This website looks interesting

http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/departments/relstudies/290/iranian/zoroastrianism/theories.html 

Zoroastrianism appears to be ancient and it has been suggested that it infuenced the Jews who were in exile in Persia. It also influenced the Greek/Roman world. It looks like Zarathustra could be the 1st known apolalyptic writer.