Bible 110 Old Testament
Apocalyptic Writing
Daniel
A. Post-exilic period, God’s dealings with mankind and the world were interpreted
in 3 ways:
1. Priest and Torah obedience – regularization of cultic acts
2. Wisdom method
3. Apocalyptic
B. Apocalyptic is a child of prophecy. When prophecy declines, apocalyptic
rises:
1. Interest in future – prophecy immediate, apocalyptic more long range
2. Political preoccupation – prophecy concerned with reform of Israel;
apocalyptic with salvation of nation by overthrow of foreign power
3. Future age – prophecy monistic, hoping for fulfillment in creation; evil is
directionless. Apocalyptic is dualistic – separation of good and evil;
replacement with new world
4. Prophetic hope – Israel separate from other nations; apocalyptic nation is
religious body separate from rest of world but having lordship over other
nations.
5. Concept of Judgment: prophetic (non-fated) people refuse to repent, but
judgment never irrevocable: apocalyptic (fated) judgment irrevocable,
unalterable, capable of precise dating
C. Characteristics of Apocalyptic
1. Eschatological -dealing with end of age
2. Deterministic – based on character of God; irrevocable
3. Dualistic – evil vs. good; this world vs. next world
4. Pessimistic – this world is evil and unredeemable in present form
5. Supernatural – new age is from God who steps into history
6. Symbolic – uses sign and symbols to give the date and other information
to those who knew the code
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Bible 110 Old Testament
D. Apocalyptic thought is rooted in prophetic eschatology that did not come to
pass. It developed in post exilic period when Israel ceased to be a political state
and became a religious community. A theocracy became rigid and minimized or
ignored the future. Apocalypticsm arose in a group which held prophetic
eschatology in some respect. They supplemented it with foreign (Persian,
Greek) ideas. The crisis which brought on apocalypticism was the attempt by
Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC to impose Hellenization on the Jews.
Apocalyticism is product of sectarian Judaism. The future is dependent on the
establishment of a special community by God. Priestly theology and prophetic
eschatology are catalysts for apocalyptic. Deals with an ideal community pushed
into the future. Sectaian Judaism (Essenes, etc) degraded the nation and made
an emphasis on the priestly revival.
E. Daniel – written in final form probably in 167-165 BC. Author says that he
lives in exile but he betrays ignorance of the exile and of the fall of Jerusalem.
He betrays faulty memory. Succession of kings – Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar
– is wrong. Ch 9 – Darius the Mede never existed. He was a Persian. Ch. 11 is
accurate – speaks of Antiochus Epiphanes, who made the abomination of
desolation Dec. 25, 167 BC. The accuracy suggests that the author lived 167165 BC during the time after the death of Alexander the Great and the division of
his empire. Seleucid control began 198 BC Book of Daniel encourages
Maccabean warriors.
F. Structure – Daniel 1-6 legend
Daniel 7-12 visions
Linguistics – 1:1-2:49 Hebrew
2:46- Ch 7 Aramaic
8-12 Hebrew
Core of material is 2:4b-Ch 6. Ch 7 is tract belonging to Maccabean period
written in Aramaic. Ch 8-12 is written by Hebrew, Maccabean author. Daniel is
composite unity in Maccabean period.
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Bible 110 Old Testament
G. Content – stories in Daniel refer to Antiochus Epiphanes (not to
Nebuchadnezzar) and give encouragement to Maccabean warriors (Ch 1). Ch 2
is an apocalyptic vision which serves as a springboard for Ch 8-12. Ch 7
interprets itself. Beasts represent men as empires. 7:2-8 succession of Empires:
Beast 1 is Babylon, beast 2 is Median Kingdom, beast 3 is Persia, (4 wings are
Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes, Darius I), head 4 is Hellenistic empire of the
Seleucids (1 empire with 10 rulers before Antiochus who displaced 3 legitimate
heirs). Little horn 7:23-24 is Antiochus Epiphanes who tried to stamp out
Judaism for 3 ½ years.
8:14 – 2300 evenings and mornings = 3 ½ solar years
12:11 – 1290 days = about 3 ½ years after Abomination of Desolation
7:9 ff – refers to God who intervenes to bring history to a close; that is, destroy
Antiochus Epiphanes.
7:13-14 human being is Son of Man; 7:26-27 giving of kingdom to the people of
its saints of the most high.
This may be the Maccabees who received the kingdom 3 ½ years after the
Abomination. The hope of the apocalyptic writer is fulfilled in Christ. In God’s
time all history will be brought to fruition.
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