Continuum History of Apocalypticism

Culled from the three-volume ""Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism,"" which the editors published in 1998, this one-volume book of essays aims to introduce readers to the basic issues relating to apocalypticism throughout history. The first part explores the origins of apocalypticism in Near Eastern myth, the Dead Sea Scrolls, early messianic movements and the teachings of Jesus and Paul. (A separate essay unpacks the always controversial Book of Revelation.) Part two takes the story from the world of late antiquity through the Middle Ages to the 18th century, focusing most heavily on the Western monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In the final section, various essays examine apocalypticism in the modern age, offering a truly global perspective on the resurgence of apocalyptic thinking. Contributors to this academic collection--which will be best appreciated by readers already conversant in the issues surrounding the scholarship of apocalypticism--include Paul Boyer, James Moorhead, James VanderKam, Moshe Idel and Abbas Armanat.