We really need your help through monetary donations, either a single donation or small monthly donations. Thank you.

Religious information & conflict

Menu:

Prophecies of TEOTWAWKI:
("The End Of The World As We Know It")

The purpose of this section of the ReligiousTolerance.org web site:

Over the past two millennia, there have probably been thousands of predictions made which anticipate a horrendous future world-shaking event. Many are based on an the interpretation of religious scriptures. They typically describe an event to occur at a specific date in the future, that would completely change the world. In some of the more shocking predictions, most or all human life on Earth is expected to be wiped out -- perhaps all life would be snuffed out.

All predictions, so far, have failed miserably. We expect more predictions, and more failures, to continue for the foreseeable future.

Many such prophecies capture the imagination of a significant portion of the public. Many people trust the prophecies and suffer high anxiety, as the appointed day approaches. In some recent cases, a few people have committed suicide in order to have control over their death and to prevent having to go through a horrible "end-time" experience that would cause their death.

It is our hope that this series of essays will generate some skepticism and doubt among the public, and thereby lower the amount of suffering experienced, and perhaps even save a life.

Quotations about end time prophecies, with comments:

	"About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition." Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727 CE), for example, 1 predicted that the end of the world will occur about the year 2060 CE.
	"The prophecies are ... unintelligible to the ungodly but intelligible to those who are properly instructed." Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662 CE) 2
	"The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." Allegedly, this came from an Assyrian tablet, written circa 2800 BCE. However I recall reading that an almost identical message was said to have appeared as graffiti on a wall in Pompeii which was buried under ash during an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 CE.
	"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but [only] the Father." This is a statement in the Gospel of Mark 13:32, in the King James Version. It is attributed to Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ), 3 Note that the passage specifically states that -- on about the year 70 CE when the Gospel of Mark was written -- nobody knew the hour and day back . Yet, many biblical interpreters believe that it implies that only God the Father knows the date of "the end" today as well. Others speculate that -- at some time between 70 CE and today -- all three persons in the Trinity, the angels and some humans leaned of the time of the end . Also, just because people don't know the day and hour, the statement does not preclude others knowing the week, month, and/or year. So, the statement can be -- and has been -- interpreted in many ways.

Polling data:

According to Wikipedia, as updated on 2019-JAN-09:

"Polls conducted in 2012 across 20 countries found over 14% of people believe the world will end in their lifetime, with percentages ranging from 6% of people in France to 22% in the US and Turkey.

Belief in the apocalypse is most prevalent in people with lower rates of education, lower household incomes, and those under the age of 35.

In the UK in 2015, 23% of the general public believed the apocalypse was likely to occur in their lifetime, compared to 10% of experts from the Global Challenges Foundation. The general public believed the likeliest cause would be nuclear war, while experts thought it would be artificial intelligence. Only 3% of Britons thought the end would be caused by the Last Judgment, compared to 16% of Americans. Between one and three percent of people from both countries thought the apocalypse would be caused by zombies or alien invasion."

Millennium and TEOTWAWKI  topics covered in this section:

Introduction to TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It)

	During the year 2000 millennium (now passed uneventfully): All about the new millennium: When did it start? What was expected during the year?   What did the public expect at or near the millennium?
	About TEOTWAWKI: Overview TEOTWAWKI by natural means: Past and possible future catastrophes due to the collision of the Earth and an asteroid   Some signs of an end-time panic: Hopeful, not-so-hopeful, and interesting signs     Recent prophecies of TEOTWAWKI that were predicted to happen: prior to 1921 1921 to 1990 1990 to 1994 1995 to 1997 in 1998 in 1999 in 2000 in 2001 in 2002 in 2003 in 2004 in 2005 in 2006 2007 or 2008 2009 or 2010 2010 to 2014 2015 or 2016 2017 to 2019 During or after 2020 At some vague time in our future: Part 1  Part2 Prophecies during this decade that didn't happen as predicted: Harold Camping of Family Radio predicted the rapture & the end of the world in 2011; he apologized in 2012, Numerous authors predicted the end on 2012-DEC-21, Their estimates were inspired by the rollover of the ancient Mayan calendar. Due to the planet "Nibiru" et al. colliding with the Earth (2003 to 2012) An essay donated by Kathy Watts: "The end of the world: an overview" A prediction that the Earth may last 5 billion more years, but the universe itself will last much longer
	End of the world as we know it, and religion: Premillennialism and other competing Christian theories about the end of the world or end of the age. The Rapture, a miraculous event when many evangelical Christians believe they will rise to meet Jesus in the sky.
	Information sources about the Millennium and TEOTWAWKI: Novels, other books and web sites

Related essays on this web site:

	The Y2K problems: computer and social: 5 FBI's "Project Megiddo" warning of violence in the year 2000. CSIS (Canadian security agency) warning of violence in 2000.
	Public opinion polls on religion.

A charming, skeptical, and imaginative web site dealing with "The End:"

Loren Madsen has created a web site at http://www.manyendings.lorenmadsen.com/ dealing with TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it). You enter a year to begin the prophecies. It is well worth visiting; a lot of fun.

Video: 25 Frightening Signs The END OF THE WORLD is Near:

 ₈

References used:

1. Quotation found on the web site of the "Ancient of Days UFO Conference" in Roswell, NM for 2003-JUL-4. We are uncertain of its validity. Original source is unknown.
2. Quotation found on the "Blessed Hope Ministries" web site at: http://www.bhm.dircon.co.uk/ Original source is unknown.
3. Serendipity, "New Age Truth," at: http://www.newagetruth.com/ Well worth reading!
4.  Richard J. Hooper, "End of Days: Predictions of the End from Ancient Sources," Sanctuary Publishing, (2011), Page 20. Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store.
5. 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
6. "Teenager who feared the world was about to end," Bath Chronicles, 2012-MAY-18, at http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/
7. Billy Hallowell, "This Has the Vast Majority of Evangelicals Convinced That the Biblical ‘End Times Are Nearer’," The Blaze, 2015-DEC-07, at: http://www.theblaze.com/
8. List25, "25 Frightening Signs The END OF THE WORLD is Near," You Tube, at: https://www.youtube.com/ (376,638 views and 2,514 Comments by 2018-AUG-19

Copyright © 1996 to 2018 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally published 1996-MAR-03
Last update: 2018-AUG-20
Author:  B.A. Robinson

Sponsored link

Go to the previous page, or to the Home page, or to the religious intolerance/conflict page, or to the religious information page, or choose: