By VK Lyngdoh
The news “Doomsday rumours trigger panic in China” (ST 13th December 2012) made interesting read. The Shanghai Police have rightly warned on weibo.com that “the end of the world is pure rumour, do not believe it.” Here is a timeline of debunked apocalypses.
In 70 AD, the first century Christians, expecting Christ’s imminent return, are dismayed when Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem, yet Jesus did not come. In C 135 in Asia Minor, Montanus proclaimed that the New Jerusalem would soon descend from heaven in Phrygia. His isolationist movement, known as Montanism, spread throughout the Christian world. In C 420 Augustine of Hippo rejects millennialism, explaining that the mllennium as an allegory for the spiritual reign of Christ in the hearts of Christians. In C 600-700 the growth of Islam prompts European Christians to believe the end is near, and that Muhammad is the Antichrist. Then comes C 990, which saw widespread famines, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, a fire at St Peter’s and Civil War in Rome. They were all taken as clear signs of “the end” by many Christians. The midnight of January 1, 1000 was seen as the likely time of Christ’s return. In 1066 the Norman conquest of England and the appearance of Haley’s Comet convinced many that the end is near. In 1099 the crusaders captured Jerusalem from the Muslims, an event which many believe would prompt Christ to return.
In the year 1200 AD Italian mystic and theologian Joachim sets the date of 1260 for the beginning of the “Age of the Spirit” or the Millennium 1348 as the plague kills a third of the population of Europe. Prophets predict Christ’s return within ten years. In C 1540 Martin Luther predicts the church’s final conflict against the Turks and the Pope.
Then comes Nostradamus who in 1560 predicted that “The Great King of Terror” will come in 1999, triggering the destruction of the civilized world. In 1664 The Great Plague of London kills 75,000, followed by the Great Fire of London. Christians believe these events portend the end. In 1760 Methodist founder John Wesley suggests 1836 as the date for Christ’s return. In 1830 John Nelson Darby invents dispensationalism, asserting an imminent Rapture, Tribulation and Millennium. Then in 1880 Charles Taze Russel, founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, preached that Christ has already returned “invisibly” in 1874 and that he would take full control in 1914. Come 1909 and Cyrus Scofield publishes his Reference Bible, containing John Nelson Darby’s dispensationalist scheme.
In 1966 Jehovah’s Witnesses predict 1975 as the date of the beginning of the Millennium. Evangelist Herbert Armstrong also suggests this date. In 1980 Hal Lindsay writes that the 1980s “could very well be the last decade of history as we know it.” 1988 Edgar Whisenant publishes his book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture will be in 1988. The target dates were subsequently revised to 1989, 1993, 1994 and 1997. In 1992 a Korean prophet declares that the Rapture will be on October 20 or 28 of that year. 20,000 Korean Christians left school or quit their jobs to await the end.
In the year 2000 the end of civilization was predicted because computers allegedly would not recognize the year 2000. Opportunists cashed in on selling books and froze -dried survivalist food. But January 1, 2000 came and went. All computers were reconfigured and problems were easily remedied. The world moved on. In 2011 Harold Camping said the Rapture is slated for 21st May 2011 and the end of the world on October 21st 2011.
I therefore agree with Ouyang Ziyuan, Chief Scientist for China’s lunar orbiter project that end of the World December 21st 2012 is a misinterpretation of the Mayan Calendar
No matter how thoroughly an idea has been debunked, people will persist in their beliefs. All such dates are fiction. The end-times, as it is popularly conceived is really nothing more than a longstanding and elaborate hoax perpetrated by those who really should know better. It is one of religion’s most effective tools to keep its followers in line, paying and obeying its tyrannical rules, rituals and regulations. 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.
Today, end-time preaching, publishing and movie-making is a huge part of the big business of Christendom. The good news is – while Christendom may be rife with end-times anxiety – Jesus himself is a source of comfort and hope. Genuine Christians ought to be resting in and trusting in Jesus irrespective of threats or fears, real or imagined, fictional or factual.
As Paul wrote, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38-39)