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Timeline

The Prophecy (1995) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1995 · 98 min
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Directed by
Gregory Widen
Starring
Amanda Plummer, Christopher Walken, Virginia Madsen, Viggo Mortensen, Elias Koteas, Eric Stoltz

Set against the backdrop of a harsh and beautiful Alaskan wilderness, the film explores the challenges faced by the Yupik people. As they navigate the unpredictable forces of nature, they are also forced to confront unsettling mysteries rooted in their age-old customs and beliefs. The story delves into the intersection of tradition, survival, and the unknown, testing the community's resilience and uncovering secrets from their past.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Prophecy
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Prophecy Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Prophecy (1995) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Thomas Dagget's Ordination

    In the gripping prologue, Thomas Dagget is on the verge of being ordained as a priest. However, before the ceremony, he is plagued by terrifying visions of angels engaged in a celestial battle, resulting in a crisis of faith that shapes his future.

  2. Thomas Becomes a Detective

    Years later, having lost his faith, Thomas Dagget returns to the world as a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. His past as a priest is overshadowed by the harsh realities of his new life.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  3. Angels Crash to Earth

    The celestial drama escalates when two angels crash to Earth. First, Simon appears to warn Thomas about impending chaos before vanishing; shortly after, another angel named Uziel arrives with a menacing purpose.

  4. Obituary Discovery

    During his investigation, Thomas discovers an obituary for Arnold Hawthorne, a deceased Korean War veteran. This leads him to a theology text written by Hawthorne, hinting at deeper cosmic connections.

  5. Uziel's Demise

    As Thomas delves deeper, he finds that Simon had extracted a soul from Hawthorne. Uziel attempts to confront Simon but is ultimately defeated in the process, leaving behind shocking evidence for Thomas.

  6. Medical Examination

    The medical examiner presents Thomas with Uziel's corpse, revealing anomalies such as no eyes and strange blood chemistry. Among Uziel's remains is an ancient Bible containing a unique twenty-third chapter of Revelation.

  7. Gabriel's Arrival

    Amidst the chaos, Gabriel arrives on Earth, seeking to recruit Jerry—a man caught in limbo since Gabriel previously saved him from suicide. Gabriel's ruthless tactics and intentions quickly come to light.

  8. Simon Meets Mary

    Simon forges a bond with a little girl named Mary at Chimney Rock, where he safely passes on the soul he retrieved from Hawthorne. However, Gabriel's dark influence starts to loom over Mary’s innocent life.

    Where
    Chimney Rock
  9. Thomas Investigates Chimney Rock

    Thomas travels to Chimney Rock, where he finds escalating tensions between Simon and Gabriel. In a cruel twist, Gabriel demands Simon reveal the location of Hawthorne's soul.

    Where
    Chimney Rock
  10. Gabriel's Brutality

    Gabriel brutally confronts Simon, incinerating him and extracting his heart in a desperate bid to gain power. This horrifying act raises the stakes, as the fate of the souls hangs in the balance.

  11. Mary's Possession Signs

    As Mary begins to show signs of possession, Thomas realizes the grave situation unfolding. He uncovers dark truths about Hawthorne's past, including allegations of war crimes, adding urgency to their mission.

  12. Confrontation with Gabriel

    After seeking guidance, Thomas is confronted by Gabriel during a church visit. Gabriel's malevolent schemes ensnare Mary’s teacher, Katherine, pushing them into a desperate battle against celestial forces.

    Where
    Church
  13. Exorcism Ritual Commences

    In a critical moment, Thomas and Katherine conduct an exorcism at a sacred Native American site to cleanse Mary of Hawthorne's lingering essence. The outcome of this ritual holds the key to their struggle.

    Where
    Sacred Native American Site
  14. Lucifer's Revelation

    As tensions peak, Lucifer reveals the ongoing celestial turbulence to Thomas. He provides insights that could help leverage Gabriel’s faltering faith against him, heightening the stakes of the battle.

  15. Climactic Battle

    The climactic struggle transpires as Thomas confronts Gabriel during the exorcism attempt. Ultimately, Gabriel is consumed by Lucifer in a fierce confrontation, ending the immediate threat to Mary and allowing Thomas to reflect on faith.

Last updated: October 28, 2024 at 18:01

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Timeline questions answered

The Prophecy Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Prophecy (1995): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Thomas Dagget leave the priesthood?

Thomas left the priesthood after experiencing a crisis of faith triggered by terrifying visions of angels engaged in a celestial battle. These visions occurred just before his ordination ceremony, causing him to abandon his path to becoming a priest and instead join the LAPD as a detective.

  • thomas dagget
  • priesthood
  • crisis of faith
  • angel visions
  • priest
Q2

Why did the angel Simon seek out Thomas Dagget?

Simon appeared to Thomas to warn him about impending celestial chaos. Because Thomas had once been a man of faith training for the priesthood, Simon believed he could understand the gravity of the situation and potentially help prevent the catastrophic war between angels.

Foreshadowing: Thomas's earlier visions of the celestial battle established his connection to the angelic conflict.

  • simon
  • thomas dagget
  • warning
  • angel
  • celestial war
Q3

Why is Gabriel so desperate to obtain Arnold Hawthorne's soul?

Gabriel claims Hawthorne's soul possesses the power to tip the cosmic balance of power in the ongoing heavenly war. The unique twenty-third chapter of Revelation found in the ancient Bible describes angels' dissent against God's decision to elevate humanity, and Hawthorne's soul represents a crucial element in this celestial struggle.

  • gabriel
  • hawthorne soul
  • celestial war
  • book of revelation
  • cosmic balance
Q4

Why does Gabriel kill Simon and extract his heart?

Gabriel kills Simon because Simon refused to reveal where he had hidden Hawthorne's soul. By incinerating Simon and extracting his heart, Gabriel attempts to gain power and locate the soul, though his plan is ultimately thwarted.

Foreshadowing: Simon's secret meeting with Mary at Chimney Rock established he had already passed the soul to her.

  • gabriel
  • simon
  • murder
  • heart extraction
  • soul location
Q5

How did the young girl Mary become possessed?

Mary became possessed when Simon entrusted her with Hawthorne's soul at Chimney Rock, hiding it within her to protect it from Gabriel. However, Gabriel's malevolent influence began affecting Mary, causing her to exhibit signs of possession as the soul's presence and Gabriel's dark energy conflicted within her.

Foreshadowing: Simon specifically chose Mary to receive the soul, knowing she would be an unlikely vessel.

  • mary
  • possession
  • hawthorne soul
  • simon
  • chimney rock
Q6

What is the second heavenly war mentioned in the film?

The second heavenly war refers to the angelic rebellion described in the unique twenty-third chapter of Revelation found among Uziel's remains. It is a conflict driven by angels who dissent against God's decision to grant humanity a elevated status, leading to the battle that spills onto Earth.

Foreshadowing: Thomas's opening visions depicted this very celestial battle.

  • heavenly war
  • angel rebellion
  • book of revelation
  • angels
  • divine hierarchy
Q7

Why does Lucifer help Thomas and Katherine defeat Gabriel?

Lucifer helps Thomas and Katherine because Gabriel's faith has faltered, making him vulnerable. Lucifer sees an opportunity to turn the celestial tables against Gabriel, a former ally who now opposes him. By consuming Gabriel's heart during the climax, Lucifer weakens the angelic hierarchy while appearing to assist humans.

  • lucifer
  • gabriel
  • angel defeat
  • celestial politics
  • faith
Q8

Why is Arnold Hawthorne's background as a Korean War veteran important?

Arnold Hawthorne was a Korean War veteran who allegedly committed war crimes, resulting in a court martial. His soul became significant because he wrote a theology text containing the unique chapter of Revelation. The combination of his military past and theological knowledge made his soul a powerful tool in the celestial conflict.

  • korean war
  • hawthorne
  • war crimes
  • theology text
  • soul power
Q9

What happens to Gabriel at the end of the film?

Gabriel is destroyed when Lucifer confronts him during the climactic exorcism. Lucifer viciously consumes Gabriel's heart, the same heart Gabriel had extracted from Simon, ending Gabriel's threat to Mary and the human world.

Foreshadowing: Gabriel had taken Simon's heart to gain power, not knowing it would lead to his own destruction.

  • gabriel death
  • lucifer
  • heart consumed
  • climax
  • angel destroyed
Q10

Why do Thomas and Katherine refuse Lucifer's invitation at the end?

Thomas and Katherine both decline Lucifer's invitation, choosing to remain human despite the profound questions about faith and divine order they now grapple with. Their refusal represents choosing humanity's vulnerability and moral complexity over celestial power or damnation.

  • lucifer invitation
  • humanity
  • choice
  • faith
  • ending interpretation
Q11

Why does Gabriel enlist Jerry's help on Earth?

Gabriel needs assistance navigating the human world and enlisted Jerry, a man trapped in limbo because Gabriel prevented his suicide. Jerry's limbo state made him dependent on Gabriel, forcing him to serve as an unwilling accomplice in the search for Uziel's belongings and Hawthorne's soul.

  • gabriel
  • jerry
  • limbo
  • human assistance
  • recruitment
Q12

What does the autopsy of the angel Uziel reveal?

The medical examination of Uziel's corpse reveals startling anomalies: he has no eyes, lacks proper bone development, and possesses blood chemistry resembling an aborted fetus. These characteristics confirm his non-human, celestial nature and provide Thomas with physical evidence of the supernatural conflict.

  • uziel
  • angel autopsy
  • no eyes
  • blood chemistry
  • supernatural evidence

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Prophecy, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Prophecy tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Celestial Horror Movies Like The Prophecy

Stories where divine conflict spills into our world with terrifying consequences. If you enjoyed the dark theological conflict and angelic warfare in The Prophecy, this section features movies with similar themes. Discover other stories exploring fallen angels, possession, and the brutal collision of the divine and mortal worlds, all sharing a tone of supernatural dread and high-intensity action.

  • supernatural dread
  • theological horror
  • ominous
  • anxious
  • grim
  • gothic
  • Tone: dark, tense, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically center on a human protagonist who inadvertently becomes a key player in a hidden war between celestial beings. The plot involves uncovering ancient secrets, confronting powerful supernatural entities, and facing moral dilemmas where the traditional concepts of good and evil are dangerously blurred, often culminating in a bittersweet or pyrrhic victory.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together due to their shared focus on theological horror, graphic supernatural violence, and a consistently dark, anxious mood. They explore similar themes like crisis of faith, the corruption of innocence by divine forces, and the grim reality of a war in heaven, creating a cohesive and intense viewing experience.

Grim Supernatural Investigations Like The Prophecy

Gritty detective stories where the mystery leads to unsettling supernatural truths. For viewers who liked the investigative thriller aspect of The Prophecy, this section collects movies with a similar narrative drive. These stories follow characters unraveling a supernatural mystery, facing overwhelming odds and disturbing revelations, all while maintaining a fast pace and a heavy, dread-filled atmosphere.

  • tense
  • investigative
  • unsettling
  • dread
  • complex mystery
  • grim
  • Tone: dark, tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a procedural investigation that steadily unveils a larger, more terrifying supernatural conspiracy. The protagonist's journey is one of escalating dread and discovery, moving from skepticism to confronting a reality-altering truth. The pacing is typically fast, with each clue leading to greater danger and deeper philosophical or theological questions.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core structure of a mystery plot intersecting with supernatural forces. They are united by a grim tone, complex narratives, a sense of relentless pacing as the investigation unfolds, and a protagonist who undergoes a heavy emotional journey upon confronting the unknown.

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Movies Like The Prophecy

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Every angle

The Prophecy (1995) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Prophecy in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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