Introduction: -- 1. The re-birth of apocalyptic study -- 2. Reasons for this re-birth of interest -- Availability of new texts -- Recognition of its importance for theological study -- Its affinity with today's world. I. The literature: Identification and definition -- 1. Books and more books -- A spate of books -- The 'outside books': apocrypha and pseudepigrapha -- Types of literature -- The Dead Sea Scrolls -- 2. Apocalyptic and apocalyptic literature -- Derivation -- Identification -- Methodology -- 3. A question of definition -- A confusing situation -- The listing method -- A literary phenomenon -- A three-fold division -- A theological concept -- Apocalypse: An attempted definition -- Conclusion. II. Apocalyptic: Its birth and growth -- 1. Apocalyptic and its historical background -- 'Tracts for the time' -- Hellenistic culture and Jewish hope -- Antiochus IV and the Book of Daniel -- Hasmoneans and Romans -- 2. The roots of apocalyptic -- Apocalyptic and prophecy -- Apocalyptic and wisdom -- Apocalyptic and scribalism -- Apocalyptic and the priesthood -- Apocalyptic and culture -- 3. The birth and growth of apocalyptic -- Coventicles in Israel -- Two rival factions -- Groups and parties: 'the wise' and the Hasidim -- 4. Its 'popularity.' III. Apocalyptic groups and Apocalyptic books -- 1. Apocalyptic groups -- 2. I Enoch (Ethiopic Book of Enoch) -- A popular book -- A composite work -- A lost tradition -- 3. The Book of Daniel -- The name -- A Daniel tradition? -- The book -- 4. The Book of Jubilees -- Its nature and origin -- Its teaching -- 5. Other apocalyptic books -- The Testament of Moses -- The Testament of Levi 2-5 -- II Enoch (Slavonic Book of Enoch) -- The Treatise of Shem -- The Apocalypse of Abraham -- The Testament of Abraham -- The Apocalypse of Zephaniah -- IV Ezra (II Esdras) -- II Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch). IV. Revelation: Its reception and expression -- 1. Inspiration and revelation -- Voice of prophecy dumb -- Revelation through Torah -- A new revelation: apocalyptic and Torah -- A new revelation: apocalyptic and prophecy -- 2. Methods and modes of revelation -- Pseudonymous authorship -- Symbolic in language -- 3. Media of revelation -- Dream-visions -- Otherworldly journeys -- Mediation of angels -- Secret books -- Meditation on scripture. V. Divine secrets revealed -- 1. Cosmology -- The created world -- The throne of God -- 2. History -- The God of history -- The unity of history -- 'Predicting' the past -- History systematized and predetermined -- 3. Eschatology -- The future hope -- The 'messianic woes' -- Participation in the Kingdom -- The transcendence of death -- The nature of survival -- Resurrection -- The Final Judgment. VI. Dualism and Apocalyptic -- 1. Worlds apart -- Two worlds -- Two dimensions -- Two ages -- 2. Cosmic dualism -- The 'fall' of the angels -- In battle array -- 3. Ethical dualism -- Two ways -- Two spirits. VII. Messiah and 'Son of Man' -- 1. Expectation and speculation -- As king and priest -- Two eschatological prophets -- The Messiah in heaven -- 2. Messiah and 'son of man' -- The expression 'son of man' -- In Daniel 7:13 -- Later messianic interpretation. VIII. Apocalyptic interpretation: A Christian perspective -- 1. In the New Testament -- The framework of apocalyptic -- The transformation of apocalyptic -- 2. Criteria of interpretation -- The integrity of the texts -- Prediction, not static but dynamic -- The test of scripture -- 3. The message of apocalyptic -- God is in control -- The Kingdom will come.