1. Visions of Heaven and Hell 1. ‘Apocalypse now’ 2.Apocalyptic material in the Bible. 3.Common features of visions. 4.St. Paul’s Apocalypse.

2. Modern apocalyptic imagination Reaction to post-Enlightenment materialism, rationalism & naturalism Substitutes: science fiction, star wars, virtual reality Extreme situations, limiting questions Vivid imagery & symbolism Near-death experiences

3. Apocalyptic material in the Bible. 1.No developed view of afterlife in Torah. 2.Prophets: the Day of the Lord. (6-3 rd c. BC) 1.Ex.: Joel 2: 1-14; Amos 5: 18-24. 3.Book of Daniel (2 nd c BC). 4.Eschatology in the gospels (1 st c. AD). 5.Revelation of John. John receives revelation from Jesus

4. Apocalyptic vision: theological aspects Vision of history Vision of humanity Vision of justice Destiny of individual Nuremberg chronicle (1493). ‘The final age of the world’

5. Common features of visions Visionary is a subject of a near death experience Visionary descends into Hell, then ascends to Heaven Visionary is followed by an angelic or human guide Dialogue between visionary and the guide Impact & message Dante & Virgil in Hell.

6. 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.

7. Scary stuff Memento mori! Correlation between penitential and apocalyptic literature Purpose and function of visions?