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This emphasis on the characters' humanity serves The Apocalypse well whenever the focus of our attention is the apostle John. Harris, who earlier starred as Abraham in the Bible Collection film of that name (and, before that, played Cain in John Huston's 1966 epic The Bible … In the Beginning), is quite convincing as a man who remembers being personally present at the crucifixion of his Lord some 60–odd years before, and who is somewhat overwhelmed by the mystical, abstract visions through which Jesus now communicates to him. He keeps us grounded as the visions around him turn increasingly surreal.

The visions themselves are quite interesting, and replete with computer–generated special effects that are fairly decent by television standards. Although the visions do incorporate some modern material, the film does not try to tie specific prophecies to specific historical events; when the horseman who represents War gallops across the screen, he is as symbolic of the ancient Romans as he is of marching Nazis and the terrorist attacks of September 11. Prophecy buffs might wish some of the other visions—like those involving lambs, horns, seals, meteors and ominous clouds—were interpreted for the viewer, but for the most part, the film is content to be as mysterious as the Bible itself.

The rest of the film, however, is full of dull distractions, from a thwarted escape attempt on Patmos to the rivalry between Valerius's adoptive father and the Roman governor he replaces. Cinematographer–turned–director Raffaele Mertes allows some of his actors to overact quite badly, and the script is riddled with boilerplate dialogue and dramatic situations. This, then, is how The Bible Collection ends: not with a bang, but a whimper.

Talk About It

1. What do you make of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation? How do you think John's readers interpreted them in the first century? How do you think we should interpret them today?
   
   
2. If you could meet someone who had known Jesus personally and had witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection, what would you ask him or her?
   
   
3. How should we respond when people say they have received visions from God? How should we deal with the visions that we ourselves might receive? How do we know if those visions are really from God?
   
   
4. Why do you think God allows persecution? What is the significance of martyrdom?
   
   

The Family Corner

The film has some violent images, most of which concern the persecution of Christians. John has flashbacks to the crucifixion of Christ, and a prisoner on Patmos is scourged by the Romans. The Romans also wipe out a Christian village, though most of this is implied and not shown directly.

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