Many modern Christian denominations put a great emphasis on eschatology, so I'm interested in contemporary academic interpretations of the Book of Revelation: historical context, Persian influences, Nero Redivivus legend etc. But I see that it's just a single example of a whole literary genre reflecting the developments in Judaism during the Hellenistic era, so I'd like to learn more about these as well.
(This might be moved to the Thursday reading-and-recommendations thread but) I have the following books and can vouch for them being serious and useful; although I haven't read enough books in the topic to give recommendations for certain books over others:
John C Reeves, Trajectories in Near Eastern Apocalyptic - A Postrabbinic Jewish Apocalypse Reader, Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, 2005
James C VanderKam and William Adler, The Jewish Apocalyptic Heritage in Early Christianity, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 1996