What is apocalypticism?

Answer

Apocalypticism is the belief that this world will end, usually in a dramatic fashion as foretold in some prophecy. Describing end-times beliefs, various types of apocalypticism are widely found in different religious traditions. Even within a specific sect, there can be significant differences of opinion regarding the details of the impending apocalypse and its timing.

Apocalypticism is a broad term encompassing many religious systems. Most interpretations of Islam and Christianity would fall under apocalyptic beliefs. These faiths anticipate a definitive end to the world, involving a major upheaval followed by significant changes to the state of the earth, if not the entire universe. Religious systems like Buddhism or Hinduism, which do not foresee any conclusive “end” to the world, are considered non-apocalyptic.

Simultaneously, there are interpretations of prophecy within Christianity, such as preterism, that are themselves non-apocalyptic.

The Greek term apokalypsis, from which the English word apocalypse is derived, literally means “unveiling.” The final book of the New Testament canon is the book of Revelation, which details the end times. The initial words of this book in Greek are Apokalypsis Iēsou Christou, translating to “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The historical impact of this biblical book shifted the meaning of apocalypse from an “uncovering” to a synonym for catastrophic change or the world’s end. Presently, stories or scenarios set after a global upheaval are termed “post-apocalyptic.”

Apocalypticism has manifested in various forms, whether spiritual, natural, or technological. Many of these are short-lived. Recent instances include the interest in the purported end of the Mayan Calendar in 2012. The Y2K scare at the beginning of the century exemplifies technological apocalypticism. More recent apocalyptic trends involve the Blood Moon phenomenon and concerns over the effects.

Aspects of the Large Hadron Collider. Fictional apocalypticism typically mirrors the concerns of its time. In the 1960s, the predominant fear was nuclear war, while in the 1990s, it shifted to a global pandemic or climate change. Literature and films from those periods capture these apprehensions.

The Bible’s perspective on the end times is a distinctive and complex subject. The Got Questions website offers an extensive array of articles delving into prophetic themes, including the culmination of the world.