Last month, I attended a lecture at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. The topic, presented by an old friend, was the Christian Apocalypse and its potential relationship to love and romance—an intriguing concept that drew me in. Despite my usual skepticism towards presentations on religious texts like the Torah, the Bible, or the Quran—often presented as historical accounts rather than historical fiction—I was curious. Plus, I wanted to see my friend in her academic glory.
The lecture promised to explore a love story hidden within the biblical narrative of the Apocalypse. Unfortunately, what ensued was less about romance and more about aggrandizing Revelation through academic interpretation, further entrenching it as historical in nature (as opposed to mythological). There was a hint of a love story, but it remained just that—a hint. The lecture inadvertently reinforced the historical fiction of religious texts as fact, despite its intended mythological context. Dates on the slides made the subject matter seem like codified truth, promoting Christianity and Judaism through an academic lens.
On the flip side, I did appreciate learning about the "book" of Revelation. Apparently, in the ancient mists of 95-96 AD, on the isolated island of Patmos, a Jewish Christian exile named John penned the Book of Revelation. Amidst the echoes of persecution and the silent cries of his displaced brethren, John crafted a narrative that revealed the struggles and fervent hopes of early Christian communities.
The flames of rebellion had ignited Jerusalem in 66 AD, as the Zealots, a revolutionary group of Jews, waged war against the Roman occupation. Their defiance drew a fierce response, with Rome deploying 60,000 soldiers to quash the uprising, culminating in the destruction of the Second Temple. The future emperor Vespasian led this siege, leaving the city in ruins.
It was in the shadow of this devastation that John's vision of vengeance was born. As the story goes, the Roman Empire's insatiable, unyielding quest for power had brought about a crisis not only for John but for his entire people. His Revelation became a cry for divine retribution, a desperate plea for justice in a world drowned by the might of Rome.
Early followers of the Jesus character had envisioned him as a revolutionary leader, destined to overthrow their oppressors and establish God's Kingdom on Earth. Yet, reality dealt them a cruel blow. Jesus was arrested, crucified, and his brother James met a brutal end, stoned to death. Despite these harrowing losses, the second generation of believers clung to their faith, their hope undeterred by the relentless march of fate.
John's Revelation echoed the apocalyptic messages found in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and Mark, foretelling the end times and the coming of the Son of Man. To John, Jesus was the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, the harbinger of an anti-Roman narrative that would reshape their world. His writing was steeped in political symbolism, drawing parallels with the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Daniel, where beasts represented powerful empires and a triumphant human figure symbolized divine victory.
Apocalyptic literature, with its vivid depictions of hidden realms and divine revelations, offered a unique lens through which early Christians viewed their existence. These narratives, often laced with visions of celestial dimensions, provided a sense of reparation and hope amid the chaos. The Book of Revelation stands as a quintessential example of this genre, its pages filled with mysterious insights and heavenly portents.
Within these texts, apocryphal Gospels emerged, shedding light on the early Christian belief system. They revealed supposed divine encounters, with some claiming to have conversed with Jesus himself.
Revelation and apocalypse intertwined within literature, painting a picture of ultimate devastation and subsequent enlightenment. As darkness enveloped for the ancient Jewish people, figures like John found solace and honor in their art, their physical beings undergoing profound transformations. Peter, for instance, one of Jesus’ apostles, faced a life-threatening ordeal only to hear Jesus' voice, which spurred a profound personal metamorphosis. Surviving his ordeal, he experienced a desert revelation, recognizing a power within that surpassed any darkness, embodying hope and salvation.
John’s secret revelation delved into the creation of the mind and the consciousness of death, with divine instruction promising balance. This narrative emphasized the significance of understanding hidden foundations to uncover freedom and salvation, reflecting the deeper philosophical quests of early believers.
The spiritual journeys of figures like James and Peter led them to believe they witnessed cosmic battles, angelic hymns, and heavenly rejoicings. These experiences underscored the need for further spiritual development to attain a peaceful plane, a pursuit mirrored in the paths of Gnostic followers who sought wisdom through profound introspection and divine connection.
Philosophers, too, embarked on ascendant journeys, their visions echoing Gnostic writings. They saw columns of light and an Earth threatened by divine wrath, guided by voices urging them to rise above worldly conflicts.
The narrative of divine anger and material attachments highlighted the lower world's impermanence, urging a shift in perspective to glimpse the divine majesty. The Kingdom of Heaven, ever-present yet elusive in these tales, demanded a radical transformation of consciousness to be perceived as paradise. Jesus’ teachings likened those who enter the Kingdom to infants being suckled, a metaphor for purity and readiness to embrace divine unity.
The Gnostics believed that to enter this Kingdom of Unity, one must align the internal with the external, the above with the below, and the male with the female, transcending polarity and conflict. This revelation, unlike others, emphasized an inclusive unity, a harmonious existence beyond the strife and division of the earthly realm.
In the end, John's Revelation and the myriad apocalyptic texts remind us of the enduring human quest for meaning amid turmoil. They beckon us to look beyond the material, to seek the divine within, and to embrace the unity that lies at the heart of existence.