1. Definition of apocalyptic literature
The Greek word for apocalypse is apokalypis, meaning revelation or unveiling. [1] It is about future events like the final judgment of humankind, the second coming of Jesus Christ, the new heaven, and so on. There are two true Apocalyptic literatures within the Bible, which are the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. [2] There are other apocalyptic literatures outside the canon, like the Jewish apocalypse. It is said that the Jewish apocalypse flourished during the inter-testamental period. Some other apocalyptic literatures are 1 and 2 Enoch, Jubilees, and 2 and 3 Baruch. The media of revelation in the apocalypses are usually dreams or visions, in which vivid symbolic imagery often features and is then interpreted by an angel. Sometimes the revelation is conveyed in a long discourse by an angel or in dialogues between the angel and the seer. Sometimes the seer is taken on a tour of the cosmos to see its contents. A vision of the heavenly throne room is a prominent feature of many apocalypses. The term is derived from the word "apocalypse," meaning the body of literature. [3] The word designates both a genre of literature and the characteristic ideas of this literature. [4] First, it is the body of the literature, the apocalypse, and second, it refers to the ideas of characteristics of that literature, types of eschatology. Thirdly, the term can refer to a type of religious movement. The events described in apocalyptic literature are often presented with literary techniques found commonly in poetry, like metaphor, hyperbole, personification, and so on. The apocalypse is a message of hope for the oppressed, a warning to the oppressors, and a call to commitment for those unsure of their loyalties.
- Apocalyptic literature in the New Testament
- Apocalyptic literature in the Old Testament
- Characteristics of apocalyptic literature
Apocalyptic in the NT is primarily a means of expressing the significance of Jesus for the future destiny of the world. [5] Some passages in the NT reflect the literary forms of apocalyptic besides the ideas of apocalyptic eschatology, but there is only one true apocalypse in the NT canon: the book of revelation. NT Apocalyptic is Christ-centered. God’s decisive act of eschatological salvation has taken place in the history of Jesus, and therefore, Jesus is also the focus of the future hope of Christians. For NT writers, apocalyptic writing becomes mainly a way of declaring the significance of Jesus Christ for the destiny of the world. Some of the New Testament books, such as the Book of Reconciliation and Mark Chapter 13, contain apocalyptic features.
The Old Testament books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah show some of the apocalyptic features that had begun to develop in the later prophetic writings. [6] Apocalyptic eschatology can be found especially in Is 24–27, 56–66, and Zc9–14. In these passages, the eschatological future is envisaged in terms of direct divine intervention, a universal judgment of the nations, and a new age of salvation in which the cosmos will be radically transformed. Transcendent eschatology is the central core of apocalyptic belief. The apocalypse reveals the secrets of God’s plan for history and for his coming triumph at the end of history. It also includes the cosmological apocalypse, which reveals the mysteries of the cosmos. [7]
Throughout apocalyptic literature, there is a sharp contrast between evil and good, between the present world and the age to come. In the present world, God’s people suffer because of evil, but in the age to come, God’s people will enjoy unending contentment, whereas those who are evil will be destroyed (Isa 24:21–23; Daniel 7:9–14; Rev 19:1–5). Meanwhile, God’s people must persevere. They have to realize that history must move along the path that God has determined for it until the time comes for him to intervene decisively (Ez 39:1-4, 21–25; Dan 12:16–13). The vision reports by the apocalyptic writers were not usually in the form of scenes taken from real life. In most cases, they contained features that were weird and abnormal, such as unnatural beasts and mysterious numbers (Dan 8:3–8, 9:24; 12:11–12; Rev 13:1–5, 11–18). The visions had symbolic meaning and were often interpreted by angels (Ez 40:2-4; Dan 8:15–19).
Revelation: they allege revelation of God’s purpose given through the medium of dreams, visions, or a journey to heaven, by which the seer learns the secrets of God’s world and the future. There are other features of the apocalyptic, like symbolism, imitation, pseudonymity, and so on.
Conclusion
The apocalyptic is a body of literature. The word apocalypse is derived from the Greek word "revelation. The apocalyptic literature is filled with eschatological events. The media of apocalyptic literature are the visions and dreams and the conversations of God and the seer. According to the Bible, there are only two apocalyptic books: the book of Daniel in the OT and the book of Revelation in the NT.
Bibliography
Douglas, J.D., New Bible Dictionary, England: Inter Varsity Press, 1962.
Douglas, J.D., New International Bible Dictionary, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963.
Ferguson, Sinclair B., New Dictionary of Theology, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.
Fleming, Don. Bridge Bible Directory, Australia: Bridge Way Publication, 1990.
Ryken, Leland, and James C. Wilhoit, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, England: Inter Varsity Press, 1998.
[1] J.D. Douglas, New International Bible Dictionary (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963), 67.
[2] Ibid., 53.
[3] Sinclair B. Ferguson, New Dictionary of Theology (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 33–35.
[4] J.D. Douglas, New Bible Dictionary (England: Inter Varsity Press, 1962), 54–55.
[5] Sinclair B. Ferguson, New Dictionary of Theology (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 34.
[6] Don Fleming, Bridge Bible Directory (Australia: Bridge Way Publication, 1990), 21.
[7] Leland Ryken and James C. Wilhoit, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (England: Inter Varsity Press, 1998), 36.
