I would think the distinction is this:

Eschatology
the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.
“Christian hope is concerned with eschatology, or the science of last things”

Jewish Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the end of the world is imminent, even within one’s own lifetime
Think John the Baptist, Jesus (in Mark, not Luke, John, or Thomas)

Maybe this is the Paul Williams–the original post is more than a year old.

Williams was a Buddhist himself for many years but has since converted to Roman Catholicism, an experience he wrote about in his book The Unexpected Way and in an article, “On converting from Buddhism to Catholicism – One convert’s story.” He is now a professed lay member of the Dominican Order.

Hi Dr. Ehrman,
I finally replaced my lost Jesus Apocalyptic Prophet paperback with a hardover Jesus Apoclyptic Prophet.
I’m on page 139.

Bart D.E.
Jesus would punish those who opposed God.

Question #1: Given the realities of the Ancient Roman political structure of Empire and client kingdoms and given Rome’s tolerance for foreign religions, would Rome have been put on the list for those opposing God?

(also p. 139):
Jesus’ ministry ended with the establishment of the Christian church, a community of apocalyptic Jews who believed in him.

Question #2: Given the Hellenists (including Stephen, the martyr), could that sentence become: …a community of apocalyptic Jews and Hellenists…?

Thank you,
Steve Campbell
Author of Historical Accuracy

** you do not have permission to see this link **

= = = =

Re: Would Rome have “made the list” of those opposing God?

BartDE
Anyone who did not believe in Jesus would be destroyed.

SteveC
Anyone who did not believe in Jesus, local to Galilee and Judea would be destroyed.
That’s an overstatement of Jesus’ message sufficiently communicated throughout the city of Rome and the Roman Empire and an overstatement of Jesus’ role and importance in Tiberius’ Roman Empire.

Re: Would it be correct to include the Hellenists (including Stephen, the martyr) in the establishment of the apocalyptic Christian Church?

BartDE
Stephen and the Hellenists are a feature of Acts. They are not original followers of the established community.
We don’t know if they were apocalypticists.

Steve C
Stephen made reference to what Jesus told the high priest at trial.
“You will see the Son of Man” is Jewish Apocalypticsm. Repeating that at great risk to his life leaves little or no doubt, that Stephen’s faith was also following Jesus’ Jewish Apocalypticism.

Stephen cared enough about Jesus to have procured what Jesus said in his own defense.
On a timeline, Stephen’s faith was active in the first wave (pre-crucifixion), not starting in the second wave (post-crucifixion) unless you’re just using the gospels are first wave and a gospel sequel as second wave.