The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880-1884, Fred Richard Belk, 1976

e. 4 THE EMERGENCE OF CHILIASM Background of the Movement Though it is impossible to ascertain with exactitude how Turk- estan became the place of refuge for a small group of Russian Mennonites, it is certain that a book written by Claas Epp, Jr., greatly influenced their decision to migrate. The entire book was con- cerned with belief in the doctrine of millennialism and its relevance to their plight The belief Epp had in millennialism had deep roots in the Chris- tian faith. The diaspora of the Dutch and Swiss Mennonites to the lowlands of Prussia, to South Germany, and finally to the steppes of Russia brought with it the possibility of a vital interaction with dif- ferent faiths. Two centuries of comparative prosperity in Prussia gave them the opportunity to take on the cultural aspects of their sur- roundings. They retained this antimilitaristic faith but often failed to express the missionary zeal which they had previously exhibited. They became separatistic, quietistic, and chiliastic. Chiliasm or millennialism, depending on whether one employs the Greek or Latin root, has been a theological problem for most Christians down through the ages.' In Christian theology this word had reference to the thousand-year duration of the earthly reign of the Messiah at the end of history. According to the writer of Revelation, Satan will be bound and thrown into the abyss, there to remain while ‘‘the saints of God and of Christ” reign with the latter in the messianic kingdom throughout this period of tribulation. There- The Emergence of Chiltasm 51 after Satan will be released for a season to war against “the saints and the beloved city,’ after which he will be tossed into ‘‘the lake of fire and brimstone’ for his everlasting torment.? This passage is the only one in Scripture that explicitly refers to a millennial reign of Christ on earth, though some others? may plausibly be held to refer to the same period. These passages have given rise to three conflicting interpretations of the last days, known respectively as premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism. In the first case, it is held that Jesus Christ will return to earth before the millennium. Postmillennialism anticipates His coming after the event, while advocates of the third interpretation argue that the language is too highly figurative to suggest the reality of a literal millennial reign, but they do believe in the return of Christ. Premillennialism, then, holds that Christ will raise the church and return with her to reign literally a thousand years on earth. In this age the Jewish nation will be reunited and the forces of evil bound so as to render them impotent. Postmillennialism is a different variation which has not enjoyed as much popularity in recent times as the first interpretation. This view holds that Christ will re- turn to set up His earthly rule after the kingdom of God has been realized spiritually. The