Apocalypse

Apocalypse derives from the Greek apokalypsis, meaning uncovering or revelation, and is the title of the final book of the New Testament canon, commonly called the Book of Revelation. In this specific sense it refers to the visionary disclosure given to John on the island of Patmos concerning the risen Christ, the heavenly worship, the tribulations of the church, the judgment of evil powers, and the consummation of all things in the new creation (Rev. 1:1).

As a literary genre, “apocalyptic” describes a body of Jewish and early Christian literature characterized by visionary journeys, angelic interpreters, symbolic imagery, cosmic dualism, and eschatological expectation. Major examples include Daniel, 1 Enoch, 4 Ezra, and 2 Baruch alongside the canonical Revelation. The genre flourished in periods of crisis and persecution, offering assurance that God's sovereignty over history remained intact and that present suffering would give way to ultimate divine vindication. The Apocalypse of John is distinguished from other apocalyptic works by its explicit identification of the author and its direct address to seven historical churches in Asia Minor.