Apocalyptic Literature

Unlike Biblical prophecy, whose audience was predominantly Israel and foretold their future, apocalyptic literature speaks to all nations and describes the end times, including the destruction of the world and the judgment of all humanity. Meaning to "uncover" or "reveal," apocalyptic literature is often presented using detailed symbolism and rich descriptive language.

Much of what was written was foreign or unknown to the writer. Therefore, they attempted to convey their visions with as much detail as possible using language that was common during their period. Even still, what they described can be quite confusing to today's reader. This lack of absolute clarity leaves a lot of apocalyptic literature open to speculation and various interpretations.

Key Concepts

• Apocalyptic literature describes all Scripture written concerning the end times.
• This genre leverages symbolism that may be quite confusing for the reader.
• Old Testament apocalyptic literature is sometimes mixed with narrative, which can make interpretation confusing.

Examples

Like poetry and wisdom, apocalyptic literature is often interwoven throughout biblical narratives.