By COGwriter
With 2012 fast approaching, there has been seemingly increased interest in certain ancient Mayan writings and calendar predictions.
Specifically, December 21, 2012 is when the Maya’s “Long Count” calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era.
Here is some information about it:
The date December 21st, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count), represents an extremely close conjunction of the Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator (Equator of the Milky Way) and the Ecliptic (path of the Sun), what that ancient Maya recognized as the Sacred Tree. This is an event that has been coming to resonance very slowly over thousands and thousands of years. It will come to resolution at exactly 11:11 am GMT (All About 2012. http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm viewed 01/13/08).
While most people believe nothing other than some astronomical occurrences will happen then (and the Mayans were apparently correct about that according to astronomers), some believe that the Mayan date may mark the end of civilization or perhaps the beginning of a time of great tribulation.
USA Today reported the following in an article titled Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?:
Journalist Lawrence Joseph forecasts widespread catastrophe in Apocalypse 2012: A Scientific Investigation Into Civilization's End. Spiritual healer Andrew Smith predicts a restoration of a "true balance between Divine Feminine and Masculine" in The Revolution of 2012: Vol. 1, The Preparation. In 2012, Daniel Pinchbeck anticipates a "change in the nature of consciousness," assisted by indigenous insights and psychedelic drug use...
Part of the 2012 mystique stems from the stars. 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. This means that "whatever energy typically streams to Earth from the center of the Milky Way will indeed be disrupted on 12/21/12 at 11:11 p.m. Universal Time," Joseph writes (G. Jeffrey MacDonald. Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse? USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-03-27-maya-2012_n.htm viewed 01/14/08).
What the records actually were intended to mean by the ancient Mayans is unknown and has been subject to a lot of debate. But literally, the destruction of the planet seems to be shown.
When the Spaniards came across the Mayans, they considered them to have pagan practices associated with the devil. Because of that, once they conquered them, they began to burn and otherwise destroy most of the writings of their civilization (known as codices), most notably under the direction of Bishop Diego de Landa. One Catholic, however, intervened and prevented three from being destroyed. These Mayan codices are now known as the Madrid, Dresden, and Paris codices. There also is a fourth, the Grolier codex, whose authenticity is sometimes disputed, but may be genuine--only a few pages from it survive. From time to time, other fragments of Mayan writings of this period have also been found. The Dresden Codex contains the highest amount of astronomical observations and calculations of any of the surviving texts.
One writer (probably Robert Bast who has his own "wiki") has stated this about the Mayans and the calendar:
Like the Aztec and Inca who came to power later, the Maya believed in a cyclical nature of time. The rituals and ceremonies were very closely associated with celestial/terrestrial cycles which they observed and inscribed as separate calendars. The Maya priest had the job of interpreting these cycles and giving a prophetic outlook on the future or past based on the number relations of all their calendars. They also had to determine if the "heavens" or celestial matters were appropriate for performing certain religious ceremonies (Mayan Civilization. http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title=Maya_civilization viewed 01/14/08).
The actual Wikipedia states:
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar forms the basis for a New Age belief, first forecast by José Argüelles, that a cataclysm will take place on or about 21 December 2012 (Maya Calendar. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_calendar viewed 01/14/08).
On two different programs, The History Channel claimed:
The Mayan calendar seems to say that the world will end in 2012 (Crowley, Phil. 2012, Decoding the Past. Original air date 03/01/07).
The ancient Maya have prophesied that the world will come to the end on 13 Baktun on their current calendar. This date translates to December 21st, 2012...A new age may occur...
Others...see destruction...
The last page of the Dresden codex actually shows the destruction of the world via water...
This graphic illustration depicts the destruction of the earth by flood...
Others see it as a day of rebirth...
Others see it literally, with very severe consequences (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06).
So we see two interpretations from different sources that indicate that either something terrible or something very good will happen in or near the end of 2012.
On The History Channel, Steve Alten, author of Domain, stated:
The four prior cycles all ended in destruction. So when we talk about the Mayan doomsday prophecy, we're talking about the end of the fifth cycle, the very last day, which equates to December 21, 2012 (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06).
The History Channel narration after the preceding comment immediately was:
This means the fifth and currect cycles, like its predecessors, will also end in destruction (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06).
While I do not believe that the end will come then, I do believe that we are getting close to the time of the destruction of civilization as we know it. And, it may be important to realize that the Bible does show that some type of flooding will occur and eliminate most of the islands of the world (please see Islands and Bible Prophecy), but I do not believe that this can occur until after December 21, 2012.
Some who read the Mayan works also compared those writings to the modern science of astronomy. Many were intrigued by the fact that a major astronomical alignment was to occur about the same time as the Mayan calendar indicated that something major was to occur.
Here is some additional information from the website of Adrian Gilbert, co-author of the book The Mayan Prophecies (the other co-author is Maurice Cottrell):
The Mayans had rather similar beliefs to the Aztecs though with some major differences of emphasis. Several of their bark-books have been preserved showing their amazing knowledge and fascination with astronomy.The most important of these was what is now called the "Dresden Codex", named after the town in whose library it was lodged. This strange book, inscribed with unknown hieroglyphs, was written by Maya Indians who once ruled over much of Central America, the ruins of their once grand civilization littering the jungle. In 1880 a brilliant, German scholar, who was working as a librarian in Dresden at the time, turned his attention to this codex. By a process of extraordinary detective work he cracked the code of the Mayan calendar making it possible for other scholars and explorers to translate the many dated inscriptions to be found on buildings, stelae and other ancient Mayan artefacts. He discovered that the Dresden Codex itself was concerned with astronomy providing detailed tables of lunar eclipses and other phenomenon. These were so accurate that they put our own calendar to shame. He also found evidence for a curious "magic number"- 1,366,560 days, which could be factorised in a number of ways and which harmonised the cycles of Venus and Mars with two "yearly" cycles also used by the Maya: the sacred tzolkin of 260 days and the Haab of 365 days. However, he also found that they had another system of counting the days relative to a starting date, called the Birth of Venus and now known to be 13 August 3114 BC. This calendar was divided into "months" or uinals of twenty days, "years" or tuns of 360 days and longer periods of 7200 days, (the katun) and 144,000 days, (the baktun). The number 13 was magically important to the Mayans and they believed that, starting from the Birth of Venus, after 13 of these longest periods, or baktuns, the world would come to an end. This means that working from their start date for the present age of 13 August 3114 BC, this Mayan Prophecy points to a date for the end of the age which is in our own time: 22 December 2012...
In 1986 Maurice Cotterell put forward a revolutionary theory concerning astrology and sun cycles. He had for some years suspected that the sun's variable magnetic field had consequences for life on earth. The sun has a complex field which loops and twists itself into knots. It has long been suspected that these loops give rise to sunspots, which are dark blemishes on the sun's skin. The number, size and location of sunspots are constantly changing and as a former Radio Officer, Cotterell was well aware that they have profound effects upon the earth's magnetic envelope, the magnetosphere. Whilst working as Head of Electrical and Communications Engineering (Estates) at Cranfield Institute of Technology, he devised a program that would compute the relationship between the sun's magnetic field and the Earth. As expected his model predicted that there should be a sunspot cycle of roughly eleven and a half years, closely corresponding to what has been observed over several centuries. However, he also found graphic evidence for longer cycles including a period of 1,366,040 days. His work took a new turn when he read about the Mayan super number from the Dresden Codex: 1,366,560 days. This was exactly two 260 day cycles larger than his theoretical sunspot period. He therefore proposed that the two were related. As his earlier work on what he called Astrogenetics indicated that human fertility was dependent on the presence of sunspots, he now had evidence that the Mayan calendar was not arbitrary but was based on a knowledge of the effects of sunspots (http://www.adriangilbert.co.uk/docus/books/mayan.html).
A critical review of the The Mayan Prophecies book reported the following:
Gilbert appears to have written the 212 pages of main text, even summarizing Cotterell's work in his own voice, while Cotterell provides 100 pages of mathematically complex appendices which the casual reader will find impenetrable. These are supposed to provide the rigorous scientific evidence for Cotterell's end-date cataclysm theory, which is as follows. Sunspot cycles give rise to larger solar aberrations in which the sun's magnetic field periodically reverses, causing the earth's pole to shift and thus resulting in cataclysm. According to Cotterell, the solar reversals come in groups of five, which together make a grand cycle of 18,139 years. The five "ages" are not all of the same length, due to complex solar rhythms which Cotterell modelled on a computer using only three variables. Three of the ages last 3553 years each while two last 3740 years each. These are supposed to correspond to the Mayan or Aztec myth of five (or four) ages. A key number here is the number of days in 3740 years (using 365.25 days per year): 1366035. This number is "close" to a number in the Dresden Codex, written in Long Count notation as 9.9.16.0.0. This corresponds to a date in 627 A.D., which is 1366560 days after the so-called Long Count "zero date" back in 3114 B.C. The closeness of these numbers is supposed to demonstrate that the Maya were aware of sunspot cycles, solar magnetic field reversals, and that is why the Long Count pinpoints 2012 A.D. as a cataclysmic World Age destruction. "From his studies... Cotterell has concluded that the Maya prophecy for the end of the fifth age concerns a reversal of the earth's magnetic field - around 2012 A.D."
...The inner jacket cover reads: "The present world will end on December 22nd, 2012...So prophesied the Maya 5,000 years ago..." (Review-Essay of Mayan Prophecies by Gilbert and Cotterell, Element Books 1995. Book Review. October 18th, 1995. by John Major Jenkins c. Four Ahau Press, http://www.alignment2012.com/mproph.htm viewed 01/13/08).
The History Channel and other television sources have picked up on us, and now many people are concerned that December 21, 2012/December 22, 2012 will mark a time of destruction and the end of civilization. Several have looked into certain of the books premises and alleged facts and have disagreed with them. However, it is generally agreed that some type of astronomical alignment will occur around December 21, 2012.
A few people seem to believe that on the next day or so (December 22, 2012 or December 23, 2012) that this may mark the beginning of a new and better era for humanity. Personally, I suspect that the European King of the North may become more obvious around that time and may claim (even possibly retrospectively) that he is bringing in the positive era that the Mayan calendar may indicate (the Bible indicates that a European Beast power will be aligned with a future version of the Roman Catholic Church).
Specifically, the Roman Catholics seem to believe that there will come an "age of peace" before Antichrist (Birch, DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. xlii-xliii, 410), hence it would not surprise me if they claim that this new age begins (or more likely will have began) around December 22, 2012.
However, the Bible shows that although people in many places will at first prosper because of this King of the North (Daniel 11:39; Revelation 18:3), that God will punish those who follow him (see Russia in Prophecy) or have his mark (666). Thus this is not going to be a biblically acceptable "age of peace".
The people of the Netherlands have long been concerned about the possibility of a destructive flood killing many. And partially because of the Mayan prophecies, some in the Netherlands are concerned that they may be predicting the destruction of their nation.
Notice the following news item:
Many Dutch prepare for 2012 apocalypse
UPI - June 23, 2008 AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (UPI) —
Thousands of people in the Netherlands say they expect the world to end in 2012, and many say they are taking precautions to prepare for the apocalypse. The Dutch-language de Volkskrant newspaper said it spoke to thousands of believers in the impending end of civilization, and while theories on the supposed catastrophe varied, most tied the 2012 date to the end of the Mayan calendar, Radio Netherlands reported Monday.
De Volkskrant said many of those interviewed are stocking up on emergency supplies, including life rafts and other equipment. Some who spoke to the newspaper were optimistic about the end of civilization. “You know, maybe it’s really not that bad that the Netherlands will be destroyed,” Petra Faile said. “I don’t like it here anymore. Take immigration, for example. They keep letting people in. And then we have to build more houses, which makes the Netherlands even heavier. The country will sink even lower, which will make the flooding worse.” http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/06/23/Many_Dutch_prepare_for_2012_apocalypse/UPI-40461214263554/
The fact is that although Mayan prophecies do mention flooding, the Netherlands will not be destroyed by a flood in 2012.
However, it is possible that a few years from then that it could have major flooding problems. Unlike most countries, the much of the Netherlands is below sea level and flooding is truly a national concern. But because I do not believe that massive flooding on that type of scale will likely occur until sometime after “the Day of the Lord” begins (which is 2 1/2 years after the Great Tribulation begins), I believe that the most destructive flooding cannot occur before 2014, and most likely will not be for one or more years after that.
And yes, I know that there is flooding in the USA (see Midwest Flooding and Myanmar). But the type of deadly destruction that the 2012 prophecies appear to be referring to is not likely to happen until a few years AFTER 2012.
ABC News reported that it is not just the Dutch:
Thousands Worldwide Prepare for the Apocalypse, Expected in 2012Two years ago, Patrick Geryl, then 51, quit his job as a laboratory worker for a French oil company. He'd saved up just enough money to last him until December 2012. After that, he thought, he wouldn't need it anyway...
“You have to understand, there will be nothing, nothing left,” Geryl told ABC News from his home in Antwerp, Belgium. “We will have to start an entire civilization from scratch.”
That’s because Geryl believes the world as we know it will end in 2012. He points to the ancient Mayan cyclical calendars, the longest of which last renewed itself approximately 5,125 years ago and is set to end again, supposedly with catastrophic consequences, in 2012. He speaks of the ancient Egyptians, who, he claims, saw 2012 as a year of great change too. And he points to science: NASA predicts a sharp increase in the number of sunspots and sun flares for 2012, he said, sure to cause electrical failures and satellite disruptions.
All this adds up, Geryl said, to unprecedented catastrophe. First, a polar reversal will cause the north to become the south and the sun to rise in the west. Shattering earthquakes, massive tidal waves and simultaneous volcanic eruptions will follow. Nuclear reactors will melt, buildings will crumble, and a cloud of volcanic dust will block out the sun for 40 years. Only the prepared will survive, Geryl said, and not even all of them.
These may sound like the ravings of a madman, or perhaps the head of a small apocalyptic sect. But Geryl is not the only one who believes in the apocalypse. Thousands of people worldwide seem to be preparing, in one way or another, for the end of days in 2012. Survival groups exist in Europe, Canada and the United States…
"We had Hurricane Katrina, the recent cyclone in Myanmar," Lehmann said. "We've got major flooding in Iowa. We're always going to have natural disasters. But they are picking up quite frequently now."
Lehmann said he eventually hoped to move away from Cape Girardeau, built on the banks of the Mississippi River, to the higher plains of southwest Missouri to keep safe from the floods sure to follow the earthquakes of 2012.
Geryl and his Belgian and Dutch followers have similar intentions, though their plan will take them much farther from home. They are looking to buy a plot of land high up in African mountains, where they'll be able to withstand the monstrous tidal waves and wait out the cloud of volcanic dust that they said would block out the sun.
Geryl said the group has recently zeroed in on a location, but won't reveal his find for fear of tipping off rival survival groups in the United States and Canada. On that land, Geryl's group, whose core membership consists of 16 people but whose wait list supposedly lists hundreds, will build concrete dwellings or outfit caves for survival...
When asked what would happen if December 2012 were to come and go without the earthquakes and tsunamis of his predictions, Geryl fell silent.
“I don’t really contemplate that possibility,” he said. “[My predictions] are so spectacular, they can’t possibly be wrong.” (Will the World End in 2012? ABC News, July 3, 2008. http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5301284&page=1)
The world will not end in 2012. It is simply not possible according to the Bible (please also see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?). Those who think it will simply have been deceived by Satanically-inspired false prophecies. And those looking for a place of protection, may wish to consult the Bible and not Patrick Geryl (for biblical information, please see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
The Bible also teaches:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Those who are convinced by Mayan and other non-biblical prophecies otherwise are not correct and simply are not being directed by God–they are leaning on their own inaccurate misunderstandings. But the end of the world (meaning the end of this age) will come soon--but it will not be until after 2012 for reasons that this article will indicate later.
Here is a picture of page 9 of the Dresden Codex (from the 1880 Förstermann edition):
It took quite some time to translate these type of writings.
Here is a picture of the last page of the actual Dresden Codex (Kingsborough version)--this is the page that suggests that the world will end in a flood (and although massive flooding will occur, it will not be until after 2012, but will occur after the start of the Great Tribulation, please see Islands and Bible Prophecy):
The actual Dresden Codex, with lots of pages (and it is slow to download) is available at http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/codices/dresden.html
The Mayan long-count calendar consists of time periods with different names.
| Days | Long Count period | Long Count period | Approx solar years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | = 1 K'in | ||
| 20 | = 20 K'in | = 1 Winal | 1/18th |
| 360 | = 18 Winal | = 1 Tun | 1 |
| 7,200 | = 20 Tun | = 1 K'atun | 20 |
| 144,000 | = 20 K'atun | = 1 B'ak'tun | 395 |
The Mayan name for a day was k'in. Twenty of these k'ins are known as a winal (or uinal). Eighteen winals or 360 k'in make one tun. Twenty tuns are known as a k'atun. Twenty k'atuns make a b'ak'tun. There are also four rarely-used higher-order periods: piktun, kalabtun, k'inchiltun, and alautun (Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Wikipedia viewed 4/20/08).
The ancient Maya have prophesied that the world will come to the end on 13 Baktun on their current calendar. This date translates to December 21st, 2012...(Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06).
The following is the list of the start dates for 13 Baktuns:
| Long Count | Proleptic Gregorian Calendar Date |
|---|---|
| 0.0.0.0.0 | August 11, 3114 BCE |
| 1.0.0.0.0 | November 13, 2720 BCE |
| 2.0.0.0.0 | February 16, 2325 BCE |
| 3.0.0.0.0 | May 21, 1931 BCE |
| 4.0.0.0.0 | August 23, 1537 BCE |
| 5.0.0.0.0 | November 26, 1143 BCE |
| 6.0.0.0.0 | February 28, 748 BCE |
| 7.0.0.0.0 | June 3, 354 BCE |
| 8.0.0.0.0 | September 5, 41 CE |
| 9.0.0.0.0 | December 9, 435 |
| 10.0.0.0.0 | March 13, 830 |
| 11.0.0.0.0 | June 15, 1224 |
| 12.0.0.0.0 | September 18, 1618 |
| 13.0.0.0.0 | December 21, 2012 |
Thus, the end of the 13th Baktun is coming fairly soon.
The Bible shows that one is coming called "the King of the North". However, prior to being referred to as "the King of the North" he initially appears to be referred to as a "prince" in Daniel 9:26-27 (one is normally a "prince" before one becomes a "king"). As this deal has still not been made, this would suggest that contrary to claims of various false prophets (Ronald Weinland of CGPFK comes to mind) the great tribulation will not begin prior to 2012.
The Great Tribulation will also not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual King of the North)--and while the "prince" will apparently help make a deal with Israel (probably somewhat including the United States as part of the "many" in Daniel 9:27), Daniel 11:27 requires two kings, which suggests that the "prince" will gain more and more importance after the deal in Daniel 9:27 (for more information on the sequence of Daniel 11, please see the article the King of the North).
In the book of Daniel there is a prophecy related to the end times that states:
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate (Daniel 9:26-27).
While there have been various understandings of the above passage in Daniel 9, notice what two commentators state (bolding/italics in source):
Shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself (or, and shall have nothing, ASV): and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. It is agreed by almost all evangelical interpreters that these two events, the cutting off of the Messiah (Anointed One) and the destruction of the sanctuary refer to the crucifixion of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. These two events were separated by a period of nearly forty years (29-70 A.D.). Yet, in the literary order of the passage, they are both after the sixty-ninth week and before the final "one week" mentioned in the next verse. Thus the very syntax, grammar, and word-meaning indicate a gap in the succession of the seventy weeks.
Other important reasons for supposing a gap here are: (1) Jesus placed the culminating week, with its "abomination" in the times of final Antichrist, just before His second advent (Matt 24:15). (2) Dan 7:25, which describes what appear to be the very same events as those of 9:27, the seventieth week, is certainly a prophecy of the times of final Antichrist. (3) The period of three and one-half times or years (the second half-week of v. 27) is often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture and always in an eschatological setting (Rev 11:2-3; 12:6,14). (4) The six things to be accomplished in the seventy weeks (see Dan 9:24 and comments) require the second advent of Christ, and the restoration and conversion of Israel.
These considerations show that the idea of a gap in the weeks at this point is a matter of exegesis. Considerations of theology are not primarily involved. It is not this author's opinion that the Church is a mere provisional consideration thrust into this hiatus or gap. Both 'dispensational' and 'covenantal' theologians, doubtless, find more in this prophecy than is properly there. Let us stay by what the passage says. C. F. Keil (Comm., in loco) is correct in asserting that the prince is said to be coming (habba'), because he has already been introduced and discussed in the prophecy of chapter 7 as the final Antichrist. The Romans who destroyed Jerusalem (A.D. 70) were his people because they and he belong to the fourth stage (the Roman) of world empire (chs. 2; 7)...
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (make a firm covenant, ASV). The language higbir from gabar, "be strong") does not signify confirmation of a covenant but causation of a firm covenant. And he shall cause to prevail is an excellent translation. The most natural antecedent for he, the subject of the clause, is the wicked "prince" of verse 26. This is the nearest noun in grammatical agreement, and it fits the sense. The many here, as elsewhere, is a reference to the Hebrew people, the subject of discussion throughout chapter 9 (cf. vv. 2,12,18,19, esp. 24, "thy people ... thy holy city"). Evidently the covenant is to be made between Antichrist and Israel when the Jews are back in their homeland in the last days. The exact nature of the covenant is unknown.
The evil and destructive events described in the remainder of this verse should be interpreted as summary information concerning the final "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer 30:7 and context) set forth rather more fully in Dan 12:1 ff; 2 Thess 2:1 ff; Rev 13; 14; and other passages (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).
...the covenant of Daniel 9:27 is not the covenant of grace...this refers to the coming world ruler at the beginning of the last seven years...He will make a covenant with Israel for a seven-year period. As Daniel 9:27 indicates, in the middle of the seven years he will break the covenant, stop the sacrifices offered...and become their persecutor instead of their protector (Walvoord JF. The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook. Victor Books/SP Publications, Wheaton (IL), 1990, p. 257).
And the portions cited above appear to be the case. A prophetic week is generally understood to refer to seven years. And half a week 3 1/2 years. While the leader above is only referred to as a prince when he confirms the one week covenant, he probably will not be known as the "King" until around when he breaks the covenant at the mid-week point (most likely he will be considered simply one of several leaders negotiating a treaty when this occurs).
There are several reasons that this prince is referring to the leader of the developing European empire. But perhaps the main one is that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. And it is the prince of that people to come that verse 27 is referring to. Hence, this prophecy tells us that a leader will start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the tribulation.
Furthermore, notice when the 1290 days (roughly 3 1/2 years) begins:
And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).
Thus, both Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 seem to be referring to a common event, and 12:11 shows that this begins a period of roughly 3 1/2 years.
Since this agreement between the King of the North and Israel has apparently not yet occurred, and the tribulation will not occur until about 3 1/2 years later, this means that unless this agreement occurs prior to June 30, 2008, that the intense 3/12 year period of the great tribulation cannot occur before 2012!
However, if one adds 3 1/2 years to any date after June 30, 2008, then a date of 2012 or later is possible (and I believe it will probably be one to four years later than that).
Perhaps that it should be noted that Israel now seems to be moving towards such an agreement, that it does not yet have it:
Israel is increasingly "plugging into" EU institutions and, in turn, allowing European political and economic influence to play a greater part in its diplomatic and economic processes, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The thinking within the Foreign Ministry is that it is time to reassess the Jewish state's traditional line that Israel's survival rests on two pillars only: a strong IDF and an unbreakable alliance with America. What is becoming evident is the increasing understanding of the importance the European Union plays in world events and in the Middle East particularly, officials say (Israel sees ties with EU as crucial Jerusalem Post - Feb 22, 2008; http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203605149734&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull).
Also notice what the Living Church of God teaches about this:
A New Chapter in German-Israeli Relations. German Chancellor Merkel participated in a historic meeting this week in Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert stating, “This is an extraordinary, in many ways a historic occasion in relations between Israel and Germany.” Acknowledging the legitimacy of the nation of Israel, and forecasting a bright future between the two nations, Merkel commented, “Sixty years after the creation of Israel we affirm again the special responsibility of Germany towards Israel… But there is not only the responsibility for the past but projects for a better future… I am grateful we can open a new chapter in relations between our two countries.” The two leaders discussed bilateral relations in the areas of economics, science, culture, education, and media. Merkel is also the first German Chancellor to address the Knesset (Deutsche Welle, March 17, 2008). Germany may be the key nation to break the United Nations gridlock over how to deal with Iran (Jerusalem Post, March 16, 2008). Daniel 9:27 talks about a “prince” confirming a covenant with many—a covenant that will lead to the establishing of sacrifices on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. A King of the North will defile the “sanctuary fortress” and remove the daily sacrifices, eventually magnifying himself above the gods (Daniel 11:29-37). This King of the North will emerge from a powerful political-religious union involving European nations. It is important to watch the continuing involvement of European nations and the Vatican in Israel (Winnail D., ed. World Ahead Weekly Update. Living Church of God. March 19, 2008).
And it should be noted that the Vatican wants an agreement with Israel related to local Catholic matters in Israel:
ROME: The Vatican has warned Israeli officials that the Holy See will not sign an agreement that cannot be sustained locally...That's according to Archbishop Antonio Franco, the Apostolic Nuncio in Israel (who is also the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, as well as Apostolic Nuncio in Cyprus) during a recent visit through Rome. Speaking to Terrasanta.net, the archbishop said he was "not making any forecasts" on the duration of the negotiations on tax and property of the Church in Israel, but stressed that both parties were working "with a great deal of good will" and there was progress because "the State of Israel is showing great understanding". But he added it was essential the negotiators understand "it is a question of life or death", because the "very survival of the Church of the Holy Land" is at stake (Nuncio Franco: "Church's Survival in the Holy Land at Stake". The Holy Land Review - February 26, 2008; http://www.theholylandreview.net/holyland/att_det.jsp?wi_number=889&wi_codseq=).
Thus, it may be that since Israel wants closer agreement with the Europeans and the Vatican (which supports increased European unity) wants a more comprehensive agreement with Israel than it has had in the past, that one will happen relatively soon.
But again, since this deal of Daniel 9:27 does not seem to have been made yet, it does not seem possible that the Great Tribulation can begin prior to 2012.
Furthermore, that although the Bible warns about the coming King of the North and this deal, Roman Catholic prophecies seem to look forward to this individual, who they tend to call "the Great Monarch" or "the prince of the north" (this is documented in the article Who is the King of the North?)
(Perhaps it should be mentioned here that contrary to the claims of various self-appointed ones, the Great Tribulation WILL NOT begin in 2008. A news item explaining more of the reasons why would be At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).
There are writings, legends, and calculations from a variety of sources (including the Bible) that indicate that the end will occur in the 21st century.
And while I believe that 2012 is just a little bit too early for the end, several seem to point to that year for some type of major change.
Perhaps one of the more fascinating is related to the Chinese I Ching. Although it slightly reminds me of the so-called Bible Code, there have been some calculations made apparently based upon looking at all the 64 possible combinations one can obtain by throwing the three discs and plotting the associated full and broken lines from using the I Ching:
Fractal time and the I Ching...
Various fringe scientists have tried to calculate this point of infinity, giving us calculated dates ranging from 2010 to 2050. Dates that many of us will live to see. Perhaps the date is Dec 22, 2012. Ethnobotanists and fractal time experts Terrence and Dennis McKenna believe so, and they present their ideas in Invisible Landscape: Mind Hallucinogens and the I Ching (1993).
Their studies began with the I Ching, which is composed of 64 hexagrams, or six-line figures. It struck them that 6 x 64 = 384, which is exceptionally close to the number of days in 13 lunar months (29.5306 x 13 = 383.8978), and that maybe the I Ching was originally an ancient Chinese calendar. Further multiples had astronomical significance...
The McKenna brothers arrived at the 2012 end date by using fractals. Starting from a table of differences between one hexagram and the next, they developed a Mandelbrot fractal in which each level is 64 times greater then the one below it. They then laid this fractal pattern on top of a time scale. The peaks and troughs of the pattern relate to the level of connectedness or novelty in any span of time, whether it covers a day, millennia or even since the beginning of time. By matching the levels of the pattern with key periods in history, they determined it would fit best if the end of the time scale was December 22, 2012. This is the only point in which the level of novelty reaches its maximum, and everything that happens is new (Bast R. Survive 2012. http://survive2012.com/why_2012_fractal.php viewed 04/12/08).
So, some believe that December 22, 2012 was long known as the date for the world as we know it to end.
There is also a tradition from India:
It is interesting that this prediction of the emergence of a new world is prophesied to appear about the same time that the Mayans predicted it to come! The Mayan calendar began with the Fifth Great Cycle in 3114 BC and will end on 21 December 2012 AD. The Hindu Kali Yuga calendar began on 18 February 3102 B.C. There is only a difference of 12 years between the Hindu's beginning of the Kali Yuga and the Mayan's beginning of the Fifth Great Cycle. It is amazing that both calendars began at about the same time over 5,000 years ago and both calendars predict a totally new world and/or golden age after about 5,000 years into their calendars! We are definitely on to something with these Mayan and Hindu 2012 predictions. Historically, this is an amazing fact since these two ancient cultures did not have any contact...Lord Krishna's Golden Age could easily begin in 2012! (Hindu Calendar. http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title=Hindu_Calendar viewed 01/14/08).
A source, related to the above India/Hindu comments, also stated:
The Hopi prophecy is an oral tradition of stories that Hopis say predicted the coming of the white man, the world wars and nuclear weapons. And it predicts that time will end when humanity emerges into the "fifth world." The Mayan calendar predicts a similar end in 2012; some Hopis have said their prophecy roughly coincides with that time. The tradition says the years after 2012 could be a golden age with humans at peace. It also says the world will go through a time of trial, suffering and purification before a time of "one-heartedness" (Hopi Civilization. http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title=Hopi_Civilization viewed 01/14/08).
And although a Robert Bast is the source of many of those written quotes, a program (2012 episode of Decoding the Past) that The History Channel originally aired March 1, 2007, had a variety of sources that basically stated the same things that Robert Bast has written. And one of those was that the end of "the fourth world" in Hopi prophecy is about upon us.
Perhaps I should mention that there are a variety of private "Catholic prophecies" indicate that the end will not come BEFORE the 20th century, but that the "beginning of the end" comes then. Some then indicate that the end may come in the early 21st century.
Notice what a Catholic saint named Nilus allegedly stated in 430 A.D.:
After the year 1900, toward the middle of the 20th century, the people of that time will become unrecognisable. When the time for the Advent of the Antichrist approaches, peoples minds will grow cloudy from carnal passions, and dishonour and lawlessness will grow stronger. Then the world will become unrecognisable. Peoples appearances will change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to there shamelessness in dress and style of hair. These people will be cruel and will be like wild animals because of the temptations of the Antichrist. There will be no respect for parents or elders, love will disappear, and Christian pastors, bishops, and priests will become vain men, completely failing to distinguish the right hand way from the left. At that time the morals and traditions of Christians and the Church will change. People will abandon modesty, and dissipation will reign. Falsehood and greed will attain great proportions, and woe to those who pile up treasures. Lust, adultery, homosexuality, secret deeds and murder will rule in society (CATHOLIC PROPHECIES - PART I http://www.freehomepages.com/nostradamus/catholic_prophecies_PartOne.htm 01/30/07).
Also notice the following :
SISTER BERTINA BOUQUILLON (d. 1850)...The beginning of the end will not come in the nineteenth century BUT CERTAINLY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY." (Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), Pp. 130-131)
The following, which did not come to pass quite as indicated below, does demonstrate that some Roman Catholic sources suggest that the end is fairly near to now:
St. John of the Cleft Rock (14th century). "It is said that 20 centuries after the incarnation of the Word, the Beast in its turn will become man. About the year 2000 A.D., Antichrist will reveal himself to the world.' (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 23)
The author feels that there is convincing evidence for him to accept that the Antichrist was born on February 5, 1962...The Antichrist will be a Jew by race and religion (Culligan, pp. 100-101).
There is also another old Roman Catholic prophecy that indicates that the end cannot occur before the 20th century:
Ven. Sor Marianne de Jesus Torres (17th Century)...
Our Lady told Sister Marianne: "...But this knowledge will only become known to the general public in the 20th Century.
"During this epoch the Church will find herself attacked by waves of the secret sect...
"Know, beloved daughter, that when your name is made known in the 20th Century, there will be many who do not believe, claiming this devotion is not pleasing to God..." (Birch, DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 317,326) .
Nun Anne Catherine Emmerich (about 1820): "I heard that Lucifer (if I don't mistake) will be freed again for awhile fifty or sixty years before the year 2000 A.D. I have forgotten many of the other dates were told (Emmerich AC. The Life of Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations. Schmöger edition, Vol. IV. Nihil Obstat: D. Jaegher, 14 Februari 1914. Imprimatur: A.C. De Schrevel, Brugis, 14 Februari 1914. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 2004: pp. 353-354).
Anyway, while some of their dates seem a little premature, these Catholic "prophets" seemed to believe that while events to get ready for the end would not begin until the 20th century, that the end would apparently come shortly thereafter.
I should also add here that from the 12th century, in the so-called Malachy prophecies of the list of popes there is only has one pope left (Bander, Peter. The Prophecies of St. Malachy. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973). And if there is only one more pope, then some type of end is clearly predicted by some of the Catholics to occur in the 21st century.
A couple of thousand years ago the so-called Sibylline prophecies (or Sybilline oracles) predicted what seem to be the end. These writings consist of many books, but the fourth is the most explicit:
Book iv. is far more unified. In the name of the true God the sibyl predicts the events that will take place from the first to the tenth generation of man (Sibyl. JewishEncyclopedia.com viewed 04/12/08).
This last generation is supposed to have started around the year 2000 (Crowley, Phil. 2012, Decoding the Past. Original air date 03/01/07).
So there are many different indications that something may happen in the 21st century, and perhaps near 2012.
But why?
Consistent with the beliefs of the early professors of Christ, those of us in the Living Church of God believe that God has a 6,000 year plan for humanity to rule itself, and that this will be followed by a 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. And this 6,000 years will be up sometime in the 21st century.
(Information on this from the Bible, early writers, and more recent writers can be found in the articleDoes God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6000 Years End?)
We also believe that the Great Tribulation will begin 3 1/2 years prior to the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:20-21; Revelation 12:14; Daniel 12:7-12).
Because Satan the devil clearly knows when God created Adam and Eve, it is clear that he knows when the Great Tribulation needs to start by. I suspect that because of this, and the fact that Satan understands astronomy, that he had those particular Mayan/Hopi/Hindu/I Ching prophecies recorded and saved in an effort to discredit the true Church of God.
How would this discredit God's church?
Well since the Mayans were correct that a major astronomical event is to occur in December 2012, this will give the Mayan/Hopi/Hindu/I Ching prophecies a certain credibility. However, when the end does not happen then (and it is almost impossible that December 21, 2012 is the date of the start of the Great Tribulation), many people will probably have an increased skepticism regarding negative end-time prophecies.
Furthermore, it is highly likely that representatives of the Roman Catholic Church will teach that the end will not come on December 21, 2012. This will increase the reputation of that church as a "credible source" on matters prophetic. And instead, it may eventually teach that its hope for age of peace will have started near then.
If the Great Tribulation is to begin within a few months or a few years after the December 21, 2012 date (and it is highly likely that it will) and the Living Church of God teaches that it is about to begin (which the true Church will), it is highly likely that certain Roman Catholics will teach that this is not true.
Since groups like the Living Church of God are so small and generally considered to be of less consequence to the world than the Mayan/Hindu astronomers have been, I believe then that the Mayan prophecies for 2012 will basically be pointed to as "proof" that the Roman Catholic Church and not the Living Church of God should be listened too regarding end-time prophecies.
The Mayan 2012 calendar date, itself, correctly predicts an astronomical event. That is part of its value.
This particular set of Mayan prophecies may have been retained because Satan wants to add further confusion to end-time prophecies just prior to the Great Tribulation. And this coincides with prophecies from others like the Hopis and the Hindus. And even the Catholic Malachy.
While those in the Living Church of God should be aware of these prophecies, we have nothing to fear from them specifically (though the Bible does warn about persecutions that will come just before the end). But since it appears that the Bible does have a 6,000 year plan, the end will apparently come in the 21st century (Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism and a 6000 Year Plan?).
Regarding massive future catastrophe, the Bible specifically shows that Jesus promises to protect the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God "from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world" (Revelation 3:7,10). Those who submit to God and are called to part of that portion of the church will be protected in a place in the wilderness.
However, since the Great Tribulation is coming AND it is likely to come not too long after 2012, I believe that the Mayan calendar date should serve as a warning that although the end is prophesied to come, that many will misunderstand when it is to come and who they should believe about the time of the time.
The end is coming, but probably not until after December 22, 2012.
An article of related interest may be Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders?
Thiel B. End of Mayan Calendar 2012. www.cogwriter.com (c) First edition: January 13, 2008 (Last update 0704)
Several articles of related interest may include:
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final "Anti-Christ" be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? What does Daniel 11 teach will happen before the end? Will the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be attacked?
The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Asians?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans who supported the Beast?
SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The COG is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White.