Merkavah and apocalyptic literature are both genres of Jewish mystical and visionary texts that emerged in the Second Temple period, but they differ in their focus and content.
Merkavah literature, also known as Hekhalot-Merkavah literature, is a type of Jewish mystical text that dates back to the Second Temple period (c. 515 BCE to 70 CE) and is concerned with the visionary ascent to the divine throne, or the “chariot” (merkavah), described in the Book of Ezekiel. Merkavah literature is characterized by its focus on the ecstatic experience of the individual visionary who ascends to the divine throne, encountering a series of angelic beings and mystical secrets along the way. The goal of Merkavah literature is to achieve a closer relationship with God through mystical experience and knowledge.
Apocalyptic literature, on the other hand, emerged in the Second Temple period and continued to be produced into the early Christian era. It is characterized by its focus on the end of the world, the coming of a new age, and the revelation of divine secrets that were previously hidden from human understanding. Apocalyptic literature typically features highly symbolic and visionary language, and often depicts cosmic battles between good and evil forces. The goal of apocalyptic literature is to reveal the divine plan for history and to provide hope for a future redemption.
While Merkavah literature and apocalyptic literature share some similarities in terms of their visionary and mystical content, they differ in their focus and purpose. Merkavah literature is primarily concerned with individual spiritual transformation and closeness to God, while apocalyptic literature is focused on the revelation of divine secrets and the hope for a future redemption on a cosmic scale. Additionally, Merkavah literature tends to be more concerned with the experience of the visionary, while apocalyptic literature is more focused on the unfolding of history and the ultimate triumph of God over the forces of evil.
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