Apocalyptic Literature

 

Understanding the apocalyptic genre helps to properly interpret the Book of Revelation.

            The book of Revelation is also called “The Apocalypse“, a Greek word meaning ‘through the veil,’ that is, ‘revealed.’  This is in direct opposition to the word ‘apocrypha’ which means ‘things that are hidden’ (OAA, xi).[1]  In historical context, Rabbinical Judaism claimed that God also gave some ‘hidden books’ to those especially initiated to receive them and that they were equally authoritative as that which was written and revealed.  However, the writer of the book of Revelation, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, declared that the things that are “revealed,” are therefore written.

            The apocalyptic genre which had developed in the pre-Christian era and culminated in the book of Revelation has some strong implications for the interpretation of the book.[2]  With the recent rise of the science of archaeoastronomy, however, we must reassess the cosmology of the apocalyptic genre.  It seems to be related to the ancient conventional literature that portrayed the pattern of the movements of the heavenly bodies.  We find fossils of this literature in myths, in the history of navigation and cartography.  These so-called ‘myths’ have been taken as fascinating but fantastic tales of the escapades of ‘gods’ and men.  Work on these ‘myths’ by Hertha von Deschend and Giorgio Santillana and others have proven that they are, indeed, astronomical records.[3]  The apocalyptic literature is certainly related to this genre in that they are tied to the action of heavenly beings; not in the worship of “gods”, but in the Biblical use of the heavenlies for time-telling and “signs”.

            Not only were the ‘myths’ records of astronomical events, but it is now known that celestial navigation was accomplished by means of ‘myth’ or ‘a tale told’ and has been duplicated by Polynesians in modern times.[4]  By means of these ‘myths’ navigation over land and sea is possible.  Apocalyptic literature may also embody directional material.

            Astronomical knowledge also permitted the ancients to map the heavens and the earth as well as to determine times.  This knowledge is enshrined in the ruins of ancient temples and monuments throughout the world.  The literary descriptions of the uses of these temples and monuments show that they were astronomical observatories and served as reference points for earthly mapping.[5]  The apocalyptic literature employs this relationship between the earth and the heavens in its message.

            The book of Daniel is called “the first of the apocalyptic writings.”[6]  It was in Daniel that the message of eschatology, “the end of the age”, was clearly set forth, (Daniel 9:24-27; 12.)  From the pattern established by the prophet Daniel, all other canonical apocalyptic writings take their message.  Apocalyptic is related to Old Testament prophecy through the book of Daniel.

            In fact, the apocalyptic writings are at the crux of the separation between Christianity and Judaism.  It might even be said that Christianity is the child of apocalyptic literature, i.e., the message of “the end of the age” of fleshly Judaism.  Before AD 70 the apocalyptic writings were a part of the mainstream of Judaism.  However, the ‘Judaism’ that emerged after the destruction of AD 70 totally rejected the divine inspiration of apocalyptic and sought with a dying desperation to destroy it.  Christianity, however, accepted the eschatology of Daniel, including many references from non-canonical writings into the New Testament.  Indeed, the book of Revelation is the culmination of the apocalyptic movement.  To understand the role of apocalyptic literature in the Bible is to see the unbroken line of divine inspiration of the entire Bible from the Old Testament to the New.

            Most of the extant apocalyptic literature, however, is non-canonical.[7]  It is very important, however, because:

            1. Apocalyptic literature pointed to and elaborated upon the coming of the Messiah and contributed to the identification of Christ as that Savior.

            2. It was so widely accepted among the Jews of the inter-testament and New Testament period that it became a part of the public consciousness.

            3. It was the direct descendant of Old Testament prophecy as well as poetry and history, further developing their characters and themes.

            4. The conventional method of apocalyptic was adopted for writings that were sure to draw down persecution upon the heads of the writer and readers.  The style was esoteric and the books sometimes considered ‘secret’ because they were antagonistic to the powers that existed.  The book of Revelation was written in this style because its message was highly objectionable to the Pharisees who had persecuted the Christians to the death.  It dealt with the fall of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Pharisaic Jews, vindicating the Christian claims to the inheritance rights to the title “Israel” and to the Messiahship of Christ.

            The book of Revelation is anti-Judaistic, (but not anti-Semitic as some would make us believe), that is, the Pharisaic Judaism that went by that name after the fall of AD 70.  Pharisaic Judaism, a pruned off branch after AD 70, tried with all its might to destroy the witnesses against it contained in the apocalyptic writings and especially the book of Revelation, banning it and burning it.  Although many of the Hebrew originals were destroyed and many altered, many of the apocalyptic books, including the book of Revelation, had been translated into Greek and so had a much wider distribution in the world.  Another reason they could not be destroyed was that they were so popular and so formative of the thought of the day that there were references to them in the Talmud and other writings considered sacred by the religion of Judaism.  They could not destroy the apocalypses without destroying their own Scriptures!

            The hate that reached fanatic dimensions against these books indicates that the subject matter was of extreme significance to Judaism.  For example, the subject matter of the book of Revelation shows that the fleshly lineage of Israel culminated in Christ and ceased to exist otherwise as a covenant community.  Even more hateful to Judaism was the fact that the book shows these things as a fulfillment of their very own Scriptures.  The book was therefore a powerful force in conversion to Christianity, a mortal threat to Judaism.  The threat was not merely spiritual, but material as well.  Since Judaism could no longer claim legitimate lineage in the covenant rights of Abraham, their claims to the land were illegitimate also.  When the book shows the destruction of the nation and all of its religious symbols as a result of their sin and according to Scripture, it removes their right to collect the temple tax which had so richly filled their treasure houses.  By exposing the religion as an imposter, it removed the prestige from the offices of the priesthood and so removed their power over the people.  The historical facts are that Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman world of that era, (AD 70 on), and that Judaism became all but, if not totally, extinct for a time, with thousands, probably millions, of Jews turning to Christianity.  This demonstrates that the exposé contained in the book of Revelation was successful in spite of the attacks against it.

            The prophecy of Christ regarding the fall of Jerusalem had become a test of faith for a period of approximately forty years.  Pharisaic Judaism claimed that their race, their city and their temple could never be destroyed, while the Christians claimed that destruction was inevitable.  This controversy set up a dramatic tension such that both Jews and Christians staked their very lives on their faith or lack of faith in this prophecy.  History proves that the Christian faith was vindicated and the book of Revelation celebrates that event by the dual view of the acclamation of Christ as Lord of all and the condemnation of the fleshly Israel in the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the fleshly lineage.

            The study of apocalyptic literature is relevant to modern world affairs because Pharisaic Judaism is again claiming to be the heir of the promises, the lineage of Abraham with divine right to the land of Palestine.  This literature, especially the book of Revelation, focuses on the separation of Judaism and Christianity and furnishes proof of the unbroken line of faith from the Old Testament to the New.  It can therefore be safely predicted that whoever successfully interprets the book will be viciously attacked by Pharisaic Judaism and all its satellites, religiously as well as politically and economically.  It is still politically dangerous to say what the book of Revelation has always said.  But it has always proven true, and will prove true forever.

            The turmoil that has developed because of Pharisaic Judaism‘s claim to Palestine threatens the world with nuclear war and the annihilation of life on this planet.  Their claim is based on the false identity which they attempt to establish by their own criteria of ‘Jewishness’ instead of the Bible criteria.  They appropriate the title ‘Israel’ falsely and boast of their favored position with God as if they were living in the covenant.  For these reasons Christianity must again proclaim the message of the apocalyptic book of Revelation, and “love not their lives unto death”.

            The prophecies misused by the modern Pharisees must be shown for what they are: a two-edged sword.  Rightly interpreted the ancient promises were fulfilled in the flesh of Christ and made eternal by His resurrection.  The curses were also fulfilled upon the unbelieving fleshly “Israel” and it ceased to exist as a fleshly identifiable lineage.  Mortal, transient flesh cannot inherit eternal spiritual promises and so the prophecies are eternally and ultimately fulfilled in the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of Christ.  All of the promises are “yea and amen” in Him, are never-ending and unchanging.  The historical fulfillment upon the natural nation is a pattern and example to the entire world for all time.

            At any time and in any nation, when Pharisaic Judaism comes to power as it has in the United States of America in modern times, the Christian faith must again rise up in defense of its title, “the Israel of God.”  At such a time, the same spiritual warfare and the same predicted outcome will ensue: Christ will be revealed triumphantly and Pharisaic Judaism will be destroyed.  But this warfare must not deteriorate to carnal levels.  Our warfare is against the spiritual powers, the strongholds of false doctrine and spiritual wickedness in high places, not against people.  “Jews” are not to be despised, rejected, nor persecuted, but rather the battle is against the religion of Pharisaic Judaism.[8]  On the other hand, they are not to be supported nor encouraged in their crimes in the name of their religion.  (See also “Referents from the Apocrypha” and “Referents from Enoch)