World News and Trends: 2012 - End of the world?
The end of the world will not come in 2012. The Bible makes this inarguably clear. Yet human beings from time immemorial have set dates for the end.
A USA Today article reports on some of the current hype: "With humanity coming up fast on 2012, publishers are helping readers gear up and count down to this mysterious—some even call it apocalyptic—date that ancient Mayan societies were anticipating thousands of years ago . . . Authors disagree about what humankind should expect on Dec. 21, 2012, when the Maya's 'Long Count' calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era" (Jeffrey MacDonald, "Does Maya Calendar Predict 2012 Apocalypse?" March 27, 2007).
Again, one who reads and believes God's writings on the subject of the end of the age should be able to see that it's impossible for the world to end in 2012.
For one thing, while the world's system and this age of human misrule will come to an end when Jesus Christ returns, the natural realm and the human race will continue on—with Jesus and His glorified followers ruling the nations on earth for 1,000 years and more (Revelation 5, 20). After that, the earth and sky will be transformed into a new earth and heaven, which will persist forever (Revelation 21-22).
For another, the timing does not fit world conditions. Concerning the end of the world's system, Jesus specified major catastrophic events that would precede His coming, all leading to a period called the Great Tribulation. But this period will commence a full 3 1⁄2 years before Jesus returns. Since we're not in that great conflagration yet, the world certainly won't end in the next year and a half. And, of course, nowhere does the Bible speak of commissioning the ancient Mayans to predict the end of the age!
This does not mean there will be no calamitous events in 2012 or even before. For calamitous events are on the rise as the return of Christ draws closer. Yet when the world goes on at the end of 2012, many will no doubt be sorely disillusioned with any pronouncements of coming doom, Scripture included (2 Peter 2:3-4).
Don't be fooled. No matter what happens or doesn't happen in 2012, the end of the age will still be soon ahead. (Source: USA Today.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: May - June 2011
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
