42 FAILED END-OF-THE-WORLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000

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Overview:

Some Christians and secular individuals predicted several momentous events for the year 2000 that they believed are related:

	The second coming of Jesus Christ, when he returns to earth after almost two millennia.
	The war of Armageddon -- a massive battle in Israel.
	The arrival on earth of the Antichrist, an evil political, military leader.
	The Tribulation, a seven year interval of great suffering and death.
	The Rapture, when Christians who have been born again -- both living and dead -- will rise into the sky towards Jesus.
	Some horrendous natural disaster.
	etc.

These prophecies share one factor in common with all of the other predictions that were to come to pass in previous years: In spite of the obvious sincerity of the persons making the prophecies, none actually materialized.

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Disclaimer:

We offer no guarantees that the prophets listed below actually made these predictions. We have described their alleged predictions as they were reported on the Web, in newspapers, books, etc. We do not have the resources to track down original source material.

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Failed predictions:

Sometime in 2000: Many Christian individuals and groups have long anticipated that Christ's return would happen in 2000 CE. Many of them believe that this event would be preceded by a 7 year period called "The Tribulation." They expected that this interval would start in 1993 and that 42 months into the Tribulation, terrible things would occur. However, that time passed and the anticipated events did not happen. Some prophecy experts have gone back to the drawing boards to try to figure out why. Additional prophecies for 2000 CE are:

	According to the Weekly World News for 1999-DEC-14, long lost "Bethlehem Prophecies" predict that one half of the earth's surface will vanish under water in the blink of an eye. The cause may be a meteor or comet hitting one of the world's oceans. This would produce earthquakes, tidal waves, and a rapid rise in sea level.
	If you divide 2000 by 3, using integer arithmetic, the answer is 666, the number of the Antichrist mentioned in the Biblical book of Revelation. This might indicate that some enormous events predicted in that book might come to pass.
	The Virgin Mary is said to have communicated to Father Gobbi of the Marian Movement of Priests: "I confirm to you that, by the Great Jubilee Year 2000, there will take place the Triumph of my Immaculate Heart, of which I foretold you at Fatima, and this will come to pass with the return of Jesus in glory, to establish His Reign in the world." ₃On occasions, Father Gobbi separated the Triumph from the return of Jesus; only the former was to happen in the year 2000.
	Michael Drosnin, author of "The Bible Code," found a hidden message in the Pentateuch (the first five books in the Bible) that predicts that World War III, involving a worldwide atomic [sic] holocaust, will start in 2000 (or perhaps 2006).
	Hal Lindsey currently no longer makes specific predictions about the end of the world. In his book The Late Great Planet Earth he did predict the battle of Armageddon in 2000 CE and the second coming of Christ in 2007 CE. He also cited 2048 as an alternative date.
	According to Time magazine for 1999-JAN-18, the Christian Coalition "speculated that President Clinton might use the chaos that Y2k unleashes as an opportunity to seize dictatorial powers."
	Dory Tan, one of the visionaries associated with the Greensides' Farm in Marmora ON had been receiving public messages from the virgin Mary up to 1998-OCT-13 and private messages since. She says that the year 2000 is a "deadline" for Christian preparation. "On June 6th, 1998, Our Blessed Mother purportedly informed Mrs. Tan that: 'All of you who are sick and have problems and do not have faith, I will give you a chance. I wish all my children before the year 2000 to be prepared. I want you all to be with me and my Son Jesus, in His Kingdom in heaven.' " ₁ On 1999-JAN-1, Ms. Tan received a message that "there are many events to occur before the end of 1999, and that She [the blessed virgin Mary] will tell us in advance of them happening. She says that what is happening in Kosovo currently, is nothing compared to what is coming."
	According to the Weekly World News for 1999-DEC-14, long lost "Bethlehem Prophecies" predict that a "final, stunning epidemic will kill almost everyone left on earth," during the year 2000.
	N.W. Hutchings of Southwest Radio is reported as having predicted an end of the world during 2000.

2000-JAN-1: This is an obvious date to select, because most people believe that the next millennium begins then. It doesn't; it starts one year later on 2001-JAN-1.

	According to the 1997-JUN-24 issue of Sun Magazine Pope John XXIII predicted in 1961 that Doomsday will begin with the detonation of a nuclear bomb in a major European city by a Libyan terrorist group. This would have triggered a massive six-month war that will cause the deaths of millions of people. The chance that this is an accurate quotation is near zero.
	William Cooper, head of a militia group in St. John's AZ, predicted that on this date the secret chambers of the Pyramid at Giza will be opened. Its secrets will be revealed and Satan will become a publicly known figure. The American militia will engage in a massive war at this time.
	Thomas Chase predicted that the Y2K bug would cause a worldwide electrical failure, trigger a world economic depression, and bring on the Antichrist. ₂
	Hundreds of villagers in Papua New Guinea have joined the Rainbow Church movement which predicted that the world will be plunged into darkness on JAN-1. However, by financially supporting the church, its members would be spared from the chaos of the millennium and will eventually be rewarded.

Early 2000: In the Weekly World News for 1999-DEC-21, Nick Mann reported that thousands of Christians have reported sightings of of angels swarming to the Holy Land. He predicts that "...Jesus Christ is coming home...certainly within a few months."

2000-JAN-3: Gary North, a Christian Reconstructionist, predicted a doomsday - a collapse of civilization at or before this day.

2000-JAN-11: According to Weekly World News of 1997-NOV-18, the CIA has caught a space alien who had crash-landed on 1997-JUN-20 in a New Mexico desert. He is from a species that is considerably more developed, both mentally and spiritually, than humanity. He is only survivor of the destruction of his world - a planet some 200 light years from Earth. He reports that God is "furious with His creations everywhere." Apparently none of the species that he created turned out at all well. So, God is systematically working his way across the galaxies, setting fires to the planets and exploding them one by one. Earth will be the next in line!

2000-JAN: According to Weekly World News for 1999-APR-27, Edgar Cayce predicted that a cosmic storm will hit the earth at this time. Winds of 1,000 miles per hour and tremendous swings in temperature will kill millions.

2000-MAR: The numbers of solar flares on the surface of the sun goes through an approximately 11 year cycle. This number reached a peak around 1999-MAR. It was suggested that this peak might cause electrical power failures, which might trigger other disasters. The didn't.

2000-MAY: Ronald O'Brien had prophesized that a dark cross would be suspended in the stratosphere between JAN-19 and JAN-31. His next prophecy was for Garabandal, Spain: all those present would be cured of infirmities and disabilities. Finally, after April, Armageddon will come. Four billion humans will die, unless the world turns to God and follows true Roman Catholicism.

2000-SPRING: According to the Weekly World News for 1999-DEC-14, long lost "Bethlehem Prophecies" predicted that massive solar flares would scorch the sky. They were to be stronger than any previously observed. As many as a billion people would have been permanently blinded. There were many solar flares; there always are at this stage in the solar flare cycle. None of record-breaking strength.

2000-MAY-5: The book "5/5/2000 - Ice, the Ultimate Disaster," described how the first alignment of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in 6,000 years would cause total devastation. Ice buildup at the south pole would upset the world's axis, sending trillions of tons of ice and water sweeping over the planet. The cover illustration shows an Egyptian pyramid surrounded by ice and lightning. The author believes that mathematical study of the Great Pyrami9d indicates that it contains an encoded message left by unknown persons who survived a similar catastrophe millennia earlier. Actually, the planets were not really lined up. They will merely appear to be located within a 19.5 degree sector of the sky, as viewed from the earth. A similar alignment happened on 1962-FEB-5 when the planets were in an even tighter configuration: 18.8 degrees. It will occur again on 2040-SEP-8 when the planets align to within 8.3 degrees. The only effect that scientists believed would happen would be an average increase in the ocean tides by 0.04 millimeter -- an immeasurably small amount.

	2000-MAY-17: Rebecca Harrison -- apparently a woman -- a.k.a. St. John -- a man --predicted that Jesus would return on this date. Three years later, on 2003-JUN, Armageddon will take place.
	2000-MAY-31: The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in front of Taurus occurred on this date. Some consider this to be the return of the Star of Bethlehem, like in 7.B.C. Some people expected a supernatural event comparable to the birth of Jesus. None happened.
	2000-JUN-11: Marilyn Agee predicts at the Rapture will occur on this date. Later she postponed the date to JUN-20, JUL-9, and AUG-20. When the rapture did not happen on any of these dates, she apparently gave up.
	2000-Summer: According to Weekly World News for 1999-APR-27, Mother Seaton (Elizabeth Ann Seaton) predicted in the early 19th century that Washington DC will be bathed in an evil stench which comes from the bowels of Hell. The political leaders who stay behind in the city will be driven mad. [It is very tempting to comment on this]
	2000-JUL: According to Weekly World News for 1999-APR-27, a scroll written by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius predicts that a massive solar flare will erupt and bathe the earth with enormous amounts of energy. This will burn and blind millions of people, worldwide.
	2000-JUL: Based on the precictions of Gordon Scallion, Nostradamus, and Mother Shipton, Melody Mehta predicted that the moon Phobos will have been displaced from its orbit around Mars by a passing comet and will strike Earth.
	2000-JUL-7: On the basis of some Bible verses, Nostradamus and evidence related to "the grays" (a species of Extra-terrestrials often discussed by UFO groups) Robert Hallman predicts the rapture on this date. He describes "the grays" as "Satan's soldiers."
	2000-AUG-20: Based on the book of Daniel, "Ephraim" predicted that the Battle of Armageddon would begin on this date. He later postponed it to SEP-30. Still no luck.
	2000-SEP-6: Counting seven years forward from 1993-SEP-13, the date of the peace accord between Israel and Palestine, Daniel Adam Millar predicted that the Antichrist will declare himself God and start the battle of Armageddon.
	2000-SEP-16: Phil Stone believes that the biblical story of the Exodus will be replayed on a world-wide basis for four days, starting on this date. There will be a massive increase in the level of the oceans, causing catastrophic loss of life.
	2000-SEP-21: Dan Millar, mentioned above, estimates this date as that of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Four events will happen on that day, a Thursday. The sidereal day is reset. It is also the Jewish New Year, using the Canaanite calendar that was in use within ancient Israel prior to the Babylonian Captivity. It is the time of the Jewish "Feast of Jubilees" according to a message given by the Virgin Mary to Father Stefan Gobbi. This feast occurs only once every fifty years. This date is also the Autumn Equinox.
	2000-SEP: Efraim Genootshap claims to be the reincarnation of the biblical prophet Elija. He believes that God has given him the responsibility of gathering the lost twelve tribes of Israel from among western-European nations, in preparation for the Tribulation period. He leads the Efriam Society, a Netherlands based Christian group. They predicted that the rapture would occur this month.
	2000-SEP/OCT: Michael Rood predicted that the nations of Gog and Magog, as described in the Bible, will attack Israel sometime between the end of September and OCT-28. The "Day of the Lord" would begin on the Feast of Trumpets in the fall of that year. ₆
	2000-OCT-14: Yisrayl Hawkins, the leader of the House of Yahweh taught that the Israeli Peace Accord of 1993-OCT-13 marked the start of the 7 year period of tribulation. This will time the second coming of Jesus on 2000-OCT-14.
	2000-OCT-18: The Honorable Reverend Caleb Solar, with tongue firmly in cheek, was convinced that on this date [to be known as Quellish (Let it Come!)] a cosmic flood known as "El Agua" will drown all but a chosen few - namely the followers of Caleb Solar.
	2000-OCT: Jim Searcy, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church predicted the end of the world during this month. He also has concluded that Prince Charles is the Antichrist.
	2000-OCT-1: Byron Weeks predicted that all Americans would have been issued a National ID card by this date. Martial law would be proclaimed before the end of October. The new world government would have started to round up separatists and patriots. The U.S. would be plunged into nuclear war and be destroyed.
	2000-NOV: According to Weekly World News for 1999-APR-27, Nostradamus predicted that a giant asteroid would hit the earth late this month. This would start fires that will burn up the entire planet.
	2000-late: The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon polygamist splinter group had allegedly predicted the end of the world in a few days or months after mid-2000-SEP. Hundreds of members pulled their children out of the public schools and are home schooling them, perhaps in anticipation of the apocalypse. Former members have reported that church leaders preached that the towns along the Utah-Arizona border will be lifted into the sky. The splinter group was founded in 1929 and has been excommunicated from the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of their practice of polygyny. ₃
	2000-DEC (late): The Bible talks about heavenly signs that will precede the end of the world. Some prophesized that the eclipse of the sun on 2000-DEC-25 was one of these signs, and that the end of the world would follow shortly after. This prophecy was reinforced by a massive solar flare in late December, which produced remarkable displays of the Northern Lights about Christmas time. Also, a small asteroid (about the size of a football field) was scheduled to pass by the earth some 800,000 km (500,000 miles) away. This is only about twice the distance from the earth to the moon. Finally, the full moon of 2001-JAN-09 will be the brightest since 1912.
	2000-DEC-25: According to the 1997-JUN-24 issue of Sun Magazine Pope John XXIII predicted in 1962 that Christ would appear in the sky over New York City. Jesus was expected to announce the creation of a 1000-year paradise.

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References:

Christopher Walker, "Doomsday cults are converging on Jerusalem," The Times of London, 1998-OCT-22.
Thomas Chase, "Astrology for the New Age, prophecies of the future, economic predictions, comets, plane crash patterns," at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2360/
The Pacific Way Foundation promotes the concept that "...disaster doeesn't need to occur IF we take action" in advance. See: http://www.pacificway.org/index.htm
S.J. Gould, "Questioning the Millennium: A Rationalist's Guide to a Precisely Arbitrary Countdown.", Harmony Books, (1997) You can read a review and perhaps buy this book from amazon.com online bookstore
Chris Nelson, "A brief history of the apocalypse," at: http://www.chrisnelson.net This web site contains over 200 references to end-of-the-world predictions which have not come true.
"Michael John Rood: Profile," Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion at: http://www.isitso.org/