Characteristic's Of Apocalyptic Literature

Jews had a lot of Apocalyptic literature: 1st Enoch, Book of Jubilees, Book of Abraham.  “Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning "revelation"

• Proto-Apocalyptic: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zechariah.
• Apocalyptic: Daniel. Daniel is a “matured and classic” example. (N.T., Matthew 24, mark 13, 2 thess. 2, Revelation.)

1. It is usually revealed by an angel. Messenger. (Here, Jesus will be the messenger)
2. Disclosure through a dream of vision.  As Daniel after long fasting stands by the river, a heavenly being appears to him, and the revelation follows (Daniel 10:2ff). John, in the New Testament Revelation (1:9ff), has a like experience, told in very similar words.
3. Future oriented.
4. Usually mystery involved. He will tell you something, then reveal the meaning later.  Deals with hidden information.
5. Monsters / unusual creatures. Beasts, dragon.
6. Mystical Symbolism. Take something you know, and apply it to something else.  We all know what a key is. What does it mean when Jesus holds the key to death? Is it literally a key, or is there a message?  Symbols were used in such a way that the reader knew what they were.  Horns are always going to refer to Kings or Kingdoms.
7. Revelation: The Prophet sees from God’s perspective.
8. Sharp black and white issues. Satan is bad. Dragon is bad. Woman is good. Mark of the beast bad. Plagues are righteous. Clear about: Who’s in, who’s out.