Futurism is a variant of Christian eschatology that today is found mostly in dispensational theology. Futurism views most of the apocalyptic literature of Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, and the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) as taking place in the future.
Futurism existed in the early Christian church as historic premillennialism. This view did not believe in a rapture of the church, but it did believe in a literal one thousand year millennial reign of Christ, followed by a period of brief rebellion and then the eternal state. Modern day futurism is found mostly in the dispensational camp. Dispensationalism teaches that the church will be raptured prior to the anti-christ coming to power, and the ushering in of a literal seven year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation the anti-christ will be vanquished and Christ will return to set up a one thousand year kingdom. This kingdom, called the Millennium, will end with a rebellion against the rule of Christ. The rebellion will be crushed and the Great White Throne judgment will take place. Following this will be the eternal state.
Futurism is considered an orthodox view of eschatology. Popular futurists throughout modern history are John Nelson Darby, C.I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer, John MacArthur and Charles Stanley.
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