Will the World End in 2012?

Will the World End in 2012?

A Google search for this question generated 2,920,000,000 hits in .32 seconds Millions of dollars are spent each year on the topic of end-time predictions (movies, books, religion ministries, etc.) because of mankinds fascination with the future

Will the World End Before Finals?

Doomsday rumors have been proliferating recently, fueled by recent books, shows, and films Most rumors cite the end of the Mayan long count calendar in December, 2012 Doomsday scenarios include: Collision of a rogue planet with Earth Violent solar storms Sudden violent shifting of continents and poles Sudden reversal of Earths magnetic field Galactic alignment

Artist rendition of two planets undergoing a catastrophic collision. Such collisions do happen in planetary systems, but are highly unlikely after the system has formed.

No!
The Mayan long calendar will partly reset, but the world will not end
Like New Years (when both day & month reset), 13 (of at least 20) Mayan time increments will reset in 2012 The Mayans recorded recurring astronomical events tied to the Sun, Moon, and visible planets - but did not predict natural disasters or undiscovered astronomical objects

There is no known Planet X that will impact Earth in the near future
A few Pluto-like dwarf planets have been discovered in our outer solar system recently, but none have orbits that bring them inside ~35 AU A planet headed toward Earth would be easily visible Conspiracies in astronomy are unlikely, especially given the large number of skilled amateurs (who regularly pioneer new discoveries)

Photo of a Mayan long count calendar

Other doomsday scenarios are similarly far-fetched, or based on poor science

Artists conception of dwarf planet Eris. From NASA / ESA / A. Schaller

The Big Picture

Many of these doomsday scenarios are not new, but have been recycled for many years
Ancient (and modern) astronomers could not predict the future, beyond repeated events (e.g. lunar cycles, eclipses, planetary positions) based on observations One advantage of studying science at any level is that one learns how to think critically about any topic, such as the 2012 rumors
Movie poster for 2012, released in November 2009. The movie features worldwide tectonic activity and natural disasters, triggered by the Sun.

Failed Doomsday Predictions

1806 A chicken in Leeds, England predicted Christ is coming on an egg 1843 William Miller (Seventh-Day Adventists) predicted the end of the world 1891 Joseph Smith (Mormons) predicted the second coming of Christ

Failed Doomsday Predictions

1901 Some predicted that Haileys comet gases would bring an end to the world 1914 Charles T. Russell (Jehovahs Witnesses) predicted the end of the world 1982 Pat Robertson predicted that God would bring his judgment day upon the world

Failed Doomsday Predictions

1997 Heavens Gate predicted the world would end after the appearance of the HaleBopp comet (39 members committed suicide) 1999 The Nostradamus prophecy predicted that the great king of terror would come 2000 Y2K was supposed to bring world chaos via computer failure

Failed Doomsday Predictions

2000 Richard Noone predicted that ice would cover the earth on 5/5/2000 2008 Ronald Weinland (Gods Church Ministry) predicted that millions would die in 2006 and the US would collapse in 2008 2011 Harold Camping predicted the rapture on May 21 and the end of the world on Oct. 21

Failed Doomsday Predictions

These failed predictions have brought about needless responses of fear, death, sell-out, etc., from followers These failed predictions have brought about rejection of the truth from atheists, skeptics, scientists, etc. (many failed doomsday lists can be found on atheist / skeptic websites)

The End in the Bible

The end of Jerusalem (Mt. 24:6,13,14)

The end of the world (Mt. 13:39,40,49)

The End of the World

The end of the world and the second coming of Jesus Christ will be at the same time (1 Cor. 15:23-24) Jesus will come as a thief unannounced and unexpected (Mt. 24:43-44; Lk. 12:39-40; 1 Thess. 5:2,4; 2 Pet. 3:10)

Only God knows the time of the end (Mt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32-33; Acts 17:31)

The End of the World

The earth will end in fire when God speaks his word (2 Pet. 3:7,10) The earth will end so a new order can begin in heaven (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1)

Peter and the Error of the Wicked

(2 Peter 3:17) The end will happen, contrary to all mockers and disbelievers who say it wont (2 Pet. 3:4-7) The end will be unexpected, contrary to all predictors and prognosticators who set a time (2 Pet. 3:8-10) The end will be complete destruction, contrary to all who teach that some people will survive on a renewed earth (2 Pet. 3:10)

The End of the World

We are told how Jesus is coming, why Jesus is coming, but not when he is coming! Let us spend our time, not predicting, but preparing The world will end when God decides it is time and he has not revealed that time to anyone, including the Mayans!