Apocalyptic and Apocalypses —The origin of a Genre

Abstract

The concept of the genre apocalyptic is related to the peak of the genre, John’s Revelation (Apocalypse), the revelation of the secrets and the fulfilment of previous prophecies, in the context of an eschatological judgment. Works included in the long list of apocalypses that are earlier than John's do not fully meet these criteria. Perhaps the earliest of these is the story of the Watchers in 1 Enoch (1En 6–11). Aramaic fragments of the collection were found in the Qumran library, and the tradition of the story can be traced back to the Eastern Jewish diaspora of the Persian period. The story of the fallen Watchers and their punishment, followed by the revelation of an ideal solar calendar of 364 days in the collection reflects a polemic with the widespread practice of astral magic, as well as the canonization of a new calendar system and the healing method based on it.