Church, New Apostolic

NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH -  The New Apostolic Church (NAC) is a chiliastic church, originated from the Catholic Apostolic Church.  The church has existed since 1863 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands.  It came about from the schism in Hamburgin 1863, when it demerged from the Catholic Apostolic Church, which itself started in the 1830s as a renewal movement in, among others, the Anglican Church and Church of Scotland.

Premillennialism and the Second Coming of Christ are at the forefront of the New Apostolic doctrines.  Most of its doctrines are akin to mainstream Christianity and, especially its liturgy, to Protestantism, whereas its hierarchy and organization could be compared with the Roman Catholic Church.

The church considers itself to be the re-established continuation of the Early Church and that its leaders are the successors of the twelve apostles. The New Apostolic Church sees itself as the re-established worker of salvation and continuation of the first Apostolic Church, thus constituting the true congregation established by Jesus Christ.   New Apostolic Christians believe in the Triune God: God the Father, the Creator of the world; the Son, Jesus Christ the Son of Man, personified God, redeemer and Head of the Church; and the Holy Spirit, who guides the church by His revelations, gives knowledge to the believers and acts universally. In this, NAC hardly differs from other Trinitarian churches.

The religion accepts the Apostles' Creed, believes in the sacramental nature of Holy Communion and baptism, but considers the Bible as untrustworthy and lacking a living testimony of the Word of God, the next coming of Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In December 2012, the New Apostolic Church's catechism has been made available.  It "contains a detailed description of the New Apostolic doctrine and expresses the Church’s position on various topics".