Revelation

The last book of the Bible, full of visions and images.

The book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse, is the last book of the Bible. It was written by a certain John, who says he was on the island of Patmos when he received a series of visions. The word apocalypse means unveiling in Greek: something hidden is made visible.

The book is full of images: a Lamb that was slain and yet lives, seven seals, seven trumpets, a dragon, a woman clothed with the sun, four horsemen, a new heaven and a new earth, and a city whose gates are of pearl. Many of those images refer to older biblical books, such as Daniel and Ezekiel, and to the situation of the early Christians, who were persecuted by the Roman empire.

Christians read Revelation in very different ways. Some see in it predictions of the end of time, others a symbolic story of the struggle between good and evil in every age, and yet others above all a book of comfort for those who suffer. What all readings share is the ending: God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.

For dreams Revelation matters, because many people have apocalyptic dreams: the world ending, fire from heaven, disasters. In the light of Revelation such dreams are read in the Christian tradition not only as fear, but also as longing for renewal: after the end comes a new heaven and earth.

The book's name comes from its first word in Greek, apokalypsis, and in many languages that word has become a synonym for disaster.

On Dreamkin Christian readings of dreams about the end of the world often refer to this book, and above all to its hopeful ending.