Final Essay

I researched the topic question will the world end in 2012. I learned things from both the media, and things I wasn’t previously aware of. I’d still like to look further into the faith point of view on this topic. I spent most of my time looking at the scientific, historical aspects but not a lot of time on the religious aspects of this topic. People with faith believe that the Earth’s last days will be because of the rapture. Many say there is evidence from the word, the bible. I’d like to look back and read more about that. I’d also like to further my research on the plant Nibiru and the likely hood of that planet actually making contact with Earth. The media today only explains about its recent findings with the Mayan long count calendar.

I have more than one favorite part about this project. I like the fact that it was done on a blog, even though it was a little hard to manage sometimes. I liked not handing in a paper, and being able to have video sources to watch instead of just reading. The project informed me about a topic that I have been interested in, and if I hadn’t had this project I wouldn’t have looked further into it. It gave me a new aspect of life, and a possible end just around the corner.

I believe now honestly, however, that the end of the world will not be in 2012. There are many people out there with different theories not only recent, but dating back to the Mayans. However, like I said, it dates back to the Mayans. I believe that if the world was going to end, it would have happened by now. Articles I researched have debunked any ideas that people have addressed today about the world ending. Like how a planet would hit Earth, scientists said that said planet has pulled away from its gravitational pull already, and has not hit or endangered Earth. The Sumerians and Mayans both have had previous said dates that the world would end, and they have come and gone. I believe it will be the same here.

My Interview

I contacted Jerry B. Jenkins for my interview. Jerry B. Jenkins, along with Tim LaHaye wrote the novel Left Behind, the book I read for SSR. My topic was will the world end in 2012. We discussed how far back he had researched independently, what interested him about the topic, and what role faith had in his findings.
I learned that he, like most other people with faith, looks to the bible when it comes to a set date on when we will be leaving Earth. Jerry Jenkins is stronger in faith due to the research he has been working on since his teen years. I’ve gained a new perspective at looking at this topic. As weird as it sounds I looked at this strictly scientifically. I never even took into account that the rapture tied into the end of Earth.

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins describes two ideals behind what will happen during the Earth's last days. In the novel millions of people disappear instantaneously into thin air. Rayford Steele, the Pan-Con pilot, noticed that the man had infact disappeared, and his clothes were in a neat pile (LaHaye, Jenkins 12). Natural disasters devastated the globe. Many lost their wives, children, etc. The world was trying to change to one world wide currency. Some believed that these events were unexplainable, that UFOs were to blame. Those people however did not believe in aliens. But most everyone else knew that this had been the rapture, and they had been left behind.

Something like this could actually happen. Chaos would over run the world. Everyone would be scared to death. With millions gone like that, people who never had faith would suddenly have it. The rapture is a very possible occurrence at the Earth's final moments.

However, I also think that the disappearences wouldn't happen like they did. People disappearing into thin air just isn't possible. Even if it was the rapture, I don't believe that people would dematerialize.


LaHaye, Tim, and Jerry B. Jenkins. Left Behind. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1995. Print.

'The Twelfth Planet'

This is another article by David Morrison and the mysterious planet x, otherwise known and Nibiru. As said before, the Sumerians didn't really recieve any attention until the Mayan long count calendar and 2012 rumors spread. Nibiru does not exist. Astronauts would have identified it if there was such a planet. Morrison asserts that "In fact, if it were going to be inside Earth’s orbit in three years, it should have already reached naked-eye visibility, and tens of thousands of astronomers, both amateur and professional, would be tracking it" (Morrison). But some say it was hiding behind the Sun and could be seen from the South Pole

I don't think that Nibiru is a possibility anymore. Having read another article I have realized that it isn't possible. Astronauts would have found this planet way before now. As for it hiding I don't think that it possible either. Each planet has a rotation around the sun.

Morrison, David. "Update on the Nibiru 2012 ‘Doomsday’." CSI. CSI, December 2009. Web. 29 Apr 2010. .
http://www.csicop.org/si/show/update_on_the_nibiru_2012_doomsday/

Natural Disasters

Researchers say that natural disasters will be the cause of death to many in the 2012 events. Some of the most deadly earthquakes and tsunamis will erupt and kill many lives. One of the safest places to be during this event would actually be out at sea. These events wouldn't be like anything you would ever imagine. These occurrences are incredible. Most of the Earth's population is on a shore line and near the oceans.

This article gave me another aspect to look at. I didn't really think about the destruction of the world be caused by Earth itself. I don't know what I really thought would be the cause, but it definitely makes sense. Volcanic eruptions and massive tsunamis/earthquakes would devastate life on Earth.

"Discovery Channel - 2012 Apocalypse [3/5] HD ." YouTube. Web. 15 Apr 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARpBbBM9Vt8.

Scientists' View on 2012

Ray Villard wrote an article on Discovery Channel about the hot topic: 2012. Scientists are saying, however, that they do not believe the world will end in 2012. He creates a list of ten reasons as to why scientists debunked the idea. Some reasons include that the Sun will not have increased flares, the Earth wouldn’t go out of rotation, the Milky Way will have nothing to do with the galactic disk, etc. He goes about his article as sort of a FAQ. Villard asserts that "Yes, the peak of the next cycle is in 2012 (or 2013), and some predictions suggest it might be 30 to 50 percent stronger than the last peak. But experts say it will certainly not be the biggest peak ever recorded" (Villard).

This article was informative. I am not convinced that everything researchers have said could be debunked though. I still think that there is a high possibility that the world will end in 2012. This topic is the kind of topic that is open for skepticism, everyone is going to have their own beliefs.


Villard, Ray. "Top 10 Reasons Why the World Won't End In 2012." Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel, 04/11/2009. Web. 15 Apr 2010. .
http://news.discovery.com/space/ray-villard-doomsday-theories.html

The Long Count Calendar

The Mayan countdown to doomsday receiving more and more attention. According to research the world will begin a Grand cycle on December 22, 2012. But mostly people believe the world will not reset itself, but in fact come to an end. This article asserts that the “milky way and the winter solstice will align” (History Channel). Scientists say, however, that this will have no affect on Earth, and the Mayans would have know knowledge of this without today’s knowledge 2,000 years ago.

I don’t think that the research in this article is coincidental to the topic in general. Not only have the Mayans discovered our last days, but the Sumerians and Nostradamus have also both written on this subject. Today’s technology only confirms what people early on have been saying all along.

"2012." History Channel. History Channel, n.d. Web. 8 Apr 2010. .
http://www.history.com/topics/2012

Christianity, War, and 2012

The lost book of Nostradamus was found in an Italian library. The manuscript had never been published, and dated back to 1629. Inside were cryptic paintings that researchers have found predict the world’s last days. The main points in this video were about Christianity, war, and the snake painting found in Nostradamus’ book. According to the video states that now more than ever with today’s technology there is a growing sense of urgency (Armageddon). They say that religion, as most people already know, is the main conflict of violence and wars worldwide. The snake symbolizes the antichrist, and the three blood drops symbolize the three antichrists before doomsday, aka 2012. The three antichrists are believed to be Napoleon, Hitler, and now Osama bin Laden.

This video connects to my topic because it is discussing the controversy of war, the bible, and the world coming to its last days. Many religious people look to the book of revelations to confer with today’s events to tell when the world will end. But it dates back to the Mayans even about how the world will end. With today’s technology, scarily enough, we can now pin point a date for when the world will end.

"Nostradamus Predictions: The Secret Code - Part 1/3 ." Youtube. History Channel, October 16, 2008. Web. 8 Apr 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BotfkxK4aX8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BotfkxK4aX8

Nibiru and the Sumerians

The origin of the end of the wold, 2012, was by the Sumerians claiming a certain new planet, Nibiru, was coming towards Earth. David Morrison said in his article entitled “Nibiru and Doomsday 2012” he asserts that “The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth” (Morrison). There are over 175 books now on the web dealing with this new topic. It was initially guessed to arrive in May 2003, but now estimated to come December 2012. It was not until recently until they discovered the evidence on the Mayan calendar confirming the estimation. Although ancient calendars are interesting, they can’t be as accurate as with today’s technological advances.

This theory by the Sumerians is very plausible. However, scientists do not believe at this point in time that there is enough evidence to support it. I think that if anyone wanted to go in depth and research when the world would end that it would be more accurate today. This was an interesting article, I didn’t know there were more groups behind it than the Mayans.

Morrison, David. "Ask An Asrobioligst." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 2 Apr 2010. <>.

http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/ask-an-astrobiologist/intro/nibiru-and-doomsday-2012-questions-and-answers

The Mayan Calendar

The Mayan calendar has received more attention than ever because of the movie “Apocalypto” released in 2006 with Mel Gibson in it. Although researchers haven’t paid much attention to the date before, the are still curious about the calendar itself. Many are interested because of the conspiracy of the beginning date on the Mayan calendar, August 11, 3114 B.C. Had it been August 13, 3114 B.C., the “doomsday”, December 21, 2012, would be on the wrong day. Another interesting fact would be that the Mayans don’t believe the world will end at all, that this will be another of many new beginnings on Earth. The author asserts that “In fact, they believe it's a time of great celebration and luck when the planet lasts through a full Great Cycle” (Johnson, and Toothman).

I think that the world will not end in 2012 just relying on facts from the Mayan calendar. Researchers have not correctly pin pointed the beginning date on the calendar, which could make ‘doomsday’ days later, days earlier, etc. The Mayan calendar is a popular source to study about the last days of Earth. I think that there are honestly so many opinions about this topic its hard to decide if you believe the Mayans or researchers. The articles mention that some believe that the world will end completely. I don’t think that is true, because if what the Mayans believe is accurate, Earth has always kept her rotation in the Great Cycle.

http://history.howstuffworks.com/central-american-history/world-end-in-2012.htm/printable
Johnson, Ryan, and Jessika Toothman. "Will the world really end in 2012?." How Stuff Works. Discovery, n.d. Web. 25 Mar 2010. .