‘Millennialism and Millennialists in the Middle Age’

Man’s concern to know nature as well as the date that history will end has been eternal and perennial.  The perfect world, or a “golden age”, is common to many religions and some secular ideologies.

The basis of this eschatological thinking thrives on interpretations of certain passages in the Gospels that proclaim the second coming of Christ (Parousia), and the beginning of a thousand years of peace and justice.  This coming will be preceded by tragic events and trials for humanity, which men interpreting “the sign of the times” have tried to unravel.

This theory is referred to as “Millennialism” and has always been regarded as subversive since it tends to develop in the most depressed or subdued groups that see the grand events as an outlet of hope.

In a brief review, one can not only become aware of the concept of millennialism, but can also get to know the principal authors of this school of thought; in addition to containing an interesting philosophical and theological analysis of the subject.

• Title: “Millennialism and Millennialists in the Middle Age: A General Perspective”
• Author: Vicente Ángel Álvarez Palenzuela
• Pages: 21
• Contents of the 9th Week of Medieval Studies, Nájera, 1998
• ISBN: 84-89362-56-4
• Link: http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=563024