APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE. In the present survey we shall limit ourselves to the great formative periods in this literature—in Judaism from 200 B.C. to A.D. and in Chris tianity from A.D. 50 to 35o or thereabouts.
The transition from prophecy to Apocalyptic was gradual and already accomplished within the limits of the Old Testament. Apocalyptical elements disclose themselves in the prophetical books of Ezekiel, Joel, Zechariah, while in Isa. xxiv.–xxvii. and xxxiii. we find well-developed Apocalypses; but it is not until we come to Daniel that we have a fully matured example of this class of literature.
We shall now consider (I.) Apocalyptic, its origin and general characteristics; (II.) Old Testament Apocalyptic ; (III.) New Testament Apocalyptic.