The call of protest issued by Martin Luther gave rise to many other groups who wanted to reform from the current state of the church. The Anabaptist movement took off first as a group lead by scholars and pacifists, but after facing persecution the movement quickly became one of radical expression through rebellion and hopes set in violent revolution. In hopes of a New Jerusalem Anabaptists looked to Strasbourg to become the city where the kingdom of God could be developed. But the government of Strasbourg pushed back and repressed the large numbers of Anabaptists coming to the city. Then the suggestion arises that the New Jerusalem actually be established in Munster, which already had a large Protestant and Catholic presence, so Anabaptists did not experience push back in Munster. The lack of persecution in Munster ment that a large population of Anabaptists went there and also presumably meant that the Kingdom would come and Munster would be the New Jerusalem.
Before the Anabaptist move to Munster occurred, past catholic priest Thomas Muntzer joined Luther’s movement in 1518. By 1522 Muntzer had turned, becoming Luther’s opponent in the reforming world. Muntzer pushed for radical social transformation by violent means and his ideology progressively headed towards an apocalyptic viewpoint. Muntzer raises high disagreement with the socio-economic state of current affairs. Muntzer see’s the world as one where theft is a daily occurrence, but not just simply by the poor but heavily by the rich. The greed driven upper class holds out from those in need and to Muntzer this is a great injustice to all man. Muntzer continually references biblical prophets to not only strengthen his argument, mainly to Luther for authority, but also to warn of the punishment he understood would be rightfully placed on those who have done wrong in the eyes of God. The exploitation of the people would not go unnoticed by the ultimate judge and Muntzer was making a point about it.
On July 13, 1524, Thomas Muntzer gave a sermon to a group of princes and nobles where he called upon them to be God’s instrument in the revolution. Muntzer presents himself as the next Daniel, another prophet of prophets here to bring together the princes of peace. With this self diagnostic and usage of scripture Muntzer presents a seemingly consistent notion that he is presenting the will of God to man.
The growth of the Anabaptists through the push from Muntzer eventually lead to the establishing control of Munster by the Anabaptists. The New Jerusalem had been established in Munster and Jan Mathijs served as the New King David. It was understood to the Anabaptists that the Kingdom would come to this New Jerusalem because of a list of scriptural reflections they had achieved and now perceived to be fulfillments of prophecies. The community was very pious in regards to the old testament and the mosaic covenant. There was also no un-believers in the community. Jan Mathij was only king for six weeks before he was killed. Jan Van Leiden assumed the throne of kingship. In the summer of 1535 protestant and catholic forces retook the city of Munster, killing the majority of the inhabitants and beheading Jan Van Leiden.