Anabaptist eschatology

[Mick116]

I was wondering, what is the majority "end-times" view of the Anabaptists (and/or specifically the Mennonites)? Are they usually Premillennialist, Amillennialist, or something else? Just curious.

 

[david_x]

Anabaptist eschatology


I was wondering, what is the majority "end-times" view of the Anabaptists (and/or specifically the Mennonites)? Are they usually Premillennialist, Amillennialist, or something else? Just curious.

You could probiably find that info on some website. As far as my community (mennonite) we don't see it as impacting what we do.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I think it would be outside their conception of thinking in line with Scripture to go along with the 'a or 'pre.
that leaves 'something else.
your icon indicates possible seeker [of truth?]
if this is so, let Abba Elohim show/teach you as you search willingly and trusting Him alone, literally and in every way.

 

[vespasia]

It is in HIS hands. Scripture says only HE knows.

That is good enough for me.

 

[mccall33]

I was wondering, what is the majority "end-times" view of the Anabaptists (and/or specifically the Mennonites)? Are they usually Premillennialist, Amillennialist, or something else? Just curious.

I am reading a book on the Anabaptist view of the Revelation. It states that the early Anabaptists were Amillennialist, meaning they do not believe in a literal 1000 year reign of Christ. However, the book also says that some Mennonites prefer the premillennial approach popular today. Hope this helps--

 

[mccall33]

In regards to my reply about the Anabaptist view on the Book of Revelation, I think my reply was posted wrong, due to my fault. The traditiona Anabaptist view on Revelation was Amillennial. I have a book written by a Mennonite that also states that some Mennonites today use the premillennial approach, but again the history of the Anabaptists they were Amillennial. Blessings--

 

[WayneinMaine]

In regards to my reply about the Anabaptist view on the Book of Revelation, I think my reply was posted wrong, due to my fault. The traditiona Anabaptist view on Revelation was Amillennial. I have a book written by a Mennonite that also states that some Mennonites today use the premillennial approach, but again the history of the Anabaptists they were Amillennial. Blessings--

Premillenialism and a certain degree of dispensationalism have entered many Mennonite churches on the coat tails of other Evangelical and Fundamentalist Protestant doctrines. At one time it was quite controversial, as have been the introduction of other Protestant ideas over time. It's foreign to early Anabaptism and Old Order groups.

What book are you reading?

 

[Antje]

I know the early Anabaptists had all sorts of strong ideas about the "Milennium" and such.

I will speak for myself and say that I've never worried too much about those 1000 years. They don't have any impact on what I believe or do. I think most Mennonites and Anabaptists would agree these days, but I can't speak for them all.

I believe that when we die, we "fall asleep" (I'm not really sure about what that might exactly mean) and wait for our bodily resurrection when Christ returns to live on this physical earth and makes all things new, and completes the Kingdom of Heaven right here among us.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I know the early Anabaptists had all sorts of strong ideas about the "Milennium" and such.

Yes. Although several of the posts above talk about the "early" Anabaptists, it sort of depends on how early is early. There certainly were chiliasts among the earliest Anabaptists. Thomas Muntzer would be a prime example. But the branches of Anabaptism that survived the Reformation generally were both non-political and amillennial.

If you think about it, those two are historically closely related. Those of the early Anabaptists who were chiliasts generally used political force in an effort to bring about the millennium. The Anabaptist position that survived was more internally consistent, in that it insisted on not using force in religious matters, but leaving that to God. This philosophy fits best with an amillennial eschatology, although it is not completely inconsistent with premillennialism. The early Anabaptist chiliasts like Muntzer would have been more like what we would today call postmillennialists. Anabaptists universally rejected the use of violence for religious purposes by the second or third generation. However, a postmillennial hope, in which the reign of God on earth comes about through peaceful persuasion without the use of force is also not inconsistent with Anabaptist theology.

I will speak for myself and say that I've never worried too much about those 1000 years. They don't have any impact on what I believe or do. I think most Mennonites and Anabaptists would agree these days, but I can't speak for them all.

I would say the more Anabaptist one is in one's beliefs, the more likely they would agree with you. OTOH, dispensationalism originated in Brethren circles, as I understand it, and has influenced a lot of Mennonite groups that would identify themselves with the Brethren tradition and with Evangelicalism, such as the Mennonite Brethren. I think you'll find a majority of the Mennonite Brethren to be premillennial dispensationalists, although the denomination does not make eschatology a matter of doctrine, beyond affirming that Jesus is coming again.

I believe that when we die, we "fall asleep" (I'm not really sure about what that might exactly mean) and wait for our bodily resurrection when Christ returns to live on this physical earth and makes all things new, and completes the Kingdom of Heaven right here among us.

I think beliefs about the intermediate state are becoming less and less problematical since Einstein changed the scientific view of time. But that's personal eschatology, not cosmological eschatology.