2012 … The End Of The World?

2012 … The End Of The World? - This Week's Feature Article by Jack Kelley – www.gracethrufaith.com

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." (Luke 21:25)

The year 2012 is lining up as a uniquely pivotal year in many respects. Aside from the fact that some futurists are predicting worldwide food and job riots by then, and the two most powerful thrones on Earth (US and UN) will be up for election, there is a never before seen confluence of signs in the heavens due to arrive then. In case you've been visiting another planet for the past couple of years, here they are.

Mayan Calendar Ends. Dec.21, 2012

By way of introduction, somehow the Mayans knew that the Sun travels in an orbit through the galaxy just like the planets of our solar system travel in an orbit around the Sun. They calculated that it requires 25,625 of our years for the Sun to complete one circle, called a galactic day. The Mayans divided this day into 5 cycles of 5125 years each. According to their calendar the current cycle, which is the 5th, will end on the day we know as Dec. 21, 2012, the winter solstice.

The Mayan Calendar does not necessarily predict the world will end on that day, as some think, but they did believe that the Sun, having reached the exact center of the galaxy, would receive and emit a powerful surge of light from this alignment and would reverse its polarity. This would cause a great cosmic event on Earth and result in the end of life as we know it. Below are some modern confirmations that will demonstrate how startlingly accurate the Mayans were. They lend more credibility to the view that the influence of the Nephilim with their supernatural knowledge might have been much more widespread than previously thought. Hints of their meddling can be seen worldwide.

According to the Mayans, the effect of all this will depend on our reaction to it. If, as a civilization, we try to cling to our current ways we'll suffer chaos and destruction. But if we change to become united in one positive consciousness and stop fighting each other and poisoning our environment we'll enter our Golden Age. Sounds straight out of the New Age, doesn't it?

Magnetic Polar Reversal, Earth And Sun Combined. 2012

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Rev. 6:12-14)

Over the past few years the magnetic North pole has been drifting across Canada and is headed for Siberia. Also, the Earth's magnetic field has weakened noticeably when compared to its strength when scientists began measuring it in 1845. Based on these findings, some scientists are now convinced that a reversal of the Earth's magnetic poles is underway. They're predicting that in 2012 the magnetic field will be at its weakest and a polar reversal could suddenly and dramatically take place with the North pole having the polarity of the South pole and vice versa.

In 2012 the Sun will also experience a polar reversal producing radiation emissions at their strongest levels in 50 years. Although the Sun's magnetic poles reverse every eleven years, in the memory of man the Earth has never experienced such an event. While no one can predict the outcome of this double shift, it could produce massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of a magnitude that could actually cause a measurable continental shift.

A study by the National Academy of Sciences released in early 2009 indicated that a "solar storm" like this could also cause catastrophic damage to the power grid and other communications as well, knocking out satellites, phones, and computers. They confirmed that the 2012 event would be more severe than others we've experienced in the past.

If this reversal caused the magnetic field around Earth to collapse, the effect would be even more severe. According to some projections, the electromagnetic energy released from the sun during a polar reversal could cause Earth's upper atmosphere to "erupt in flames" if our magnetic field isn't there to deflect it. Was John referring to this in saying the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up? No one knows. We can only imagine what a sudden reversal of magnetic poles would do to life on Earth. Predictions range all the way from a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to a worldwide disaster of "Biblical proportions."

Galactic Alignment. Sun At The Center Of The Milky Way. Dec. 21, 2012

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(Rev. 8:5)
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)

In December 2012 the Sun will reach the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy, as the Mayans predicted, with all the planets lined up in their orbits behind it, like little chicks behind their mother. Some scientists believe this will amplify the Sun's gravitational pull on Earth causing increased instability in its inner core. They say the increased gravitational pull combined with increased radiation from the twin polar reversals will heat the Earth's molten core and cause it to spin faster. This could result in anything from more frequent and more powerful earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, great tsunamis and even displacement of the Earth's crust.

Planet X Returns To The Solar System. 2012

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Rev. 8:8-11)

Planet X has been the subject of much debate among scientists, both as to its actual existence and its name. Some refer to Planet X as Nibiru, a large planet listed in 5000 year old Sumerian tablets, but missing from the Solar system today. Others say it's Rahab, the ancient seat of Satan, hinted at in Job 9:13 & 26:12, Psalm 87:4 & 89:10, and in Isaiah 30:7 & 51:9. Those who advocate for its existence say it's been privately tracked by NASA since the 1980's and both the New York Times and the Washington Post have speculated about its appearance in the sky. Documented naked eye sightings from the Southern Hemisphere are also claimed.

The name Rahab appears in the Old Testament a total of 11 times. Five times it refers to the Rahab of Jericho who hid the 2 spies, was the mother of Boaz, and appears in the Lord's genealogy. The other six times, listed above, it does not. Some believe these other references are to a planet that was once part of our Solar system and that Satan and his followers inhabited along with Earth and Mars. These people disagree as to whether it was originally our 5th or 6th planet, but supposedly these three planets were judged at the time of Satan's rebellion in the gap between Genesis 1 :1 & 1:2 . They also disagree as to whether it was completely destroyed leaving only the asteroid belt as a memorial, or was sent spinning out into the far reaches of the universe, or some combination of the two. Proponents of the partial destruction theory say that the remnant of the planet Rahab can now be seen again, and that God will use it to effect some of the judgments of Revelation.

To many, this idea of Satan's Kingdom planet re-entering our solar system is wild conjecture. After all, they say, it was developed out of a study combining the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the application of ELS (Equi-distant Letter Sequencing), commonly known as the Bible Codes. But if we're as close to the end as I think we are, it won't be long until we know whether the Rahab theories are truth or fiction. For what it's worth, some believe Nostradamus predicted a comet/planet coming in 2012.

In any case, whether you call it X, or Nibiru, or Rahab, there are some serious people who believe it's headed our way and will at least come dangerously close to Earth in 2012, showering us with the asteroids it has captured and causing great damage on Earth.

What's The Point?

The short answer to the title question is, "No. 2012 will not bring the end of the world." But without attempting to tie these predicted events to specific prophecies, I think it's interesting to see how similar the Biblical descriptions of end times judgments are to the scientific view of possible coming events. Due to the nearness of 2012, I only used verses from Revelation that describe judgments during the first half of Daniel's 70th Week , before the Great Tribulation even begins. After that it gets much worse very quickly.

See, the day of the LORD is coming -a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13)

So what will the 2012 disasters accomplish? I believe that God will use these and other End Times judgments to begin putting the Earth back into the condition it was when He gave it to Adam. Remember, Jesus called the Millennium the time of restoration of all things (Matt. 19:28) and Paul said the whole creation has been groaning in anticipation of being liberated from the bondage it was subjected to. (Romans 8:20-21). And at the beginning of the Millennium God will proclaim, "I am making everything new." (Rev. 21:5)

Since the creation, mountains have been pushed up and valleys made lower to contain the enormous amounts of water generated in the Great Flood. The protective water vapor canopy that permitted long life spans in pre-flood times collapsed at the time of the Flood. Earth's land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth's orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees. All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.

You and I will view all of this from the mezzanine during our time of repose with the Lord. On Earth it will be the beginning of the most terrible time known to man.

Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD ? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah.

Sifting Peter

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32)

In the Lord's first sentence the word translated “you” is plural, but He changed to the singular in the second and third. This means that all the disciples would be sifted when the Lord was arrested, in fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” But He was choosing Peter to keep the group together and focused after He was gone.

From watching him throughout the 3 ½ years he spent with the Lord, we can tell that Peter was a fearless, decisive guy, used to taking charge and making things happen. These are qualities we admire in a man and are necessary for success as an independent businessman such as Peter. Some have even described him as head strong, and a bit of a loose cannon. Luke's account of Peter's calling shows him to be a man given to strong and immediate reactions. After Jesus borrowed Peter's boat to use as a speaker's platform, He had Peter go out and let down his nets for a catch. Complaining that they hadn't caught anything all the previous night, Peter said he would do it, but only because Jesus told him to. Of course, they came up with a net full. Peter's immediate reaction was to say, “Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” This after hearing one teaching. (Luke 5:1-8)

When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water, Peter was the one who got out of the boat to try it too, and almost drowned. (Matt. 14:25-31) Peter was the first to declare that Jesus was the son of God. (Matt. 16:16) When Jesus said they were going to Jerusalem where He would be arrested and put to death, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matt. 16 :22-24)
At the Last Supper, when Jesus tried to wash Peter's feet, he at first refused to allow it, then asked for a complete bath. With Peter it was all or nothing. (John 13:6-9)

And finally, in the Garden later that evening, he drew a sword and stepped between Jesus and the armed soldiers who had come to arrest Him. Swinging his sword at them, he cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant, Malchus. He was clearly ready to take them all on in defense of the Lord. (John 18:10)

But the Lord rebuked him and with the touch of His hand, healed the servants' ear. (Luke 22:51) Then He said, “Do you think I cannot call on My Father and He will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? (Matt. 26:53-54) Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? (John 18:11)

When you read all the accounts of the Lord's arrest, you get a glimpse of both His power and His resolve. John records that simply by identifying Himself, He put all the soldiers on their backs, (John 18:4-6) and from Matthew we learn that at His command the angelic host would rush to his defense. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 soldiers, and while it was a formidable force, it was merely a human one. Imagine what 72,000 angelic warriors could do. He could have easily subdued the arresting party and thrown the Romans out of His land in the bargain, but that's not what He came to do. When I consider the power available to Him and yet the meekness with which He submitted to those comparatively puny leaders I'm driven to my knees in awe and gratitude.

As Paul would later write, here was One who was in His very nature God. And yet He made Himself nothing, adopting instead the nature of a humble, obedient servant. As such, He agreed to be executed in the manner reserved for the basest of criminals. (Phil 2:6-8) And Peter would add, it was not for any crime He had committed, but to pay the penalty for ours. (1 Peter 1:18-19 & 3:18)

But something had to be done about Peter. So accustomed was he to coming to the rescue that he couldn't imagine just standing by, doing nothing, while the Lord surrendered His perfect life. And it's my guess that even the Lord's prediction of his denial served to strengthen Peter's resolve that as long as he could prevent it, the Lord would not fall into any danger. Earlier the Lord had rebuked him for not seeing the big picture, not having in mind the things of God but the things of man, but it hadn't been enough. The Lord's second rebuke, in the garden, had backed Peter down temporarily, but more had to be done.

It wasn't as if Peter could thwart the will of God, but he could make accomplishing it a lot messier, perhaps even wasting his own life in the process. The Lord had more in store for Peter that required keeping him alive, but his self determining ways would not be helpful with that either. Peter had to be brought to the end of himself, in order to be useful to God. He had to be made weak in order for the Lord to show Himself strong, and so Satan got permission to sift him as wheat. And like it is with wheat, the sifting of a man is designed to remove his impurities.

Peter's sifting came in the form of his public denial of the Lord. I can't begin to imagine how humiliating it must have been for him when he heard that rooster crow, and remembered the Lord's earlier prophecy of his denial. He'd always been so brave, so dauntless, but suddenly even the accusation of a servant girl, the least powerful of all people, had intimidated him into denial, and just at the moment of what he perceived to be the Lord's greatest need. I can even see him blaming himself for the Lord's death, much as you and I have done when we finally came to the gut level realization that it was our sin that put Him on the cross, not just humanity's, but ours. Peter had always been the one the others looked to for strength, but when it really counted he'd been weak, even cowardly. For the rest of his life and through out the entire Church Age when people thought of Peter, they'd remember that moment. It would define his life.

But Romans 8:28 does apply to all the situations in our lives. God is working everything together for the good of those who love Him. For at that moment Peter was born again, made new in the attitude of his mind. The fact becomes achingly clear in the passage we call Peter's reinstatement. It's found in John 21:15-19. You really have to consult your Greek lexicon to understand it because the English translations miss the point entirely. Here's the conversation.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
“Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

The key to understanding is in the word “love”. In the Greek John used a different word in the Lord's questions than he did in Peters' responses. In his first two questions, the Lord's word for love is agapeo, which describes an all encompassing love that puts the needs and well being of the object of one's love above everything, including one's own needs, and does so irrespective of the object's response. It's the love he has for us, demonstrated on the cross.

But in response, Peter used a different word, phileo, which means the affection one brother would have for another. Finally, in His third question, the Lord substituted Peter's word for his and they were able to agree. Both knew that Peter's new understanding of himself would not permit him to brashly proclaim the extreme love that Jesus had asked for, and the Lord agreed that the level of love Peter could offer was sufficient. Peter's re-birth was successful and he could now be restored to his leadership role.

From that point on the change in Peter is remarkable. His sermons in Acts 2 & 3 could never have been possible had he not become submissive to the leading of the Holy Spirit within him, and throughout the Book of Acts it's obvious that he was a changed man. And perhaps most important of all is the example his life provides for those of us who have experienced similar humbling and even humiliating failures on our way to becoming useful to the Lord.

Many great men have undergone trials designed to mold them for service to the Lord. Abraham was asked to send Ishmael away, and then to sacrifice Isaac. Moses endured 40 years in the desert while the reputation he had built in Pharaoh's court as a Prince of Egypt was forgotten. After defeating the 400 prophets of Baal in one of the Bible's greatest public displays of faith, Elijah was chased into the desert by the Phoenician woman Jezebel. Paul suffered through and was healed from regular beatings.

But as dramatic as their stories are, it's Peter who showed us that the very personality traits most admired by the world can be a great handicap when we undertake the Lord's work, and often our only hope in becoming effective is to be divested of them. It's a painful experience. Some are defeated by it and leave the ministry, but those who survive learn that the Lord's response to Paul's complaint is true for all of us, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) Selah 03-15-08