The name of the last book of the Bible could have been “Apocalypse.” Chapter 1, verse 1 reads:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.”
The verse could just as easily begin, “The apocalypse of Jesus Christ…” That’s because the Greek word translated as “revelation” is apokalypsis. It was rendered revelation to emphasize this unique revealing of divine truth about the end-times that humans aren’t capable of discovering on their own.
The way the word apocalypse is popularly used today, it involves events that mark the end of the world as we know it. You’ve probably watched movies that deal with this theme. My guess is that familiar international landmarks were shown being destroyed. Scenes of this sort portray without words that catastrophic changes are in the offing.
In New Testament times, people were accustomed to an apocalyptic style of writing. From approximately 200 B.C. to A.D. 150, various unknown Jewish and Christian writers used pseudonyms, or the name of some well-known figure from the past, like Enoch or Moses, to write with supposed authority about the cosmic battle of Good versus Evil. They frequently made use of dreams, or journeys to heaven or highly symbolic imagery to get their messages across. It was also common to contrast this present evil age with a better world that was to come.
Daniel is considered the prototype of all apocalyptic writers. Re-said, he’s the originator of this type of material.
Revelation is not the only place in the New Testament where this type of writing is seen. Scholars also point to Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 25 and to Chapter 2 of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.
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