Knowra Apocalypticism Apocalypticism Apocalypticism interprets history through expectations of divine judgment and the imminent transformation of the world, often revealed through prophecy or visionary literature.
Apocalypse : A revelation that discloses hidden realities, often concerning divine judgment and the end of the present age. Apocalypticism takes its name from this mode of revelation and its visions of history’s end.
Book of Daniel : A biblical book combining court tales with visions of oppressive kingdoms and divine deliverance. Its symbolic visions became a major source for later Jewish and Christian apocalyptic interpretation.
Apocalyptic literature : A literary genre that reveals heavenly secrets through visions, symbolic journeys, and accounts of history’s end. Its coded imagery gives apocalyptic expectations a distinctive way to interpret political events.
Utopia : An imagined society organized around ideal political, social, or moral conditions. Utopian visions can seek earthly reform without expecting divine judgment or an imminent cosmic break.
Eschatology : Theological reflection on death, judgment, the afterlife, and the ultimate destiny of the world. Apocalypticism is a form of eschatology centered on decisive, often imminent transformation.
Book of Revelation : The final book of the Christian Bible, depicting judgment and cosmic renewal through visions and symbols. It is the most influential Christian apocalypse and a lasting source of end-times imagery.
Historicism : An approach that interprets texts and ideas in relation to their historical development and setting. Apocalyptic interpreters often map prophetic symbols onto successive empires and contemporary events.
Secular eschatology : A narrative of history’s ultimate resolution framed without supernatural agency. It preserves end-oriented historical thinking while removing divine intervention.
Messianism : Expectation of a messiah who will bring deliverance, renewal, or rightful rule. Many apocalyptic movements expect a messianic figure to initiate the new age.
Dead Sea Scrolls : A collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts, including biblical texts and writings from the Qumran community. Some Qumran writings express expectation of an imminent final conflict and divine intervention.
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