ChristFollower,
Thank you so much for your contribution! Yes, JWs should know more about other theological systems and other views of eschatology. Eschatology, as you point out, is the study of the last things - one branch of eschatology relating to the destiny of the individual (what happens after death) and the other relating to the destiny of the entire creation (including the 'end-times,' the 'new world,' etc.).
A specific reference to Christ's kingdom being of a thousand years duration is found only at Revelation 20:4-7. The premillennial view is that this passage refers to a literal thousand year period which is yet future, during which Christ and his saints will reign on (or over) the earth. You have explained the post-millenial view very well, that the thousand years will precede Christ's return, during which the influence of God's kingdom will be extended throughout the world by Christ's Spirit operating through his followers. The amillenial position, which you have mentioned but not explained, is that the Kingdom has existed spiritually in the Church ever since Pentecost, the "thousand years" are a symbolic expression that applies for the entire length of time (however long) between Christ's first coming and his second coming, and that the next event to occur will be the general resurrection and the judgment. This understanding is based on such texts as Colossians 1:13, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love," in which the Kingdom is a present reality ("present" referring to the entire period of the Gospel Age, not just post-1914). So the post-millennial and amillennial views are very similar. The WT also believes that Christ began to reign over his congregation at Pentecost, but if that is the case, what need is there for a 1914 Kingdom as some sort of preliminary to the final "kingdom come"? The spiritual kingdom has already been established (since Pentecost), and the next development should be the consummation at the end of the age.
Premillennialists assume that the "thousand years" of Revelation 20 will see the fulfillment of certain OT prophecies (such as Isaiah 11, 35 and 65), but when read in context these prophecies refer primarily to Israel. Even the WT admits that their primary fulfillment is upon spiritual Israel (which they take to be fulfilled upon themselves since 1919), and yet they tell JWs that they can still use the prophecies in field service to induce people to believe in a literal earthly Paradise! But the Church (with the exception of some Christians who are premillennialists) has taken these prophecies to be fulfilled upon spiritual Israel since Pentecost. On the other hand, those who are premillennialists are expecting a fulfillment upon natural Israel during the Millennium, which the WT rejects. So the WT has actually mixed certain strands of prophetic interpretation from other systems to come up with its own eschatology!
Premillennialism is supposed by some to be the earliest Christian interpretation of Revelation 20. A long line of Church Fathers can be appealed to for this view. Yet, Eusebius, the early Church historian, relates how even in the early centuries premillennialism had its opponents, yet he does not give us an alternative view of the millennium. One of the earliest exponents of amillennialism was Augustine (See "The City of God," Book XX).
The early Christians could have easily come to the conclusion, from Jesus' own words, that his own generation would see the "end" along with the fall of Jerusalem. As long as the "end" was thought to be imminent, they could be comfortable with a premillennial view. The JWs of today are in a similar position. The "end" has not come within the generation that they originally expected. It's time they settled down for the long haul.
There's a lot of energy locked up in the Borg that could be used for the betterment of humankind - if not in actually building the Kingdom of God, at least in loving the neighbor as oneself. But it will not be used for this as long as the WT promotes the nearness of the "end" and takes up all the members' time in the preaching work. (This, by the way, is the reason why they continue to milk their territories for all they're worth - not just to preach the Word and save those who will listen - but to keep the JWs preoccupied in service to the organization.) So whether or not the JWs accept an alternative eschatology or continue to be premillennialists, it's time for a change. Get on with life in the world that may last who knows how long.
Again, thanks for your contribution, and we hope to hear much more from you.
Justin