The Apocalypse – What is it?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament refers to part of the apocalypse as the Day of the Lord, a time of judgment, reckoning, and the end of history as we know it. Isaiah 13:6–13 describes the coming day of God's wrath, a time of destruction where the earth will be shaken, and all its inhabitants will be judged. Joel 2:30–32 foretells a time of cosmic disturbances—the sun turning to darkness, the moon to blood—signaling the coming of the Lord's judgment and the eventual salvation of God's people. Zephaniah 1:14–18 describes the Day of the Lord as a time of wrath and distress, with fire and destruction affecting the whole world.
• Many Old Testament prophecies also anticipate a future redeemer who will bring justice, restore God's kingdom, and defeat evil. Daniel 7:13–14 foresees a figure "like a son of man" who will be given dominion over all nations, signaling the coming of God's eternal kingdom.
• The apocalypse is described in other places as having cosmic and natural upheavals associated with the end times. Isaiah 34:4 depicts the heavens being rolled up like a scroll and the earth being destroyed, and Haggai 2:6–7 talks about God shaking the heavens and the earth before establishing His kingdom.

from the new testament

• The Greek word apokalupsis means to reveal or disclose. It is the first word of the book of Revelation, meaning the book is a revealing of the end times to its readers (Revelation 1:1). Many people refer to the end times as the Apocalypse or the time of the Apocalypse.

implications for today

The term "apocalyptic literature" has been used in reference to end-times teachings both in Revelation and in other parts of the Bible. Apocalyptic, or end-times, material was often revealed through dreams, visions, or sometimes angels.

Apocalyptic literature often uses symbolic language to express ideas regarding the future. For example, Revelation speaks of a dragon, beast, four living creatures, and other figures in ways that have led to many interpretations regarding the timing and details of future events.

One common element to apocalyptic literature is the emphasis on the destruction of the world in the last days, followed by the making of a new heaven and earth. Revelation 21–22 describes the new heavens and earth in detail. Following letters to seven churches in Revelation 1–3, chapters 4–20 include many symbolic ideas about future events that have been interpreted in numerous ways.

The pretribulation rapture view of the apocalypse interprets the seven years of tribulation described in Revelation as taking place following a rapture, in which Jesus returns and takes believers to be with Him in heaven (John 14:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

The mid-tribulation view believes Jesus will return for the rapture at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation described in Revelation, three and a half years after the tribulation begins.

The post-tribulation view believes Jesus will return only one time, at the end of the seven-year tribulation, to gather His people and to defeat evil.

In addition to these views, the 1,000 year reign of Christ (the millennial kingdom) described in Revelation 20 is debated as to whether it is literal or symbolic. Those who take a literal view emphasize that the number is mentioned six times in the chapter for a reason. Those who do not accept a literal view often refer to 2 Peter 3:8, which says, "With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

While the prophecies related to the end times have many different interpretations, Scripture is clear that Christ will return for His people and will establish a new heavens and earth after defeating evil. All believers can rejoice in this prophecy and look forward to the coming of the Lord.