Apocalypticism in the Homiletic Text of Pesiqta Rabbati: Catastrophic Events at the End of Time

The rabbinic homiletic work Pesiqta Rabbati contains several apocalyptic topoi in its homilies that culminate in descriptions of divine intervention in history, total destruction followed by the messianic age at the end-of-time, and justice at the final judgment. Nevertheless, Pesiqta Rabbati does not present itself as an apocalypse, nor does it belong to the text-type “apocalypse.” It contains midrashic apocalypticism by interpreting scriptural passages, and relied on the existing language of apocalyptic sources to augment the midrashic statements. Previous scholarship relating to the apocalypse in Pesiqta Rabbati focused mainly on the apocalypses of 2 Baruch, Paralipomena Jeremiou, and 4 Ezra. However, 1 Enoch (Similitudes) and Ascension of Isaiah should also be considered as possible sources. The Revelation to John contains numerous suggestive parallels to Pesiqita Rabbati. The apocalyptic topics address predicaments in Israel’s past history and apply these to its present and future state.