Apocalypse vs. Dystopia — What's the Difference?

An apocalypse (Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apokálypsis, from of/from: ἀπό and cover: κάλυψις, literally meaning "from cover") is a disclosure or revelation of great knowledge. In religious concepts an apocalypse usually discloses something very important that was hidden or provides what Bart Ehrman has termed, "A vision of heavenly secrets that can make sense of earthly realities".

A dystopia (from Ancient Greek δυσ- "bad, hard" and τόπος "place"; alternatively cacotopia or simply anti-utopia) is a fictional community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is often treated as an antonym of utopia, a term that was coined by Sir Thomas More and figures as the title of his best known work, published in 1516, which created a blueprint for an ideal society with minimal crime, violence and poverty.

Apocalypse Abbr. Apoc.(Bible) The Book of Revelation.

An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror.

Any of a number of anonymous Jewish or Christian texts from around the second century BC to the second century AD containing prophetic or symbolic visions, especially of the imminent destruction of the world and the salvation of the righteous.

A work describing such a place or state

The end of the world, especially as described in one of these texts.

A vision of a future that is a corrupted (usually beyond recognition) utopian society.

A great catastrophe that results in widespread destruction or the collapse of civilization

A miserable, dysfunctional state or society that has a very poor standard of living.

A prophetic disclosure; a revelation.

(pathology) Anatomical tissue that is not found in its usual place.

A revelation, especially of supernatural events.

State in which the condition of life is extremely bad as from deprivation or oppression or terror

(Christianity) The unveiling of events prophesied in the Revelation; the second coming and the end of life on Earth; global destruction.

A work of fiction describing an imaginary place where life is extremely bad because of deprivation or oppression or terror

(Christianity) The Book of Revelation.

A disaster; a cataclysmic event; destruction or ruin.

One of a numerous class of writings proceeding from Jewish authors between 250 b. c. and 150 a. d., and designed to propagate the Jewish faith or to cheer the hearts of the Jewish people with the promise of deliverance and glory; or proceeding from Christian authors of the opening centuries and designed to portray the future.

Specifically, the revelation delivered to St. John, in the isle of Patmos, near the close of the first century, forming the last book of the New Testament (called Revelation or the Apocalypse).

Anything viewed as a revelation, especially one that is highly significant for the person receiving it; a disclosure. Often used of a realization or revelation that changes a person's goals or style of life.

The final battle between good and evil, as foreseen in Saint John's Apocalypse; the time when God conquers the powers of evil, attended by cataclysmic cosmic events, and sometimes thought of as the end of the world; an Armageddon.

A cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil

The last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the apostle