Chinese Church Voices

Will the World End in 2012?

Chinese Church Voices is an occasional column of the ChinaSource Blog providing translations of original writing by Christians in China. The views represented are entirely those of the original author; inclusion in Chinese Church Voices does not imply or equal an endorsement by ChinaSource.


As the new year began in China, the Mayan prediction that the world will end in 2012 was a hot topic of conversation, for both Christians and non-Christians alike. This article, published in the Gospel Times on January 6, 2012 addressed the question from a Biblical perspective.

As we cross the threshold into the year 2012, in addition to the joy of welcoming the new year, peoples hearts are also anxious as they wonder: with 2012 here, are we now counting down to the end of the world?

Three years ago, the hit Hollywood disaster film 2012 told the story of the Mayan prophecy which predicts that on December 21, 2012 the sun will go out. At that time the sun will disappear, there will be violent earthquakes, and the earth will be completely destroyed.

Because of the popularity of this film the year 2012 has become synonymous with the term doomsday, implying global catastrophic destruction.

Even though scientists and anthropologists have denied it, the movie 2012 has fueled suspicion and fear. The movie was a hit, increasing peoples fear, even if it is only expressed through ridicule.

Will 2012 really bring the end of the world? Although some Christians have been misleading people by trying to predict a date the world will end, we need to look at what the Bible says about the end of the world.

First of all, Jesus specifically told his disciples not to make predictions concerning the end of the world. In Acts 1:7, Jesus said to his disciples: It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus said something similar: But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

These two verses expressly teach that it is impossible to know the time and date when the world will end. Jesus clearly taught that the date has not been revealed by the Father.

According to the teachings of the Bible, Jesus Christ will return when the world comes to an end. Until that time Christians are looking forward to Christs return. Christians are not looking for a certain date in the future, but live in expectation of the coming of Christ by following him and living humble and selfless lives.Source: Gospel Times

Image credit: Mayan Calendar, by Brian, via Flickr
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