‘Apocalypse’ has become synonymous with a civilization-ending world-wide series of cataclysms. The genre of doomsday movies and of life afterwards portrays an earth ruined by nuclear war and rampant plagues, lack of basic necessities like food, in which individuals or small groups struggle to survive. The apocalyptic reference goes back to Revelation 1:1, the Greek word for revelation being apocalypse, the very first word in the book, linked to the worldwide catastrophes described therein. These events are also described in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 & 21, and Ezekiel 38-39.
Returning to Revelation 1:1, the verse says … “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” [NASB] Substitute unveiling for revelation. This is the prophecy that unveils the mysteries associated with Jesus. These aren’t mysteries to believers - those who know Christ and serve Him - but these events will resolve mysteries of Christ to the world. That this unveiling involves calamity for the world system is an indicator of how depraved it is.
The accounts are indeed terrifying. In fact, in Mark 13:20 Jesus says that unless the Lord had shortened the days, no life would be saved. But the important part from the Biblical perspective is that the love and holiness and power and glory of Jesus’ divinity will be revealed for all to see. And then He will reign on the earth, just as He does in heaven. This reign will begin with 1,000 years of peace and righteousness as described in Revelation 20, because Satan will be bound. It does not say how long it will take to rebuild the earth from the devastation that will result from mankind’s rebellion, Satan’s war, and God’s setting things right. But with Christ physically and visibly reigning on the earth, there will not be the dysfunctional anarchy portrayed in the post-apocalyptic film genre. What Jesus is, He will remake human society to.
What is Jesus like? We get a hybrid picture of His behavior during the Incarnation, when He was on earth in the flesh, and the image of Him in heaven recorded in Revelation 1:12-18. His love is declared openly, but not with emotional attachment as its primary focus; His love chooses and wills the best long-term outcome for the beloved, whatever the cost to Him or to others. And because of His uncompromising holiness, this will result in pain over sin. He paid the price in His suffering on the cross, but we will experience pain when He disciplines us for our own good, so that we may share His holiness. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
The outcome is that we enter into His joy. This is the post-apocalyptic world we can expect. In the millennial reign of Christ, swords will be beaten into plowshares, righteousness will be the norm, the wolf will lie down with the lamb, with longevity and rejoicing in the Lord’s presence. (Isaiah 2:2-4, 11, & 65:11-24). I challenge Hollywood to portray that!
