December 21, 2012-The Mayan Calendar and the End of the World
The word has been out for quite a while now: that the world is expected to come to an abrupt end this Friday, December 21, 2012. This prophecy comes as a result of the famous Mayan Calendar that dates back to the fifth century BCE. This series of Mesoamerican calendars which include the infamous Mayan Calendar projects no further than that of a 5125-year cycle. As customary to most human beings, knowledge of this has led to speculations that the human race (if not the entire world) will experience some type of species extinction event. Interestingly, the Mayan Calendar system doesn’t even predict a cataclysmic event, but as human nature goes, disaster seems to excite the human psyche.
The Media and the End of the World-How Humans are Coping with the Pending Doomsday
Drudge reported today that many people around the world are making their way to Sirince, Turkey, a location believed by some to be a safe haven from the prophesized end of the world. NASA has been flooded with calls and emails querying the validity of the end of the purported end of the world claims; many suggesting the possibility of an unreported asteroid just hours from crashing into the earth and extinguishing all life on this planet. In China, a doomsday cult that goes by the name of “Almighty God” saw 1000 of its members “detained” by the Chinese government over their strong claims that the 21st of December this year would usher in the end of the world and thus this group proposes the overthrow of communism. The Chinese government has labeled this group an “evil cult.” About 1000 people have assembled in Byron Bay Australia expecting the purported end of the world. Untold numbers of New Yorkers are reported to be searching the city for sex partners whom they can have one last fling with before the world ends. If you are a fan of talk radio as I am you no doubt have been privy to segments of your favorite shows who’s primary topic this week has been the end of the world according to the Mayan Calendar. Even in my office, the investigative staff devised a makeshift calendar with daily rip-off pages counting down to Friday the 21st as the official end of the world. If anything, the topic does provide one with cause to pause and reflect on what exactly does the end of the world really mean, especially if you are a Christian.
The Bible and the End of the World
Well, the simple fact of the matter is that True Christians know that the world is certainly coming to an end. The great Apostle John saw in a vision while he was exiled on the island of Patmos the following: “And I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…” (Revelation 21:1; KJV)
The Apostle Peter also knew of the coming end of this world as he so profoundly expressed in his haunting foretelling of the end of this world in his general epistle: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10; KJV)
There are dozens of other such prophecies scattered throughout the pages of the Bible that foretell of the end of the earth as we know it. There is then little doubt to Christians in the know that this present earth has a date with destiny so to speak.
However, the likelihood that Friday, December 21, 2012 will be the end of the world is an ABSOLUTE IMPOSSIBILITY. God (Jehovah) has explicit plans for this world and its inhabitants and those plans are spelled out in your Bible. Those plans are nothing short of SPECTACULAR! These plans involve you, me, and the entire world; past, present, and future inhabitants of this planet. And those plans directly involve this planet earth. I will have to burst many a reader of this blog’s bubbles at this point: no, the rapture of the saints from this world to live in heaven with Jesus for eternity is a badly contrived lie. Your Bible does not in any way support such a far-fetched fantasy. (I have plans if the Lord permits, to explore this fable of the Christian Rapture in future blog postings. But for now I do not wish to get bogged down with such a complex and far-reaching topic.)
Without a firm understanding of Bible Prophecy, bolstered by an understanding of God’s Appointed Feasts and the Calculated Hebrew Calendar, and the revelation of God’s precious Holy Spirit, it will be virtually impossible to separate lies from truths as it relates to future events involving this world and its inhabitants. But what I can tell you at this point is the following: Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha Masiach) is returning to this earth sometime in the future to establish His perfect government here on earth (NOT HEAVEN): “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first (I Thessalonians 4: 16; cf. Matthew 24:31). This monumental event occurs at the end of persecutions against the saints on earth by the enemy and during the great tribulation. The resurrected and raised Saints of the Most High will meet Jesus (Yeshua) in a most unlikely place somewhere in the heavens that John described as a sea of glass mingled with fire (ref. Revelation 15:2). During a period of time lasting about 4-months, the remaining inhabitants of this earth will endure unbearable agony and strife, culminating in the War of Armageddon (ref. Revelation 16:16). Just about the time when mankind threatens total extinction of the human race, Jesus (Yeshua) returns to the earth with his Saints and establishes his perfect government, headquartered in the Holy City of Jerusalem (ref. Isaiah 9:6,7; Zechariah 14:9). He (with the assistance of his resurrected Saints) will rule the earth with a “rod of iron” and the earth will return to the state it was in during the time the Garden of Eden existed. Peace will reign upon the earth and the millions who survive the tribulation will be faced with a choice of either summiting to the rule of Jesus and be taught God’s way of living, based upon God’s perfect Law, or reject His way of life entirely and die in his or her sins. Satan will be bound and put away for 1000-years, unable to sway the minds and hearts of mankind (ref. Isaiah 2, 11, 60, 61; Ezekiel 3: 25-28; Micah 4:4) Nations will overwhelmingly accept Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and go up to Jerusalem to worship and learn of His ways (ref. Isaiah 66:23; Zechariah 14:16). Mankind during this period will prosper as they obey God’s Laws and way of life. Children will be born and the earth will teem with life abundant as it was supposed to be from the time of creation.
Those Saints who returned with Jesus to the earth from the Sea of Fire and Glass will be Spirit Beings, eternal, perfect, and married to Jesus (Yeshua). (Ref. Matthew 13:43; Daniel 12:1,2) They will assist Jesus in the administration of His government throughout the world. They will live and reign with Jesus throughout His Millennial Reign and then forever. Conversely the human inhabitants of this planet will live normal mortal lives; from birth to old age and then to death. Their salvation and conversion to spirit beings pending whether or not they have accepted Jesus as their savior and whether or not they have obeyed His Laws and His way of life. Remember: Satan and his demons will not be privy to the human mind and heart and thus will not be able to sway human decisions whether to obey and accept or reject God’s way of life. At the conclusion of 1000-years, Satan and his cohorts will be let loose upon the earth. Of course Satan desperate goal will be to sway mankind to rebel against God’s way of life and Yeshua’s government and His Jerusalem Headquarters. Unfortunately he will be successful and convincing many to his side. Ultimately Satan, his demons, and all those who rejected God’s way of life will be utterly destroyed or rounded up and thrown into the Lake of Fire, never to be heard from again. (Ref. Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41; Jude 12,13). Shortly thereafter, all of mankind (apart from the resurrected Saints serving in Jesus’ government) from the beginning of time to the end of the Millennium will be resurrected and face the Great White Throne Judgment as foretold in John 5:29 and Revelation 20:11,12. All these will be raised mortal and judged according to their works in relation to the Laws of God (i.e., the Books). Those who choose to accept God’s way of life will be afforded the opportunity to conform and live accordingly. Those who reject God’s offer will be cast into the Lake of Fire. There will also be those who have throughout history heard the Truth of God’s way of life and His Plan of Salvation but for whatever reason outright rejected it. These too will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Ultimately, at some distant time in the future, God’s plan for mankind and his redemption will come to a momentous conclusion. Mankind (those who are finally chosen by Yeshua to put on immortality) will realize an unbelievable future with God the Father and Yeshua the Son. Then, and only then will this earth and heaven pass away, making way for the new heaven and earth.
Don’t be fooled or led astray by the doomsday prophets and the foolish of today who base their predictions upon a pagan (Babylonian based) society. Live according to God’s way of life, study his word, and seek the coming Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
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