Archetypes of Apocalypse in Dreams and Fantasies, and in Religious Scripture

This essay calls attention to the congruence between apocalyptic images we encounter in psychiatric and especially psychoanalytic work on the one hand, and in religious canonical and extracanonical scripture on the other. I shall describe a few archetypes that appear in these two universes, and that can be used to facilitate the recognition of apocalyptic complexes in clinical data when they are presented in less than explicit form. Apocalypse is important, not only because of its clinical significance, but also because it can serve as a point of departure to facilitate the study of the articulation between individual and group psychologic processes.

In religious literature, the term apocalyptic is reserved for a specific type of writing, a statement of a view of the history of the universe, present and future, structured in a specific pattern. While the various apocalypses differ, they share at least two dualities. First, they describe a current or imminent conflict between the forces of Good and the forces of Evil, in which, though the forces of Evil will prevail at first, they will ultimately be defeated by the forces of Good. Second, that victory will mark the end of the present era, and the initiation of a new era of peace, harmony and general exaltation. In addition, a messianic figure intervenes to secure the victory of the forces of Good, and becomes the inspirer of the messianic age. The knowledge that these events will unfold, is granted by a special illumination that gives its name to the phenomenon; apocalypse is