Over the last few years, Americans have been bombarded with one huge concept that can be summed up on one little word: change. Both political parties, and most Americans, recognize that major adjustments are needed in the economy, education, and health care. If one is to believe the political pundits, big changes are on the way. But few people are prepared for the change that many are predicting. A change they believe has been bearing down on the planet for 5,000 years, the colossal transformation of our solar system and our collective psyche that many believe will happen on December 21, 2012.
Many believe that ancient prophecies indicate that change is coming. Big change. Predictions vary widely about what will happen. They range from total, all-out apocalypse to some kind of quantum shift in human awareness and consciousness. Yet they all agree that big change is coming for planet earth and the human race. And they appear to all focus on one specific day—December 21, 2012—the final day on the Mayan long count calendar. Never before have so many people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints pinpointed one day as the expiration date for human civilization. It’s like Y2K gone wild.
Crises of alarming complexity are emerging and accelerating with frightening regularity—depletion of vital resources, peak in oil production, food shortages, nuclear threat, economic meltdown, vanishing species, potentially pandemic flu viruses, wars and rumors of wars, turmoil in the Middle East, record tsunamis, erratic weather patterns, unprecedented earthquakes and the escalation of battering storms. Life on planet earth in the last few years has been anything but business as usual. We live in a fragile, increasingly dangerous, interdependent world. There’s an amazing confluence of tipping points. And the world’s problems are multiplying. Is this all a build-up to some imminent cataclysm? The prelude to the grand finale of unspeakable destruction? Is 2012 the year the cosmic clock winds down to zero? A time of epic disaster? Was the warning of the earth’s grand finale encoded in the Mayan calendar? Many people believe that it was. The Mayan long count calendar ends abruptly on 12.21.12, the same day that the earth and the sun align with the center of the galaxy—an alignment that only occurs every 26,000 years. December 21, 2012 also marks the end of the fifth cycle of 5,125 years on the Mayan calendar. Allegedly each of the previous four cycles ended in some great disaster. Putting all this together and adding in Nostradamus, Bible Codes, and computers has many believing that this date marks doomsday for planet earth. The end of the world as we know it.
While there are many issues surrounding 12.21.12 that I address in detail in my new book 2012, the Bible and the End of the World, the bottom line is this—while the Mayans knew a great deal about astronomy and calendars, they did not know the future. No man does. Only God knows the future, and He has not revealed any specific dates for either the Second Coming of Jesus or the end of the world (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44). Of course, some unusual things could happen on or near December 21, 2012, but whatever occurs it won’t be the end of the world, the mass extinction of humanity or some quantum leap to a new level of human consciousness. Don’t panic or be drawn away to rash, impulsive actions by those claiming to know the exact date of the end of the world. They don’t know when the world will end. Only God knows, and He isn’t telling anyone on earth.
#1 by Mason Shell on September 22nd, 2009
Well written article on 2012. This topic is interesting. Have you ever studied the Hopi Indian prophesies? Keep us informed.
Maranatha!
#2 by Shauna on September 25th, 2009
Hopi Prophecies? Why would Christians give any credence to demonically inspired prophecies? Hopi’s are like new agers (or actually the reverse is true) it’s all about Mother Earth worship – and isn’t it telling that we’re told of the great Hopi Prophecy Rock, that the cross of Christianity (so interpreted) precedes the “evil white people” and then they they claim the swastika in the Sun is a helper of the “bringer of light and the 5th world” – Pahana (the real great white brother)! Well, Satan himself, we are told IN THE BIBLE disguises himself as an angel of light and for sure Hitler and the Swatiska were/are agents of satan’s. Actually all these Indian Prophecies (which many began to be published in the late 50’s/60’s, we only have oral traditions before then and interestingly many of the Shamans found validation in the “New Age of Aquarius” interpretations and modifications of their stories and drawings – for instance look at their drawings – NO WAY would you EVER get what is currently claimed out of those drawings) kinda sounds like the Hippies (many who were spoon fed the demonic utterances/teachings of Alice Bailey and others with a communist/sufi/animist/utopian rant disguised as the New Age) had the Indian Shamans mix Peyote and LSD! Voila!!! – a new story for a NEW AGE! Is anyone even surprised that satans many stories have points of convergence? Discernment….discernment…discernment….
The truths found only in the Word of God, are the prophecies we need concern ourselves with. The only consistency in satans many stories in people groups through out the ages is the hatred of God and His people – literal and spiritual Israel. Those secure in the full armor of God will not be fooled by demonic utterances. Believe in Jesus Christ and read the BIBLE if you want REAL TRUTH.
#3 by papetro on September 29th, 2009
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!! Amen, and Amen!!!!!!!!!!!
#4 by Daniel on October 6th, 2009
Amen Shauna. We will know the date just after it happens.
God did say we will know when it is close, and in my heart of hearts, I believe we well be gone very, very soon..
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Pre-trib believer……………..Daniel
#5 by Norma on October 6th, 2009
Surely the most important point about the Mayan prophecy being correct for the end date is to remember it was incorrect for the start date of this age. If they gave a date for the beginning of this world as we know it which was actually when Lamech was walking the earth, several generations after Adam, I don’t see why their 2012 proposed end date should be any more accurate.
#6 by Stephanie on October 21st, 2009
The bible foretold that there would be many antichrists who would come and proclaim that they were the one….”listen to me! I know the way!” But we, as followers of Jesus Christ…the ONLY way….know that there is only ONE Christ and that is Jesus. These soothsayers who think that they can out guess God the Father (who by the way is the only One who knows when the end will be) can count themselves among those antichrists who were talked about in the bible. These people need prayer and truth from God’s believers. Be watchful….for the time is ripe for a great harvest!
We live in very turbulant days and as Christians ….we need to be vigilant on getting God’s Word out to the people. This so called dooms day prophecy will cause many to panic and fear……but we as Christians know the truth and the people will be asking and seeking we need to be ready with answers and to lead them to the Lord.
Keep your eyes on Jesus…..for He is coming soon!
Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Amen!
#7 by Morning Dew on November 9th, 2009
The Lord say NO knows the time or day of His coming. But He also says be prepared for when I come I will be coming for my people. He is the ONLY way to enter to heaven and for us to be lead free of all of our sins. It is a scarey thought but let His will be done. This world is getting worse every day.
#8 by stephanie on December 7th, 2009
Hi Mark,
My name is Stephanie Frasco and I am casting for the History Channel. I would like to talk to you. http://www.seekers2012.com thank you
#9 by Mason Shell on February 5th, 2010
Hey #2 Shauna. You are an idiot. You wrote,”Hopi Prophecies? Why would Christians give any credence to demonically inspired prophecies? Did I say that I gave credence or beleived in Hopi prophesy? NO I did not. I simply asked had he studied it and wondered what he thought.
THE WHOLE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IS ABOUT THE MAYAN INDIANS CALENDAR!!!!!!!!!!! Is asking about the Hopi indians that big a jump?
Studying the past and the ancient beliefs of other societies is noble and enlightening.Your comments mention the Nazis,Indians,swaztikas,and new agers. Evidently you have studied these things. You have based an opinion on your studies. Why do you mock others trying to learn about things. What a hypocrite
The comments section is to add to the discussion of the article, not to jump to conclusions of the motive of people posting comments.
#10 by Shauna on February 26th, 2010
#9-Perhaps your conscience was seared………because I read what I wrote and in no way did I disparage you. In fact I was writing WHY Christians needn’t concern themselves with ANY prophecies except those from God. I had studied them yes, before I became a Christian, which is why I put my 2cents in. It’s rather ironic isn’t it that you say : “The comments section is to add to the discussion of the article, not to jump to conclusions of the motive of people posting comments.” and then call me an idiot and a hypocrite and a mocker when in fact, I was using your comment to address it and let anyone reading know why it means nothing. You actually facilitated that discussion and I went from there. I assumed you didn’t know much about it since you asked the question. I neither assumed or supposed you were trying to give any validity to them at all. You asked a question and since it appeared you genuinely wanted to know, I wrote an informed answer down …I answered and I presume from your venomously hateful post that you must have added some kind of “tone” or emotion to my post which I did not intend. Please don’t “project” and then use that projection to name call. So Mason – it was you who jumped to some every seriously wrong conclusions – that happens a lot when we read something with our own personality bias in it.