Apocalypse

Apocalypse is defined as a prophetic revelation. It is a description of the battle of Armageddon, the battle of good versus evil, as revealed in the book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Bible. In the Christian scriptures, Apocalypse means revealing or uncovering. The Apocalypse can be interpreted as a prophetic disclosure, as a lifting of the veil to reveal the true and living God in the fullness of truth. It can also be interpreted as the return of Christ and the defeat of His apocalyptic enemies.

Apocalypse is an important statement of faith that evolves throughout Hebrew life and in the writings of the early Christians. It is a vivid expression of eschatological teachings about last things, it is vindication for all who have trusted in God against the forces of evil and the forcing out of evil [Page 62]to its final destruction, and it is the fulfillment of the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The Concept Apocalypse as Sociocultural Symbol

As a cultural theme for literature and the media, apocalypse has been a popular source for many movie plots, movies likeApocalypse Now, Resident Evil: Apocalypse,and Apocalypse II: Revelation. Created with gimmicks, violence, and the battle between the forces of good and evil, these movies loosely speak of social instability, disasters, anxiety, and expecting God (or the movie star) to rise up and defeat the enemies. For some, such apocalypticism is a form of entertainment; for others it is considered a religious affront. Discussions of Apocalypse have divided religions, denominations, congregations, and families. Yet it remains an essential statement of faith and hope for many, with inclusion in religious creeds.

Apocalyptic Groups

In the contemporary experience, some people turn to the apocalyptic concept after catastrophes. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some may have asked, “Is this the time?” There also are religious leaders who play on such fears and the despair of others to align potential membership with apocalyptic doctrine as the group leadership and congregation define it. Apocalyptic groups may emerge and then disappear, but they often share the common theme of believing that the future will lead them to a higher level of existence.

Among the more recent and notable of such groups was the Branch Davidian cult, a group from Waco, Texas, led by David Koresh, which came into direct violent conflict with U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1993. In 1997 members of the Heaven's Gate cult, led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, committed suicide. Another such group was the People's Temple cult led by Jim Jones; the group migrated from the U.S. state of Indiana to California and then to Guyana in South America, where more than 900 members died, most by suicide. The leadership of each of these and similar apocalyptic groups promote the belief that the world will end on a certain date or at the time of a certain event, such as the appearance of the Comet Hale-Bopp on or about March 26, 1997. Contrary to most biblical teachings, or interpretations, many biblical scholars note that the Bible indicates that only God knows the exact day and time of the apocalypse.

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