Th.' ulmh- e
rliatohr'N
, including the
linal jm
gmrnt, the M
•4e, the fate of
mankim
, the resurrei'ti.
nof tlH.>
ead, and the de-
structioi
of the world, :
re of the
utmost interest
to the apocalyptist. In fact, so prominent is this part of the world of mystery in the apocalypses, that some authorities have yielded to the tempta- tion of inakini; it the s,,le test of an apocalypse. Apocalyptii' i-. annr.linj lo this view, synonymous with eschatului;n al. i-S.i Liicke, and, among more recent scholar.,, Uuusset).
APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
6. PscHclonymity. — Tlie author of an apocalypse generally assumes the name of a very ancient person, preferably of some one who is represented in the canonical books as having enjoyed direct commumcation Anth the spiritual world. Enoch, Moses, and Elijah stand out as those who passed from this world to the other in a preternatural manner, and therefore were favoured even while here with apocalyptic glimpses of the other. Others, because of their exceptional holiness and nearness to God, are easily put into the same place of favour. Such are Isaiah, Ezra, Baruch, and Daniel. The name of Ezekiel, however, quite singularly does not seem to have drawn any of these writings to itself. Jeremiah's began to be used, but did not become very popular. That of Solomon was attached to a body of psalms for quite obvious
The Sibyl was probably drafted into the service in order to gain the conhdence of heathen readers through the use of the voice of a trusted pro-
J)hetess of their own. It was intended to propagate fewish doctrines among the Gentiles (Schiirer). This pseudonymity is accompanied by a not alto- gether accidental tendency to tamper with the apocalypses. IMore than any other class of AViit- ings they show signs of haWng been edited and mollified. Many <jf them are manifestly collec- tions mi i'.ii;[.il;i) ill ;-,,,! smaller productions. Others abouii.l II ! . , M.iiis anil additions designed
toemli' I.; ' I I , mill i-\i.and tlieiriiortraibm-es.
7. C/'/'-.M .'. I hi- ilu.-ign of the -.vliole class is predominantly that of encouraging and comfort- ing the chosen people under persecution. Some, of course, are more or less sectarian in their ten- dency, i.e. they address their words of encourage- ment and hope to a particular section of the people, who are regarded as faithful or righteous par exi-elletice. The majority are meant to teach and comfort the whole nation.
v. Theological Ideas.— The root of the apoca- lyptic theology is the sense of need. Though it may not be strictly accurate to call the apoca- lypses ' tracts for hard times,' it is quite true that they issue from a faith which looks to God for deliverance from evil days. The eye is turned into the future for the good which the God of the Covenant has promised to Israel. The darker the outlook, the brighter the hope which breaks through it and sees ultimate victory. The rally- ing point of thought is here furnished by the conception of the ' Day of Jahweh ' in the pro- phets of the earlier period. But this hope for the future is impatient. It cannot await the workmg of the slow moral forces gradually evolving the consummation. It rather sees the Golden Age bursting forth in a sudden and supernatural mani- festation of God's power and favour to His chosen people. Accoidingly, the cardinal doctrines of the apocalyptic theology must begin with the contrast of the ages.
1. T/ic doctrine of the two jEons (4 Ezr 1^).— This is developed from the older idea of the ' latter days' (D-C'rinnqx) which the earlier prophets always held up as a source of comfort and encoui'agement whenever they were moved to denounce the exist- ing evils of their day. A great day of Jehovah would bring about the righting of all that >\as wrong with the world. In the apocal3-pses, all that precedes the critical day is summed up under the conception of the present age (ai'wv ofiros, o^iy niri) ; the future, with its ideally gootl conditions, is tlie coming age (ai'uii' 6 li^xkuiv, ipxofi.ei>os, oViy urn). The noteworthy feature about the concep- tion of the a'ons is that each is a culien nl uiiiiy. and has a character of its own. The pii^iiu :iu. is unpropitious, evil (4 Ezr 7'-) ; the futun- will Im
good. The past is the age of the world kinud
portrayed under the symbolic iigure of beasU ; the
future, the age of the Divine reign ; it has a human aspect. All this is put forth as a source of com- fort and encouragement to the faithful. The duration of the evil age is variously computed. Enoch makes it 10,000 years (Eth. Enoch 16^ W^ 21*) ; in the Assumption of Moses it is 5000 ; at any rate, it is definite and near its end. It is soon to ija>s away. The question is even uertinent whrllii I ilhi-i- Hxini; shall continue to the end of it. I : i 1' ill. liowever, is not answered (4 Ezr
4^'.-. /I --w l':'l-4n^
■J. / / ' "';' nilniif I 'risis. — The passing of the old will be accompanied by great chantjes in nature. The order of things will be reversed. The moon will alter her course, and not appear at her ap- pointed times ; the stars shall wander from their orbits and be concealed (Eth. Enoch 80*"'). Trees will flow with blood, and stones will ciy out (Syr. Bar 27). In the heavens, dread signs of porten- tous significance will appear (Sib. Or S'^-sm) Fountains will dry up, the earth will refuse to yield ; the heavens will be tui-ned into brass ; the rains will fail, and springs of waters will be dried up. Among men, wars and rumours of wars will prevail (Eth. Enoch 99\ 4 Ezr 9^), and private feuds and recklessness of the life of men will be the rule (Eth. Enoch 100= ; Sib. Or 3«a-"', Syr. Bar 483- 703). "Women will cease to be fniitful, and miscaiTiages will occur (4 Ezr 5^ C^')- These are the apxv uSivav of Mt 24*, Mk IS^.