What is it about apocalyptic visions that many people (myself included) find so enthralling? Tim Boucher discusses "The Psychological Function of the Apocalypse" in an effort to understand the appeal.

I think it has to do with the accumulation of patterns and structures. We are creatures of habit and the tendency in our lives is to organize, categorize and put things into a familiar framework. But there comes a point where the patterns and structures which we build or which are built up around us become so complex and convoluted and ossified that they naturally break open again, chaotically releasing the energy locked up back into the wild...

I think it's also especially important to look at it as a genre of protest literature... Those who are downtrodden and oppressed can imagine the evil rulers and the unrighteous being struck down by the hand of God.

Or Nature. I'm reminded of the song "Aenima" by Tool.