The Apocalypse in the novel

Umjetnička literatura o kraju Povijesti može se razvrstati na sekularističko-utopijsku i kršćansko-eshatologijsku. Autor ovdje obrađuje dva istaknuta primjera kršćansko-eshatologijske umjetničke literature: romane "Gospodar svijeta" Roberta H. Bensona i "Posljednja vremena" Michaela O\u27Briena. U članku se pokazuje da se oba romana, tematsko-motivski i fabularno, slovom i duhom oslanjaju na novozavjetnu eshatološku besjedu, osobito na Ivanovu "Knjigu Otkrivenja", pa time tematski-sadržajno i tendencijski korespondiraju. Slijedeći duh i slovo novozavjetne eshatologije, ti se romani mogu čitati kao njezini poetički ključevi, osobito Knjige Otkrivenja, ali se pri tome ne umanjuje njihova umjetnička rafiniranost i privlačnost. Pri tome autor zaključuje da je središnji lik obaju romana nevidljiv, ali pouzdan pripovjedač same Povijesti - Krist. U tome smislu autor smatra da su spomenuti romani izvrsna poetska sredstva da se i ovaj naraštaj kršćana senzibilizira za posljednje kršćanske istine.Imaginative literature which deals with the end of History may be classed as either secular-utopic or Christian-eshatological. Here the author discusses two striking examples of Christian-eshatological imaginative literature: the novels "Lord of the World" by Robert H. Benson and "Father Elijah: An Apocalypse" by Michael D. O\u27Brien. The article demonstrates that both in language and spirit, both in theme-motif and plot, the two novels implement New Testament eschatological discourse, particularly that of John\u27s "Book of Revelation", such that there is congruity evident in regard to theme-content as well as purpose. By virtue of the fact that the novelists have adhered to the spirit and letter of New Testament eshatology, their novels may be read as its poetic keys, especially as regards the Book of Revelation, at no loss to their artistic refinement and appeal. The author of this article concludes that the central character of both novels is the invisible but trusted narrator of History itself - Christ. In this respect the author feels that the aforementioned novels are an excellent poetic tool for the sensitizing of this generation of Christians to the ultimate Christian truths