NOTES FROM THE APOCRYPHA THAT ARE REFERENTS FOR
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Compiled by Irene Belyeu
The Jews and proselytes of the time of the writing of the Book of Revelation were reading the books we now call the ‘Apocrypha’ and these were shaping their thoughts, ideas, and vocabulary. Fortunately, they knew nothing of our modern ‘prophets’.
While there are many linguistic expressions in all of these books that are echoed in the Book of Revelation, the Book of 2 Esdras is perhaps the most important referent for the Book of Revelation outside the Holy Bible itself. Metzger in his comments and notes on 2 Esdras believes that 2 Esdras was written near the close of the first century AD[1] (OAA, p. 23). This would place it at or near the time the Book of Revelation was written, and its subject matter is similar. It is also in the form of an apocalypse as is the Book of Revelation. The two books are therefore close both in content, genre and in time of writing.
The following are quotations from the apocryphal writings that have a direct bearing upon phrases found also in the Book of Revelation.
[1] As quoted from The Oxford Annotated Apocrypha, RSV, Edited by Bruce M. Metzger, Oxford University Press, New York. 1965, 1977. P. 23 References to this book will be abbreviated (OAA). See page [v] of OAA for a complete list of the Books of the Apocrypha.