what is an apocalypse?

Answer 1

"THE" apocalypse is the catastrophic end of the world, as foretold in the book of Revelations at the end of the Christian Bible. So "an" apocalypse would be a similarly catastrophic end of whatever is being talked about (albeit on a substantially reduced scale). It could also simply mean "the end" overstated or exaggerated for effect.

Answer 2

Apocalypse is derived from the Greek word apokalypsis. Although it's often used to describe a great devastation or cataclysm, the literal meaning of apocalypse is actually an unveiling, or revealing.

Answer 3

Apocalypse (Greek: αποκαλυψις, disclosure), is a term applied to the disclosure to certain privileged persons of something hidden from the mass of humankind. The Greek root corresponds in the Septuagint to the Hebrew galah, to reveal. The last book of the New Testament bears in Greek the title Αποκαλυψις Ιωαννου, and is frequently referred to as the Apocalypse of John, but in the English Bible it appears as the Revelation of St John the Divine, or the Book of Revelation (of Jesus Christ, the Messiah). Earlier among the hellenistic Jews, the term was used of a number of writings which depicted in a prophetic and parabolic way, the end or future state of the world (e.g. Apocalypse of Baruch), the whole class is now commonly known as 'Apocalyptic literature'. However, the Apocalypse technically refers to the unveiling of God, in his guise as the Messiah, and not to all of the destruction of the world which will accompany God's Revelation of Himself to Humankind.

An Apocalypse in the terminology of early Jewish and Christian literature, is a revelation of hidden things given by God to a chosen prophet; this term is more often used to describe the written account of such a revelation. Apocalyptic literature is of considerable importance in the history of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, as beliefs such as the resurrection of the dead, judgment day, heaven and hell are all made explicit in it. Apocalyptic beliefs predate Christianity, appear in other religions, and have merged into contemporary secular society, especially through popular culture (see Apocalypticism). Apocalypse-like beliefs also occur in other religious systems; an example is the Hindu concept of pralay.

From the second century, the term "Apocalypse" was applied to a number of books, both Jewish and Christian, which show the same characteristic features. Besides the Apocalypse of John (now generally called the Book of Revelation) included in the New Testament, the Muratorian fragment, Clement of Alexandria, and others mention an Apocalypse of Peter. Apocalypses of Adam and Abraham (Epiphanius) and of Elias (Jerome) are also mentioned; see, for example, the six titles of this kind in the "List of the 60 Canonical Books".

The use of the Greek noun to designate writings belonging to a certain class of literary products is thus of Christian origin, the original norm of the class being the New Testament Book of Revelation. In 1832 Gottfried Christian Friedrich Lücke explored the word "Apocalypse" as a description of the book of Revelation, a usage obtained from the opening words of the book which refer to an apocalpyse (prophecy) of Jesus Christ given to John, who wrote the text. In Greek the opening words are 'Aπōκάλυψις 'Iησōῦ Χριστōῦ.

Answer 4

apocalypse is a revelation. Any of a number of anonymous Jewish or Christian texts from around the second century B.C. to the second century A.D. containing prophetic or symbolic visions, especially of the imminent destruction of the world and the salvation of the righteous.

Answer 5

THE Apocalypse is the last mankind witnesses...someone asked that EXACT same question yesterday litterally!!!

Answer 6

cataclysmic climactic end of the world as described in the book of revelation. an apocalypse is simply the climactic end where EVERYTHING is resolved. in an end of story, game TOTALLY over type of way.

Answer 7

Isnt it that funny weird evil character in X Men Evolution and they all go to Egypt after him or sumthng?

Answer 8

It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine :)

Answer 9

A type of cupcake.

Answer 10

end of the world. gloom and doom. terror and fright. don't worry Buffy will stop it.