Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if I had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
This poem, Fire and Ice, written by the famous American poet Robert Frost in 1920, is a reminder that people in 2012 aren’t the first to ponder the end of the world. Some of the more recent apocalyptic theories include asteroids, aliens, nuclear war, disease, Y2K and a new ice age. For nearly every theory, a movie exploring it can be found.
Lately 12-21-12 – that is Dec. 21, 2012 – has been the focus of some end-of-the-world discussion. And, yes, there is already a movie, a sci-fi flick starring John Cusack titled “2012.” The 2012 theory claims that the world will end on Dec. 12 because that’s when the Mayan calendar ends. (The Mayan calendar says we are at the very end of a 5125 year cycle that ends in 12-21-12. The calendar was actually used by several other ancient American civilizations. How many people actually believe in 12-21-12? Students at Corban don’t seem to be convinced the world will end this year.
“It’s just for fun to talk about and joke about,” says student James Murrell. “And it makes for a weird action movie.”
The Mayan didn’t say that the world would be destroyed or if it would go through a total transformation. The details of what the Mayans thought have been lost to time. Various scholars have dismissed any thought of the world ending. The movie 2012 is just a Hollywood rendition of the world ending through a mixture of earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis.
“If anything, the polar magnetism would shift,” says student Joshua Ferreia. Records show it has happened. That would be most likely.”
What does the Bible say? The Book of Revelation clearly says the end times will include the rise of the anti-Christ, famine, war, and other disasters wreaking havoc on the Earth. Then Jesus comes and conquers the world, reigns for 1000 years, and them Earth is replaced with the new heavens and the Earth. But the Bible doesn’t give a specific date for the end of the world. Professors at Corban teach that the end of the world will be decided by God and has been in the book of Revelations.
“It is as meaningless as the predictions of Nostradamus’ predictions. They are not prophets of God and God will determine when things are to end” Dr. Gary Derickson explains about the end times.
Dr. Derickson and other professors don’t believe in the 2012 theory. It is just a conspiracy theory which has only been brought into the light in the past 40 years. The professors teach that God will decide the end of the world.
“We should either ignore it (because we have better things to worry about), use it to share the gospel with unbelievers who are worried by it, or simply be aware of it and trust God to remain sovereign over history. What will happen will happen because He allows it. Our lives are in His hands.” Dr. Derickson explains.