This comprehensive work covers many different Jewish and Christian apocalyptic texts and movements from the second century BCE through the fourth century CE. It focuses on two major themes, cosmology - which studies the structure of the universe, including its religious function - and eschatology, which interprets history and the future.
The relevant Jewish texts and history are discussed thoroughly in their own right. The Christian material is approached in a way that shows both its continuity with Jewish tradition and its distinctiveness.