There has been a lot of talk about the date December 21, 2012 lately, all centering on the possible end of the world as we know it. Television documentaries, the recent movie 2012, radio shows, numerous blogs, and a media buzzing with excitement have given some credence to the theory that a great cataclysmic event will occur at the end of 2012. With all the commotion, perhaps we should examine this prediction as well. Is there is any validity to this claim, or is it just another doomsday scenario that will come and go with barely a whisper?
There are some people who claim that ancient prophesies, writings, and modern day events are all pointing to a day of disaster that culminates in mass destruction and loss of life. Some quote the quatrains of Nostradamus, the apocalyptic scriptures of the Bible, and other ancient writing as proof that a cataclysm is coming. More significantly, many people point to the incredibly accurate ancient Mayan calendar which ends suddenly on December 21, 2012, as evidence that the world will come to a sudden end.
This is not the first time the end of the world has been predicted. Since near the beginning of time, there have been predictions of a catastrophic world ending. It is likely that ancient cavemen thought the end was near when they saw celestial phenomena like comets and solar eclipses. Certainly, some of the biblical prophets predicted a cataclysmic ending of the world, as well as seers in other ancient cultures.
In more modern times, predictions of doom have abounded along with societal upheaval, wars and conquering armies. As Genghis Kahn's hordes overran eastern civilizations, some were sure the end was near. Napoleon was thought by some to be the anti-Christ who would usher in the end of the world. In the 20th century, many people thought that World War 2 was going to bring the end of civilization, and Nazi leader Adolph Hitler was the anti-Christ or worse. It didn't happen of course, but that hasn't stopped predictions of Armageddon from continuing to present day.
That said, it's true that just because something hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. There are many potential threats that could wipe out the Earth, and they should not be dismissed. Events such as a comet collision with earth, a super volcanic explosion, gamma or cosmic ray bursts, a so-called galactic alignment, or even global warming could all spell doom for the earth. However, how do we know that just because the Mayan calendar ends at in 2012 that the earth will end on that date as well? Some skeptics say this is pure conjecture without any basis in fact.
In conclusion, it's probably a safe bet that no one really knows for sure when the end will occur unless they have the omnipotence of God. And when it comes to God, we can look to the Bible, where Jesus, who claimed to be God's Son, said that no one knows the day or hour of the end except God the Father himself. If Jesus himself didn't know, then how can we know when the world will end? Rather than worrying about a distant event that may not happen, we would do better to live in the present, and do what we can to make ourselves and our world a better place.
Jesse Whitehead lives in the Central Valley of California where he enjoys writing articles on a variety of different subjects. His latest interest is in Fluke Clamp Meters. Come visit his latest website at http://FlukeDigitalMultimeter.org which provides more information about Fluke digital testing products.
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