Were the Mayans Right?

Were the Mayans right in their prediction of an apocalyptic event ending the world as we know it on December 21, 2012? As I see it, they were off by at least 1,007 years.

Despite all the hype about the world ending next week, some experts in ancient civilizations are disclaiming that such a prediction even came from the Mayans. Surprisingly, NASA has devoted a whole page on its website to debunking this myth, which may actually have the reverse effect of increasing its credibility.

There is no doubt that signs of the End Times, which Jesus spoke of in His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24) and on which Paul expanded (2 Timothy 3:1-13), are increasing almost daily. Wars, rumors of wars, famine, diseases, earthquakes, wickedness in high places, flaunting of sin, persecution of Christians, false prophets, and chilling indifference to human life and natural affection pervade every aspect of world culture.

All these signs refer to Christ’s second coming in power and glory to defeat Israel’s enemies at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This event must take place at least seven years after the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), in which dead and living believers receive glorified bodies and are caught up to meet Him in the air. This Tribulation period of seven years corresponds to Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:24).

The Rapture is indeed imminent, meaning that it could occur at any moment, and the signs of the times that warn of what Jesus referred to in the Tribulation are as birth pangs (Romans 8:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:3), becoming more intense and frequent as the event draws nearer.

The one condition to precede His second coming that has not yet come to pass is the spread of the Gospel message to every nation (Matthew 24:14). Yet even that would not stop the Rapture from happening at any moment. In this technological and Internet age, the seven-year period of the Tribulation is ample time for the Gospel to reach every tribe and kindred before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords appears in the sky with His armies of believers (Revelation 19:14-21).

After the Rapture, 144,000 Jewish male virgins will recognize that Jesus was the promised Messiah (Revelation 14:1-5). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they, along with two witnesses (Revelation 11:3), will evangelize all nations so that no person left behind will have the excuse of never having heard the Gospel.

All will hear that Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:14), the perfect sacrifice to pay our sin debt and to reconcile sinful man to Holy God, so that all who trust in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) as the only way to Heaven (John 14:6) will have abundant, everlasting life (John 3:16; 10:10).

After the seven-year period of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will preside over the Millennial Kingdom, a time of perfect peace, justice and harmony lasting 1000 years (Revelation 20:4). Only at its conclusion will the heaven and earth be burned up (2 Peter 3:10-13), as all is made new for the Eternal Kingdom in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2,10).

So if the alleged end of the Mayan calendar signifies the end of the present earth, their doomsday date of 12/21/2012 has to be off by at least 1,007 years, including the seven-year tribulation and the 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom.

But could the 12/21/2012 date apply to the Rapture? Certainly that will be a cataclysmic event, as living believers instantaneously vanish in the midst of critical operations such as driving school buses, piloting planes, or commanding armies. Soon thereafter will follow the devastating events of the Tribulation, including the trumpet and vial judgments (Revelation 8:2,6; 16:1-17).

It seems unlikely that the Rapture would occur on the date of a predicted apocalypse, as the Bible clearly indicates that it will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10), without announcement and when it is least expected (Matthew 24:44). My son and I had an interesting discussion about that -- because one would not expect the Rapture to occur on a predicted date, paradoxically, it might!

Jesus Himself said that no man knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), as proven by Harold Camping and others who have foolishly attempted to predict the Rapture. Two things are certain, though – the Rapture is closer today than it was yesterday, and once it happens, there is no turning back.

Whoever has an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be caught up to meet Him in the air, with no more time to lead souls to Him or to consecrate every aspect of our lives to Him as a holy, acceptable living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). May we labor diligently to bring in the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38) before it is too late, so that we may hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21-23).

And for those who are left behind, it will be too late. Those who heard a clear presentation of the Gospel but rejected it are unlikely to be saved during the Tribulation, as they will be sent a “strong delusion” preventing them from believing the truth about Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:10-13)

So don’t get caught up in worldly predictions of doomsday – know your Bible, trust Jesus as your Savior and the only Way to Heaven, and consecrate your life to His service! Your eternal destiny depends on it!

© 2012 Laurie Collett