Super Powers in Turmoil: The Turn of the 7th Century and the Rebirth of Jewish Apocalyptic Literature

Spanning the 4th and 7th century we find a revival of Jewish apocalyptic literature. This period of turmoil culminated at the turn of the 7th century in the Persian conquest, Byzantine re-conquest, and finally the Muslim conquest of Palestine. This talk will explore how these episodes reverberated in Jewish messianic and apocalyptic literature. While thus far, the late antique Jewish messianic matrix has been treated within its own limited boundaries -- that is within Jewish sources and own apocalyptic world-view -- Professor Irshai will argue for the importance of existing links between Christian, Jewish (and Moslem) redemptive aspirations. Professor Irshai will highlight how these traditions used similar time frames (e.g. from the Book of Daniel) and interpreted natural phenomena (such as earthquakes) as heralding the approaching “end of times.”

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