TAMPERING WITH THE ENGINES OF CREATION - The Sorcerer's Apprentice? - No traditional breeding method could result in the introduction of a human or pig growth hormone, for instance, into fish; or of insect genes into plants. As the experimentation continues and expands, and as increasing investments are made in this dynamic new field, the risks multiply. There could be big trouble ahead. Revelation Chapter 9 is just one Biblical example which presents some pretty weird creatures of the future, described as "locusts." However, they can't be normal locusts since they have a king (and Proverbs 30:27 reveals that natural locusts have no king). Most commentators view them as a demonichorde. Could they be genetic mutants, brought on to fulfill an apocalyptic destiny? Rather wild. Who knows? - The search to decipher DNA and the development of drugs which could address the causes of diseases such as cancer, rheuma toid arthritis, and heart disease is accelerating. Each of the human body's 75 trillion cells, except for the red blood cells, has a full complement of chromosomes in its nucleus. Each nucleus has 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs. In each chromosome is a wadded-up strand of DNA, which includes hundreds of millions of base pairs. Stretched out straight, it would measure anywhere from three to nine feet long and about 20 atoms across. The DNA code is universal, whether it be human, rat, bat, mouse, worm, fruit fly, or microbe.

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Tampering with the Engines of Creation

The Sorcerer's Apprentice?

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No traditional breeding method could result in the introduction of a human or pig growth hormone, for instance, into fish; or of insect genes into plants. As the experimentation continues and expands, and as increasing investments are made in this dynamic new field, the risks multiply. 

,

There could be big trouble ahead. Revelation Chapter 9 is just one Biblical example which presents some pretty weird creatures of the future, described as "locusts." However, they can't be normal locusts since they have a king (and Proverbs 30:27 reveals that natural locusts have no king). Most commentators view them as a demonic horde. Could they be genetic mutants, brought on to fulfill an apocalyptic destiny? Rather wild. Who knows?

by Chuck Missler

 

The search to decipher DNA and the development of drugs which could address the causes of diseases such as cancer, rheuma toid arthritis, and heart disease is accelerating.

Designer Genes

Each of the human body's 75 trillion cells, except for the red blood cells, has a full complement of chromosomes in its nucleus.

Each nucleus has 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs.

In each chromosome is a wadded-up strand of DNA, which includes hundreds of millions of base pairs.

Stretched out straight, it would measure anywhere from three to nine feet long and about 20 atoms across.

The DNA code is universal, whether it be human, rat, bat, mouse, worm, fruit fly, or microbe. (All codes of life came from the same "software house.")

The Human Genome Project, a $3 billion international effort to map the entire genome, was launched in 1990 and involves 350 labs. It isn't expected to complete its task until 2005.

One of the leading organizations, Human Genome Sciences, has 135 scientists using the most advanced computer, laser, and scientific technologies deciphering and decoding the molecular sequences making up the human genome.

Human Genome Sciences, along with its associated research foundation, the Institute of Genomic Research, is expected to have isolated and deciphered most of the important human genes within two years. (It is a public company with the backing of drug giant SmithKline Beecham.)

Designer Animals

Lambs are now being born on a farm in Scotland which have had their genetic construction so altered that they will produce a drug called Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in their milk.

Clinical tests of this drug will begin in late 1995 on humans suffering from lung disorders.

Genzyme Transgenics hopes that its anti-thrombosis drug, anti- thrombin-III (AT-III), produced in the milk of genetically engineered goats, will be ready for clinical trials in early 1995.

GenPharm International (Mountain View, California) has just produced the first progeny from a Dutch biotech bull in the hopes of producing drug-manufacturing cows with a milk yield ten times that of goats or sheep.

In Britain, researchers at the government-backed Roslin Institute are reporting progress in breeding genetically engineered chickens which will be capable of producing drugs and vaccines in their eggs.

Giant Business Opportunities

The potential economic stake is enormous. Genzyme Transgenics (Cambridge, Massachusetts) anticipates that the market for milk- produced drugs alone will be worth over $1 billion per year within the next decade.

New start-up companies as well as the big drug "giants" are rushing to build in-house gene-hunting capabilities.

Organ Factories

There are also organs being produced for eventual transplant into humans.

Researchers at the British company Imutran estimate that hearts and other organs produced from genetically altered pigs could be transplanted into humans within three years.

The first litter of suitably adapted pigs was born last month (June 1994). Estimates suggest that more than 100,000 patients a year could receive such pig organs.

Are Concerns Justified?

The proponents of genetic engineering claim that they have learned from the development of nuclear power, and environmental legislation is now being introduced to control potential damage.

However, no laboratory security, no matter how effective, can deal with unforeseen post-release effects.

Controls designed to protect high-security farming of genetically manipulated farm animals can't deal with the damage that would follow the release of genetically manipulated plants, fish, or animals.

The areas of risk include: the escape of an introduced gene by crossing it with wild relatives; unexpected alterations of normal characteristics in different environments; and, unexpected advantages conferred by genetic manipulation which could lead to the establishment and persistence of an organism.

There are already many examples where the introduction of exotic species to a new environment has caused the displacement of indigenous fauna and flora without the added ingredient of genetic manipulation.

Rabbits in Australia, zebra mussels in North America, and rhododendron in parts of north Wales are but a few examples.

There are some scientists and doctors who believe that the AIDS virus was the result of a government genetic experiment that went out of control.

They point to some combinative aspects of the HIV virus which suggest that it was engineered in a laboratory. (See the Strecker Memorandum reference at the end of this article.)

Supporters of genetic engineering say that it is no different in concept from traditional breeding methods.

This is misleading, since no traditional breeding method could result in the introduction of a human or pig growth hormone, for instance, into fish; or of insect genes into plants.

The instinctive shudder that passes down one's spine is not limited to uninformed laymen; some scientists share these same misgivings. There is little doubt that these efforts could lead to adverse, possibly catastrophic, consequences.

"These are the risks of disturbing the integrity of nature."

As the experimentation continues and expands, and as increasing investments are made in this dynamic new field, the risks multiply.

As the new "Sorcerer's Apprentices" continue to tamper with the "engines of Creation," no one can predict the results. There could be big trouble ahead.

It seems ironic that the vigorous and talented pursuit of solutions to relieve human suffering and misery might also be leading to some major, perhaps global, tragedies for mankind.

Apocalyptic Implications?

Revelation Chapter 9 is just one Biblical example which presents some pretty weird creatures of the future, described as "locusts."

However, they can't be normal locusts since they have a king (and Proverbs 30:27 reveals that natural locusts have no king).

Most commentators view them as a demonichorde.

Could they be genetic mutants, brought on to fulfill an apocalyptic destiny? Rather wild. Who knows?

In this rapidly changing world, as we see the deterioration of morality, the increasing corruption at the highest levels of government, and the increasing risks in the unbridled application of only partially understood technologies, isn't it reassuring that God is in control of your life?

Or is He? Have you put Him in control, or are you "winging it" yourself?

If you are gambling your eternity that the Bible is wrong, you've got more guts than I have. Think about it.

Charles W. Missler was an American author, evangelical Christian, Bible teacher, engineer, and former businessman. He was the founder of the Koinonia House ministry based in Post Falls, Idaho.

Koinonia Institute is dedicated to training and equipping the serious Christian for ministry in today’s world.

For several decades the ministry of Koinonia House has been to create, develop, and distribute educational materials for those who take the Bible seriously as the inerrant Word of God.

As an affiliated ministry, the Koinonia Institute is focused on three supporting areas:

To provide instructional programs to facilitate serious study of the Bible among thinking Christians;

To encourage and facilitate both individual and small group weekly study programs for personal growth; and

To develop an international cadre of believers who answer God’s unique calling on their lives, especially as they see prophetic trends unfold and discern what is really happening in the world.

The Institute is committed to accomplishing these goals through a program of lifelong learning – exploiting the Internet in order to achieve the “training and equipping” in our mission statement.

Koinonia Institute is formed around three tracks — The Berean, The Issachar, and The Koinonos. For information about each track, please see the Student Handbook.

https://www.khouse.org/articles/1994/55/

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PROPHESIES THAT WILL BE FULFILLED BEFORE JESUS RETURNS - These things are yet to come - Before Christ returns, the Jews will be truly settled in their ancestral homeland. Jerusalem will once again be in Jewish hands. Many believe that this sign will come to pass soon as Israel is currently a Jewish state. Jerusalem, however, remains split between various groups. Christ will not return until after the Gospel has been preached to the entire world. Many people see this prophecy as being nearly fulfilled, but there is potential that this has already come to pass. One of the better-known tales of the end times is that God will send two final witnesses to preach the Gospel. The two witnesses will be killed, and their bodies will be seen by everyone in the world. The end times are going to be disastrous. There is a reason why the words “apocalypse” and “Armageddon” are associated with catastrophic destruction. Not all of the disasters that come with the end of the age will be caused by nature. Many of them will be things that mankind brings on themselves.

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7 Prophesies That Will Be Fulfilled Before Jesus Returns

These things are yet to come

By Stephanie Hertzenberg

Since the day that Christ said He would return, Christians have been eagerly watching for the Second Coming in between arguing with each other about when it will take place.

There have been innumerable sermons on the subject of the end times, and there are probably about as many blogs devoted to arguing about the Rapture as there are Christian churches.

If a person types in the name of any controversial leader into Google, one of the most likely suggested searches will end with “is the anti-Christ.”

A Jewish homeland will be established in Israel.

Before Christ returns, the Jews will be truly settled in their ancestral homeland. Jerusalem will once again be in Jewish hands.

Many believe that this sign will come to pass soon as Israel is currently a Jewish state. Jerusalem, however, remains split between various groups.

That said, with the United States finally moving its embassy to Jerusalem in order to line up with more than a decade of America’s official stance that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, Jerusalem is closer than ever to returning to Jewish hands.

The Gospel will be preached to the entire world.

Christ will not return until after the Gospel has been preached to the entire world.

Many people see this prophecy as being nearly fulfilled, but there is potential that this has already come to pass.

When the Bible was written, the phrase “the world” meant something different than it does today.

When people speak of the entire world today, they are referring to the globe as a whole and interpret this prophecy as meaning that the Gospel must be preached in every country on Earth.

During the time when the prophecy was first written down, however, “the world” was used to refer not to every inch of land on Earth, but to the extent of the Roman Empire.

Worldwide communications will exist before the final two witnesses.

One of the better-known tales of the end times is that God will send two final witnesses to preach the Gospel.

The two witnesses will be killed, and their bodies will be seen by everyone in the world.

In order for this to come true, the entire world must be interconnected and able to communicate with each other in extremely rapid fashion.

Once again, the conditions required for this prophecy to be fulfilled are nearly complete.

With the rise of the internet, social media and smartphones, it is easier than ever for people to relay information to each other.

Events that happen on one side of the world can be broadcast to the other in milliseconds.

The world is also becoming more and more hostile toward Christianity.

Things have not yet boiled over, but it is easy to believe that the time of the two witnesses is fast approaching.

Natural disasters will be widespread.

The end times are going to be disastrous. There is a reason why the words “apocalypse” and “Armageddon” are associated with catastrophic destruction.

During the end times, God will turn nature against mankind. There will be pandemics, flooding, fires, earthquakes, famines and what many scholars identify as meteorite strikes or even a comet colliding with Earth.

These numerous disasters will take place all across the world and kill billions.

War and violence will run rampant.

Not all of the disasters that come with the end of the age will be caused by nature. Many of them will be things that mankind brings on themselves.

War and all sorts of violence will run rampant before Christ returns to Earth. Men and women will attack and kill their enemies, their friends and even their own families.

Even as natural disasters raze cities, people will still continue to inflict violence on each other.

A charismatic and convincing false prophet will appear.

No sign of the end times has captured the imagination of the world as much as the anti-Christ.

This figure will be as charismatic as they are evil and will lead millions astray.

They will cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands and turn innumerable people against God before Christ returns to Earth.

God’s people will be hunted and killed.

Before Christ returns, God’s people will be hunted and killed by nonbelievers.

Those who dare to cling to their faith will find themselves unable to trade or do business with others.

They will be driven out, seen as outcasts and eventually, they will be hunted down and killed.

Given the rising rate of lethal Christian persecution in the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as the ever-increasing ostracism and hatred faced by Christians in the West, the time when faith will once again become a matter of life and death for Christians may not be as far away as some believe. 

Christians have always watched for the signs that indicate that Christ is soon to return.

In the first century, Paul urged Christians to be alert and prepare themselves for Christ’s return.

In the 21st century, endless blogs and websites are dedicated to predicting that incredible event.

Regardless of what century Christians were watching from, the fact remains that everyone is waiting to see when the final signs will be fulfilled and Christ will return once again to His people.

Stephanie Hertzenberg is a writer and editor at Beliefnet. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She maintains an avid interest in health, history and science.

https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/7-prophesies-that-will-be-fulfilled-before-jesus-returns.aspx

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE - Jesus opens the book of the future, the book of prophecy, which is sealed with seven seals, and shows the apostle John the future of the world from that time (about 90 AD) to the last days (the time in which we are now living) and beyond. Another name for the book of Revelation is the Apocalypse, which means “a revelation concerning the future.” The four horsemen of the Apocalypse reveal the truth about religion, war, and economics, and set the stage for what is soon to come. The first horseman, who wears a crown and goes forth to conquer, is obviously Jesus. From the spiritual realm, the resurrected Jesus was going forth to “conquer” the world with the Gospel through His apostles and the early Christians — and they would eventually conquer the mighty Roman Empire. Jesus’ message of the love and forgiveness of God would prove more powerful than all the legions of Rome! Jesus is this mighty Conqueror on the white horse.

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Joseph Candel

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY WE HAVE WAR, or why there is such a disparity of wealth — why some people and whole nations are rich and overfed while others are starving and deprived of other basic necessities?

Why do governments spend billions on wars that kill and maim while the poor continue to suffer?

I used to wonder why the world is the way it is, why there couldn’t be more love and peace and cooperation among people and nations to make the world a better place.

I found the answer to that in the Bible, beginning with Revelation chapter 6, about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In Revelation chapter 6, Jesus opens the book of the future, the book of prophecy, which is sealed with seven seals, and shows the apostle John the future of the world from that time (about 90 AD) to the last days (the time in which we are now living) and beyond.

Another name for the book of Revelation is the Apocalypse, which means “a revelation concerning the future.”

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse reveal the truth about religion, war, and economics, and set the stage for what is soon to come.

The first seal

“And I saw when the Lamb [Jesus] opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, ‘Come and see.’ And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto Him: and He went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:1–2 KJV.)

The first horseman, who wears a crown and goes forth to conquer, is obviously Jesus.

What was happening at this time in world history, in about 90 AD?—>

From the spiritual realm, the resurrected Jesus was going forth to “conquer” the world with the Gospel through His apostles and the early Christians — and they would eventually conquer the mighty Roman Empire.

Jesus’ message of the love and forgiveness of God would prove more powerful than all the legions of Rome! Jesus is this mighty Conqueror on the white horse.

We find another picture of a white horse in Revelation chapter 19: “And behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True. ... His name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11,13 KJV).

We know from John 1:14 that “The Word of God” is Jesus: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And following Jesus are the armies of Heaven, the resurrected saints who are also riding white horses as they come down from Heaven to defeat the forces of the Antichrist and take over the world at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:14).

The second seal

“And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (Revelation 6:3–4 KJV.)

What takes “peace from the earth”? — War!

This red horse symbolizes war, the military and their war machines.

The horse’s color, red, is appropriate because it represents all the blood shed in man’s hellish wars — wars for which God is not responsible, but which come from the pride, prejudices, and avarice of man’s heart.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1 KJV).

The “great sword” given to the rider of the red horse seems to suggest the great “improvements” in weapons of war and the vastly greater devastation bought on by war since this prophecy was given in John’s day.

The third seal

“And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, ‘A measure of wheat for a penny; and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.’” (Revelation 6:5–6 KJV.)

This black horse’s rider with the pair of balances in his hand symbolizes the rich capitalists that have a major impact on world conditions through their manipulation of national economies.

Only one other verse in the Bible pictures a man with balances, or scales: “The merchant uses dishonest scales; he loves to defraud” (Hosea 12:7 NIV).

Another prophet, Amos, also said that the merchants — the wealthy capitalists of his day who were robbing the poor instead of helping them — “set forth wheat, making the ephah [unit of measure] small, and the shekel [price] great, and falsifying the balances by deceit ... that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail” (Amos 8:4–6 KJV).

The black horse, then, represents famine and poverty perpetrated by the rich who refuse to share with those in need.

This horse is largely responsible for today’s economic situation. Oil and wine, throughout the Scriptures, symbolize abundance or luxury.

The fact that the oil and wine were “hurt not” indicates a situation where wealth and luxury exist alongside famine and poverty — and the gulf between rich and poor is only growing.

The fourth seal

“And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7–8 KJV.)

The fourth and final horseman of the Apocalypse is death itself — death not only from war, but also from beasts and plagues and famine and death in every other conceivable form.

Death has always been with us, of course, but death by famine, natural disasters, new plagues such as AIDS, and new pestilences such as the Ebola virus have reached unprecedented levels, just like Jesus said they would immediately prior to His return: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7).

The fifth seal

“And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?’ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Revelation 6:9–11 KJV.)

First comes the white horse, the proclamation of its rider’s message, and the “conquest” of many souls.

Then comes the open rejection of that message by the unbelievers, those in league with the other three horsemen on the red, black, and pale horses, which crystallizes into persecution and the martyrdom of “them that were slain for the Word of God.”

This is the way it’s been all throughout history. These martyrs, though, are actually the exception.

Most of Jesus’ followers have usually escaped martyrdom and lived on to help carry on His work.

War, greed, and death — the characters that were revealed when the second, third, and fourth seals were opened — are almost as old as the world itself, but the Biblical picture both here and elsewhere is that each of these forces has taken on greater power since the time of this revelation.

Again, Jesus predicted this in His famous Endtime discourse, Matthew chapter 24, and said that it would culminate in “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:7, 21–22).

In other words, Jesus was saying, one day man would reach such an impasse that if God were to let him continue unchecked, he would annihilate himself.

However, when man finally reaches that suicidal point, Jesus said that God would step in and stop man.

And the way God will stop him is at the Battle of Armageddon that happens shortly after Jesus’ Second Coming & the Resurrection & Rapture.

First the Saints will go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9) & then return with Jesus probably sometime near the end of Wrath of God & defeat the Antichrist & his forces at the Battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 16:16-21)

Only within the last 60 or 70 years has the human race developed the potential to destroy itself.

The military (red horse) now have their nuclear bombs, intercontinental missiles, chemical and biological weapons, and other lethal technologies.

The rich, on their black horse, were complicit in the last century’s great wars, and their hoarding and misuse of their riches is threatening another one.

The rich also, in their relentless pursuit of greater wealth, are finally succeeding in polluting the entire earth — a byproduct of modern technology.

And following the others comes the fourth horseman, on the pale horse — death in every form.

So, there you have the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. They will continue to ride until the End, when Jesus returns to take us to heavenly places with Him, before pouring out His judgments on the perpetrators of the hell on earth below.

Then He will come back once more — He and all the saints of God — to wipe out the Antichrist and all of his forces at the Battle of Armageddon.

God will then cleanse and purify the earth and set up His eternal kingdom, ruled by Jesus Christ & His Saints.

The Countdown site is devoted to exploring the mysteries of Bible prophecies about the “last days” which presage the end of this world as we know it, and to keeping a watchful eye on the “signs of the times” that the Bible indicates will foreshadow these events.

Countdown features news articles, blog posts, and editorials that address current events, trends, culture, and technological advances, in light of biblical prophecy.

https://countdown.org/en/entries/features/four-horsemen-apocalypse/

THE MEANING OF APOCALYPSE IN THE BIBLE - The word apocalypse is most often used in relation to a holy disclosure of information or knowledge, usually through some sort of prophetic dream or vision. The knowledge in these visions is typically related to either end times or to insights into the truth of the divine. Daniel is the apocalypse that both Jewish and Christian traditions share. The section related to apocalypse is the second half of the texts, which consists of four visions. Revelation, which appears as the last book in the Christian Bible, is one of the most famous pieces of apocalyptic writing. Framed as the visions of the apostle John, it is packed with symbolism in images and numbers to create a prophecy of the end of days. Revelation is the source of our popular definition of “apocalypse.”

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Apocalypse

What Is the Meaning of Apocalypse in the Bible?

by Amanda Prahl 

The concept of apocalypse has a long and rich literary and religious tradition whose meaning goes beyond what we see on dramatic movie posters.

The word apocalypse is derived from the Greek word apokálypsis, which translates most literally to “an uncovering.”

In the context of religious texts like the Bible, the word is most often used in relation to a holy disclosure of information or knowledge, usually through some sort of prophetic dream or vision.

The knowledge in these visions is typically related to either end times or to insights into the truth of the divine.

Several elements are often associated with biblical apocalypse, including but not limited to image-based symbolism, numbers, and specific or significant periods of time.

In the Christian Bible, there are two major apocalyptic books; in the Hebrew Bible, there is only one.

Key Terms

·         Revelation: An uncovering of a truth.

·         Rapture: The idea that all true believers alive at the end of times will be taken to heaven to be with God. The term is often misused as a synonym for apocalypse. Its existence is the subject of much debate among Christian denominations.

·          Son of man: A term that appears in apocalyptic writings but has no consensus definition. Some scholars believe it affirms the human side of Christ's dual nature; others believe it is an idiomatic way of referring to the self.

The Book of Daniel and the Four Visions

Daniel is the apocalypse that both Jewish and Christian traditions share.

It is found in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible among the Major Prophets (Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah) and in the Kevitum in the Jewish Bible.

The section related to apocalypse is the second half of the texts, which consists of four visions.

The first dream is of four beasts, one of which destroys the whole world before being destroyed by a divine judge, who then gives eternal kingship to a “son of man” (itself a particular phrase that turns up frequently in Judeo-Christian apocalyptic writings).

Daniel is then told that the beasts represent the “nations” of the earth, who will one day wage war against the holy but will receive divine judgment.

This vision includes several hallmarks of biblical apocalypse, including numerical symbolism (four beasts represent four kingdoms), predictions of end times, and ritualistic periods of time undefined by normal standards (it is specified that the final king will make war for “two times and a half").

Daniel’s second vision is of a two-horned ram that runs rampant until being destroyed by a goat. The goat then grows a small horn that gets larger and larger until it desecrates the holy temple.

Once again, we see animals used to represent human nations: the ram’s horns are said to represent the Persians and the Medes, and while the goat is said to be Greece, its destructive horn is itself representative of an evil king to come.

Numerical prophecies are also present through the specification of the number of days that the temple is unclean.

The angel Gabriel, who explained the second vision, returns for Daniel’s questions about the prophet Jeremiah’s promise that Jerusalem and its Temple would be destroyed for 70 years.

The angel tells Daniel that the prophecy actually refers to a number of years equivalent to the number of days in a week multiplied by 70 (for a total of 490 years), and that the Temple would be restored but then destroyed again by a wicked ruler.

The number seven plays a major role in this third apocalyptic vision, both as the number of days in a week and in the crucial “seventy,” which is fairly common: seven (or variations like “seventy times seven”) is a symbolic number that often stands in for the concept of much greater numbers or the ritualistic passage of time.

The fourth and final vision of Daniel is probably the closest to the revelatory, end-of-times concept of apocalypse found in popular imagination.

In it, an angel or other divine being shows Daniel a future time where the nations of man are at war, expanding upon the third vision in which an evil ruler passes through and destroys the Temple.

Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation

Revelation, which appears as the last book in the Christian Bible, is one of the most famous pieces of apocalyptic writing.

Framed as the visions of the apostle John, it is packed with symbolism in images and numbers to create a prophecy of the end of days.

Revelation is the source of our popular definition of “apocalypse.”

In the visions, John is shown intense spiritual battles centered around the conflict between earthly and divine influences and the eventual final judgment of man by God.

The vivid, sometimes confusing images and times described in the book are laden with symbolism that often ties into the prophetic writings of the Old Testament.

This apocalypse describes, in almost ritualistic terms, John’s vision of how Christ will return when it is time for God to judge all earthly beings and reward the faithful with eternal, joyful life.

It is this element–the ending of earthly life and the beginning of an unknowable existence close to the divine–that gives popular culture the association of “apocalypse” with “end of the world.” 

Amanda Prahl

Introduction

Arizona State University instructor in theater and film with a specialization in writing craft and history

Award-winning playwright, lyricist, and dramaturg with credits in regional and festival productions

MFA in Dramatic Writing, B.A. in English and Political Science 

Experience

Amanda Prahl is a writer and faculty associate at Arizona State University, where she teaches university-level courses in theater and film. Her written work, which focuses on history and the arts, has been published on HowlRound, Slate, and BroadwayWorld. In addition, Amanda is a contributor for Chegg, where she advises students on writing, grammar, and navigating the academic and professional worlds

Amanda is also an award-winning playwright, lyricist, and dramaturg. Her plays and musicals have appeared at numerous festivals and new works series. In both her academic and her creative work, Amanda often showcases the lesser-known stories of women in history.

Education

Amanda received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. Her master's thesis/applied project, Til Death, was a musical exploring the themes of history and nostalgia. She earned a B.A. in English (Literature) and a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State. 

Awards and Publications

Nominee: Phoenix Mayor's Arts Award (Theatre), 2018

Finalist: The Bechdel Test Fest, 2017

Selected for the Pandora Festival at Arizona Women's Theatre, 2016

Semi-finalist: The Bridge Initiative Playwright of the Year, 2016

"Revising and Feminizing The Fairytale in Anastasia" HowlRound, 2017

"If I Loved You: The Evolution of the Conditional Love Song" HowlRound, 2016 

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https://www.learnreligions.com/apocalypse-bible-meaning-4172949