Apocalypse of Baruch* (A.D. 50-80). — Of this composite work the six or more independent con- stituents may be ranged in three classes when treated from the standpoint of their eschatology. Thus the Messiah Apocalypses A' A' A', i.e. '27- 30' 36-40 53-74, form the first class. i. This differs from the remaining part of the book in being written prior to A.D. 70 and in teaching the doctrine of a personal Messiah. The role of the Messiah in A' is entirely a passive one, whereas in A' and A' he is a warrior who slays the enemies of Israel with his own hand. In all three Apocal3-pse& the Messiah-Kingdom is of temporary duration. In A' ' his principate will stand for ever until the world of corruption is at an end ' (40") ; in A' his rei^ is described as ' the consummation of that which is corruptible, and the beginning of that which is incorruptible' (74-). In A' and A' the kingdom is in.augurated with the judgment of the sword (39'-40- T2^-«). Tlie Gentiles that had ruled or oppressed Israel should be destroyed, but those that had not done so should be spared, in order to be subject to Israel (72""'). The final judgment and the resurrection follow on the close of these kingdoms. Of the two remainui" cla.sses, the second consists of B', and the third of B' and B', written after A.D. 70.
ii. In B', i.e. 1-9' 43-44' 45-46» 77-82. 84. 8ft-87, the writer looks forward to the rebuilding of Jeru- salem (6'), the restoration of the exiles (77'' 78'), the Messianic kingdom, but no Messiah (1' 46* 77"). There is no consideration shown for the Gentiles (82'-').
iii. In B>, «.«. 13-25. 30'-35. 41-42. 44»-'» 47-52. 75-76. 83, the writer has relinquished all hope as to the present corruptible world, and fixes his regards wholly on tlie incorruptible world that is to be. The world wUl be renewed (32*), and in this renewal, from being transitory and verging to its close (48°" 85'°), it will become undying (51') and everlasting (48°") ; from being a world of corruption (40* 74' 21''-' etc.), it will become incorruptible and invisible (74' 51*). The teaching as to the resurrec- tion proceeds on parallel lines. Thus in answer to the question, ' Wilt thou perchance change these things (i.e. man's material body) which have been in tlie world, as also the world ? ' (49*), it is shown in 50 that the dead will be raised with their bodie.s, exactly in the same form in which they had been committed to the earth, with a view to their re- cognition by those who knew them. When thi«
** For a fiiller treatment of the quefltlons touched upon hert see Charles' Ai>ocalypse of Baruch,
ESCIIATULUGY
KSCllATOLOGY
747
recognition is completed, the bodies of tlie right- eous will be transformed, with a view to a spiritual existence of unending duration and glory (5P- '• '"') ; and they will be made like unto the angels and equal to the stars, and changed from beauty into loveliness, and from light into the splendour of glory (51'°). They will surpass the angels in ex- cellency (51"). In B', i.e. 85, there is the same despair of a national restoration as in B^, and only spiritual blessedness is looked for in the world of incorruption (85*- •).
Observe that (1) in B' Sheol is the intermediate abode of the souls of the departed prior to the final judgment (23» 48" 52^ cf. 5G«). This intermediate place is one involving certain degrees of happiness or torment. For the wicked it is an abode of pain (SO* 36"), but not to be compared with their torments after the final judgment. As for the righteous, these are preserved in certain ' cham- bers' or ' treasuries' which are in Sheol (4 Ezr 4*'), where they enjoy rest and peace and are guarded by angels (Eth. En. 100», 4 Ezr V"). From these they issue forth at the final judgment, to receive their everlasting reward (30-) (2) From the account of the resurrection in 49'-51, it is clear that the Pauline teaching in 1 Co IS"'" is in some respects a developed and more spiritual expression of ideas already current in Judaism.
Book of Baruch. — In this composite work there is little that demands our attention. 1-3' is undoubtedly derived from a Hebrew original, and possibly part of 3'-5. It is composed of at least tnree independent writings. As to their dates, nothing satisfactory has been yet arrived at. It is noteworthy that in 2" Hades still possesses its OT connotation. The restoration of Jerusalem is looked for (4'"") and the return of the exiles (4^-5).
4 Ezra. — We shall adopt provisionally some of the critical results attained by Kabiscn on this book. Of the live independent writings which he discovers in it, two were written prior to A.D. 70, and three subsequently. The two former he designates respectively as an Ezra Apocalypse and a Son-of-Man Vision, (a) The Ezra Apocalj'pse consists of chapters 4»»-5'«' O"""- »» 7-«-" 8«3-9", and is largely eschatological. The signs of the last times are recounted at great leuf'tli (5'"'' 6" 9'''' '), the destruction of Rome (5'), and the advent of the Messiah, the Son of God (5' 7"). Certain saints will accompany the Messiah (7™), and all the faith- ful who have survived the troubles that jireceded the kingdom will rejoice together with the Messiah for 400 years.* Then the Messiah and all men will die (7'*), and in the course of seven days the world will return into its primeval silence, even as in seven days it was created (7*'). Then the next world will awake and the corruptible will perish (7")i and all mankind will be raised from the dead (7") and appear at the last judgment (7**). Then Paradi.se ( — final abode of the righteous) and Gehenna will be revealed. And the judgment wiU last seven years (7**).