عنوان

The latter days and the time of the end in the Book of Daniel

TLpq303881384

انگلیسی

The latter days and the time of the end in the Book of Daniel

[Thesis]

G. Pfandl

G. F. Hasel

Andrews University

1990

531

Ph.D.

Andrews University

1990

This study attempts to investigate the two temporal expressions be'ahari t hayyami m (the latter days) and usd\rm \sp{c}\bar eusdt usd\rm q\bar e\ susd (the time of the end) in the book of Daniel. Its main objective is to determine the precise meanings of these phrases and the relationship between them. Chapter 1 presents an historical review of literature on the expression "the latter days" and "the time of the end." The four major schools of interpretation (Historical-critical, Preterist, Historicist, Futurist-dispensational) and their understanding of these phrases are outlined and the great divergence of opinions among scholars concerning them is noted. Furthermore, the issues and problems which this study addresses are pointed out. The investigation of the phrase "the latter days" in chapter 2 shows that only in the Akkadian literature do we find any parallel phrases to be'ahari t hayyami m. However, the Akkadian phrases ana ausdhusdrat ume and ina arkat ume never appear in a religious context and lack an eschatological meaning. In the OT be'ahari t hayyami m can refer to various periods in the history of Israel some of which are eschatological, e.g., Deut 4:30; Jer 23:20; 30:24, and others which are not, e.g., Deut 31:29; Jer 48:47; 49:39. In the book of Daniel the expressions be'ahari t hayyami m (10:14) and be'ahari t yomayya' (2:28) are equivalent. Both phrases refer to the future which began in the time of Daniel and which reaches down to the time of the Messianic kingdom. The investigation in chapter 3 indicates that the words 'et and qes by themselves can have an eschatological meaning, e.g., 'et in Jer 3:17; 8:1-8; 18:23; 33:15 and qes in Amos 8:2; Lam 4:18; and Ezek 7:2,3,6. The phrase 'et qes or a cognate equivalent does not appear anywhere in the ancient Semitic literature outside of the book of Daniel. It is an apocalyptic terminus technicus found five times in the latter half of the book of Daniel (8:17; 11:35,40; 12:4,9) and always refers to the apocalyptic end of world history, the final period of time leading up to the absolute End. The final chapter presents an overall summary and presents certain conclusions concerning the two phrases "the latter days" and "the time of the end" and their interrelationship.

Ancient languages

Bible

Language, literature and linguistics

Philosophy, religion and theology

Religion

Theology

G. F. Hasel

G. Pfandl

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y