A00034 - The Apocalyptic Philosophy of History

 In contrast with the Jewish rabbis, the Jewish Apocalyptists, who were eager students of Scripture, devoted themselves to the study of the Prophets rather than the Law.  In a sense, the Apocalyptists may be regarded as the successors to the Prophets.  It is significant that in the later developments of Old Testament prophecy the apocalyptic element became more and more marked.  In the Book of Daniel, which is almost purely apocalyptic in character, this tendency reached a climax. The Apocalyptists, who were deeply religious men, were profoundly concerned with the problems incident to the divine government of the world.

The Apocalyptists ardently desired to vindicate God's providential ordering of events, and so they evolved a sort of philosophy of history.  The Apocalyptists attempted to frame a theory of the world which would account for all the facts of experience. The Apocalyptists' scheme was conceived on the grandest scale.  It embraced not only the Earth but also the Celestial Sphere.  For the Apocalyptists, history was surveyed from the beginning to the end, for the Apocalyptists envisioned as an imminent fact and tenet of faith that Present Age of Mankind would come to an end.  Thus, for example, the Apocalyptists begin their history with the Story of Creation (see 4 Ezra 3 and following), while the Prophets tended to begin their history with the Exodus from Egypt, which marked the birth of Israel as a nation (see Jeremiah 2 and Hosea 11).

For the Apocalyptists, the whole course of history is pictured dramatically.  The actors include not only the powers of men and women but also the angelic and demonic powers, all working under the auspices of God.  Under this perspective, the course of history moves onward to the inevitable conclusion -- to the inevitable End.  Accordingly, the Apocalyptic Literature may be regarded as the assertion of a profound belief that the course of human affairs is not purposeless.  What happens is not the mere result of the action and reaction of blind and uncontrolled forces.  The sequence of events has a meaning.  

For the Apocalyptists, history is marching onward to a predestined goal.  The march of history is subservient to the Will of God, and to God the evil forces of the World, however victorious they may seem to be for a time, will ultimately be defeated.