Midterm #2 Heaven Hell and the End Times

Isaiah, Micah, Daniel, and Paul

Who decided that these books would be in the Jewish Bible, and why did they choose these books? Who decided what books would be in the New Testament, and how did they choose these books?

The ancient Jews decided the Jewish Bible, and the early Christians choose the New Testament. Both groups’ books were chosen by choosing the ones that best expressed their faith. 

1. What are the 3 general themes (or types of messages) found in the biblical prophets as discussed in class? 

    Be able to identify and explain each of these 3 themes, and give an example of each of these 3 prophetic themes from class readings of Isaiah and/or Micah. Be sure you can explain clearly how these specific passages exemplify the general types of prophetic message/themes

1. Stop violating the Mosaic Covenant by not trusting God and not caring for the poor and vulnerable or nation will be punished, usually with war.  

1. Trust in God and care for the poor and vulnerable or your nation will be punished, normally with war 

2. Ex: Isaiah 1, he warns them that their cities will lie in ruins unless they care for the widows and orphans. 

2. If you are suffering as a nation, God will restore to start again as a nation in justice (if repented).  

1. Ex: Isaiah 1. After purifying the country of suffering, the government will be restored to justice.  

3. Someday, perfect 3-fold harmony with be established on earth. 

1. Ex: Isaiah 11. Harmony with nature when animals are not eating each other or hurting little children. Harmony with God when the world is filled with the knowledge of God. Harmony with humans when no one will hurt anyone.

a) During what period of time (approximately) was the Book of Isaiah written? (Note: remember there are certainly 2 and probably 3 different authors of the book.)  

  b) What is the historical context of “1^st Isaiah?”  What is the historical context of “2^nd Isaiah?”  (In other words, what is going on politically that concerns each of them)?

a) Approximately from 742BCE-536BCE 

b)1^st Isaiah- Growing dominance of the Assyrian Empire- should Judah ally with or against Assyria? 

2^nd Isaiah- At the end of the Babylonian Captivity, when Persia is beginning to defeat the Babylonian Empire. What are the 4 key features of apocalyptic literature? 

What are the 4 key features of apocalyptic literature? 

Symbolic visions about the end of history coming soon and violently.

When was the Book of Daniel (probably) written and what were the major historical/political events happening and of concern to the author at the time the book was written? 

It was written around 164 BCE. While the Maccabean Revolt was happening against the Greek because they violated The Temple, and persecuted Jews who were faithful to Jewish beliefs and practices 

According to class discussion, what is the overall message of Daniel 1-6?

Be like Daniel and be faithful to your Jewish practices and resist persecution.  

According to class discussions, what is the overall message of the visions in Daniel 7-12?

The last Greek king will persecute Jews, the Maccabean will revolt against them, and in 3.5 years, the Greek kingdom will be destroyed, some dead will be raised, and the kingdom of God will be established and given to the faithful Jews forever.  

Be able to explain the meaning of the visions in EITHER chapter 7 OR chapter 8 of the Book of Daniel, as interpreted for Daniel by the heavenly figure in Chapter 7 or Gabriel in Chapter 8. (Focus on the main events that are “predicted” in your chosen chapter.)

Daniel 8:   

Described: Goat destroys Ram. Goat stops Jewish worship for 3.5 years. God destroys goat/king.  

Interpretations: Vision of the end of history. Goat is Greece and it will destroy the ram who is Persia, stop Jewish worship for 3.5 years. Then God will destroy the Greek King.  

Be able to identify two key themes in the Book of Daniel that we have seen in other parts of the Hebrew Bible.  

The end times. Someday there will be perfect 3-fold harmony. Seen in Micah, Isaiah and Daniel 

Importance of following Mosaic covenant. Seen in Isaiah 1, and Daniel.A

Be able to identify the major contribution of the Book of Daniel to our class focus on “heaven, hell, and the end-times.” 

First example of life after death, a physical resurrection.

Be able to give describe and explain the three steps in the Catholic interpretation of the Bible and be able to give an was used in class discussions of EITHER the Book of Isaiah or the Book of Daniel. (Make sure you remember correctly each of the three steps.) 

Daniel 

1^st step: Interpret/ read the part of the Bible in its historical context, figuring what did the part mean to its original audience/author. For example, using the symbols and understanding that they are used to mean the kingdoms and what will happen. Ram vs Goat. Understanding that Ram is Persia and the goat is Greece, and what will result of their fight.  

2^nd step: Interpret part of the Bible and compare it to the rest of the Bible as a whole.  Be faithful, follow the Mosaic Covenant as shoen in Prophets as well. 

3^rd step: Daniel’s ideas of physical resurrection is seen in common beliefs today 

When did Paul of Tarsus (aka St. Paul) write the letters that we have from him in the New Testament? 

Around 50-60CE. In the 50’s.

Based on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, what might we surmise were three main points that Paul preached to Gentiles? 

1. Give up idols, worship only one God. 

2. Wait in faith for Jesus, who will save you from the “day of the wrath” to come 

3. Live in love and be moral 

Be able to identify the key events at the end of history as described by Paul in 1 Thess. 4. 

Jesus descending on a cloud. The dead faithful are raised up to the clouds. Then, the living faithful will be brought up to the cloud while the day of wrath destroys evil on Earth. 

Be able to identify 3 important ideas about the end-times that Paul shares with the Book of Daniel, as discussed in class. 

1. End is coming soon 

2. Bodily resurrection for the dead faithful  

3. The destruction of evil at the end times. 

Be able to identify 3 key differences between Paul’s views and the Book of Daniel’s views on the end-time. 

1. The faithful don’t suffer the day of wrath in Paul vs everyone does in Daniel 

2. In Paul, Jesus raises the dead. And in Daniel, Micheal comes down to raise the dead.  

3. In Daniel, Jesus raises only the faithful while in Daniel, some are raised to contempt and others to joy.