Apocalyptic messianism was especially meaningful in times of crises, which for the Jews meant most of the time. The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament was written primarily for those who were suffering persecution from the Syrians under Antiochus Epiphanes during the period that preceded the Maccabean wars. In New Testament times, the Roman government persecuted the Christians, and the Book of Revelation did for the Christians of that day what the Book of Daniel did for the Jews of an earlier date: assure those who were suffering for their faith that although the evil forces in the world were then in the ascendancy, the time was not far distant when God would intervene and bring an end to the reign of evil by establishing a kingdom of righteousness in which those who had proved faithful through all of their trials and afflictions would dwell forever in peace.
Not all Jews were satisfied with the notion that they should endure suffering and persecution while waiting for God to intervene on their behalf. The revolutionary messianists argued that God would come to their aid only after they had done all that they could for themselves. Accordingly, they believed that the Day of the Lord would be hastened if they took up arms against their enemies and fought for their own freedom and independence. In other words, God would use his own people as the instruments through which he would bring punishment upon unrighteous nations. The belief that God would aid in this task was strengthened by what the people had experienced during the period of the Maccabean wars. When Mattathias and his small band of renegade fighters took up arms against the Syrians, they achieved one remarkable victory after another. Despite being greatly outnumbered by Syrian soldiers, they were able to win back the territory that had been taken from them, including regaining possession of the city of Jerusalem and restoring the worship services of the Temple. All of these successes were interpreted to mean that God would protect them in battle and give them victory over their enemies. What he had done for them in times past he would do again if they would only follow a similar course.
