Mythmakers likewise tried to explain the end of life and the world. The flood legends were one way of telling how the Earth was once destroyed? at least all life forms except for a few survivors. In some American Indian myths the end of the world recurred in a cycle, followed by a new creation. According to ancient Aztec tradition, there had already been four destructions of the world, and a fifth was expected. Each world was ruled by a sun whose disappearance marked each ending.

Some mythologies blamed such catastrophic ends of the world on human wickedness. In the Biblical story of Noah the flood opened the way for a regeneration of the world and a new humanity. Because wickedness persisted, however, another cataclysm became inevitable. Nearly all modern religions have taken up this kind of mythology, looking forward to an end of the world, a new creation, and a judgment on humanity for its deeds.

Myths of the end of the universe are integrated with beliefs about death and the fate of humanity afterward. In many mythologies the dead may be rewarded or punished (see Hell and Hades). It was inconceivable to most ancient peoples that humans would not survive in some form after death. Egyptian kings made elaborate preparations for the afterlife.

In both Judaism and Christianity, quite complex visions have been devised about the end of the world, the final judgment, and a new creation. The basis for these ideas is in passages from the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, and portions of the Gospels. In contrast to mythologies of India, the end of the world is supposed to happen only once. There are no cycles of destruction and regeneration.

For Judaism the coming of the Messiah will announce the end of the present world and the restoration of paradise. For Christianity the end will precede the second coming of Jesus and the last judgment. After these events the whole universe will be renewed and made perfect. All evil and misfortune will be abolished. Many Christian groups that have made the doctrine central to their faith have interposed a 1,000-year period, called the millennium, between the second coming and the end of the world. During this time only the saints will dwell on Earth. Then Satan will be unleashed to stir up a period of terrible persecution. After that the end will come, followed by judgment and a new creation. Some groups put the second coming after the millennium. Most traditional Christian denominations, however, reject the notion of a millennium altogether.