The meaning of the biblical apocalypse is much misunderstood. Etymologically apocalypse comes from the Greek apokalupsis which means ‘uncover, reveal’, from apo- ‘un-’ + kaluptein ‘to cover’.
It uses melodramatic images like stars falling from the sky and the moon turning to blood. The closest thing would be like being in an utterly different world, where what we used to call “normal” does not apply. Something like the shocking COVID-19 event that left us utterly out of control. We struggled to retake control, like refusing to wear masks and defying social distancing mandates.
Apocalypse is for the sake of birth, not death. Anything that upsets our normalcy threatens the ego but in the Big Picture, it really does not. In Luke 21, Jesus said in the middle of the catastrophic description: “Your endurance will win you your souls.” Falling apart is for the sake of renewal, not punishment. In Mark 13, Jesus said, “Stay awake” four times.
An apocalyptic event reframes reality by flipping our imagination. We would have treated history favorably if we properly understood apocalyptic literature. It is not the end of the world, but the end of the worlds that we created. In the book of Revelation John is trying to describe what it feels like when everything falls apart. It is not a threat but an invitation to depth.
Our best response when things fall apart is by approaching it with a welcoming prayer. “Come and teach me your lessons.”
Mark 13:8 “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”
