These days I hear many references to the Apocalypse. (Also “Coronapocalypse!”) These terms are used half-jokingly--but often with a rather ominous tone. So, I looked at my own view of current events vis a vis what I know about this phenomenon called The Apocalypse.
Most people take this term to mean, “The end of the world,” but that definition is not entirely accurate. The term Apocalypse is Greek for the word Revelation. Many associate this word with the last book of the Christian Bible (aka New Testament) which is titled The Book of Revelation.
Many dismiss this text as nonsense. Some see it as God’s “Preview of Coming Attractions.” Most scholars see it as relevant to certain events 2000 years ago, but definitely not pertinent for us today. A few people see this writing as the expression of an archetype that is as relevant today as it was then.
An archetype is a pattern or blueprint through which we understand and shape our life experiences. Archetypes function both personally, in our own life, and collectively, in our culture. One way to see the various archetypes at work is in stories, particularly in science fiction, fantasy, fairy tales, and myths. Stories such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Sleeping Beauty, and the Odyssey portray a variety of archetypes such as, the Villain, the Hero, the Wizard, the Wise Old Man, the Damsel in Distress, the Fallen Angel, the Prince Charming, the Evil Witch, and many others. These archetypes shape the way we see human history and contemporary events in our world. (Space does not permit more detail on this fascinating topic.)
The archetype of the Apocalypse is found in virtually every culture throughout history. The general pattern of this archetype can be described as follows: Because of humanity’s sinfulness, ignorance and/or need to evolve, some force greater than us destroys our world. The outlook is extremely bleak; and then some benign Power dramatically intervenes--at the very last minute—and saves humanity (sometimes only “the chosen” are saved.) A New Order is established which is followed by a Golden Age that lasts for eons of time.
The underlying message in every apocalyptic story: 1) We have been living in a wrong, sinful or unsustainable way. 2) It is now time to “pay the bill”, to reap what we have sown. 3) Things will get very bad, and then dramatically get better than ever before.
An apocalypse may be likened to an earthquake, which by us is experienced as sudden and unexpected, yet in reality the causative forces have been building up underground for a very long time. A divorce may blindside us. The diagnosis of a serious illness may come like a lightning bolt. A sudden economic downturn throws us for a loop. And yet, the underlying causes of each of these may have been brewing silently for years before their emergence. The same thing is true for wars, famines, plagues and political revolutions.
The “Revelation” arrives like a volcanic eruption--explosive and devastating. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “The truth will set you free.” He might have followed this up by saying: “But first, it will knock you on your ass.” (If he did, it was never recorded!)
The vision of a man named John, on the Island of Patmos, was recorded as The Book of Revelation. It was not written to frighten people of that time but rather to give them faith and hope in a time of great suffering. In so many words, the underlying message is: “Hang on… the Lord is coming.”
Some are still waiting; most have given up. I don’t expect to see God descending from the heavens on a white horse, but I do believe we may be at the end of a world—a world that we have created and lived in for a long time. It’s a world that is no longer sustainable—or even viable. It is a dying world. It’s like a religion that worships money, power, glamour and self-indulgence. It is a way of life that loves things, uses people and destroys its environment. Perhaps this is a good time for it to die.
Throughout our history we humans has been though many apocalyptic events, and life on this planet earth has been through even more of them. Many times in the history of this planet, life appears to be totally eliminated--but not so! Always, something greater emerges from what appears to be a devastating disaster; like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, life has survived and evolved into more complex, intelligent and durable forms.
We will survive-- but not without a significant amount of hard work and suffering. The emergence of the greater is fostered through the work itself. Doing what we need to do to survive is the very thing that births the new life. This is how life has evolved on this planet: from one crisis to the next. As we struggle to go beyond our presumed limitations, God does not descend from the sky; God arises from the depths within each of us.
Do what is yours to do. Do it with courage--but without drama. We don’t need not create a story about what should, could or ought to be; just do what needs to be done. This is how we evolved our physical organs---our eyes, ears, arms, hands; and this is how the soul develops. Do what you are called to do. Do it mindfully and with compassion for all beings—especially for yourself.
These words from Christopher Fry’s play, “A Sleep of Prisoners.” Seem quite relevant today:
The human heart can go the lengths of God…
Dark and cold we may be, but this
Is no winter now. The frozen misery
Of centuries breaks, cracks, begins to move;
The thunder is the thunder of the floes,
The thaw, the flood, the upstart Spring.
Thank God our time is now when wrong
Comes up to face us everywhere,
Never to leave us till we take
The longest stride of soul we ever took.
Affairs are now soul size.
The enterprise
Is exploration into God.
Where are you making for? It takes
So many thousand years to wake,
But will you wake for pity’s sake!