Apocalypticism was a movement within Jewish thought beginning in the third or fourth century before Christ (with thinkers like the Old Testament author of Zechariah) and reaching its maturity in second century before Christ (with the Old Testament author of Daniel).  The movement was inspired by the social, religious and political marginalization of the Jews in ancient world after the fall of the Judah and the destruction of their temple in the sixth century before Christ.

        Defining apocalypticism is very difficult, but its essential features include a perception of victimization on the part of its authors.  Apocalyptic writers typically reveal a sense of their victimization at the hands of the ungodly and a firm confidence in the justice of God to judge such oppression and victimization.  Apocalypticists typically spoke of their victimization in highly symbolic terms (using animalistic terms like "dragon" and "beasts," and sexual terms like "prostitute" and "whore").  The apocalyptists' representation of God's intervention is commonly symbolized by militaristic and violent terms.

        Christians, like John the Revelator (the author of the New Testament book of Revelation), often adopted this Jewish mode of thought and its presence probably lasted longer in Christianity than in Judaism.  Christians produced original apocalyptic documents into the early middle ages.  Some Christians are still deeply influenced by apocalyptic thought (and the radical misinterpretation of Revelation represented in books like the popular Left Behind series.)

10/8/05