Apocalypse
This demon, Lilith, is trying to break the 66 seals to free Lucifer from Hell. Lucifer...will bring the apocalypse. So... Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
In Supernatural, the Apocalypse is a series of disastrous events leading up to and including the end of the world. It is first referenced in early Season 4. Soon after Dean's resurrection, hunters are attacked by the ghosts of people they could not save. Bobby's research uncovers an obscure translation of the Book of Revelation that lists the ghosts, or the Witnesses, as a sign of the upcoming Apocalypse. Castiel confirms that demons, under Lilith, are attempting to break The 66 Seals and free Lucifer from his cage.[1]
The Winchesters, Bobby, and angels fight to stop other seals from breaking, but they steadily lose ground. There are over 600 seals, and only 66 need to be broken.[2] They discover that the first seal was broken by Dean in Hell, when he became a torturer.[3] Sam feels compelled to kill Lilith, who he has been told is the only being that can break the final seal, while angels tell Dean that it is he who must prevent the Apocalypse.
In fact, the higher ranking angels including Michael, Raphael and Zachariah want the Apocalypse, and hold Dean in the Green Room while Sam seeks out Lilith with Ruby. Castiel frees Dean and sends him after Sam, but Sam kills Lilith, whose death is the actually the final seal. Lucifer's cage opens, and the Apocalypse begins.[4]
Immediately, Sam and Dean hear of earthquakes and disease spreading. Zachariah confronts the brothers, and reveals that the real carnage will not start until Lucifer enters his vessel.
Zachariah: Lucifer is powerful in ways that defy description. We need to strike now, hard and fast—before he finds his vessel.
Sam: His vessel? Lucifer needs a meat suit?
Zachariah: He is an angel. Them's the rules. And when he touches down, we're talking Four Horsemen, red oceans, fiery skies—
Zachariah also reveals that Dean alone cannot possibly kill Lucifer, but he tells Dean that he is Michael's vessel, and once occupied, he can defeat Lucifer.[5] The the world will end. Sam learns later, from the Devil himself, that he is Lucifer's true vessel. Neither brother is willing to consent to serve as a vessel, postponing the final battle. Michael remains disembodied, but Lucifer finds a temporary vessel in Nick, and causes disasters.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the Croatoan Virus and the Whore Of Babylon all served as instruments of destruction during the Apocalypse. Jesse Turner, the Anti-Christ, was also supposed to play an important role during the destruction of Earth, but he decided to turn away from Lucifer's plans.
Following soon after the events of 5.22 Swan Song, a civil conflict in Heaven amongst angels brews. Currently, Raphael is tying to manage Heaven in Michael's absence. He ordered a group of angels to aid him in gathering God's weapons so that he can release Lucifer and Michael, effectively restarting the Apocalypse[6]
The Apocalypse in Fandom
- See Post-Apocalypse fanfic, Apocafic
- Fight The Apocalypse