You seem to be indicating that it was ~the~ position of the early church, as in the ~only~ position or even the ~dominant~ position. That is debateable. The Apostles Creed -the earliest creed of the Christian Chruch- is clearly Amillenial.
"The premil position cannot lightly be dismissed as "bonkers." It is and has been from the founding of the church, a powerfully legitimate position."
I ~clearly~ called Pre-Tribulational Pre-Millenialism "bonkers" (as in nonsense). Pre-Tribulational (Dispensational) Pre-Millenialism has ~not~ 'been from the founding of the church'! It was invented about 170 years ago and ~never~ existed before then! It is Historical/Classical Pre-Millenialism (which is ~not~ Dispensational Pre-Millenialism) which existed in the early church.
I ~clearly~ did not call Historical/Classical Pre-Millenialism "bonkers".
"Just the lengths you're going to in arguing against it proves that it's occupied a large place in your thoughts and is on the short list of positions contrary to amillenialism against which you've developed a position."
Since I have yet to see the Pre-Millenial position (any variety) laid out in Scriture, so I have yet to argue against it.
Interestingly, I keep asking for Scripture and you keep pointing me to Justin Martyr!?!
"It is, IMO, the correct position."
Then you should be able to ~clearly~ demonstrate it from Scripture -which you have yet to do!
Jean