Wright’s views will serve as a reference point for this investigation. Against Wright, I will argue that New Testament cosmic catastrophe language cannot be regarded as symbolism for socio-political change; writers who use this language have in view a ‘real’ catastrophe on a universal scale. It is plausible to interpret Mk 13:24–27 (+ par.) in terms of catastrophic events that lead to the end of the created cosmos. Other catastrophe passages, I will contend, anticipate more clearly the catastrophic