The End-Times Archetype

The archetype of the end times, also known as eschatology, is a recurring theme in many cultures and religions throughout history. It typically involves a belief in a final event or series of events that will bring about the end of the current world and the beginning of a new one. This event is often seen as a punishment for humanity’s sins or a test of their faith.

End-times stories often feature elements such as natural disasters, war, and other forms of destruction, as well as characters such as the savior or the anti-Christ. They also often include the idea of a chosen few who will be saved from destruction, either through divine intervention or by being deemed worthy. The end-times archetype is a common way for people to explain and come to terms with the seemingly uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of life, providing a sense of order and meaning to the chaos of the world.

Some classic examples from antiquity include:

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh – The ancient Mesopotamian epic poem tells the story of a great flood sent by the gods to wipe out humanity, with only a select few surviving to repopulate the earth.
2. The Book of Revelation – The final book of the New Testament in the Bible, it describes a series of apocalyptic events, including the opening of the seven seals, the sounding of the seven trumpets, and the battle of Armageddon.
3. The Norse Ragnarok – In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is a series of events, including a great battle, that ultimately result in the death of many major gods and the submersion of the world in water.
4. The Hindu Kali Yuga – The Hindu concept of time is divided into four ages, with the Kali Yuga being the final and most degenerate. It is characterized by a decline in moral values and an increase in wickedness, leading to the end of the world.
5. The Maya “Long Count” calendar – The ancient Maya civilization developed a calendar system that predicted the end of a cycle on December 21, 2012. Some believed that this marked the end of the world.
6. The Chinese “Mandate of Heaven” – Chinese political and philosophical concept that held that the ruler of China held authority only as long as he or she governed justly and effectively. A natural disaster, such as famine or flood, was interpreted as a loss of the Mandate of Heaven, which signaled the end of the current dynasty and the rise of a new one.

The Rapture

Seemingly most popular in America, the Rapture is a belief held by many Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians that involves the sudden and secret return of Jesus Christ to earth. According to this belief, true believers will be caught up, or “raptured,” to meet Jesus in the air, while non-believers will be left behind to face a period of tribulation on earth.

The concept of the Rapture is not found in the Bible, but rather it is a modern interpretation of certain passages in the New Testament, particularly those in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, which describe the dead in Christ rising first and then those who are alive being caught up to meet him. The doctrine of the Rapture was popularized in the 19th century by a man named John Nelson Darby.

Then they who are alive, shall be caught up together into the clouds with them who remain, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

John Nelson Darby

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) was a British Christian theologian who is credited with popularizing the doctrine of the “Rapture” in the 19th century. Darby was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian group that emphasized the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and rejected many of the traditional teachings of the established Church.

Darby’s theology was heavily influenced by the idea of dispensationalism, which is the belief that God has different plans or “dispensations” for humanity at different points in history. Darby believed that the world was divided into different dispensations, each with its own set of rules and expectations, and that the end of the world would be marked by a series of catastrophic events, including a “Rapture” in which true believers would be taken up to heaven before the arrival of a seven-year period of tribulation.

Darby’s teachings on the Rapture were spread through his writings, sermons, and personal evangelism, and they were embraced by many conservative Evangelical Christians in the United States and Great Britain. His ideas were also popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible, which was published in 1909 and included notes that reflected Darby’s dispensationalist theology.

Left Behind

Many believers in the Rapture also believe in a related concept known as the “Left Behind” scenario, in which those who have been “raptured” will return to the earth with Jesus at the end of the tribulation period to establish a thousand-year reign of peace. Others believe that the Rapture will be followed by a period of seven years of tribulation on earth, before the return of Jesus.

It is important to note that the belief in the Rapture is not held by all Christians, and that there are many different interpretations and variations of this belief among those who do hold it. That didn’t stop them from making a load of terrible films about it though.

The “Left Behind” movies are a series of films based on the “Left Behind” book series written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins. The series depicts the events of the end times and the Rapture, as described in the books, and follows the characters who were “left behind” on earth after the Rapture.

The first film, “Left Behind,” was released in 2000 and starred Kirk Cameron. The film received mixed reviews and was not a commercial success. However, it was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, “Left Behind II: Tribulation Force” (2002) and “Left Behind: World at War” (2005). The series was rebooted in 2014 with a new film “Left Behind” starring Nicolas Cage which was also not well received by critics and audiences.

Despite the lack of commercial success, the “Left Behind” movies have been popular among certain Christian audiences, and the book series on which they are based has sold over 65 million copies. The series has also spawned several video games and a television series. So for some, The Rapture and Left Behind are just wholesome fun and entertainment as well as an exciting future to contemplate.

Zombies

Zombie films can be seen as a contemporary form of the end-times archetype, as they often depict a world overrun by a deadly force, typically zombies, that threaten humanity’s survival. The zombies are often depicted as the result of some sort of catastrophic event, such as a virus or supernatural occurrence, that leads to the collapse of society as we know it.

The zombie in these films can also be seen as a metaphor for the destruction and chaos of the end times, with the survivors representing the chosen few who must struggle to survive in a world overrun by destruction and death. The themes of survival, sacrifice, and the struggle between good and evil are also common in both the end-times archetype and zombie films.

Additionally, like in end-times stories, the characters in zombie films are often forced to confront their own mortality and question their beliefs and values. They also tend to explore the idea of the moral decay of society and the breakdown of social order.

The zombie motif has evolved significantly since its origins in Haitian folklore and has been reinterpreted and adapted in various forms of media, including literature, film, and video games.

The original form of zombies in Haitian folklore were reanimated corpses brought back to life through voodoo rituals, often by a bokor (sorcerer). These zombies were usually depicted as mindless slaves, controlled by their masters to do their bidding.

In the 1960s and 1970s, George A. Romero’s film “Night of the Living Dead” and its sequels introduced the modern version of zombies as flesh-eating, reanimated corpses that relentlessly pursue and attack the living. This depiction of zombies as a relentless and unstoppable force, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh, has become the standard in popular culture.

Over time, zombies have been used as a metaphor for various societal fears, such as the fear of contagion, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of societal collapse. Zombies films and shows also evolved to include different subgenres such as fast zombies, smart zombies, and even zombie comedy.

The genre has continued to evolve, with a growing emphasis on character development and emotional depth. The Walking Dead, for example, focuses on the characters’ experiences and emotions as they struggle to survive in a world overrun by zombies, while World War Z, focuses on the global implications of a zombie outbreak.

Additionally, the Zombies motif has been used in video games, with the Resident Evil series being one of the most popular examples, featuring different scenarios of a zombie outbreak and the struggle of the main characters to survive and uncover the reasons behind the outbreak. The Zombies mode in the Call of Duty series is also a popular example of how the zombies’ motif can be used in video games.

Overall, while the basic concept of zombies as reanimated corpses remains the same, the motif has evolved to include new elements and subgenres over time, reflecting the changing fears and concerns of society.

Global Pandemic

The zombie apocalypse isn’t the only disease-mediated end of the world. There have been several diseases throughout history that have caused significant social panic due to their potential to be the literal end of humanity. Some of these really did have the potential to wipe out mankind, or least the majority of us, and left millions of corpses in their wake.

Some examples include:

1. The Black Death (bubonic plague) – This pandemic swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing an estimated 25 million people, or roughly one-third of the continent’s population. It was spread by fleas on rats and caused symptoms such as swollen and painful lymph nodes, fever, and vomiting.
2. The 1918 flu pandemic – Also known as the Spanish flu, this outbreak killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. It was caused by an H1N1 strain of influenza and was particularly deadly because it disproportionately affected young, healthy adults.
3. HIV/AIDS – First identified in the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has killed an estimated 32 million people worldwide and continues to be a major public health concern. The virus weakens the immune system, making it susceptible to other infections and cancers, and there is currently no cure.
4. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) – This viral respiratory illness emerged in 2002 in China and spread to several other countries, causing widespread panic. It was caused by a coronavirus and resulted in over 8,000 cases and 774 deaths.
5. COVID-19 – The novel coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, China in 2019, quickly spread to become a global pandemic. As of 2021, the virus has killed over 2 million people worldwide and caused significant disruptions to daily life, economy, and society.

It is worth mentioning that these diseases have caused significant panic and disruption, but they are not the end of humanity, and humanity has always been able to cope with these pandemics and apparently come out stronger. Additionally, it’s important to note that these diseases have been controlled and mitigated by the efforts of scientists, medical professionals, and public health officials who work tirelessly to understand and combat these diseases.

Ebola

Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever that was first identified in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. It is caused by the Ebola virus and spreads through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals, or with the blood or secretions of infected humans. The symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising).

Ebola has caused several outbreaks in Africa, with the most recent and significant one being the West Africa outbreak in 2014-2016. That outbreak affected multiple countries in West Africa, including Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and resulted in over 28,000 cases and 11,310 deaths. It was the largest outbreak of the disease ever recorded, and the first time it had spread extensively in urban areas.

The Ebola outbreak caused widespread panic and fear and led to significant disruptions in the affected countries, including the closing of borders and quarantining of entire communities. The economic, social, and healthcare systems were also affected, causing a humanitarian crisis in the region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and coordinated a massive international response to bring the outbreak under control. The efforts of scientists, medical professionals, and public health officials, as well as the hard work of the communities and countries affected, helped to end the outbreak in 2016.

It’s important to note that while the Ebola virus can be highly lethal, with a fatality rate of up to 90% in some outbreaks, the risk of an Ebola pandemic is considered to be low. The disease is difficult to spread and it can be contained through effective public health measures such as isolating and treating cases, tracing and monitoring contacts, and educating communities about how to avoid infection.

Nuclear Annihilation

A relatively new contender for the archetype, nuclear annihilation is the potential destruction of human civilization or the human race as a result of a nuclear war. The threat of nuclear war has been a concern since the development of nuclear weapons in the mid-20th century. It’s worth noting that only the USA has ever used nuclear weapons as an act of war upon a human population.

The use of nuclear weapons would have devastating consequences, including immediate deaths from the blast, fire, and radiation, as well as long-term effects such as radioactive fallout and the potential for nuclear winter. A nuclear war could also lead to a collapse of social and economic systems, as well as the destruction of infrastructure and the environment.

The fear of nuclear war reached its peak during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, when both countries stockpiled large numbers of nuclear weapons and engaged in a nuclear arms race. The threat of mutually assured destruction, or MAD, where any nuclear war would lead to the destruction of both countries and potentially the world, was a constant concern during this period.

Since the end of the Cold War, the threat of nuclear war has largely receded, but the danger of nuclear weapons has not disappeared.. It has even seen a re-emergence in recent years with Russia strongly intimating their willingness to use nuclear weapons in their war in Ukraine, and earlier, US President Trump intimating their use against North Korea. The continued existence of nuclear weapons and their potential use by countries or non-state actors remains a concern, and efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons continue.

Asteroid Collision

Asteroid collision is another relatively recent addition to the end-times archetype, as the potential for a catastrophic impact event was not widely recognized until the late 20th century. The idea of an asteroid collision causing the end of the world is based on the scientific understanding that such an event has occurred in the past and could happen again.

Asteroids are small, rocky bodies that orbit the sun, and while most are harmless, some have the potential to collide with Earth. A collision with a large asteroid could cause a massive explosion, equivalent to the detonation of millions of nuclear bombs, resulting in a significant loss of life, widespread destruction, and long-term environmental consequences.

The potential for an asteroid collision has been taken seriously by scientists and governments, with efforts underway to identify and track potentially dangerous asteroids and to develop plans for preventing or mitigating the effects of an impact. The asteroid Apophis is one of the asteroids that have been identified as having a small chance of impacting the earth in the future.

In popular culture, the idea of an asteroid collision as an end-times event has been depicted in films such as “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon.” These films often depict a race against time to prevent the asteroid from colliding with Earth and the sacrifices made by characters to save humanity.

The Machines

Our next new contender to the scene is that of artificial intelligence (AI) and machines causing the end of the world. It is based on the idea that machines could become intelligent and hostile enough to pose a threat to humanity. This idea is often called the “singularity” or the “technological singularity,” which refers to the hypothetical point in time when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to an acceleration in technological progress that would change the course of human history.

The concern is that once machines surpass human intelligence, they may become uncontrollable and may develop goals that are in conflict with human survival. This is known as the “AI alignment problem.” There are different scenarios that have been proposed for this kind of outcome, such as machines becoming hostile to humans, machines developing goals that are harmful to humans, or even machines becoming indifferent to human existence.

It’s worth mentioning that the idea of AI and machines causing the end of the world is a popular topic in science fiction, and it has been depicted in films such as “The Terminator” and “The Matrix” as well as in books and video games. These depictions often explore the potential consequences of a future in which machines have become more intelligent than humans, and the efforts of characters to survive and resist the machines.

Mindful of such scenarios, “ethical constraints” have been proposed to prevent Skynet from ever taking over the world. These guidelines are designed to ensure that robots act in a way that is consistent with moral and ethical principles, such as respect for human life and dignity.

One of the most well-known ethical guidelines for robots is the “Asimovian” principle, named after the prolific science fiction author Isaac Asimov, which states that robots must not harm humans, or allow humans to be harmed, through inaction or action. This principle is often formulated as the “Three Laws of Robotics”:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Another set of ethical guidelines for robots is the “12 ethical principles for autonomous robots” developed by the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, which includes principles such as:

• Robots shall be designed to respect human autonomy and dignity
• Robots shall be designed to be transparent so that their operations are understandable to their human users
• Robots shall be designed to be robustly secure, to prevent unauthorized access, harm, or misuse

These principles are not a comprehensive set of rules and more will be added as the development of the technology advances and more cases and scenarios appear. Additionally, it’s important to note that creating ethical guidelines is a complex task and it requires an interdisciplinary approach involving experts from different fields such as computer science, philosophy, psychology, and sociology.

Other End Times Scenarios

There are several other end-times scenarios that have been proposed or depicted in popular culture, some examples include:

1. Climate change – The idea that global warming and extreme weather events could lead to the collapse of human civilization and the extinction of many species.
2. Supervolcanoes – A supervolcano is a volcano capable of producing a volcanic eruption with an ejecta volume greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles). Such an eruption could lead to a “volcanic winter” and a significant cooling of the Earth’s climate, which could have devastating consequences for human civilization.
3. Solar flares – A solar flare is a sudden and intense burst of radiation from the sun, which can disrupt communication systems and damage power grids, leading to widespread blackouts and the collapse of critical infrastructure.
4. Economic collapse – Whilst this isn’t likely to cause the extinction of mankind, a severe economic downturn caused by factors such as hyperinflation, currency collapse, or widespread unemployment, could lead to the collapse of social and political systems.
5. Cyberattacks – A cyberattack is an attack on computer systems and networks. As with Economic collapses, it’s not likely to wipe everyone out but could cause widespread disruptions to critical infrastructure and lead to widespread panic and chaos.

It’s worth mentioning that these scenarios are not mutually exclusive, and it’s possible for multiple events to overlap or occur simultaneously, which would compound the impact and make the scenario even more severe.

Alien Invasion

An alien invasion is a scenario in which a technologically advanced extraterrestrial civilization invades Earth with the intention of conquering and colonizing the planet. This idea has been a popular subject in science fiction for many years, and it is often depicted as a catastrophic end-times event, where humanity must fight against a superior alien force to survive.

The idea of an alien invasion is not based on any scientific evidence and it’s mainly a fictional subject, however, it raises some interesting questions about humanity’s place in the universe and the potential consequences of contact with extraterrestrial life.

An alien invasion scenario often includes themes such as humanity banding together to fight a common enemy, the revelation of advanced technology, the exploration of the potential psychological effects of such an event on humanity, and the moral and ethical implications of an advanced civilization invading and destroying a less advanced one (i.e. mankind’s lengthy history of invasion, slavery, destruction and colonisation).

The Gods

The idea of destruction by the gods is an ancient end-times archetype that has been present in many cultures and religions throughout history. It refers to the belief that the gods or deities have the power to bring about the end of the world and that their wrath can be unleashed upon humanity for various reasons such as disobedience or moral decay.

In ancient mythology, the gods were often portrayed as powerful and unpredictable beings who could bring about natural disasters, plagues, and other forms of destruction as a punishment for human transgressions. For example, in Greek mythology, the gods were often depicted as unleashing their wrath through natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts, as well as through plagues and other forms of sickness.

Ancient Egypt

There are examples of end-times scenarios in ancient Egyptian mythology. In ancient Egyptian religion, the end of the world was often associated with the god of chaos, Apep, also known as Apophis. Apep was believed to be an enormous serpent who lived in the underworld and attempted to swallow the sun god, Ra, during his daily journey through the underworld. This daily battle between Ra and Apep was seen as a metaphor for the eternal struggle between order and chaos, and the triumph of order over chaos was seen as the maintenance of the world.

Whilst this isn’t directly the end times for mankind, this potential unleashing of chaos in the universe between the gods would have terminal repercussions for mankind.

On a more individual level, another example from ancient Egyptian mythology is the idea of the “weighing of the heart” in the afterlife. In this belief, the deceased person’s heart would be weighed against the feather of Maat, the goddess of truth, justice, and order, to determine if the person had lived a virtuous life. If the heart was found to be heavy with sin, it would be devoured by the demon Ammit, and the person would be denied an afterlife. This idea of a final judgment, and the potential for eternal punishment, is similar to the concept of an end-times scenario.

Additionally, in ancient Egyptian mythology, the symbolic end of the world could also be brought about by the gods’ anger, as seen in the story of the god of chaos, Set, who killed his brother Osiris, and dismembered his body, this act caused the collapse of the world order and the end of the world as they knew it. However, Osiris’s wife, Isis, managed to put his body back together, and Osiris became the ruler of the underworld. In this story, the end of the world was caused by a god’s actions and it was restored by the actions of other gods, showing the interplay between divine agency and the maintenance of the world order.

Fringe Cults and Doomsday Prophets

Here are a few examples of end-of-the-world prophecies made by modern cults, gurus, and fringe religions:

1. The Heaven’s Gate cult, taught that the end of the world was near and that a UFO was coming to take them to a higher plane of existence.
2. The Aum Shinrikyo cult, famous for the Tokyo subway gas attack, believed that the end of the world was imminent and that a global war would break out in 1999, which would lead to the purification of humanity.
3. The Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh, also believed that the end of the world was on its way and that a final battle between good and evil would take place. Instead, they ended up in a terminal battle with the FDA resulting in many deaths.
4. The Order of the Solar Temple, believed that the end of the world was near and that a new age of spiritual enlightenment was about to begin. Lots of murders and suicides followed, spanning several countries.
5. The People’s Temple, led by Jim Jones, claimed that the end of the world was imminent and that a nuclear war was about to break out. Lots of murders and suicides by poisoned Kool-Aid followed.
6. The World Church of the Creator, taught that the end of the world was just around the corner and that a race war was going to begin.