Throughout history, prophesies foretelling the “end of times” have abounded, but few are as exhausted as the apocalyptic theory of a December 21st, 2012 doomsday.
It is now 2012, and December is just around the corner. Some are sitting back casually, some are apprehensively awaiting the unknown, while others are digging underground homes and stocking-up on non-perishables.
Much of the fear and rumor surrounding 2012 has centered on the upcoming end of the Mayan calendar. Many cultures, across the globe have predicted the end of times, and while many prophecies appear to already have come true, many of these premonitions were vague and open to interpretation.
Is the world ending in 2012? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Prophets & Oracles of the Past
The Sibyl
One of the most renowned prophets of ancient Rome was referred to as The Sibyl. An old woman, The Sybil lived near Naples, Italy during the 6th Century, BC. Many high profile leaders would visit the oracle deep in her cave to request her mumbled prophecies of the future. These readings were etched on ancient scrolls, which would long be considered the most important documents in ancient Rome.
The Sybil predicted that the world would last for nine periods of 800 years. This idea of “periods” in time, mimics theories from many other cultures such as the Mayans and the Native American Hopi tribe. The Sybil’s predictions claimed that the tenth generation (starting around the year 2000) would be the last, and would eventually be destroyed by earthquakes, fires and global devastation.
Many scientists theorize that the oracles of ancient Rome were under a trance-like state, caused by gases which were produced within the caves they performed seances in. These gases likely caused hallucinations and other odd behaviors that were believed to be visions from the gods. Though these visions may have been induced by a drug-like state, some predictions are eerily precise. For instance, The Sybil predicted the invasion of Italy by Hannibal (and his eventual defeat) 700 years before it occurred, and she also predicted the rise of the Emperor Constantine (by name). The Sybil may even have predicted the coming of Jesus 20 years before his birth, though this prophecy is more vague.
Merlin
Merlin was once considered one of Europe’s greatest oracles. Though very few texts remain that chronicle the life of Merlin, the texts that have survived describe Merlin as an eccentric traveler of the woods who was “part man and part demon.”
Merlin predicted the first American colony and may even have predicted it by name, stating, “A colony shall be founded by virgins in virgin soil.” (Perhaps Virginia?) He also predicted the Holocaust and referred to “speaking stones,” which many believe to be the quartz technology found in cell phones today.
Merlin eventually foresees disaster in Great Britain and claims that London will mourn for the deaths of 10,000. Merlin suggested that the seas would rise and the winds would “blast.” He also claimed the planets would go off of their normal paths (meaning the rotation of our earth would change). Many believe this could also relate to the theory of Pole Reversal (see below).
Mother Shipton
Centuries after Merlin, the oracle Mother Shipton (who supposedly lived in a cave in Yorkshire, England) offered very similar end-of-the-world predictions. Supposedly, Mother Shipton predicted queen Victoria, World War I and World War II. However, it is possible that Mother Shipton never even existed. Most texts regarding her prophecies were written long after her existence, by a writer named Richard Head. Richard claimed Mother Shipton predicted these events, but he was often writing about them after they had already occurred. Oddly though, many of his future predictions did eventually come true (for example he wrote that women would dress in pants like men and suggested that people would eventually fly). The Mother Shipton prophecies regarding the end of the world suggest complete and total devastation, however, these prophecies were very vague in nature (similar to the predictions of Merlin).
Nostradamus
Nostradamus predicted that there would be “a great shedding of blood,” the heavens would “appear unjust,” and that there would be great confusion and destruction. The descriptions of the heaven’s being “unjust,” replicates visions of planetary misalignment foretold by other oracles as well as recent scientific calculations of the earth’s upcoming alignment with the center of the galaxy.
Nostradamus’ drawings even directly mimicked many visual representations by other cultures around the globe. A recently discovered lost book of Nostradamus holds references to the same planetary alignments observed by the Mayans, and specifically pinpoints this alignment between 2012 and 2014. He also illustrates a picture of three eclipses which were to occur before the end of the world, which seems to support the three eclipses that will be occurring this year (2012).
Nostradamus claimed that the heat of the sun would increase, that there would be lack of food and fish would die… Many compare these prophecies to the current global warming crisis. Nostradamus also suggested that the Earth’s magnetic field will be weakened, which may support the theories of pole reversal.
The Mayan Calendar
The Mayans flourished in Central America before the arrival of settlers. They were infatuated with time, and spent thousands of years charting the movements of the stars. The Mayans believed that the world has been created and destroyed 5 times before. The 2012 ending of the Mayan calendar suggests the end of another period or cycle, and a turning-point which is said to be either an opportunity for global enlightenment or global destruction. These beliefs originated from the theory that the earth would be in exact alignment with both the center of the milky way galaxy and the sun, on December 21st, 2012. This was determined by the alignment of a supposed, “black hole” within the center of the milky way galaxy.
Only recently have scientists realized that this black hole indeed exists and that our planet will only be in this specific alignment once every 25,800 years. No one knows the exact effect this could have on the earth, but scientists concur that the Mayan’s astronomical observations were shockingly precise.
Some have theorized that earth could experience a complete pole reversal. A shift like this would most likely cause intense climate change, sea-level changes, mass extinction and natural disasters across the globe. Scientists have learned that the earth rotates with a slight wobble (similar to how a top wobbles slightly as it spins), and that this “wobble” would take approximately 25,000 to 26,000 years to complete a full cycle.
The Mayans were able to chart the movement of time so precisely, that until recently, their calendars were as accurate, or even more accurate than modern calendars. The Mayan’s astronomical studies were not their only accurate observations. The Mayans also predicted the arrival of “white-skinned, bearded gods from across the sea,” who would arrive on march 5th, 1519. Oddly enough, this is the exact date which Cortez arrived in the New World.
The Egyptians
The layout of the Egyptian pyramids specifically mimicked the layout of the belt of Orion. The Egyptians may point to Orion because it marks the exact halfway point between the 25,800 year period of galactic alignment, suggesting they had a clear understanding of the cyclic movement of the planets. Many draw parallels between the eventual fall of the Egyptian civilization and current events of economic hardship.
The Bible
The book of Revelations is very similar to other apocalyptic prophecies. This book was written by the Apostle John and suggests a catastrophic end of the world. Many believe that the visions of John represent technologies which exist today. For instance “horseless chariots belching flames,” has been compared to modern-day tanks, and “flying creatures which make the noise of a thousand horses,” has been related to helicopters. The Bible also predicts global warfare starting in the Middle East.
Many historians believe that most of the book of Revelations was directly inspired by events of John’s own time. For example, the number 666, may have originated from Nero’s name (the numerological equivalent of Nero’s name adds up to 666). The Bible specifically states that no one will be able to foretell the apocalypse.
Native Americans
Black Elk
In the 1890′s, a Lakota Sioux Shaman named Black Elk experienced visions of the end of the Native American nation. His tribe created a dance to ward off this end, but this dance was misinterpreted by settlers as a war dance and became the catalyst to the destruction of his own tribe. The events that unfolded as a result, make his prediction an eery reality. Black Elk not only predicted the end of his tribe, but also predicted a following end of the world.
The Hopi
In the 1940′s the Native American Hopi tribe began teaching their own end of time prophecy. They believe that the world has been created and destroyed four times and that we are on the cusp of the 5th destruction. Again, this theory of time “periods” or “cycles” is similar to the beliefs of many other cultures.
The Hopi say the seas will begin to rise, great quakes will shake all corners of the globe and the sun will become hotter. They believe many of these events are already occurring (for example, global warming, rising seas and increasing earthquakes and natural disasters). They also prophesied that the world would be “criss-crossed by a giant spider web,” which many now believe to be the World Wide Web.
The Chinese I Ching
The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text that was used for fortune telling. A series of straight and broken lines are drawn based on the tossing of coins. All of the possible outcomes of the I Ching are charted and passages can then be looked-up and used as guidance to answer many questions. However, the language of the I Ching is somewhat vague (and may even be vague enough to sufficiently answer just about any question).
In the 80′s and 90′s, Terrance Mckenna came up with a theory he called “Time-Wave Zero.” Using the I Ching, he created a graph that started at the dawn of civilization and at the approximate time of the creation of the I Ching. His graph seemed to perfectly align with many important dates in history. More significantly, it appeared to show an ending of time at the precise date of December 21st, 2012. It was only later that Mckenna discovered the correlation between his date, and the end of the Mayan calendar (seeming to indicate they had separately arrived at the same conclusion).
Many discredit the research of Mckenna, based on his heavy experimentation with hallucinogenic drugs (specifically DMT). Recent DMT research has spawned great scientific and spiritual controversy and confusion. (Learn More About DMT)
Web Bot
Web bot was created as a tool to predict future stock market trends. This program combs the internet analyzing the general language of millions of users. Researchers theorized that changes in the everyday language of humans across the globe could potentially produce patterns which would offer insight into the future of the stock market. The creators of Web Bot were surprised to find that many of the program’s predictions not only indicated future social and economic changes, but also appeared to foresee natural disasters. Some of the Web Bot’s predictions included the 9/11 attacks, the 2004 tsunami, the 2001 anthrax attacks in New York and hurricane Katrina. As with many predictions however, these forecasts are often vague and open to interpretation. Regardless, the coincidental timing and precision of some Web Bot predictions is hard to ignore. For those who believe in Web Bot, it is the prophecies for the end of 2012 that are most concerning …
Others
Reference to the galactic alignment, apocalypse and 2012, appear in ancient Hindu, Masonic symbolism, codes in the Bible and Torah proposed by Michael Drosnin, and numerous other cultures across the globe.
Science
It is estimated that the last ice age coincided precisely with the 25,800 year period described by the Mayan’s as an age. Scientists have also confirmed that the earth will align with the center of the galaxy and the sun on the precise date (December 21st, 2012) just as the Mayans predicted. This period of time has been proven to directly coincide with the full “wobble” in the earth’s cycle through the ages.
Science has also confirmed that the earth has experienced approximately 5 instances of serious devastation and ‘re-birth’ throughout the ages, including ice-ages and impact from comets, which directly correlates with the Mayan prophecies.
Another interesting scientific observation is the coinciding of an eleven year cycle of solar activity on the sun, with the peak of this activity occurring in 2012/2013. Not only will the earth be aligned with the sun and center of the galaxy, but the sun will also be at the peak of this eleven year cycle. There have already been at least three very significant solar flares in January and February of 2012, and more are expected.
Scientists admit that they do not know what effect this alignment could have on the planet, and also admit that they have no explanation for current events such as increases in natural disasters, disappearances of bees and other phenomena.
Conclusion
Some have suggested that the recent disappearances of species, erratic weather patterns, increases in food prices, economic hardship, riots, protests and wars already signify a time of great change on our planet. Many of these events appear to mimic the prophesies of 2012. However, throughout the ages, there have been many apocalyptic predictions which have come and gone without event.
Many view the 2012 prophecies as a marker of a new beginning or a period of spiritual enlightenment. Others believe that the changes of 2012 will be more subtle than expected, and may even be overlooked, maintaining hope that whatever the outcome, this will not be “THE END.”
Beyond 2012: Catastrophe or Awakening?: A Complete Guide to End-of-Time Predictions – Geoff Stray
2012 Doomsday
