Welcome to the Apocalypse!

Doom and gloom? End of the world? Let's look at the original meaning of the Greek word (which comes to us via the New Testament, but the word predates the Church by millenia.):

Apocalypse n. (Greek; ἀποκάλυψις apokálypsis; "lifting of the veil" or "revelation") 

1. The disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted.

All other meanings of the word 'apocalypse' are ecclesiastical inventions assigned later, in addition to the original meaning.

Primarily these other meanings are based on interpretations of the book of Revelation, also known as The Apocalypse of John in most languages other than English. Specifically, they are prophecies of a highly symbolic and uncertain nature as revealed by angelic beings to John, as they came to be interpreted by the Council of Nicea under the edicts of Roman Emperor Constantine nearly 17 centuries ago.

Since then, Christian eschatology rests heavily on this document, in context with other canonical scriptures of the New Testament and Old Testament, although there are very divergent opinions among the various sects as to what exactly the Apocalypse-as-End-Times actually means.

Unfortunately, today the word 'apocalypse' has almost universally come to be associated with "Battle of Amageddon" (also wrongly understood to be the end of the world. But let's leave that discussion for another day).

Let's look at other biblical references to this predicted "Great Revealing" - the original meaning of apocalypse:

	For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
	— Luke 8:17 (NIV)

	There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
	— Luke 12:2

	So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
	— Matthew 10:26

	For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
	— Mark 4:22

And so on. For good measure, from the Old Testament:

	For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
	— Ecclesiastes 12:14

The concept of the Great Revealing is not unique to Christianity, nor even Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. In fact, all ancient and current indigenous cultures have prophecies or myths about a time to come in human history when all will be revealed, when the eyes of everyone will be opened.

The prophecies of the Mayans, Hopi, Anasazi and many other indigenous cultures tell about a Great Awakening of humanity, a global expansion of awareness or cognizance.

There is a great misconception about the meaning of the end of the Mayan calendar, popularized by fear-mongering books and television programs, characterizing the Mayan prophecy as the 'end of the world' - but is this true?

Forget what scholars, pseudoscholars and pseudomystics say about it. Mayan elders unanimously agree that the end of the Mayan calendar is certainly not the end of planet Earth. They have always said that it represents the end of time - whatever that means. It could be rightly said that the end of time is simply the end of a calendar. But the elders teach that it is much more than that; it is the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It is the Awakening:

	It is in the Maya prophecy that at the time of 12 B'ak'tun and 13 Ahau, it is the time of the return of the ancestors, the men of wisdom. Let the morning come, for the people to find peace and be happy. Do not be afraid of this change of time. Do not believe those who threaten the Earth...
	— Mayan Elder and 13th Generation Shaman, Don Alejandro Perez Oxlaj

'New Age' spirituality calls this awakening Christ Consciousness. They speak of it as a global spiritual transformation, or a psychic ascension into a 'higher vibration' of consciousness characterized by unity, love and enlightened social responsibility.

Is this awakening happening? It most certainly is, if you have been paying attention to the news. There's a revolution going on, and its participants are even calling it 'the awakening.'

Who said that the apocalypse was going to be brought about by some kind of supernatural event? It's already here by technological means - thanks to the internet, - YouTube, WikiLeaks, Facebook, and Twitter. The revolution known as the Arab Spring began after damning revelations of corruption were published on WikiLeaks. The Arab uprising spread throughout the middle east by means of Twitter and Facebook, and is now spreading throughout every continent, in the form of the Occupy Movement.

People are wising up to the fact that government is not going to protect and take care of us, and that the monetary patriarchy is not going to solve the problems we have allowed them to create. People are ending their dependence on the unholy trinity of Government, Bankers, and Petrochemical dynasties - and have begun collaborating on developing real solutions for the world's problems. No more waiting!

Today, thanks to technology, everyone is a journalist and the revolution is being tweeted, blogged, and streamed live to the entire waking world. There is nowhere for the darkness to hide anymore.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Indeed!

Now everyone must understand that the Powers-That-Were will stop at nothing to gain control of the Internet. Don't let them do that; it is our weapon and the power of our salvation!

This revolution, the rising global awareness of the truth about who rules the world represents nothing less than the beginning of the end of a centuries-old hegemonic empire based on political corruption, deception and propaganda, military conquest and occupation, economic slavery, crushing poverty and financial exploitation, energy and food monopoly, and the destruction of the biosphere.

It is the end of the old order of the world. It is the end of the world as we know it.

Now, when you say the word 'apocalypse' - don't say it like it's a bad thing, say:

Welcome to the Apocalypse — and celebrate the End of the World As We Know It! The beginning is near!

	The elders have sent me to tell you that now is like a rushing river, and this will be experienced in many different ways. There are those who would hold onto the shore… there is no shore. The shore is crumbling. Push off into the middle of the river. Keep your head above the water, look around to see who else is in the river with you, and celebrate.
	— Choquash, Native American storyteller

	Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for.
	— Hopi elders