The myth of the Mayan calendar predicting end of world in 2012
Apparently, the Mayan calendar only goes up to December 21, 2012. So a few people believe that this will mark the end of the world. When we think about it, this is a ridiculous conclusion. After all, a calendar has to have a finite endpoint. Sure, the end of the world is one possible interpretation, but so is the notion of some ancient Mayans saying "OK, let's stop at 2012, that should give us plenty of time before we need to lengthen the calendar". Furthermore, imagine an alien civilization examining Earth's technology just prior to the turn of the millenium: "Wow, these Earthlings didn't really bother considering dates past Dec 1999 in their computers. Clearly they believed their world would end at the year 2000!" We don't know the details behind why the Mayans stopped their calendar for 2012, but this does not mean the end of the world will occur then. (Read here for a balanced article from USA Today).
Let's look at what the Bible says about the end of days. It is clear that this will be preceded by other events such as these:
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:3-14
Then Jesus will come, which will be unmistakeable when it happens:
"Immediately after the distress of those days
" 'the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31
Furthermore, no-one will know in advance when this is to happen:
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:36-39
So, according to the Bible, no-one knows in advance when Jesus is coming to signal the end of this age, not the Mayans with their calendar, nor NASA with their space technology, nor anyone else.
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