The Myth of Ragnoroek, the Twilight of the Gods

Three or four times in the past couple days the online radio station I've been listening to has played Richard Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries. Even though the Nazis are out of power— but still around—the music they loved is still very much around and loved as well.

In that connection, the Nordic religion (Asatru, Heathenism or Germanic/Teutonic Paganism) many Nazis embraced, still teaches some kind of end-of-the-world as we know it, to be followed by a new world. I wrote about that in my October 17  entry this year. Here's what I said:

"They called it Ragnaroek, the twilight of the gods. The Germans called it Goetterdammerung, the damnation of the gods. The word was applied to the final days of Nazi German in 1944-45."

As I reflect upon that belief again against the background of Hebrews 9:24-28, a Bible passage I'm pondering this week, I'm forced to ask what Divinity was guiding the destiny of these gods and their inevitable destruction? How could these mighty gods— Freyr, Tyr, Thor and Odin—be killed, together with the previously slain heroes living in Valhalla? Who was the even greater Divine Being behind this judgment?

Now we may call these myths and, in the manner of postmodern man, dismiss them as but interesting stories. However, may I humbly suggest that these man-made stories reflect a perverted memory of the revelation of the LORD God, Ruler of all. Christians are accustomed to call this natural theology. Unbelievers call natural theology the knowledge of God acquired by reason, science and observation. They tell us that there is no need for God to reveal anything further. It can all be found in the universe He/She/They created.

If you choose not to believe in Divine revelation or in the need for it, I would be unable to convince you otherwise by my rational arguments. I will not even try. Rather, I will simply return to my question for today:

Where did the idea of the destruction of the gods come from? God's revelation recorded in the Bible tells us that the demons know there is a time of judgment approaching—and they're afraid. Consider the following Bible passages:

"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy one of God" (Mark 1:24).

"And behold they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"" (Matthew 8:29).

These demons knew who Jesus is—the Holy One of God, a title never used to describe an angel or a prophet in the Bible. They also knew about "the time." There is a future appointed time when the demons will face judgment and torment.

Jude writes, "And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day . . ." (Jude 1:6).

And in John's Revelation, "And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:7-10).

The Nazis worshipped the Nordic gods, but in so doing they worshipped the rebel demons who are behind all such forms of religion. These demonic powers know of the destruction that awaits them. They will indeed stand before the Judge of men and gods. The myth of Ragnaroek reflects that knowledge.