| Much has been written and spoken about the year | | | | death in 1849. |
| 2012 and, as that year approaches, much more will | | | | Of course, end times prophecy did not end with |
| be. Modern day prophets have predicted the coming | | | | William Miller. The approaching new millennium |
| Apocalypse and based their suppositions upon | | | | produced the perfect conditions for the revival of |
| ruminations regarding the end of the Mayan Calendar, | | | | prognostication regarding the end of the world. With |
| cryptic passages from the writings of Michel de | | | | the 1970 publication of "The Late, Great Planet |
| Nostredame, better known as Nostradamus, and an | | | | Earth," written by Hal Lindsey and Carole Carlson, |
| alleged celestial alignment of the galactic and solar | | | | predicting the world's end became an industry unto |
| planes in that year. Additionally, NASA scientists have | | | | itself. Hal Lindsey has since written numerous other |
| indicated that a solar storm will reach Earth in 2012 | | | | books on the same subject and is a fixture in cable |
| with potentially devastating impact upon electrical | | | | television network produced documentaries about |
| power grids worldwide, and other researchers have | | | | end times. Televangelists preach the world's end, the |
| theorized that a polar shift could occur at | | | | coming or present Tribulation, and Christ's imminent |
| approximately that time. With so many potential | | | | Return - all the while raking in huge contributions from |
| catastrophes on the horizon, is it likely that 2012 will | | | | their followers. |
| be the end? | | | | Setting aside the fact that the predictions of all end |
| Throughout documented history, seers, prophets, | | | | times prognosticators to date have been erroneous |
| and ordinary people have concluded that the world | | | | and considering that there are some reputable |
| was coming to an end in their lifetimes. Following the | | | | scientists who foresee impending disasters in the not |
| crucifixion of Jesus, his followers believed that his | | | | too distant future, might not 2012 be the end? The |
| return and establishment of his Kingdom on earth | | | | real answer is that it doesn't matter. All of us will |
| was imminent. And, throughout the intervening | | | | experience the end of our own worlds at the times |
| centuries, many have perceived signs that led them | | | | of our deaths. If 2012 ends the worlds of everyone |
| to predict the coming end. | | | | at once, there is nothing that anyone will be able to |
| Some have calculated a specific date or time period | | | | do about it. |
| for that end. In the U.S., one of the most famous | | | | Yet, if there is a growing belief that 2012 may indeed |
| instances of this phenomenon occurred in the 1800's. | | | | be the end, perhaps it may cause many to |
| In approximately 1823, William Miller, a Baptist | | | | reevaluate their lives, to consider the things that are |
| preacher and founder of what would become the | | | | most important, to say the things they have always |
| Seventh Day Adventist Church, studied Biblical | | | | wanted to say, and to become the best expression |
| prophesy and concluded that Christ's Second Coming | | | | of the people they have always wanted to be. |
| and the end of the world would occur sometime | | | | Perhaps, people around the world collectively will |
| between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. When | | | | come to an epiphany in the realization that our world |
| the year between those dates came and went, his | | | | is but an infinitesimal part of the universe and that |
| movement, that grew in the years leading up to his | | | | the survival of any of us in intimately interconnected |
| predicted end into a national campaign, modified their | | | | with that of all others. And, if enough of us are |
| predictions - ultimately settling upon October 22, 1844 | | | | transformed in this way, maybe the Mayans had it |
| as the final day. That day would come to be known | | | | right, and 2012 will end the old world and begin the |
| as the Millerites' "Great Disappointment," and William | | | | new. |
| Miller would continue to await the world's end until his | | | | |