Will the earth end in 2012?

I recently wrote this article which appeared in today's edition of our local paper, the Hi Desert Star...

The new movie “2012” is full of courage, sacrifice, and some great special effects, but could it be more than Hollywood entertainment? Could it be an actual preview of what is to come?

According to some experts, the Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end on December 21, 2012. Pretty serious stuff. Could it be true?

Whenever we hear of doomsday theories like this, it’s good to ask, “What does the Bible say?” Now maybe you’re wondering what makes the Bible any more reliable than the Mayan calendar. After all, isn’t the Bible just another book of ancient mythology? Great question. And I have two answers.

First, the Bible is trustworthy because it is God’s own Word. The divine author himself urges us to read and accept it. As it says in Revelation 22:6, “These words are faithful and true.”

Second, the Bible is trustworthy because it has already made hundreds of predictions that have come true. It has never once been wrong. Never.

So again we ask, what does the Bible say about the end of the world? The Bible says that before the world will end, one very important event must occur: the second coming of Jesus Christ. We don’t know if this will happen in 2012 or not. It might happen sooner, or it might happen later. It could literally happen at any time. No one, including the ancient Mayan civilization, knows when Jesus will return. All we know is that his return is certain, and that it will come suddenly, without any warning.

Jesus says, “Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming…Be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (Matthew 24:42, 44).

Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead. How can we be ready? By admitting we’re sinners and trusting that Jesus died and rose again to pay for our sin. As long as we truly know Him as Savior and Lord, we have nothing to fear. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

A movie like “2012” is purely fictional, but it does offer a good reminder. Life is short, and all of us need to prepare for what really is certain – the second coming of Jesus Christ.