The view that Christ's second coming will occur prior to His millennial kingdom is known as Premillennialism. Christ will establish a literal 1000-year millennial kingdom on earth and reign from David's throne in Jerusalem.

This view is based on the consistent use of the literal, historical-grammatical method of Bible interpretation. When God's Word is interpreted in this manner, the reader will clearly see the distinction between Israel and the church. It is crucial to recognize that Israel and the church are distinct because, if this is misunderstood, Scripture will be misinterpreted.

Genesis 12:1-3 says: “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'”

God made three promises to Abraham: he would have many descendants, this nation would own and occupy a land, and a universal blessing will come to all mankind out of Abraham's line (the Jews). In Genesis 15:9-17, God ratified His covenant with Abraham. The way in which this was done indicated that God placed sole responsibility for the covenant upon Himself. There was nothing Abraham could do or fail to do that would make this covenant void.

In 2 Samuel 7:10-17, God made a promise to King David. God promised David that he would have descendants, and out of those descendants God would establish an eternal kingdom. This is referring to the rule of Christ during the millennium and forever. This promise must be fulfilled literally and has not yet taken place.

Revelation 20:1-7 mentions six times a 1000-year on earth. This passage corresponds to Christ's literal 1000-year reign on the earth. God's promise to David about a ruler must be fulfilled literally and this has not yet taken place. The premillennial view sees this passage as describing the future fulfillment of that promise with Christ on the throne. God made unconditional covenants with both Abraham and David. Neither of these covenants has been fully or permanently fulfilled. A literal, physical rule of Christ is the only way the covenants can be fulfilled as God promised they would.

Applying a literal, historical-grammatical method of interpretation to Scripture results in the pieces of the puzzle coming together. All of the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' first coming were fulfilled literally. Therefore, we should expect the prophecies regarding His second coming to be fulfilled literally as well. Premillennialism is the only system that agrees with a literal interpretation of God's covenants.