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Does Eschatology Change How We Vote?

Does Eschatology Change How We Vote?

Last updated on: October 14, 2026 at 11:51 pm by Brad Thibodeaux

Does Eschatology Change How We Vote? 2026-10-14T23:51:01-04:00 Brad Thibodeaux

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Does Eschatology Change How We Vote?
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Three years ago I asked a question: “Does Eschatology Change Politics?” Well, now we’re here. The midterms are approaching quickly, and now is an important time to reconsider how our view of the “end of the age” affects the way we participate in politics. So – how does eschatology and voting interact?

An Eschatology Primer

In case you’re unfamiliar with the word, eschatology is the theological study of the “last days”. Or, as Stanly Grenz puts it in Theology for the Community of God, “Eschatology is God’s call in the present in the light of his future”. This branch of theology seeks to ask “what happens next?”. There are a few different ways Christians think about this question, so here’s a short and definitely not exhaustive primer on the topic.

Millennialism

Millennialism is the idea that there will be a literal millennial – or 1,000 year – reign of Jesus Christ. This is further broken down based on when Jesus will come and establish his kingdom. In Pre-Millennialism, Jesus comes before and ushers in the millennial kingdom. Many pre-millennialists believe in the rapture – when Christians will be taken into heaven and the earth will devolve into chaos and violence. Similarly, Post-Millennialism believes Jesus will return to earth after the millennial golden age of the earth. This golden age will be due to human and divine collaboration to create a world that is suitable for Jesus. Amillennialism views much of the apocalyptic messages in scripture as being either allegorical or completed. There will not be any clear divine intervention in the process. Rather, the natural forces of good and evil will finally come to a head on earth.

Grenz notes that “Each embodies a response to the practical question as to the attitude that ought to characterize the church of Jesus Christ as it seeks to fulfill its mandate in the world”. Pre-millennialism tends to be more pessimistic about humanity’s ability to reform and expects the world to get worse. Post-millennialism is optimistic in the ability for the Church to create a society that is is ready for the divine king. Amillennialism splits the difference: “the amillennialist world view calls the church to realistic activity in the world… yet ultimately success will come only through God’s grace.”

Eschatology, Voting, and Denominations

Now that we understand the different flavors of eschatology, let’s see how they may interact in politics and voting. Pew Research Center released polling data after the 2024 election cycle. In this, they break down those polled by several different demographics, including religion. In their breakdown, they categorize several different denominations of Christian. This is interesting because different denominations tend to lean to different eschatologies.

By far, the largest Trump supporting denomination was White Evangelical Protestant. This group favored Trump over Harris by +65. White Evangelical Protestant typically includes Southern Baptist and Reformed denominations. Both of these traditions tend to be Pre-millennialist. In Protestant responders, Black Protestants were the only Harris supporters by +68. Black Protestant theology, while it can be more conservative in some ways, prioritizes the role of human intervention in society. They have historically worked towards reforming society on theological grounds. White Catholics voted more often for Trump and Hispanic Catholics voted for Harris more. Catholicism does not teach pre-millennialism, but would fall somewhere between post- and a-millennialist in the belief that the Catholic Church is the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus.

Eschatology and Voting Outcomes

Why do certain denominations vote the way they do? There are obviously many reasons why people vote the way they do. Geography, wealth, race, age and gender all play a factor in how someone votes. But – looking at this through an eschatology lens, we should see how eschatology may affect voting.

If pre-millennialism looks towards the end of the world, they may be less likely to engage in change. In some extreme cases, conservative and fundamentalist ideologies can actually work to further the devolution of the world. Post-millennialism may not long for the end of the world, but their mission can sometimes be harmful. If a post-millennialist believes they need to evangelize to the entire world before Jesus comes back, that can be dangerous. Do you remember the story of the young missionary who died while trying to evangelize to the Sentinelese? Amillennialist may try to strike a balance between optimism and pessimistic views of humans and society. However, what happens when we work and are blocked at each road? Which way would we tip – give up or continue to build?

What Now?

I began with a quote from theologian Stanley Grenz and I think another would fit here. As he closes his chapter on eschatology, he works to find a common vision for these divergent theologies. He says, “God’s community is a society of love, righteousness, and justice. Therefore, social action must also be a part of the church’s agenda.” Whether you are anticipating the apocalypse or basking in the glow of the Church’s millennium, we cannot forget that people need us. They need us now. We cannot forget about the immediate needs of our neighbors and spend all of our time in the clouds.

So – How did what you were taught about the end times shape the way you think about politics?

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