The Apocalypse (2000 film)

Plot

The film is set in 90 AD and concerns Jesus Christ's last surviving disciple, John of Patmos, and his writings and visions from the Apocalypse of John. Emperor Domitian has declared himself to be God and ruler, over heaven and earth. The Christians do not recognize his divinity and face persecution, from the God Emperor. John has been imprisoned on, the island of Patmos, a Roman mining, penal colony, with many others. He writes out messages of his visions and sends the "Revelation of God", to the seven churches of Greek Asia Minor. The Christian church, in Ephesus, sends Irene to make sure John is alive and to confer with him in person. The movie depicts scenes from the Book of Revelation and links them to events happening to the church in Asia.

Biblical scenes portrayed

Revelation 1, Jesus among the CandlesticksRevelation 4, The Throne SceneRevelation 5, The Crisis of Sealed ScrollRevelation 6, The Seals Opened and Related EventsRevelation 7, The Great MultitudeRevelation 8, The TrumpetsRevelation 12, The Woman, the Child and the DragonRevelation 21–22, The New Jerusalem, Jesus Returns

Historical events portrayed

The movie Apocalypse includes these historical events:

1. The Life and Reign of Domitian with his proclamation of divine status and persecution of Christians.
2. Patmos as a penal colony

Apocalypse events mentioned in early Christian literature:

Eusebius, in Ecclesiastical History 3:18–20

3:17 – Domitian conducted a reign of terror3:18–1 – During this time, John was exiled to Patmos.3:18–3 – Irenaeus wrote that John lived during the reign of Domitian.3:20–10 – Domitian died and Nerva took over. Nerva tried to undo some of the results of Domitian's cruelty.3:20 – John returned to Ephesus at this time.

Cast

Richard Harris as John

Vittoria Belvedere as Irene

Benjamin Sadler as Valerius

Christian Kohlund as Quintus Maximus, a general

Erol Sander as Ionicus

Ian Duncan as Demetrius

Bruce Payne as Domitian