From the Greek word αποκαλνψις (apokalypsis) meaning a disclosure or revelation, an apocalypse is a prophetic look at the end of the world. It is generally concerned with the coming judgment and salvation – looking forward to the end of history. The primary biblical example of apocalypse is the book of Revelation, although portions of the prophets¹ and portions of Matthew’s gospel² might rightly be considered apocalyptic.

Unlike the OT prophets, whose words were spoken first and then remembered and written later, an apocalypse was primarily a literary (i.e. written) form from the beginning. Compare, for example the instruction to John, “write, therefore, what you have seen,”³ to the instructions to the prophets to speak God’s word⁴. As a result, they generally had a particular, formally stylised, structure.

Apocalypse was usually in the form of visions and dream, often using fantasy images (e.g. a dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns⁵, a woman clothed with the sun⁶ etc.).

One big difference between biblical apocalypse and secular was that secular writers often wrote in the name of some historically important person (e.g. Enoch, Baruch), who was told to “seal it up” for a later day. John, on the other hand, feels no need to follow this formula in the writing of his apocalypse – perhaps because he knew that there were to be no “later days” because the end had already begun in Jesus.

Understanding an apocalypse

Here are some things to consider when reading an apocalypse:

• What was the author’s original intent? For example, John wrote Revelation to comfort those who were facing, or were about to face, suffering and persecution under the Romans.
• When the author interprets his own images, use these as a starting point for understanding the other images. There are several images in Revelation which John interprets for us: the Son of Man⁷ who is Jesus; the lampstands⁸ which are the churches; the stars⁹ which are the angels of the churches; the dragon¹⁰ who is Satan; the 7 heads of the beast¹¹ which are the seven hills; and the prostitute¹² who is Bablyon etc.
• Read to see the whole, rather than allegorically pressing details – much as you would a parable. Where details are included, they are generally done so for a) dramatic effect¹³; or b) to make sure readers will not miss the reference¹⁴.
• Be aware of Old Testament references. John references or echoes the Old Testament some 250 times in Revelation, so that every significant moment in his narrative is described almost exclusively in Old Testament language¹⁵. The OT context gives us clues as to how John’s images and pictures are to be understood.
• Apocalypse is seldom intended to give chronological details of the end of history.

Application

• Pictures of the future are just that: pictures. They express a reality, but are not to be confused with reality, nor is every detail necessarily to be ‘fulfilled’. For example, we should not necessarily expect a literal pouring out of the four disasters described in Rev. 8:6 – 9:16. Instead it is more likely that this is a reference back to the plagues inflicted upon Pharaoh, and the judgment that went along with them.
• Even where events described seem to mirror temporal (either present or past) events, be aware that there may be a “not yet” dimension.
• As already mentioned, John’s intention is almost certainly not to give literal details about the end of history. Don’t spend your time worrying about whether current events are the fulfillment of events described in apocalypse – instead, understand John’s message that God is in control, and will bring history to a close on his terms.

Further reading

• Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart, “The Revelation: Images of Judgment and Hope” in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Third Edition, Zondervan, 2003) pp. 249-264

Endnotes

1. See, for example Dan. 7-12.
2. e.g. Matt. 24
3. Rev 1:19
4. See, for example, Is 6:9 and Jer. 1:7
5. Rev. 12:3
6. Rev. 12:1
7. Rev. 1:13
8. Rev. 1:20
9. Rev. 1:20
10. Rev. 12:9
11. Rev. 17:9
12. Rev. 17:18
13. e.g. Rev. 6:12-14
14. e.g. Rev. 9:7-11
15. e.g. Rev. 1:5b-6 refers back to the sacrificial imagery of Ex. 19:6.