1. Apocalyptic. Deep dissatisfaction with the present state of the world, a refusal to reconcile themselves to it, was already heard among the prophets, from Amos to Malachi. But most of them did not yet clearly distinguish the future transfiguration of creation from purely earthly and even political aspirations. However, the schism of the united kingdom of Israel, the foreign yoke, and the Captivity gradually freed the consciousness of the Old Testament Church from utopian illusions. In the biblical literature of the last centuries B.C., the final and greatest Manifestation of God is increasingly depicted as an event entirely miraculous, supernatural. This theme becomes the main one in the writings of the apocalyptics (from the Greek apocalypse – revelation).

"Under the name of the Jewish apocalyptic," writes Archpriest S. S. Bulgakov, "of course, a number of works containing a "revelation" of secrets regarding the present state of the world and mankind, its past and especially the future."

This orientation distinguishes apocalyptic from the tradition of the sages and shows that in that era in the Old Testament Church there existed several schools or trends in parallel.

The apocalyptic books include: canonical (Isaiah 24-27; Joel; Zechariah 9-14; Daniel), non-canonical (3 Ezra) and apocrypha. Most apocalyptic writings are characterized by three features:

saturation with complex and mysterious symbolism, which is designed to express the innermost essence of history;

a focus on eschatology and the Judgment of God, which overshadow specific political and social events (which attracted much attention from the old prophets);

Anonymity of authors. The prophets were not only writers, but also active participants in the life of the people. They acted in word and deed. Apocalyptics, on the other hand, most often express themselves through books. Moreover, many of them write anonymously or under a pseudonym. Wishing to show that the revelation given to them unites people with the eternal plans of God, the apocalyptics put in the titles of their writings the names of glorified men of the past (Enoch, Noah, the patriarchs, Isaiah, Daniel, etc.).

The apocalyptic genre was preserved in the New Testament Church. It includes primarily the Revelation of John the Theologian, as well as a number of apocryphal apocalypses, including the Shepherd of Hermas. Christ the Savior Himself in His prophecy about the end of the world used the language of apocalyptics (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21).

2. Book. Joel Ave. The name of Joel (Hebrew Joel) means "Yahweh is God" and is identical in meaning with the name of Elijah. Nothing is known about the personality of the prophet and the time of his life; Legends are also silent about him. One can only assume that St. Joel belonged to the servants of the Temple and preached in the House of the Lord.

According to most biblical scholars, Joel lived in the fourth century B.C., at a time when the Jewish community was surrounded on all sides by dangers, both spiritual and political.

The borders of Judea remained narrowed to the smallest sizes; it was under the dominion of the Persian state. Many Jews lived in the diaspora. One of the main tasks of the teachers of the people was to preserve true piety in them.

The reason for the prophet's speech was a terrible disaster that befell the country: locusts destroyed crops, the people were doomed to starvation. The Spirit of God led the prophet to present this trial as a type of the eschatological Day of the Lord.

The image of locusts sowing destruction passes into the prophet's picture of a world catastrophe (2:1-12). Locusts are no longer just ravager insects, but mysterious avengers. The image of the locust is also found in the Apocalypse of John, where it symbolizes the forces of destruction that have broken free (Revelation 9:1-12).

The prophet calls the people to repentance as the only way to escape the wrath of heaven (1:13-14).