2012!  DOOMSDAY OR WHAT?

By: Jim Simmons

Is the world really going to end on December 21, 2012? The Bible does not give us a date for the end times, but it does give us a season to look for. There are some very specific reasons to believe that we are in that last generation that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:34. In addition to the end times signs listed in Matthew 24, which will precede the Second Coming of Christ, there are some other reasons to believe that we are living in the last days. For more information on the last generation, see my book, The Last Generation: Prophecy, Current World Events, and the End Times. We will take a quick glance at some of the peoples, cultures, religions, and scientists that also believe we are living in that last generation.

THE MAYANS AND 2012

The Mayans lived in Mesoamerica, specifically on the Yucatan Peninsula. In brief, they did not believe the world would come to an end on December 21, 2012,as many people believe. They did believe that a tremendous catastrophic event would occur that would cause a major transition to take place.

That 2012 date, according to the Mayan calendar, represents the end of the 5th cycle or “5th sun.” There are five cycles in the Mayan calendar. Each cycle lasts 5,126 years. This 2012 date will mark the end of the five cycles or 26,625 years. The completion of the five cycles is sometimes referred to as a “Galactic Day.” The total numbers of years vary depending on the calendar used. The end date of December 21, 2012 remains the same.

It is of interest to note that the Olmecs were a much older civilization than the Mayans and appeared to be the advanced people who invented the bar-and-dot system of calendrick notation with an enigmatic starting date of August 13, 3114 B.C, and an end date in 2012. [See Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock. This is a secular book .                                                                 Recorded written history began around 3,000 B.C. The Mayans also made other prophecies. We have more evidence through written documentation about the Mayans than any other ancient cultures. Although accounts vary, the Mayan civilization is believed to have its origin around 2,600 B.C.

Their advanced ability was way beyond the ability of later civilizations in calendar calculations. They were advanced thousands of years ahead of future civilizations in their ability to calculate and use the calendar. Where did this super intelligence and ability come from?

THE MAYANS, THE FLOOD, AND A SUPER INTELLECT

The following is my personal opinion based on Bible knowledge and historical time lines. Consider the following facts:

·         The universal flood of Noah’s day. Many Bible scholars believe that the flood in Noah’s day happened around 3,000 B.C.

·         Could the universal flood account for the end of the fourth cycle? The fifth cycle supposedly began on August 13, 3113 B.C. This was a catastrophic worldwide event.

·         Consider the Nephilim, the offspring of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men.” This was the result of intermarriage between fallen angels and humans. It produced a race that was entirely wicked, with Noah and his family being the exception. This race of people was extremely wicked and very powerful, “men of renown” (see Genesis 6:2-5).

·         It is likely that this race of giants could be responsible for the construction of the Pyramid of Giza and Stonehenge. They were powerful and technologically sophisticated.

Noah and his family lived in this culture for hundreds of years and were probably advanced in their knowledge, which was prevalent before the flood. Is it possible that this knowledge was passed down to their future descendants and would include the Mayans who lived after the flood in 2,600 B.C.? I found these to be interesting parallels. Take it or leave it.

OTHER ANCIENT CULTURES

The Aztecs, Incas, Egyptians, and other ancient cultures believed the same as the Mayans but were not as advanced or specific on their dates. This higher knowledge was advanced beyond future generations for thousands of years.

PROPHECY ACCORDING TO ISLAM

The Islam religion also believes that we are in the last days. They believe that the 12th Imam (Holy one descended from Mohammed) will reappear at anytime to conquer the world and will then rule the world under the Islam faith, in accordance with Allah (their god).

They believe that the 12th Imam will make a seven-year peace treaty with the Jews. This runs parallel to the prophetic beliefs laid out in the Bible that describe the Antichrist. The Islamic messiah may fit the biblical description of the Antichrist in accordance with references such as Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

ON THE EDGE

Consider the following quotes given from some very credible secular sources in regards to a nuclear war:

1.       Eugene Habiger, former Executive Chief of Strategic Weapons at the Pentagon, said that the event of nuclear mega-terrorism on nuclear soil is “… not a matter of if but when.”

2.       Warren Buffet, from the private sector, calculates the odds against cataclysmic events for major insurance companies; he draws the conclusion that an imminent nuclear nightmare within the U.S. is “virtually a certainty.” [We can certainly see that possibility with the Iranian nuclear threat. [For more quotes from other credible sources, see chapter 7 in The Last Generation

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

We have a number of ancient cultures, especially Mayan, that point to an end date of December 21, 2012. We do know that the Lord will not come back on that date. Jesus states: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son of Man, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). This includes the Mayans. The end of the world, as we know it, will happen at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. The year 2012 doesn’t leave enough time for that to happen. Although something cataclysmic may happen on December 21, 2012, it may tie into the tribulation period.

The Islamic religion points to the nearness of the end times. Scientists also point to the fact that our time on earth is running out fast. This includes a continuing movement of the magnetic poles toward a possible pole reversal. Credible secular sources as quoted above point to us being on the verge of a nuclear war. This could possibly point to the Russian Invasion of Israel, the prophesied destruction of Syria, or the Battle of Armageddon.

All of these sources and many more have one thing in common. They all believe that the end is near. The differences lie in the interpretation of what it means to live in the end times, or the last generation, which started on May 14, 1948 with the birth of Israel. Only the Bible tells us how to interpret the end times. People are afraid as they see things unraveling at an exponential rate. If you don’t know Jesus, then now is the time to meet Him. Read the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of John. If you are a believer, now is the time to spread the news. The fields are ready for harvest.

LINKS

The Last Generation: Prophecy, Current World Events, and the End Times by Jim Simmons                                                The Footprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock