Apocalypse Then and Now

Abstract

The present research paper attempts to trace the genesis of apocalypse in all the major religions like Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. It also attempts to answer how traditional religious apocalypse is different from the literary apocalypse or secular apocalypse as used by the writers in the nineteenth century. Finally it aims to show how the writers across the world and primarily American writers exploited this concept starting from the nineteenth century and continuing even upto today. Hence the essence of this paper could be summed up as the concept of apocalypse as used in antiquity and in the present times since there is a clear cut shift from the traditional apocalypse to the literary one. Literally, the word apocalypse means a revelation or revealing the shape of things to come. The Greek word "apocalypsis" means uncovering, a kind of a prophecy about what the future holds in store for men. It is in the last book of The Bible, The Revelation, that apocalypse, signifying the end of the world, finds its full expression. To one of his disciples, St. John, Jesus appears in a vision and conveys the message of God about the end of the world. In The Revelation the main points conveyed about the end of the world follow a definite pattern, a series of happenings or occurrences, which shall precede the end. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John or Apocalypse of John is the last canonical book of the New Testament in The Bible and the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature.The inaugural signs of the apocalypse, as described in The Revelation, shall be occasional natural disturbances like earthquakes and floods, followed by the most turbulent reign of the Antichrist. This is called the period of the Great Tribulation, followed by the second coming of Christ; and the Armageddon, a cosmic warfare, shall result in the inauguration of the millennium or the messianic kingdom. A gradual moral and physical degradation of human nature will set in as the rule of the Messiah is over. This total degeneration of human nature will be characterised by the last loosening of Satan, to be followed by the ultimate catastrophe, the end of the world by fire. Finally comes the judgement, followed by God's making of a new heaven and earth.Apocalypticism is a feature of all three monotheistic religions. The Book of Daniel describes the Hebrew Prophet's vision of the end. In Islam, the resurrection, the Day of Judgement and salvation are apocalyptic features of orthodox belief as is evident in The Quran. The Hindu doctrine