Apocalyptic Writing

The word “apocalyptic” comes from a Greek word, “apokalypsis,” meaning revealing or unveiling. In the Bible, Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament are the most clear examples of apocalypses. But there are many other books from the Jewish and Christian world that can be classified as apocalypses. In addition, other books of the Bible contain apocalyptic passages.

What makes a particular writing an apocalypse? Apocalypses are stories that use symbols and visions to describe how people received understanding of spiritual realities from heavenly beings. Human beings are given this knowledge by a vision that reveals the truth God wants them to know. Often, the meanings of these visions are difficult to grasp and are explained by an angel.

Apocalyptic visions reveal hidden truths about God, the course of human life, and the spiritual world. These visions often express or describe the meaning of human history, show insights about the nature of life after death, or tell of God’s coming judgment on humanity. An important part of God’s judgment is a final confrontation between the forces of evil and the forces of good. In this final battle, God defeats the evil forces forever, and brings about a world ruled by justice and mercy. See Rev 20–22, and the article “Day of the Lord”.

Many parts of the Bible contain elements of apocalyptic writing. Sometimes the visions God gives to people have to be interpreted by those inspired by God, as Joseph does in Genesis 40–41. When the king of Egypt says that Joseph can interpret dreams, Joseph replies “I can’t do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams” (Gen 41:16). To help the people of Jerusalem, the Lord gives Zechariah eight symbolic visions (Zech 1–6).

Apocalyptic literature has features in common with both prophecy and poetry. Like prophecy, apocalyptic literature may speak to the future of God’s people and a coming day of judgment. Like poetry, apocalyptic literature uses symbols and intense images to describe realities that cannot be communicated any other way.

But apocalyptic writings are not the same thing as prophetic writings. The prophets were recognized religious authorities of Israel who observed what was going on around them and spoke the messages that the Lord gave them. These prophecies could be predictions of the future, but were more often warnings to purify Israel’s religion or messages urging the people to help the poor and oppressed. See the article called “Prophets and Prophecy.”

In apocalyptic visions, on the other hand, seers or visionaries (those who see apocalyptic visions) are not as concerned about the present world, but look to heaven or the end of history through a vision that God has granted them. Sometimes an angel acts as the seer’s guide and interprets the vision. In Daniel 7–12, for example, Daniel (the seer in this book) receives visions in the night which are explained to him by an angel.

Apocalyptic visions take two major forms. In one kind of apocalyptic vision, the seer is given a new understanding of human history and sees God’s hidden purpose and final plan for what happens to the created world. In Daniel 10, for example, the angel Gabriel comes to give Daniel “another vision about what will happen to your people in the future” (Dan 10:14).

In the other kind of apocalyptic vision, the seer travels to heaven and is shown secrets of God’s kingdom in heaven. In Revelation 4, for example, John sees a door open in heaven and sees heavenly beings worshiping the Lord (Rev 4:9).

Even though biblical scholars may disagree about the specific meanings of some of the symbols and visions in various apocalyptic writings, they agree that apocalyptic writings serve to give hope to God’s people in times of crisis. By seeing that God is in control of events and has a plan for human history, the faithful are encouraged to look beyond death and the struggles of this life toward a time of justice under God’s future rule.