From Daniel to Godzilla: Apocalyptic Beasts and Their Meaning

Certainly one of the stranger elements of the Bible’s Apocalyptic literature (already a fairly strange genre), is the presence of large monsters that rise out of the sea and reign terror down on the people of the earth. They have, rightfully, drawn the attention of Bible scholars for centuries, often as omens of things to come. I was reflecting on these creatures recently as I watched Hideaki Anno’s 2016 instant-classic Shin Godzilla, and realized that these biblical beasts may have more in common with the nuclear lizard than I initially considered. I wondered in what ways the mid-20th century obsession with kaiju might be a part of the same impulses that caused ancient writers to depict large, terrible beasts. So I did some research. Well, that and I took it as an excuse to watch some Godzilla movies. In essence, I believe that these apocalyptic monsters, Godzilla included, provided a convenient way to embody complex and destructive forces in the lives of those doing the depicting. This isn’t an especially radical or novel concept, but I think it’s worth reflecting on the ways the idea of a great monster has remained a compelling metaphor for cultures over 2000 years apart.

What Is Apocalyptic Literature?

I’ve covered this in previous pieces I’ve posted on here, but for our purposes here, I…