Observe that besides the general resurrection in -31. »j there seems to be a iireliminary resurrecti<m of some special saints to the Messianic kingdom in 7", but this is doubtful.
(6) A Son-of-Man Vision. — This writing con.iists of clmpter 13, and was probably composed before A.D. 70. Many signs will |)rccede the advent of the Messiah (l.'j-^'-), who will appear in the clouds of heaven (13'' ^'') ; and the nations will assemble from the four winds of heaven to attack him ( i:i»- **), but
• This number hiu orljfinftted as follown. Acooitlini^ to Gn 15'3 iHrnel waa to hv oppressed 400 years in I'^jfypt. Now in I'H 9*) tlic writer prays : ' Malco ns jflaH occorflitii; to the days wherein thou haat ailiict^d us, and tiio years wiierein we have seen evil.' From tiie eoinhination of lliese two piuwoKes it was inferred that the Meuianic l(in^'<lom would lost 400 yean, «■ a set otT o^tnst the period of oppruMiion in Kt^ypt.
the Messiali will destroy them, not with spear or weapon of war (IS"- ™), but ' by the law, which is like fire' (1."*' ■"'). And he will restore the ten tribes ( 13*- ■"), and preserve the residue of God's people tliat are in Palestine (13^).
\Ve shall now set forth the eschatological ex- pectations which appear in the remaining three constituents of this work, which were composed between A.D. 70 and 100. (c) The Eagle Vision, i.e. lCP-12^. Here the destruction of Kome is pre- dicted, through the agency of the Messiah sprung from the house of David (12*"), who will judge its people and destroy them (12'"). He will save the residue of God's people in Palestine, and he will till them with joy to the end, even the day of judgment (12*'). ((/) An Ezra fragment, i.e. I4i-i'«. is--'?, se-i?. Ezra is to be translated and live with the Messiah till the times are ended (14"). These times are twelve. Of these, ten and a half have already elapsed (14"). There seems to be no Messianic kingdom.
(e) The Apocalypse of Salathiel, i.e. S'-'' 4'"" S""- 610 63o_7M 74if_g6. 9i3-I0»' \2^-^ 14=»-«>. The world is nearly at an end (4"""). As it was created, so it will be judged by God alone (S" 6'). Very few will be sayed (7'"-'" 8'- '). Judgment and all things relating to it were prepared before the creation of the world and of man (7™). The day of judgment will arrive when the number of the righteous is completed (4^) ; for the sins of earth will not retard it (4''-'"). In the meantime retribution sets in immediately after death (70»- 7». w. ««. m 1435). Qn dying, the souls of the rijjhteous will be allowed seven days to see what wall befall them (7""'- "") ; they will be guarded by angels in the ' chambers ' (776. 85. »». m)_ xhey will have the joy of rest in seven ways (7*'"'*). These chambers form their intermediate abode : after the final judgment glory and transfiguration await them (7°°' "). But the souls of the wicked will not enter into the 'chambers,' but roam to and fro in torment in seven w.'iys ['J'"-!"- »'). After the final judgment they will be tormented more grievously still (7**). Intercession, though permissible now (7™""-), will not be allowed on the day of judgment (71"-:-!"). All things will then be finally determined {7"'-"''). With the final judgment this world closes and the next begins (7"''): it will be a new creation (7"). With its establishment the righteous enter on tlv'ir final reward. They shall be bright as stars (7") ; and, beyond them (7'"), they shall shine as the sun and be immortal (7"). Paradise will be their final abode (7'-').
Josephxis (A.D. 37-101). — Josephus' interpreta- tion of Messianic prophecy as pointing to Ves- pasian {BJ VI. V. 4) must be set down to the exigencies of his position with regard to the Romans. For it is clear from Ant. IV. vi. 5 that he looked forward to a Messianic era. As tlie troubles predicted by Daniel had befallen Israel, so likewise would the prosperity (Ant. x. xi. 7). Apparently, he believed in an intermediate state for the righteous. Thus in Ant. xvm. i. 3 it is said that 'souls have an immortal vigour, and that uniler the earth (uirb x0of6s, cf. B.f II. viii. 14 khO' fSou) there will be rewards and punisliments, accordingly as they have lived virtuously or viciously m this life ; and the latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison, but the former will have power to revive and live again.' Here the wickc'U enter at once into everlasting punish- ment. Sheol is here hell. But the righteous rise from the intermediate place of haiqiiiie.ss and enter into other bodies, probably spiritual bodies (/>'./ II. viii. 14). Such was the Pliarisaic doctrine accordiii!» to Josephus. The Essenes believed that a blessed immortality awaited the souls of the righteous (/{./ II. viii. 11), but that those of tlie wicked wore des- tined to a dark, cold regiim, full of undying torment.
J
748
ESCHATOLOGY
ESCHATOLOGY
The abovt account of Pharisaic belief which we derive from Josephus may be regarded as fairly trustworthy ; but that which he gives in BJ III. viii. 5 is misleading in a high degree. There he describes the soul as a ' particle of Divinity' (SeoO lioipa) which has taken up its abode in a mortal body. After death the souls of the righteous ' receive as their lot the most holy place in heaven, from whence, in the revolution of ages, they are again sent into pure bodies.' For the souls of suicides the darkest place in Hades is reserved.