Reference: Apocalyptic Literature
Hastings
The apocalypse as a literary form of Jewish literature first appears during the Hellenistic period. Its origin is to a considerable degree in dispute, but is involved in the general development of the period. Among the Hebrews its forerunner was the description of the Day of Jehovah. On that day, the prophets taught, Jehovah was to punish the enemies of Israel and to establish His people as a world power. In the course of time this conception was supplemented by the further expectation of a judgment for Jews as well as for heathen (Am 2:3-8; 3:9-15; 5:10-13; Zec 1:2-18; 2:4-13; Joe 2:18-28; Eze 30:2 f.). The first approach to the apocalyptic method is probably to be seen in Zec 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14. It was in the same period that the tendencies towards the aesthetic conceptions which had been inherited from the Babylonian exile were beginning to be realized under the influence of Hellenistic culture. Because of their religion, literature was the only form of aesthetic expression (except music) which was open to the art impulses of the Jews. In the apocalypse we thus can see a union of the symbolism and myths of Babylonia with the religious faith of the Jews, under the influence of Hellenistic culture. By its very origin it was the literary means of setting forth by the use of symbols the certainty of Divine judgment and the equal certainty of Divine deliverance. The symbols are usually animals of various sorts, but frequently composite creatures whose various parts represented certain qualities of the animals from which they were derived.
Apocalyptic is akin to prophecy. Its purpose was fundamentally to encourage faith in Jehovah on the part of those who were in distress, by 'revealing' the future. Between genuine prophetism and apocalyptic there existed, however, certain differences not always easy to formulate, but appreciable to students of the two types of religious Instruction. (a) The prophet, taking a stand in the present, so interprets current history as to disclose Divine forces at work therein, and the inevitable outcome of a certain course of conduct. The writers of the apocalypses, however, seem to have had little spiritual insight into the providential ordering of existing conditions, and could see only present misery and miraculous deliverance. (b) Assuming the name of some worthy long since dead, the apocalyptist re-wrote the past in terms of prophecy in the name of some hero or seer of Hebrew history. On the strength of the fulfilment of this alleged prophecy, he forecast, though in very general terms, the future. (c) Prophecy made use of symbol in literature as a means of enforcing or making intelligible its Divinely inspired message. The apocalyptists employed allegorically an elaborate machinery of symbol, chief among which were sheep, bulls, birds, as well as mythological beings like Beliar and the Antichrist.
The parent of apocalyptic is the book of Daniel, which, by the almost unanimous consensus of scholars, appeared in the Maccab
See Verses Found in Dictionary
In your sight a thousand years are like a single day, like yesterday, already past like an hour in the night.
(To Her Beloved) Until the daybreaks and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.
(To Her Beloved) Until the daybreaks and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.
I saw in the night-visions someone like a SON OF MAN came with the clouds of heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days. They brought him near before him.
Jehovah was zealous for his land, and had pity on his people. Jehovah answered his people: Behold, I will send you grain, new wine and oil. You will be satisfied with it. I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. read more. I will remove the northern army far from you. I will drive it into a land barren and desolate. Its advance troops into the eastern sea and its rearguard into the western sea. It has done great things so its stench shall arise and its foul smell shall come up. Do not fear, O land, be glad and rejoice. Jehovah has done great things. Do not be afraid you beasts of the field. The pastures of the wilderness have turned green. The tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad you children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God! For he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes it to rain, the early rain and the latter rain, in the first month. The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. I will make up to you the years that the locust has eaten, my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of Jehovah your God. He has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame. You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God! There is none else and my people shall never be put to shame. In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions! (Ac 2:17; Isa 44:3)
I will destroy her ruler and government officials along with him, said Jehovah. Jehovah continued: I will not withdraw punishment for the many transgressions of Judah. For they have rejected the Law of Jehovah! They have not kept his statutes. Their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. read more. I will send fire upon Judah and it will devour the fortified buildings of Jerusalem. Jehovah said: I will not withdraw punishment for (three sins of Israel, even for four) the many transgressions of Israel! They sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes. They pant after the dust of the earth on the head of lowly (meek) persons. They reject the humble! A man and his father have sexual relations with the same maiden, to profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on clothes taken from indebtedness. In the house of their God they drink the wine they have confiscated.
Publish it in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt. Proclaim and assemble on the mountains of Samaria, and observe the great trouble and oppression there. Those who store up violence and robbery in their dwellings do not know how to do what is right, declared Jehovah. read more. The Lord Jehovah spoke these words: An adversary will surround the land. He will defeat and tear down your defenses. He will plunder your dwellings. Jehovah said: As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so the children of Israel will be rescued. They sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed. Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, said the Lord Jehovah, the God of Hosts. The day that I punish Israel because of her sins I will also punish those at the altars of Bethel! The horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground. I will strike (destroy) the winter house and the summer house. The houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will come to an end, said Jehovah.
You hate the one who reproves in the gate, and abhor him who speaks the truth (with integrity). You impose unfair rent on the poor and defraud a tribute of grain from them. You haave built houses of hewn stone yet you will not live in them. You planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them. read more. I know you have many transgressions and your sins are great. You afflict the righteous. You take bribes. You refuse to help the needy at the gate. The prudent will keep silent for it is an evil time.
Jehovah was very angry with your fathers. Tell them, Jehovah of Hosts has said: Jehovah of Hosts says return to me and I will return to you. read more. Do not be like your fathers! The former prophets declared: 'Jehovah of Hosts said, I implore you, return from your evil ways, and from your wicked activities! But they did not listen, they paid no attention to me,' said Jehovah. Your fathers, where are they?' The prophets, do they live forever? I commanded my servants the prophets to obey my words and my statutes. They disregarded them and suffered greatly. Then they repented and admitted that I, Jehovah of Hosts, corrected them as they deserved according to their deeds.' In the second year that Darius was king, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat), Jehovah gave me a message in a vision at night. He said: I had a vision in the night. I saw someone riding a red horse. He stopped among some myrtle trees in a valley, and behind him were other horses, red, speckled, and white. I asked him, Sir, what do these horses mean? He answered: I will show you what they mean. The man answered: These are they whom Jehovah sent to inspect the earth. They spoke to the Messenger (Angel) of Jehovah who stood among the myrtle-trees: We have patrolled the earth and the entire world is at rest. Then the Messenger (Angel) of Jehovah said: Jehovah of Hosts, how much longer until you show compassion to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You have been angry with them for seventy years. Jehovah replied to the angel that talked with me with gracious and comforting words. The angel said: Call out, say, this is what Jehovah of Hosts has said: 'I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with intense ardor. And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease (secure). I was but a little angered and they caused my anger to grow into fury.' Therefore, said Jehovah: I will return to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be built in it, said Jehovah of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem. Pronounce again, Jehovah of hosts: 'My cities will again overflow with prosperity. Jehovah will comfort Zion and yet choose Jerusalem.' I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, four horns.
He said to him: Run and speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, by reason of the multitude of men and cattle there. Jehovah said: I will become to her a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in the midst of her. read more. Flee from the land of the north, said Jehovah. I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, continued Jehovah. Escape Zion! You who dwell with the daughter of Babylon should escape. Jehovah of Hosts proclaims: 'He sent me after glory! He sent me to the nations that plundered you. For he that touches you touches the pupil of his eye.' Behold! I will shake my hand (power) over them, and they will be a spoil to those who served them. Then you will know that Jehovah of Hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For I am coming, and I will dwell in the midst of you, said Jehovah. Many nations will join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and will be my people! I will dwell in the your midst, and you will know that Jehovah of Hosts has sent me to you. Jehovah will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will yet choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah, for he is aroused out of his holy dwelling.