Will 2012 Bring the End of the World?

It is claimed that an ancient Mayan calendar mysteriously ends at the winter solstice in the year 2012. Will that mark the end of human history? TV, magazines, major movie studios, booksellers and dozens of Web sites are fanning the 2012 craze. Does Bible prophecy reveal what's really coming?

The predictions are of total devastation! According to some forecasts, entire cities will be destroyed by enormous tsunamis, earthquakes and Category 5 hurricanes; meteors will rain down fiery death from heaven; and human history will come to a violent end.

The hype is based on a mixture of speculation about Mayan calendars, the book The Bible Code, some ancient Eastern prophecies, the writings of Nostradamus and passages from the biblical book of Revelation.

While movie special effects of tsunamis sweeping across the land can be visually spectacular, the answers to your future can't be found in speculations about Mayan calendars or in the writings of Nostradamus or self-appointed prophets. The real answers to questions about the end of the world are found in the only true source of prophecy—the Bible.

Many people believe that the Bible, specifically the book of Revelation, foretells a fiery destruction of humanity. A close study of the book shows that, although Revelation does contain descriptions of cataclysmic future events, it is ultimately a book of great hope.

The end of the world?

Revelation was written toward the end of the first century by the apostle John. His recounted visions reveal that, before Christ returns, humanity will suffer devastating wars, disease pandemics, religious strife and famine on a global scale. Many of these happenings are trends we see announced in daily headlines and newscasts today.

Watching your world teeter on the brink of economic chaos can leave you anxious. Nightly news reports of pandemics, the ongoing crises in the Middle East, rogue nations developing nuclear weapons, religious and racial tensions, and predictions of environmental disasters can make you want to crawl into a hole and hide from all the bad news.

Don't despair! In His great prophecy near the conclusion of His ministry on earth, Jesus declared that He will return to save humanity from total destruction (Matthew 24:22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
See All...). Revelation tells us about the time of deliverance He proclaimed.

What does the book of Revelation foretell?

Revelation 6 begins the countdown to the end of this age of man's reign on earth. It describes a series of six seals that depict a series of events that will shake the world. The first four of these seals are the infamous "four horsemen of the Apocalypse," representing widespread religious deception, brutal warfare, famine and deadly disease epidemics (verses 1-8; compare Matthew 24:5-7 [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
[6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
[7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

See All...).

Following that is a fifth seal, representing religious persecution and martyrdom of a number of God's true servants (verses 9-11; compare Matthew 24:9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
See All...). Next comes the sixth seal, representing a massive earthquake and terrifying heavenly signs (verses 12-17; compare Matthew 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
See All...).

The story of what happens to our planet continues in Revelation 8 with what are called the seven trumpet plagues. The first is an onslaught of "hail and fire"—possibly a meteor storm from space—which destroys a third of our planet's vegetation (verse 7).

The next plague—"something like a great mountain burning with fire...thrown into the sea"—may be describing a volcanic eruption or an asteroid or comet impact, destroying a third of all sea life (verses 8-9). The third plague—"a great star...from heaven, burning like a torch"—seems to more closely describe an asteroid or comet impact. It poisons a third of the world's fresh water supply (verses 10-11).

Following on its heels is a plague of darkness, obscuring much of the light of the sun, moon and stars—possibly due to the smoke, dust, ash and other debris resulting from the previous three plagues (verse 12).

Next will come two great military forces—the first one inflicting months of torment and the second unimaginably killing a third of mankind (Revelation 9:1-18 [1] And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
[2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
[3] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
[5] And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
[6] And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
[7] And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
[9] And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
[10] And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
[11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
[13] And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
[14] Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
[15] And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
[16] And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
[17] And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
[18] By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

See All...), more than 2 billion people at current population levels.

More horrifying events follow, as the succeeding chapters of the book show. Needless to say, the entire world as we know it—with everything and everyone in it—will be shaken to its core. Truly the human race will be on the brink of extinction!

Matthew 24:21-22 [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

See All... tells us: "It will be a time of great distress, such as there has never been before and never will be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Revised English Bible). In this time when it seems that all hope is lost, the world's last best hope will arrive.

In Revelation 19 we read a description of the return of Jesus Christ: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

"He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses...And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of kings and lord of lords" (verses 11-16).

He will first destroy the Satan-inspired leadership that has brought the world to the brink of ruin and then exterminate the armies that have nearly exterminated mankind (verses 17-21).

Many people believe that Christ's coming in power to destroy evil is the end of the story, but this is not the final scenario revealed by God to John. He writes that after these gruesome events, Jesus will establish God's Kingdom on the earth for a thousand years, bringing peace and prosperity (Revelation 20:1-7 [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
[7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

See All...).

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah was inspired to announce what the earth will be like during the reign of Jesus Christ. One passage, in Isaiah 2, states, "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it" (verse 2).

In Bible prophecy, mountains are often symbolic of governments. This is telling us that Jesus Christ, as the head of God's government, will reign over all governments throughout the earth. Continuing: "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord . . . He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

"He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (verses 3-4).

This is indeed a prophecy that should fill us with great hope. Humanity will ultimately survive to see a prosperous world of peace and purpose beyond our wildest dreams!

What should you do?

So where does that leave us with 2012? The Bible clearly shows that humanity is not going to experience extinction in 2012 or any other year, since Jesus Christ will ultimately rescue us. Nor will the end-time events we've read about conclude in 2012.

Too many other events foretold in Bible prophecy must first come to pass. The conditions aren't quite right yet—but they are growing ever closer, and they will surely come. Indeed, there is much evidence to show that we are living in the last days of this age of human misrule under Satan (download our free booklet Are We Living in the Time of the End? ).

Thankfully, as noted above, the Bible does show that Jesus Christ will return to save humanity from destruction. Between now and then you can live in hopeful anticipation of that day by turning the control of your life over to your Creator now.

Through the advanced newscast of Revelation, God tells us that some very bad times lie ahead; but this book also tells us that a unique and total change of society is coming. Jesus Christ is returning, not as a baby in a barn, but as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to establish God's Kingdom on the earth. He is coming to save the world!

It will be the beginning of real life and prosperity without war, crime, disease epidemics and hopeless poverty. It will be a time when all people will know the Creator and live His ways. A fantastic future is waiting for humanity! GN