Examples of Apocalyptic Language in Scripture Requiring Context
Apocalyptic language in Scripture often employs vivid, symbolic imagery that requires careful contextualization to avoid misinterpretation. This type of language is particularly prevalent in prophetic books and in Jesus's own discourses concerning future events. For instance, in Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus describes cosmic disturbances: "the sun will be darkened... will be shaken" [1]. These sayings form the climax of a discourse answering the disciples' questions about the end of the age and Christ's coming [1].
Scholars offer differing interpretations of such passages. Some understand the apocalyptic images and metaphors in Matthew 24:29-31 as referring to God's judgment on the Jewish people in AD 70, while others see them as a reference to the second coming of Christ at the end of history [1]. The language of "greater anguish" found in Matthew 24:21, for example, echoes similar expressions in Old Testament texts like Nehemiah 9:37, Jeremiah 11:16, Daniel 12:1, and Joel 2:1-17, which describe periods of intense suffering [3]. The historical context of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, as documented by Josephus, provides a backdrop for understanding the severity of such language [3].
Beyond specific historical events, apocalyptic language also serves to convey the severity of divine judgment and the nature of future realities. John Calvin notes that because human language cannot fully describe the intensity of divine vengeance on the reprobate, their pains and torments are often depicted using corporeal imagery such as darkness, wailing, gnashing of teeth, inextinguishable fire, and the "ever-gnawing worm" (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; Mark 9:43; Isaiah 66:24) [2]. Calvin argues that the Holy Spirit uses such expressions to impress a sense of dread upon all human senses [2].
The book of Revelation, often called the Apocalypse, is a prime example of this genre. Charles Hodge describes its contents as the "defections of the people of God; persecutions of their enemies; dire conflicts; and the final issue" [4]. The Apocalypse consistently presents the coming of Christ as its central theme and the consummation of history as its ultimate goal [4]. Similarly, passages describing the end of the world, such as Psalm 102:25-26 and Isaiah 51:6, use imagery of the heavens and earth perishing or wearing out like a garment to emphasize their transient nature compared to God's eternal endurance [5]. The Apocalypse also uses symbolic figures like angels as reapers and the trumpet as "the word of power" [6]. Understanding these symbolic elements requires an awareness of the literary conventions of apocalyptic literature, which often uses metaphorical language to describe events that transcend ordinary human experience [1, 2].
Sources
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 24:29: 24:29-31 These sayings form the climax of the discourse and answer the second of the disciples’ initial questions (see 24:3). Some take 24:29-31 to refer to God’s judgment on the Jewish people in AD 70, using apocalyptic images and metaphors to describe it. Others see a reference to the second coming of Christ at the end of history. 24:29 the sun will be darkened . . . will be shaken: This phenomenon can be taken literally, as befitting the climactic self-disclosure of God’s Son, or metaphorically, as for a cosmically significant event (see Acts 2:17-21; Heb 12:”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 80: the contest, are already depicting to themselves imaginary triumphs. 12. Moreover, as language cannot describe the severity of the divine vengeance on the reprobate, their pains and torments are figured to us by corporeal things, such as darkness, wailing and gnashing of teeth, inextinguishable fire, the ever-gnawing worm ( Mt. 8:12 ; 22:13; Mark 9:43 ; Isa. 66:24 ). It is certain that by such modes of expression the Holy Spirit designed to impress all our senses with dread, as when it is said, “Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for ”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 24:21: 24:21 greater anguish: Similar language is found in Neh 9:37; Jer 11:16; Dan 12:1; Joel 2:1-17. The blatant savagery of the times has been documented by Josephus (see War 5.10.2-3).”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 89: the world, and the issue of the conflict are its contents; the coming of Christ is its theme. The events of history preceding the consummation are taken up only so far as they are connected with the final issue. This consummation is not chronologically unfolded, but is ever taken up anew, in order to lead us by a new way to the end.” 848 848 Ibid., p. 171. One thing is certain, namely, that the Apocalypse contains the series of predictions common to all the prophets; the defections of the people of God; persecutions of their enemies; dire”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 93: § 3. The End of the World. The principal passages of Scriptures relating to the final consummation or the end of the world, are the following: Psalm iii. 25, 26 , “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old as a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.” Isaiah li. 6 , “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — FROM THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. (part 2): And He said, Nay, but let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, that they gather the tares and make bundles of them, and burn them with fire everlasting, but that they gather the wheat into my barns."(5) The Apocalypse here shows, therefore, that these reapers, and shepherds, and labourers, are the angels. And the trumpet is the word of power. And although the same thing recurs in the phials, still it is not said as if it occurred twi”