December 2012, Mayan Prophecies—and You!

Does the Mayan calendar predict that the world will end Dec. 21, 2012? Is there anything to such end-of-the-world prophecies? And how can we know the true prophet from the false?

“Want to survive 2012? Better get prepared now,” says one doomsday site. According to some, the world is going to end on Dec. 21, 2012. That’s only nine months away!

With all of the instability in the world, curiosity about the end of the world and what the future holds is natural. But is there anything to the Mayan prophecy? And how can we know?

Galactic alignment?

Essentially the December 2012 theory notes that there is to be a “galactic alignment” on the 21st day of that month. The sun aligns with the galactic equator once a year; however, this year the alignment will coincide with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This is an unusual event, one that supposedly occurs only once every 26,000 years.

Some have predicted disruptions to take place: increased solar activity, upset weather patterns, interference to global positioning systems and cell phone networks. Others prophesy more catastrophic events: the earth being sucked into a black hole or experiencing large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

For some, the theory is bolstered by a feature of the calendar created by the Mayas, an indigenous, pre-Columbian people of Central America. Their calendar includes several cycles: the 260-day count or Tzolkin; the 365-day solar (or tropical) year or Haab; and the “Long Count” calendar, which tracks the Mayan solar cycle.

Beginning with the supposed creation date adopted in the Mayan culture, this calendar notes the end of each baktun cycle, each containing 144,000 days or 394.26 solar years. A baktun cycle is set to end on Dec. 21 of this year, coinciding with the galactic alignment.

Some believe the end of this Mayan cycle, and its coincidence with the galactic alignment, is significant, while others see no particular importance in it. One cycle ends and another begins; many scientists and prognosticators attach no importance to this, while others have constructed elaborate theories emphasizing frightening events.

A sure prophecy from a trusted Source

Is there anything to these theories? Will the world end on Dec. 21? You can know the answers to these questions—from a Source you probably have in your home.

In His famous Olivet Prophecy, Jesus Christ described a succession of events that would lead up, not to the “end of the world,” but to the “end of the age” (verse 3). These events would include wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes (verses 6 and 7) and the preaching of the true gospel in all the world as a witness to the nations (verse 14). This would culminate in the persecution and martyrdom of the true servants of God (verse 9), followed by events in the sky signifying the return of Jesus Christ (verse 29).

We can be certain from other prophetic passages in the Bible that the event here termed “the end of the age” will not occur on Dec. 21, 2012! How? Because the Bible says that event will be preceded by 3½ years of supreme testing and trial for humanity, known as the Great Tribulation. Events to take place during this 3½ year period are foretold in many biblical prophecies (Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 11:2; 12:6; 13:5; Daniel 7:25).

Warnings and tests for false prophecies

In the same Olivet Prophecy, Jesus gives us a warning we would do well to heed: “Take heed that no one deceives you. … Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matthew 24:4, 11). This raises another question: With so many prophecies and self-proclaimed prophets, how can one know whom to believe?

Again, the Word of God is our anchor in the storm. Centuries ago, God recorded in the Holy Bible two key tests to prepare His servants so they wouldn’t be in the dark on this question. The book of Deuteronomy provides the answers.

“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

Test No. 1: If someone claims to be a prophet and his or her predictions fail, God tells us to reject such a one.

Yet there’s more. Here’s test No. 2: “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass. …”

Note that here the sign or miracle does come to pass!

Continuing: “… of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him” (Deuteronomy 13:1-4).

Note something about this passage. Here we read an implicit admission that, from time to time, even a false prophet may predict something that comes to pass.

When that happens, God’s instruction is clear: Don’t follow a false prophet, even if he correctly predicts the future!

How can we know the true prophet from the false? The false prophet doesn’t hold to God’s standards. The test is simple: If he doesn’t teach obedience to God’s Commandments, or if he preaches allegiance to any god but the true God, he is to be rejected!

Don’t fall for false prophecies

“Many false prophets will rise up,” Jesus warned. It’s essential we keep these two tests in mind as we witness more false prophets—and false prophecies!

Will the world end on Dec. 21? No. We know that. Yes, it’s possible there may be some kind of disruptive event or events on that date, but the world won’t end this year.

Yet at some point not far in the future the end of this age of human misrule will come, and the wonderful Kingdom of God will take the place of the kingdoms of this world. In the meantime, let’s not be deceived by either false prophets or false prophecies!

Ralph Levy is a minister of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, who grew up in England and now lives in the United States. Dr. Levy enjoys reading, travel and foreign languages. He has a Ph.D. in biblical studies and has worked in foreign language and religious education for much of his life.

For more about 2012 and about end-time Bible prophecy, see:

• What Can We Expect in the New Year?
• End-Time Prophecy Jigsaw: The Pieces Are Falling Into Place!
• Understanding End-Time Prophecy