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. 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.
Apocalypticism is a worldview based on the idea that important matters are
esoteric in nature ("hidden") and they will soon be revealed in a major confrontation of
earth-shaking magnitude that will change the course of history.
Apocalypticism can be tied to
religious or secular views, and the expected outcome can be seen as
positive, negative, or ambiguous. It can appear as a personal
and group tendency, outlook, perceptual frame, or rhetorical style; and
can lead people toward passivity while awaiting the
inevitable end, or active preparation in anticipation of an
"apocalyptic" event.
