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regularly goes to a church down the street.Her pastor says the Rapture and Tribulationcould happen in 2012. Bob isnt sure aboutthe exact definition of those termsbut thatkind of talk still makes him antsy.

He saw some kind of New Age guy on TVwho said something about the Mayan calen-dar ending in 2012. Bob doesnt know whereor when these Maya livedmaybe it was

somewhere in Indiabut those ancient peo-ple could have known something we dont.

Bob is thinking he might cash in that re-tirement account and do something fun withit while theres still time. He might just putoff that dental workand maybe thatcolonoscopy the doctor says he needs andtake a long vacation somewhere with Emma.

After all, if gurus and pastors alike are talk-ing about 2012there just might be some-

thing to it. Bob sees his workplace comingup on the right. Instead of turning

into the parking lot, he guns

his Taurus and heads towardthe bank to find out

about closing out hisretirement account

(penalties notwith-standing). By thistime tomorrow,he could be relax-ing on a beachin Cancun withEmma.Bob and Emma

are like a lot of

people. Theyrenot prophecy

buffs. They maynot even be very

spiritualbut allthis talk about 2012

makes them more thana little anxiousand

may even cause them tomake decisions they may later

regret.

The End Is Near?

2012 is less than a year away. Yet the frenzy sur-rounding this particular year has been bubbling fornearly a decade.

Why, you ask? Could it be because thats the year ofthe summer Olympics in London and the first WinterYouth Olympics in Austria? Because the Super Bowl

6 PLAIN TRUTH

Bob backs his 1987 FordTaurus out of the drive-way on the way to his sec-ond job. He started the job

only a few weeks ago in a futile ef-fort to make ends meet. His wife,Emma, needed surgery and the high de-ductible and co-pay pretty much wipedout their meager savings.

Bob has been under a lot of pressure lately, andright now he doesnt see much light at the end of thetunnel. He feels like he is on a treadmillendlessly

laboring but getting nowhere. Bob and Emma, bothin their 50s, have a modest retirement account, butlately Bob wonders if theyll ever see retirement, whatwith the state of the economy, the nation and theworld. The future looks bleak.

And then theres that thing about 2012. Heckthere may not even be a future.Not that Bob lends any cre-dence to that kind of rumor.But still, he wonders.

While Bob has never beenmuch of a church fan, Emma

...scholars point out that classic Maya inscriptions make few if any

predictionsand certainly none regarding the end of the world (and even if

they had done so, why would their predictions hold any credibility?).

I s i t t h e E n d ?

by Monte

Wolverton

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that year will be in Indianapolis?Because that will be the DiamondJubilee of Queen Elizabeth II? Be-cause Australia and Ireland willswitch to digital television broad-casts? Because Universal Studioswill open a theme park in Korea in2012? Because Ontario and Ottawawill phase out incandescent light

bulbs?Nowhile all of the above (and

more) are slated to happen in2012, none of these things are thecause of the current mania.

Some people are becoming hys-terical because they are convincedthat December 21, 2012 is the endof the world as we know it. Oth-ersthe Bobs and Emmas of theworldmay not be hysterical, butthey are being influenced by theissue.

The insanity has been fueled bya series of books, articles, websites,assorted blogs and a popular mo-tion picture. The delirium contin-ues to grow. A recent search of2012 books on Amazon.com re-turned some 33 thousand results!

Just a few of the fascinating ti-tles: The Mystery of 2012: Predic-tions, Prophecies, and Possibilities;Apocalypse 2012: An Investigationinto Civilization's End; Planet X Fore-cast and 2012 Survival Guide; Apol-

lyon Rising 2012: The Lost SymbolFound and the Final Mystery of theGreat Seal Revealed; Aftermath: AGuide to Preparing For and SurvivingApocalypse 2012; and of course TheComplete Idiot's Guide to 2012.

Hollywood Hype

A couple of years ago, as thefire of 2012 paranoia wasspreading through our impres-sionable western culture, Hol-lywood did us the favor ofpouring gasoline on the flameswith a sensational science fic-tion movie2012.

In the movie, solar radiationcauses the earth to heat up, withensuing volcanic eruptions andearthquakes of unprecedentedstrength. As scientists see that theearth is about to be flooded,world leaders get together and

create huge arks to savea remnant of the human race fromannihilation. It works. The end.Sorry, I gave away the plot.

The problem wasnt the movieitselfhundreds of sci-fi flicks and

TV shows (most with far better sto-ries) are screened every year with-out people taking them seriouslyand going off the deep end.

The problem was the unethicalpromotion of the movie. 2012sviral marketing campaign exploit-ed end-times hysteria through afictional organization called theInstitute for Human Continuitywith press releases, blogs, radiobroadcasts and websites dedicated

Decades before the 2012 movie

hit the screens, scholars had

noticed that the Mesoamerican

Long-Count calendar would

complete its 13th minor

numerical sub-cycle (baktun)

in December of 2012completina period of roughly 5,125 years

POSTERIM

AGESCOURTESYOFCOL

Mexican author JosArgelles claims

that on thatdate, theearth will

passthrough agreat

beam emanating from the center of the galaxy.

7

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to further fanning the apocalypticflames.

While the campaign was roundlycriticized for its unscrupulous anddeceptive tacticsand the film re-ceived mixed to negative reviewsthat didnt stop the public fromeating it up. It grossed nearly a bil-lion dollars, including DVD rev-

enues.Of course the movie, as well as

the misinformation disseminated

in its promotional campaign, wasfiction. Yet apparently many peo-ple had a tough time making thisdistinction.

Scientists were bombarded byemail questions from frantic peo-ple, wanting to know if the worldis truly ending on December 21,2012. One scientist reported that

some teens told him they werecontemplating suicide prior to thatdate.

Over 50 Years of ArcaneSpeculation

Decades before the 2012 movie hitthe screens, scholars had noticedthat the Mesoamerican Long-Count calendar (probably inventedby the Olmec and used by the clas-sic Maya civilization) would com-

plete its 13th minor numericalsub-cycle (baktun) in December of2012completing a period of

THE END IS ALWAYS NEAR:A TIMELINE OF ABANDONED APOCALYPSES

c 420Augustine of Hippo rejects

millennialism, explaining thatthe millennium is an allegoryfor the spiritual reign of Christin the hearts of Christians.

70First century Christians, expecting

Christs imminent return, aredismayed when Roman legionsdestroy Jerusalem, yet Jesus doesnot come back.

c 135In Asia Minor, Montanusproclaims that the NewJerusalem will soon descendfrom heaven in Phrygia. Hisisolationist movement,known as Montanism,

spreads throughout theChristian world.

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roughly 5,125 years. This,however, was all based on de-batable formulas and startingpoints.

As early as 1957, Mayanistand astronomer Maud Worces-ter Makemson asserted thatthe completion of a Great Pe-riod of 13 baktuns would have

been of the utmost significanceto the Maya. In 1966, MichaelD. Coe more ambitiouslyclaimed in his book TheMaya that there is a sug-gestionthat Armageddonwould overtake the degen-erate peoples of the worldand all creation on the finalday of the thirteenth [bak-tun]. Thusour present uni-verse [would] be annihilated [inDecember 2012] when the

Great Cycle of the Long Countreaches completion.

In the 70s, several New Ageauthors speculated that Decem-ber 2012 would mark aglobal consciousnessshift. Mexican author

c 600-700The growth of Islamprompts EuropeanChristians to believe theend is near, and thatMuhammad is theAntichrist.

As we were working on this issue, we received a sincerenotification of the order in which the end time eventswill occur. The author invited us to print off this list and

keep it handy to test if this is true (and share it with as many

as you care or dare to).

Space does not permit re-printing the long list sent to us.

However, here are dogmatic claims about events predicted to take place soon:

The monumental collapse of the free western economies The

Euro will crash first (2011-2012) and then 2-3 weeks afterwards

dollar will do the same.

Martial law will be enacted at this point, if it already hasnt

been enacted prior for some other unforeseen event, like a

massive cyber attack or a pandemic, for example.

Ten global regions, with a leader placed over each will emerge

from the chaos and the New World Order will be born.

The author invited us to share it with as many as you care or dare towe share an

excerpt of these claims as a way of illustrating the irresponsible fear-mongering that isdeeply embedded within some religious minds. We are publishing some of these early

predictions (please note 2011-2012) in this, our Summer 2011 issue, so that you, dear

reader, may once again see an example of the wild biblical interpretations (usually as t

result of the interpretive method called dispensationalis

that are being proclaimed, in the name of God.

1066The Normanconquest of Englandand the appearanceof Haleys Cometconvince many thatthe end is near.

c 990Widespread famines, theeruption of Mt. Vesuvius, afire at St. Peters and civilwar in Rome are all takenas clear signs of the endby many Christians.

Midnight, January 1, 1000was seen as the likely timeof Christs return.

1099Crusaders captureJerusalem fromthe Muslims, an

event which manybelieve will promptChrist to return.

c 1200Italian mysticand theologianJoachim setsthe date of1260 for thebeginning ofthe Age of the

Spirit or theMillennium.

We Don t Make This Stuff Up!

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Jos Argelles claims that on thatdate, the earth will pass through agreat beam emanating from thecenter of the galaxy.

With the publication of otherbooks and articles over the years,these ideas caught on among those

who like to believe thatprimitive and bloodthirsty

cultures (engineeringand architectural ad-vances notwithstand-

ing) have spec ia linsight into the future.

But several rep-utable scholars, suchas Rosemary Joyce,professor of anthro-pology at UC Berke-ley, tell us that theancient Maya as-cribed no significanceto this dateotherthan their calendarrolling over in the

distant future. Theycertainly did notthink it was the endof the world, as theycalculated the datesof festivals beyond

this date. There is nothing inthe Maya or Aztec or ancientMesoamerican prophecy to suggestthat they prophesied a sudden ormajor change of any sort in 2012,says Mayanist scholar Mark VanStone. The notion of a Great Cycle

coming to anend is complete-ly a modern in-vention.

Other schol-ars point outthat classic Maya

inscriptions make few if any predic-tionsand certainly none regardingthe end of the world (and even if

they had done so, why would theirpredictions hold any credibility?).

Somewhat ironically, even themodern Maya lend no significanceto the year 2012. Mayan elderApolinario Chile Pixtun notes thatapocalypse is a Western conceptthat has little or nothing to dowith Mayan beliefs. Rather, it is

connected with American tradi-tions such as the New Age move-ment and millenarianism.

In spite of the facts, unsuspect-ing folks continue to gobble downthe foolishness like a herd of hogsat slopping time. According to an-other theory, the earth will beblown to smithereens on Decem-ber 21, 2012 by a collision with a

c 1560Nostradamus predicts that TheGreat King of Terror will come in1999, triggering the destructionof the civilized world.

...apocalypse is a Western concept that has little or

nothing to do with Mayan beliefs. Rather, it is connected

with American traditions such as the New Age movement

and millenarianism.

Given the right timing and

circumstances, and without

keeping a clear focus on faith

alone, grace alone and Christ

alone, it seems that nearly anyone

can be taken in by some kind of

religious scam.

1348As the plague kills athird of the populationof Europe, prophetspredict Christs returnwithin ten years.

c 1540Martin Luther predicts thechurch's final conflict againstthe Turks and the Pope.

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rogue planet called Nibiru orPlanet X.

Again, this particular piece of in-telligence seems to have bypassedlegitimate scholars. NASA scientistDavid Morrison reports that nei-

ther he nor his colleagues areaware of any such planet, muchless an impending earth-shatteringcollision.

Are people just gullibleor igno-rantor both? Or, perhaps, as WillRogers once said, Everybody is ig-norant, only on different subjects.Maybe many otherwise intelligentpeople are ignorant when it comesto matters of faithor what theywill allow themselves to believe.

Does it Really Matter?

So what if a bunch of New Agersand other fringe eccentrics want tobelieve in Nibiru and the Mayan

calendar? After all, dont we live ina pluralistic society where anyonehas the right to believe anything?

If we took apoll of NorthAmerican be-liefs and opin-

ions regarding the end time, wewould likely find such beliefs dis-tributed in a classic bell-shapedcurve. That is, a minority of peoplebelieve in a specific or imminentdate for the end of the world,

while on the other end of thecurve a minority of people ab-solutely reject the idea of any kindof apocalypse, whether brought

about by God or humans. In thecenter of the curve is the broadmajority of peoplethe Bobs andEmmaswho may allow theirthinking and beliefs to be influ-enced by the purveyors of end-time hysteria.

Christendom at large likes to be-lieve it is not part of this extremistfringe. But unfortunately, that ideais an illusion. 2012 paranoia is notlimited to Birkenstock-wearing,pony-tail-bedecked, crystal-stroking

New Agers living in ashrams in themountains north of Malibu.

Sadly, a major source of 2012 mis-information isend-times Chris-tendom. All theBobs and Emmasof the world are

far more likely to accept such hare-

brained ideas (and act on them) ifthey believe them to be somehowbiblical (which they are not).

The 2012 frenzy, and apocalypti-cism in general, is grounded in re-ligious millenarianism (the idea ofan end-times cataclysm or GreatTribulation followed by a utopianmillennium).

Some go so far as to claim thatBible prophecy specifies 2012 asthe date of the Rapture and the be-ginning of the Great Tribulation.

As one Christian website fulmi-nates, 2012 is a year fraughtwith meaning and prophetic im-portance. The course of worldevents and global troubles seems tohave suddenly picked up speedand accelerated.

Christendom at large likes to believe it is not part of this extremist

fringe. But unfortunately, that idea is an illusion.

Sadly, a major source of 2012 rumor and misinformation is end-times

Christendom. The Bobs and Emmas of the world are far more likely to

accept such harebrained ideasand act on themif they believe them to

be somehow biblical (which they are not).

1664The Great Plague of London kills75,000, followed by the Great Fire

of London. Christians believethese events portend the end.

c 1830John Nelson Darby inventsdispensationalism, assertingan imminent Rapture,Tribulation and Millennium.

11

c 1760Methodism

founder JohnWesley suggests1836 as a date forChrists return.

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What, exactly, does that mean?How do events accelerate? Andwhat kind of writer uses the wordfraught?

Many prophecy experts inChristendom scoff at the 2012datewhile propounding a date oftheir own devising. Others, per-haps more shrewdly, leave the dateopen while continuing theiralarmist preaching or writing thatthe Rapture and the Great Tribula-tion are just around the corner(witness the success of Tim La-Hayes Le ft Be hind series). Youwould think that after decades of

Two Case

Studies in Failed

End-Times

Prediction

Elizabeth Clare Prophet,who died in 2009, was the founder(along with her husband Mark

Prophet, who died in 1973) of theChurch Universal and Triumphant(CUT). CUT is a New Age group (re-lated to Theosophy) which claims toreceive teachings from a cadre ofdead Ascended Masters. MarkProphet, allegedly now an Ascended

Master himself, claimed to have livedpast lives as several notable figures,including Noah, Mark the Evangelist,Pharaoh Akhenaten, Louis XIV,Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and SirLancelot (that last figure is generally

regarded as fictitious by reputablescholars, but what do they know?).Prophet and his wife had grown up

under the influence of various meta-physical philosophies, includingRosecrucianism, New Thought,

such failed predictions, peoplewould catch on. But history tells usthat end-time augury has beenthriving for nearly two thousandyears (see The End is Always Near:A Timeline of Abandoned Apoca-lypses) and few people seem to bethe wiser. Today, end-time preach-ing, publishing and movie-making

is a huge part of the big business ofChristendom.

End-Times TeachingKeepingPeople in Line?

The fact is, there is absolutely noBible prophecy that points to 2012or any other date for the end ofthe world or the Rapture or theSecond Coming of Christ or thebeginning of the Tribulation.Most of the prophecies in the

Old Testament that

p e o p l e w r o n g l yapply to the end-times were fulfilledmillennia ago, andmany New Testa-ment prophecieswere fulfilled withthe fall of Jerusalem in70 AD. The remainingprophecies are largelymisinterpretedbutthere are still no datesgiven (for more details

read Greg Albrechtsbook Revelation Revolu-tion). All such dates arefictionnot the enter-taining kind of fiction,but destructive religiousfiction (the worst kind).The end-times, as it is

Charles Taze Russell in 1911

Chart showing enwould come in

1975WatchtoweSocietys magazin

Awake!

c 1880Charles TazeRussel, founder ofJehovahsWitnesses,preaches thatChrist has alreadyreturned invisiblyin 1874 and thathe will take fullcontrol in 1914.

Millerite prophetic time

chart from 1843, about the

prophecies of Daniel and

Revelation.

William Miller, founderof Adventist movement

c 1840Adventistmovementfounder WilliamMiller sets 1844as the year ofJesus return.

1909Cyrus Scofieldpublishes hisReferenceBible,containing JohnNelson Darbysdispensationalist

scheme.

he end-times... is one of religions most

effective tools to keep its followers in

lineobeying its tyrannical rules,.

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Christian Science and the Self-Real-ization Fellowship.

Their original organization, found-ed as the Summit Lighthouse inWashington D.C., moved throughseveral iterations and locations, in-cluding Colorado Springs andPasadena, finally landing in Mon-tana, where they planted the head-

quarters of the Church Universal andTriumphant.

Church members followed a longlist of religious rules and regula-tionsmost of these rules were sup-posedly given to Elizabeth inthousands of dictations from theAscended Masters.

Members believed Elizabeth to beinfallible, despite shortcomings, suchas her f iery temper and the fa-voritism shown to her own family. Asthe church expanded, Elizabeth con-

ducted conferences in Africa, attend-ed by thousands. She also met withAfrican heads of state.

In the late 1980s, Elizabeth pre-dicted that nuclear war with Russiawould break out on April 23, 1990,and urged CUT members to buildfallout shelters and stock them withprovisions. Of course, nuclear wardid not happen, and the cost ofbuilding fallout shelters in addition topaying the required tithes had takenits toll on many church members,

who were left heavily in debt orbankrupt.Unfazed, Elizabeth explained that

nuclear war had been narrowlyaverted by the prayers of her faithfulfollowers. Not long afterward, it was

discovered that the church (whichpurported to advocate peace andlove) was using the offerings of thefaithful to amass a huge cache ofweapons and ammunitionjust incase.

Not surprisingly, church member-ship took a sudden drop. This shouldhave been the welcome end of an-

other religious cult.Yet the church continues, with con-

gregations in major U.S. cities and agrowing international membershipin addition to several successfulspinoff groups led by former churchofficials.

One major lesson we can learnfrom this story is that no matter howthoroughly an idea has been de-bunked, people will persist in theirbelief.

Harold Camping is presidentof Family Radio Stations, boastingworldwide broadcast facilities andmore than 150 outlets in the UnitedStates.

Camping was brought up in theCalvinist Christian Reformed church,and served as an elder and SundaySchool teacher, while running a con-struction company. He holds a B.S.in civil engineering.

Camping founded Family Radio in1958, with San Francisco station

KEAR, later adding affiliates in NewYork City, Philadelphia, WashingtonD.C. and Los Angeles.

His Open Forum program, inwhich he answers listeners Biblequestions, is trans-lated into sev-eral languages

and aired on shortwave, cable andInternet worldwide.

Until recently Camping claimed tohave calculated the exact dates ofthe Rapture (May 21, 2011) and theend of the world (October 21, 2011).

As early as the 70s, Camping haddeveloped his own unique view of

Biblical chronology. In 1992, based

on his calculations involving the He-brew calendar, Jewish festivals andthe lunar month, combined withother numbers found in the Bible, hesuggested Christs return might beon September 6, 1994. Failing that,he offered the above dates in 2011.

As of this printing, the Rapture hasapparently not happenedand wehave our doubts about the end of theworld being in October of this year.

In January of 2010 a San Francis-co Chronicle reporter asked one of

Campings followers what wouldhappen if May 21, 2011 came andwent without incident. He answered:I cant even think like that. Every-

thing is too positive right now.Theres too little time to thinklike that.

Is there time to think now?

1980Hal Lindsaywrites thatthe 1980scould verywell be thelast decadeof history aswe know it.

1966JehovahsWitnesses predict1975 as the datefor the beginningof the Millennium.Evangelist HerbertArmstrong alsosuggests this date.

ILLUSTRATIONBYBASILWOLVERTON

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popularly conceived is really noth-ing more than a longstanding andelaborate hoax perpetrated by thosewho really should know better. It isone of religions most effective toolsto keep its followers in line, paying

and obeying

its tyrannical rules, rituals andregulations.

Given the right timing and cir-cumstances, and without keeping

a clear focus on faith alone, gracealone and Christ alone, it seemsthat nearly anyone can be takenin by some kind of religiousscam. I have been down thatroad myself, so it isnthard for me to recognizethis process with regardto the 2012 phenome-non.

In reality, there is al-ways the chance of somedisaster or catastrophe oc-

curring at any time andplace. We hope and praythat it doesnt, but somedisaster could happen inthe year 2012. Or 2013.Or tomorrow.

The appropriate Christian re-sponse is not endless speculationas to when the next cataclysm willoccurbut how we can help ourfellow human beings if and whendisasters strike, whether they bebig or small.

There are, in fact, many tribu-lations (Acts 14:22) and antichrists(1 John 2:18) in the world as youread this. Christ is coming for a lit-tle over six thousandpeople in the worldevery hourin thesense that their physi-

cal lives are ending and they facetheir Creator.

The good news iswhile Chris-tendom may be rife with end-times

anxietyJesus himself is a sourceof comfort and hope. Christiansought to be resting in and trustingin Jesus irrespective of threats orfears, real or imagined, fictional or

factual. As Paul wrote, For I am con-vinced that neither death nor life,neither angels nor demons, neitherthe present nor the future, nor anypowers, neither height nor depth,nor anything else in all creation, willbe able to separate us from the loveof God that is in Christ Jesus our

Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

14 THE PLAIN TRUTH

1988Edgar Whisenant publisheshis book, 88 Reasons Whythe Rapture Will Be in 1988.

Target dates were

subsequently revised to1989, 1993, 1994 and 1997.

1992A Korean prophet declaresthat the Rapture will be on

October 20 or 28 of thatyear. 20,000 KoreanChristians leave school orquit jobs to await the end.

The appropriate Christian response is not endless speculation as to whe

the next cataclysm will occurbut how we can help our fellow human

beings if and when disasters strike, whether they be big or small.

The good news iswhile Christendom may

be rife with end-times anxietyJesus

himself is a source of comfort and hope.

Christians ought to be resting in and

trusting in Jesus irrespective of threats or

fears, real or imagined...

Constant speculation

requires frequent

moving of the

goalpost.

2000The end of civilization ispredicted becausecomputers allegedly willnot recognize the year2000. Opportunistscash in selling booksand freeze-driedsurvivalist food.January 1 comes andgoes. Any problems areeasily remedied. The

world moves on.