Changes

Apocalyptic evolved out of an earlier [[prophetic]] style of [[preaching]]. A historical [[study]] of the development of [[prophecy]] into apocalyptic not only explains the [[origin]] but also the dominant features of apocalyptic. The development can be observed in the three periods of OT history: (1) the late preexilic, (2) the exilic, and (3) the postexilic age.

Apocalyptic evolved out of an earlier [[prophetic]] style of [[preaching]]. A historical [[study]] of the development of [[prophecy]] into apocalyptic not only explains the [[origin]] but also the dominant features of apocalyptic. The development can be observed in the three periods of OT history: (1) the late preexilic, (2) the exilic, and (3) the postexilic age.

==Late Preexilic Age==

==Late Preexilic Age==

The [[weird]] [[symbolism]] of apocalyptic had its [[root]]s in the [[events]] and [[reactions]] of the last 60 years before the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_exile Babylonian exile], which began in 587 B.C. The colossal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_empire Assyrian empire] was collapsing. In 22 years it plunged from a peak of extravagant [[glory]] and terrifying ruthlessness to the depths of total destruction. Nations shuddered at such swift reversals. They began to write official [[documents]], as in Babylon, in ancient scripts and long-forgotten [[languages]], and in many ways people revived [[religious]] [[traditions]] and [[practices]] of hoary [[origin]].

The [[weird]] [[symbolism]] of apocalyptic had its [[root]]s in the [[events]] and [[reactions]] of the last 60 years before the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_exile Babylonian exile], which began in 587 B.C. The colossal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_empire Assyrian empire] was collapsing. In 22 years it plunged from a peak of extravagant [[glory]] and terrifying ruthlessness to the depths of total destruction. Nations shuddered at such swift reversals. They began to write official [[documents]], as in Babylon, in ancient scripts and long-forgotten [[languages]], and in many ways people revived [[religious]] [[traditions]] and [[practices]] of hoary [[origin]].