I'm so confused now....
Yeah, historic Pre-Mills place the return of Christ at the end of a "period of tribulation" (not necessarily a specific "seven years", historic Pre-Mills are not nearly as fond of date-setting as Dispensationals), preceding a 1,000 year bodily reign of Christ on this earth ("pre-millenial"). Then, towards the end of the Millenium, Satan is loosed for a short while, heresies lead many into rebellion against the administration of King Jesus, so God puts down the rebellion and then detonates the universe. Enter the New Heavens and the New Earth.
This eschatology has always appealed to me, as I kinda like the idea of King Jesus returning to the earth and essentially declaring to Man, "Look around, and see what a hellish mess your sinful governments and blasphemous theologies have made of this earth. Now watch, O Man, and see the goodness which will spring forth under the reign of a Rightful King and High Priest." And then Man still rebels against Him!! So characteristic of Man's nature. We are, in our natural state, sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.
Trouble is, if that chronology is accurate, then the "Day of God" when the universe melts away would hardly be coming as a "thief in the night":
OP and Woody sitting around on deck-chairs, somewhere in the Millenial Kingdom:
That's the problem. 2 Peter 3: 10-12 doesn't seem to "fit" the usual pre-millenial "future history".
Doc probably has more to say than I do....