Description

This monograph studies the theological motivations behind certain Jewish apocalypses by focusing on the mighty acts of God recounted in these writings. In particular, the work examines the various depictions of God's acts and attributes as a means for learning about the individuals and groups responsible for the transmission of these apocalypses. Three prominent motifs, among others, receive attention here: theophanies (e.g., I Enoch 1:3-9; 25:3; 77:1; Daniel 4:10, 20; 7:9-10, 13-14), portrayals of the resurrection (e.g., I Enoch 102 - 104; Daniel 12:1-3), and interpretations of the (Babylonian) Exile in connection with the "new creation" (e.g., Qumran, Jubilees, Pseudo-Philo). Apocalypticism provides a framework for various theologies. Generally speaking, God is shown as the most prominent figure in these dramas of eschatological events. The authors of these writings typically held that their only deliverance could arise from the imminent arrival of an otherworldly eon ushered in by the power of God.