus shifts toward an immanent vision of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God substantially comes to pass within the current aeon, before the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That Coming arrives at a world already brought into subjection to Christ.

As a result of this immanent vision of the Kingdom of God, the focus of church ministry shifts.  The central focus of ministry shifts from hope and preparation for the age to come (at the Second Coming) to hope and preparation for the Kingdom of God to be manifest in this age.

This has the tendency to eclipse our call to witness to the transcendent kingdom with a calling to social and political amelioration.