http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com
Should you expect the end of the world in 2012?
According to today's pop culture, you should.
Websites, television shows, various History Channel "documentaries,"
and the 2009 feature film "2012," all point toward
2012 as the end point of world history.
But is it really true? Where does this idea come from?
Amazingly, all this hype about the end of the world in 2012
comes from an ancient empire conquered nearly 500 years
ago...
Is 2012 Doomsday?
Since the dawn of human civilization, mankind has held a
fascination with future events.
The desire to know the future is evidenced by the number
of popular books and media products touting psychics, Nostradamus,
Edgar Cayce, New Age philosophers, and self-proclaimed prophets.
But the idea that you'll see the end of the world in 2012
is a rather recent phenomenon.
It originates from speculations concerning the ancient Mayan
civilization which was once centered in what is now modern
day Mexico.
The Mayans erected elaborate temples throughout their land
and religiously tracked the movement of the stars and planets.
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Through their observations, they developed the MesoAmerican
calendar, a sophisticated method for keeping track of time.
While a detailed examination of the MesoAmerican calendar
is beyond the scope of this article, for brevity's sake
we'll note that two parts of this calendar system, the Tzolk'in
and the Haab, synchronized for a period of 52 cycles (for
an equivalent period of 52 years).
In order to track more than 52 years of time, the Mayans
relied on the use of the Long Count calendar, which moved
in 5,125 year cycles.
According to many who subscribe to the 2012 end of the world
theory, the Mayan Long Count calendar ends its 5,125 year
cycle on December 21, 2012.
However, what exactly is supposed to happen on that date
remains a topic of ongoing debate.
Some New Age adherents claim a "consciousness shift"
will transform the human race, while others await a golden
age of human advancement.
Meanwhile, people who think it heralds the end of the world
call for a whole plethora of natural disasters such as earthquakes,
tsunamis, typhoons, solar storms, and magnetic pole reversals.
Some even call for the earth to collide with an asteroid,
a comet, or another planet!
While Mayan scholars and archeologists dispute these claims,
public fascination with the end of the world in 2012 and
the specific December 21, 2012 date in particular continues
unabated.
The publication of numerous books such as New Age author
Daniel Pinchbeck's book 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoati
(2006) and mega-bestselling novelist Dan Brown's The Lost
Symbol (2009) have only served to spread the 2012 phenomenon.
Even the History Channel has popularized these theories
with a series of programs - Decoding the Past (2005-2007),
2012: End of Days (2006), Last Days on Earth (2006), Seven
Signs of the Apocalypse (2007), and Nostradamus 2012 (2008).
But is there any truth to the idea that the world will end
in 2012?
Does the Mayan Long Count calendar provide a glimpse into
humanity's future?
Forgetting for a moment that Mayan scholars themselves totally
dismiss the claim, I can tell you with absolute certainty
that the world will NOT end in 2012.
How can I be so sure?
Because my worldview doesn't rely on the ideas of fiction
writers or New Age gurus, it relies on the one source which
has proven its credibility over the course of time, continually
defending itself against the harshest of critics while demonstrating
an unprecedented track record of foretelling the future.
What is this amazing source?
God's own Word - the Bible.
What Does the Bible Say About 2012?
The Bible's track record as a predictor of future events
is well documented.
In the past 2,600 years, hundreds of bible prophecies have
come to pass while hundreds more remain as yet to be fulfilled
future events.
Entire libraries have been written about bible prophecy,
and its unparalleled record of 100% accuracy is one of the
many reasons I believe what it says about our future.
So what does the Bible say about 2012 and the end of the
world?
Does it give any significance to the December 21, 2012 date?
Does it call for a magnetic polar reversal or the destruction
of mankind? No.
In fact, the Bible states that the planet itself is eternal.
”'As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain,
so will you always be my people, with a name that will never
disappear,' says the Lord." Isaiah 66:22 (NLT)
However, what isn't eternal is the present age and world
in which we live.
"Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and
no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad;
rejoice forever in my creation!" Isaiah 65:17-18 (NLT)
Okay, you might say. That's all well and good.
But could it be that 2012 signals the end of the age and
the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ as predicted in the
Bible? No.
In fact, while Jesus can return at any moment for His followers
(an event known as the rapture), the Bible makes it emphatically
clear that His Glorious Appearing will not occur on December
21, 2012 or any day in 2012.
How can I be so sure?
Let's look at what the Bible says...
Why the World Will NOT End in 2012
The Bible states that the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ,
which signals the end of this age and the establishment
of His Millennial Kingdom, will be preceded by a 7-year
period known as a the Tribulation.
At the midpoint of this 7-year Tribulation, the Antichrist
will desecrate the Jewish Temple by engaging in an act known
as the "abomination of desolation."
"The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a
period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he
will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as
a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious
object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for
this defiler is finally poured out on him." Daniel
9:27 (NLT)
Again, God makes it clear that after the abomination of
desolation, at least 3.5 years are left in the present age:
"Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies
against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he
wanted for forty-two months." Revelation 13:5 (NLT)
"He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people
of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals
and laws, and they will be placed under his control for
a time, times, and half a time." Daniel 7:25 (NLT)
"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God
had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days."
Revelation 12:6 (NLT)
So, according to the Bible, the Glorious Appearing of Jesus
Christ and the end of this age will NOT occur until at least
3.5 years after the Antichrist desecrates the Temple.
Since it's less than 3.5 years before the passing of the
December 21, 2012 date, and the Antichrist has not desecrated
the Jewish Temple, we can say with absolute confidence that
this popularized date has no bearing in regard to the return
of Christ or the end of this age.
And since the end of this age will not come until Christ
returns, we can be certain that neither the world nor this
age will end in 2012. The 2012 Countdown
In fact, just as the year 2000 approached with an abundance
of media attention and even outright panic over Y2K, only
to pass without incident - you can put me on record as saying
December 21, 2012 will come and go without the end of the
world.
Am I saying nothing of significance will happen on that
day?
No. I'm not a prophet, and something newsworthy might very
well happen on that day.
But, because of the Bible, I can say with absolute confidence
that it won't be the end of the world or a worldwide "consciousness
shift."
Understanding the 2012 Phenomenon
Given the lack of evidence, as well as the scholarly refutation
of the Mayan Long Count calendar's ultimate meaning, why
are so many people willing to believe in the 2012 end of
the world idea?
My guess is the people who subscribe this theory are really
searching for something from which they can derive a spiritual
significance. Something that allows them to believe in a
higher power or a higher intelligence.
Are you one of those people?
If so, then I've got good news.
A higher power and a higher intelligence does exist.
He's the God of Israel, but you won't draw closer to Him
by studying the Mayan calendar.
However, you can build a solid relationship with Him by
studying His Word, the Holy Bible.
While December 21, 2012 doesn't herald the end of the world,
you do live in the end times.
The nation of Israel is God's testament to this:
"In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second
time to bring back the remnant of his people - those who
remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt,
Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant
coastlands. He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble
the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people
of Judah from the ends of the earth." Isaiah 11:11-12
(NLT)
The modern day nation of Israel is a flag God has raised
among the nations of the world, signaling the hour of His
return is near.
Just as God promised, He has gathered a remnant of His people
from among the nations where they were scattered and brought
them back into the land of Israel.
We are living in the last days, and we have reason to believe
God's future promises will be fulfilled as well.
While our planet will not be destroyed, the end of this
age is near and the world as we know it will come to end.
Jesus Christ is coming, and when He does, He will conquer
the enemies of God and establish His righteous Kingdom:
"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone
will see him - even those who pierced him. And all the nations
of the earth will weep because of him. Yes! Amen! 'I am
the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end,' says
theLordGod. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who
is still to come, the Almighty One.'" Revelation 1:7-8
(NLT)
Are you ready for Christ's return?