Apokalypsis

Apokalypsis is a Greek noun (ἀποκάλυψις) meaning unveiling or revelation. It is formed from apo- “away from” and kalupsis, from καλύπτω (to cover), yielding the sense of uncovering what was hidden. In English, the transliterated form apokalypsis is used in scholarly writing, while apocalypse is the more common term in popular usage. The word appears primarily in religious and theological discussions to denote revelation by a divine or supernatural source.

In biblical and apocalyptic contexts, apokalypsis refers to a genre of literature that presents visions of hidden things disclosed to a mortal messenger, often about future events, cosmic conflict, and the ultimate establishment of divine judgment or salvation. Typical features include symbolic imagery, numerology, dream or heavenly visions, and explanatory angelic voices. The most famous example is the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, sometimes titled The Apocalypse of John. Although tradition attributes it to John of Patmos, modern scholarship commonly dates its composition to the late first century CE and notes influences from Jewish and Hellenistic apocalyptic traditions.

Beyond strictly religious usage, apokalypsis can denote any unfolding or disclosure of previously hidden information. In scholarly discourse, the term appears in discussions of revelation as a literary or theological concept, and in broader culture it informs the familiar idea of unveiling dramatic or world-changing events. The term remains closely linked to themes of eschatology, prophecy, and the interpretation of symbolic imagery.