“Countdown to 2012”

It’s strange how certain things will trigger memories. I read today about a newly released application for the iPhone called “Twenty12”. Its only purpose is to count down the moments until the world's destruction on Dec. 21, 2012. That's the date that the ancient Mayan Long Count Calendar marked as the end of a 5,126-year era, resetting the date to 0 and signaling the end of humanity. If you’re wondering–-it’s just three years, 87 days, 16 hours and 0 minutes and 44 seconds (as of this writing).

As strange as the idea seems to develop an application for such a bizarre scenario (you can find the counter on the internet also) there must be a reason for it. As the countdown continues, doomsday chatter echoes across the Internet. The search term "Dec. 21, 2012" over 3 million results on Google alone. The "official" 2012 web site, www.december212012.com is selling t-shirts announcing the coming end of the world. This November, two apocalyptic films will be released—“2012" and "The Road". Hollywood has obviously noted the interest by the masses tied to this idea of “the end”.

There have been “the end is near” predictions in the past with the most recent for most people being Y2K. The prophecies of the Irish saint Malachy, have said there will be only one more pope after the current one, Pope Benedict XVI, and during his reign comes the end of the world.

But the Mayan predictions have intrigued people the most for years. At the height of their civilization, advanced mathematics and astronomy created what many cite as the most accurate calendar in the world.

The Mayans predicted a final event that included a solar shift, a Venus transit and violent earthquakes. Interestingly, modern astronomy confirms that on the winter solstice in 2012, the sun will be aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years.

A 2008 report by the National Academy of Sciences reveals a scenario of destructive solar storms that will be at their height at the winter solstice in 2012. Lawrence Joseph, author of "Apocalypse 2012" told ABCNews, "The report said that the electric power grid was susceptible to solar blasts." He worries that a newly reported hole in the earth's magnetic field will make it more vulnerable to the "billion-ton blast" of proton radiation.

A similar event happened in 1859 causing the Northern Lights to be visible as far as the equator, disrupting telegraphs and creating small fires. "In the electrified society of today, a blast the same size as in 1859 would short out the electric grid and leave 130 million in the U.S. without electricity for months or even years," said Joseph.

Dates of doom have been around for years and the scoffers dismiss them pointing to past “events” that never happened. Those that buy into these events become disciples of the cause trying to awaken people to the need for action. Others simply become entrepreneurs making a quick dollar off the fears or fascination of other people.

Christians that are well versed in the Scriptures know that 2012 isn’t the end of the world. The "Tribulation Period" is seven years long and from this point in time, that takes us past 2012.

However, it should cause us to stop and consider the truth that “the end is near”. The Apostle Peter revealed this to us in his message on the day of Pentecost when he told the people, “This is that which was told…that in the last days…” From that day, we’re 2000 years closer now to the end of the end.

The countdown continues…not to 2012…but to the return of Jesus Christ!

Comments

[Mike]

Do you think its possible that 2012 marks the year of the start of the Tribulation Period?

P.S.
I truly enjoy your site! Especially the news feed..