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History is often seen as being divided into " ages " ( Gk.
aeons ), an age being a period where certain realities are present.
An age may come to an end and be replaced by a new age where different realities are present.
This transition from one age to another is often the subject of eschatological discussion.
So, instead of " the end of the world " we may speak of " the end of the age " or " the end of an era ", and be referring to the end of " life as we know it " and the beginning of a new reality.
Indeed, much apocalyptic fiction does not deal with the " end of time " but rather with the end of a certain period of time, the end of life as it is now, and the beginning of a new period of time.
It is usually a crisis that brings an end to current reality and ushers in a new way of living / thinking / being.
This crisis may take the form of the intervention of a deity in history, a war, a change in the environment or the reaching of a new level of consciousness.
If a better world results, we say it is " utopian ".
If a worse, it is " dystopian ".
Eschatologies vary as to their degree of optimism or pessimism about the future ( indeed, the same future may be utopian for some and dystopic for others-" heaven and hell " for example ).

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