11 Ancient Apocalyptic Myths

The Puranas, Hindu sacred texts, state that the world passes through ages, being destroyed and re-created at the end of each one. At the end of an age, the world is absorbed into the god Vishnu, before it is reborn.

Here, the final apocalypse is when the world ends in the fourth age, the Kali-yuga, which we are in now. In this age, people succumb to sin and live life without integrity or religion, but rather with anger and greed. Natural disasters will become common, such as plagues or famine, and no one will reach the age of 23.

The result of this is that humankind will be destroyed. At the end of this age, the final incarnation of Vishnu, known as Kalka, will appear. He will come riding on a white horse, with a flaming sword and kill all the people who have been living sinfully. After this he will usher in a new age, the Satya-yuga, which will be a time for truth and purity.