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→Old World Apocalypse Stories
Cultures that discuss the end of the world sometimes differ in their timelines. In effect, for the Flood story from ancient Mesopotamia indicates that the end of the world had already happened. The story of Utnapishtim, who is similar to Noah as being the man saved by the gods from the great Flood, represents a time when the world was ending as the gods were angry. However, a different world, then one representing a new birth of cities and civilization, begins after the great Flood. Similarly, in Greek mythology, periodic waves of destruction by floods and fire occurred. The world, as it is known, 'ends' but is reborn as the gods allow a new rebirth. Perhaps the apocalypse we are more familiar with has similarities to the Zoroastrian story on Judgment Day and end times. In the classical and best known version of Zoroastrian end times, Ahura Mazda, the great Lord, will rectify the evil in this world by creating a great fire that will consume all evil. Angra Mainyu, the evil being, will be destroyed and the resurrection of those who are good and righteous will occur at the end times. This will lead to a new Gold Age, which will be Paradise that includes a righteous life. Those who are evil will be judged and condemned by Ahura Mazda.
Ragnarok is the Norse mythology about the end of the world, which will entail a giant battle between the gods and giants made of frost and fire. The world will be destroyed in the process of this battle, once again in a type of great flood. The remaining gods will meet, once again, and the world will be repopulated by two humans. Similar to the Christian apocalypse, there will be a series of signs about the end times. First, there will be a long winter that lasts for a year, called Fimbulvetr. Then three different rosters will give warning about the end of the world and the coming battle. In Buddhism, the end times will be preceded by great greed, lust, violence, impiety, murder, sexual sin, and generally societal collapse. The teaching of Buddha will be forgotten and even relics destroyed. However, the world will return to a new Golden Age, with the coming of the Maitreya that restores and makes the world remember the teachings of Buddha. In Hinduism, the end of the world is cyclical, entering phases that last 4.1 – 8.2 billion years. There are four main phases during a cycle with the world becoming progressively impious, violent and full of moral decay. The <i>dharma</i> pillars will be reduced to one, truth. Kalki, an avatar will appear on a white horse, and will restore humanity with a pure mind. The cycle then begins anew as it enters another phase that repeats. However, at some point, the larger universe is destroyed and another will be born as Brahma, the creator god, returns to singularity.
==New World Apocalypse Stories==
