The Apocalyptic Literature: Interpreting Biblical Texts Series

by Stephen L. Cook

Biblical texts create worlds of meaning and invite readers to enter them. When readers enter such textual worlds, which are strange and complex, they are confronted with theological claims. With this in mind, the purpose of the IBT series is to help serious readers in their experience of reading and interpreting by providing guides for their journeys into textual worlds. The focus of the series is not so much on the world behind the text as on the worlds created by the texts in their engagement with readers.

Nowhere is the world of the biblical text stranger than in the apocalyptic literature of both the Old and New Testaments. In this volume, Stephen Cook makes the puzzling visions and symbols of the biblical apocalyptic literature intelligible to modern readers. He begins with definitions of apocalypticism and apocalyptic literature and introduces the various scholarly approaches to and issues for our understanding of the text. Cook introduces the reader to the social and historical worlds of the apocalyptic groups that gave rise to such literature and leads the reader into a better appreciation and understanding of the theological import of biblical apocalyptic literature.

In the second major section of the book, Cook guides the reader through specific examples of the Bible’s apocalyptic literature. He addresses both the best-known examples (the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation) and other important but lesser known examples (Zechariah and some words of Jesus and Paul).

Genres: Biblical Studies, Theology, Religion, History

233 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cook's work is a broad overview of ancient apocalyptic worldviews and texts. The first half of the book is concerned with apocalyptic worldviews and the second half with texts. He devotes a chapter on apocalyptic texts in Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and Malachi; a chapter on Daniel; a chapter on the question of apocalyptic thrust in "historical" Jesus's teaching; a chapter on the apocalyptic in Paul; and a final chapter on Revelation. There is a little discussion of specific apocalyptic movements, which is the other definition of "apocalyptic" he provides.

Overall, Cook's book is probably a suitable introduction for students; it is sufficiently broad. Yet, it is theologically shallow. There is no real grappling with the meaning of the resurrection of Christ in the 1st century apocalyptic Christian world. For them, the crucifixion/resurrection was the apocalyptic (revelatory) event of history. Heaven and earth converged, life and death collided, spiritual and physical joined.

What I did find very helpful was his opening remarks on what the apocalyptic is not. It is not predictive, forward-looking prophecy. Neither is it a style of writing adopted for people living in times of persecution. Rather, it is a dramatically powerful window into the "guts" of earth, heaven, and hell. Time folds in upon itself and what was past becomes present and future looks like the past. Cook gives the illustration of a winding mountain road; the end of the line always looks like it's right ahead, but it's not. The road twists and the end is really close before it recedes again. The apocalyptic is like this, however, it is not primarily concerned with "Armageddon" as Cook implies. Rather, Revelation and the other apocalyptic writers are concerned with God's righteousness throughout time and space, which is finally and dramatically displayed at Golgotha.

[Philip Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author knows how to write captivating and interesting sentences. The book was very enjoyable (even though the cover is the dullest thing ever.) For example, his encouragement for readers of Biblical apocalyptic to be "apocalyptic roosters" or "apocalyptic owls" when appropriate. He takes a more critical approach to Scripture than I would (e.g. Jesus was mistaken about when God's kingdom would finally come but that's okay because he interpreted Daniel the way many rabbi's of his time would have. I would point those interested to RT France's book Divine Government.) but regularly ends up with conclusions I would agree with.

"Entering an apocalyptic world within the Bible, the reader cannot remain neutral for long. Battle lines are drawn between the forces of good and evil. The stakes are profound, and they force a quick choosing of sides ... [a]gainst such a backdrop, individual existence brims with urgency and vibrancy." p. 19

"In the expectation of the writers of the apocalyptic literature, the supernatural realm is on a collision course with human history, leading to a cataclysmic impact that will supernaturally transform the world in a way that no one can ignore. God's reign on earth is not yet universally apparent to believers and unbelievers alike, but it will be in time." p. 38

"Face-to-face with these texts, interpreters eagerly seek a handle on them. Mainstream scholars and preachers, in particular, faced with interpreting apocalyptic texts, search for some sane, learned, and respectable control over them." p. 39

"A respectful approach to this literature hesitates to jump to expose its blind spots, allowing it a chance, instead, to expose us - its readers." p.63

[Abi Buckle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my end times class. I really appreciated Cook’s pastoral approach. Not just that he was pastoral in his analyses, but that he really walks you through how we are connected to (or disconnected from) the Church throughout all its history when we read apocalyptic literature.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book that I probably never would have read were it not for an online course I was taking at the time. It has a total of nine chapters in it, and each chapter is comprised of three to five (or six) minor 'sub-parts' (or sub-headings). Overall, it moves at a decent pace. It does get a bit long in some parts; other times, it is quite fascinating.

The first four chapters are fairly generically academic in nature. He talks about and describes what the world "apocalypse" and "apocalypticism" means. He does a nice job discussing how trying to "domesticate" (or limit) the apocalyptic texts actually takes away from the message the various texts are trying to relay. Before moving on to the Biblical texts, he also discusses how the apocalyptic texts have helped feed apocalyptic groups over the course of time.

The last nine chapters discuss the apocalyptic texts found scattered throughout the Bible. Some books (or persons) get a whole chapter devoted to them, whereas other books are 'lumped together' because the apocalyptic texts are not a primary part of said book's overall message. The Book of Daniel gets its own chapter, as does Jesus' teachings about the end times, and the Book of Revelation.

There were some sections from the book that I enjoyed, such as:
"A realized, undisputed reign of God would necessarily contradict humanity's will to power, disrupting and overthrowing the powers and structures presently forging human history. It would have cataclysmic implications for Earth's present system of politics, economics, and society. In addition, since sovereignty over the whole cosmos - heaven and earth - is God's prerogative, an advent of God's ultimate reign would be cosmic in scope. Its impact would change nature, space, and time alongside human society."

"Beware of domesticating the apocalyptic symbols and images of Daniel. An apocalyptic vision is not merely an allegory or a coded description of everyday politics. Rather, the apocalyptic imagination discloses a separate, transcendant backdrop to earthly affairs. It argues that heavenly forces care for God's people, whereas dark powers propel the claims and conquests of those who are blind to God and God's ways. Humans are mistaken in thinking their doings are autonomous and purely earthbound. Earth's dominant structures and systems are far less plausible and justifiable than earth's rulers would have us believe."

"Jesus and Paul taught about transcendent reality and its coming impact on earth, but spoke from an earthly perspective. John of Patmos. . . is granted the privilege of heaven's vantage point. Revelation discloses heaven's perspective on this world. . . .John sees events transpire just as the courtiers in God's heavenly throne do. John's heavenly perspective in Revelation allows him to communicate to readers what is really going on in their world and what its ultimate outcome must be. This invigorates their imaginations with a completely new perspective."

I enjoyed reading the book more than I thought I would.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talbot Course: Exposition in Daniel and Revelation

An introductory look at Apocalyptic Literature. You really get a good sense at the difference between prophesy and the genre of Apocalypse. It's a bit dry.