Cosmic Eschatology in the Jewish Apocalypses of the Intertestamental Period

Subject Areas : Christianity

علیرضا ابراهیم ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2014-10-18 Accepted : 2014-10-18 Published : 2008-09-22

Keywords: Eschatology, Jewish eschatology, apocalypses, intertestamen, end time, Messiah,

Abstract :

The period between composition of the last book of the Old Testamentand the first book of the New Testament is called IntertestamentalPeriod. Jewish literature in this era, because of the encounter of theJews with other nations, flourished in various forms and genres. Forexample, the genre of apocalypse as a result of the Iranian influence onJudaism became prevalent in Jewish literature. The Greco-Romanpersecutions brought about a new eschatology in the intertestamentalapocalypses, which was on the one hand in accordance with theteachings of the Old Testament, and on the other, it consoled thehistorical sufferings of the Israelite nation. This eschatology dependedon a historical determinism which observed the depravities of thehuman society as the cause of cosmic misfortunes, which in its turnwas the prologue to the advent of the Messiah. The apocalypses'transhistorical approach to the end time events altered the historicalviews of the Old Testament. The apocalyptists of the intertestamentalperiod believed that the hereafter was in motion parallel to this worldand heavenly Jerusalem, which was the symbol of the kingdom of God,was established in the heart of the righteous men.