Library Guide: Apocalypse

The end of the world has to come at some point, right? Fire and death or just a general slow spin to the stop, the big ball of dirt has to go barren at some point. For the last few centuries, that is The Apocalypse.

Fun fact, the word itself actually means "uncovering" and is the greek term for the last book of the New Testament, Revelation. As the book details the end of the world through a series of signs and battles, the word took on a new meaning.

This library guide will give you the resources you need to understand, predict, and survive the global catastrophe. While not a complete set of resources (it's a big topic), we hope it helps out.

What is The Apocalypse?

Of course we can just say "The End," but that helps nobody. What does help is dreams and visions, or "uncoverings." Preacher types, crazy folks under bridges, young girls cursed by fickle gods… When these people start talking, the end is near. But that's getting into signs. What those people see, those are the real apocalypse.

All those people nobody believe will see the same things. They will see the rivers running red with blood. They will see creatures banished from the earth millenia ago appear and begin to feed. They will see four men crossing the land spreading discord, starvation, disease, and death. Plastic bottles will form islands in the ocean. C-list celebrities will gain political power. When these people start talking about the same things, The Apocalypse is here.

Signs of the End Times

So before the men and women begin talking dreams, some things will begin happening on a global scale. Depending on the manner and type of end, these signs can change.

General

Numbers - When things that should be random begin happening at regular intervals, start thinking about getting a bigger tarp. This may include the numbers six, seven, four, thirteen, one, five, eight, nine, two, three, and the placeholder zero or any combination. Examples include six tornados in a single place, lightning striking in threes, or animals traveling in pairs.

Animals - Speaking of animals, the lesser creatures will often begin acting strange when the end is nigh. Birds may begin to walk, dogs and cats live together, and platypus fly into space.

The Earth - The earth itself will begin attempting to throw off humanity. Natural occurrences such as earthquakes and volcanoes erupting will begin to happen with rapid frequency.

Christian

Horns - Out of thin air, horns may begin to blow and crumble various walls. These horns and crumbling may be followed by persons unknown or they may not. If the horn is playing something with a ska beat, however, or you are in New Orleans, these are just normal occurrences.

Fiery people - The Christian end of days often has angels falling to earth to do battle with the forces of evil. Because falling from space is pretty hot, there will be a bunch of badasses on fire with swords also on fire. It's gonna be metal as shit.

Serpent - A big ass serpent will attack. Not much really to it. A giant, skyscraper large thing will erupt from the earth. What makes it different from dragons or other creatures of destruction will be that it will eat sinners and menace a pregnant lady.

Old Ones

Cult Activity - The Old Ones are often brought about by cults. Dudes in red robes kidnapping virgins will pop up all over. Sometimes they will have a particular star or star pattern in mind or a statute of their deity.

Boiling Oceans - Many of the Old Ones are sleeping in the Deep. When they rise, the water displaced and the heat they give off cause a boiling mess. If ships start giving off messages of a rolling mess, call the coast guard.

What to do

Mostly just kiss your ass goodbye, unless you are an Angel of the Lord or a vampire slayer.

Fiction featuring the Last Days

Most episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Supernatural

I Love Lucy Season 3, episode 4

End of Days starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

While You Were Sleeping

The Bible, New Testament

Jacob's Ladder