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In our summer Bible school this week, we're doing a portion of the "If Anyone Would Follow Me" history of Anabaptism. The text mentioned the modernist period as the time when dispensational premillennialism was introduced to Mennonites, and somebody mentioned the idea of how many fringe groups that hold, shall we say, off-beat end-time ideas originated in this era (late 1800s and following). It is rather interesting.

Jehovah's Witnesses
Millerites/Seventh-Day Aventists
Mormons
Christadelphians
Christian Science

There are probably more. A lot of these of course still exist and of course dispensationalism and premillennialism remain a huge influence. It makes one wonder what stirred up all the interest in eschatology in this time period, and what made the various theories of the end times so attractive to folks then.

I think you can add Shakers to the list. The timing may vary slightly but directionally they fit in.

I think a contributing factor was the rapid pace of social change fueled by new technology in the industrial revolution. This is the period in the US when industrialization was reshaping jobs and the economy.

There was a hunger for theology/philosophy to fill the widening gap between traditional faith and modern society. Spiritualism was on the rise as well by blending new technology like electricity with old fashioned seance. This is the background for the success of the Frankenstein mythology.

There's a parallel time period of eschatology run amok in the early 1500s, with people like Hans Hut and Melchior Hoffman influencing the Anabaptists.

I think the rapid pace of social change is the common factor. Back then it took the form of the peasants' rebellion, the plague, and the Ottoman invasion, in addition to the political and religious turmoil.

ohio jones wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 11:03 am There's a parallel time period of eschatology run amok in the early 1500s, with people like Hans Hut and Melchior Hoffman influencing the Anabaptists.

I think the rapid pace of social change is the common factor. Back then it took the form of the peasants' rebellion, the plague, and the Ottoman invasion, in addition to the political and religious turmoil.

The parallels to today are hard to miss, communications and AI are reshaping jobs and society at a similar pace and COVID reshaped the confidence a large portion of the population has in the credibility of science and government.

I found this story fascinating about the Amish man in Holmes County who built a giant chair for Christs return he thought would happen in 1853:

http://historyinstone.blogspot.com/2015 ... -1788.html

Yes, we have our upheavals, for sure. In relation to eschatology, though, I think today people are generally more indifferent about the subject than they were 20 years ago. Decades of Left Behind and sensational linking of current events to biblical prophecy will do that to you.

Valerie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 11:21 am I found this story fascinating about the Amish man in Holmes County who built a giant chair for Christs return he thought would happen in 1853:

http://historyinstone.blogspot.com/2015 ... -1788.html

That is fascinating, and it's from this time period. One has to wonder what his formative influences were.

Valerie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 11:21 am I found this story fascinating about the Amish man in Holmes County who built a giant chair for Christs return he thought would happen in 1853:

http://historyinstone.blogspot.com/2015 ... -1788.html

We ("Russian Mennonites") had our own nut case during that period as well - Claus Epp. It was during the time that persecution was on the horizon again, as the original Privilegio was increasingly being taken away.

What were the contributing factors in the 70's (here in the US)? Was it the Hippie Revolution and the hopelessness of the "conflict" in Vietnam?

In Brazil, an American 'homeless man' came around at the congregation where we were attending (Fortelaza, 1985 into early 1986), and he was advocating the formation of an isolated community of Christians some place in the Amazon, in order to survive the Tribulation. (At least he wasn't Pre-Trib.)

mike wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 9:34 am...what made the various theories of the end times so attractive to folks then.

People need a grand narrative to give direction, meaning and purpose to their everyday lives. There is a longing to escape the problems in the world by finding the solution and fitting in to your role in it. The imminent return of Jesus can fill that urge and so can worker controlled socialist utopia, a hippie commune, fighting fascists, socialists, liberals, communists, nationalists etc...

barnhart wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 1:25 pm

mike wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 9:34 am...what made the various theories of the end times so attractive to folks then.

People need a grand narrative to give direction, meaning and purpose to their everyday lives. There is a longing to escape the problems in the world by finding the solution and fitting in to your role in it. The imminent return of Jesus can fill that urge and so can worker controlled socialist utopia, a hippie commune, fighting fascists, socialists, liberals, communists, nationalists etc...

Frequently they are accompanied by unorthodox s*xual practices. Such was true for the Amana folks, the Oneida folks, the Mormons of course, the Shakers, etc...