The Mayans, Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, the Hopi Elders, New Age extremists and a slew of other prophets of doom seem to be pointing to the Winter solstice of 2012 as the focal point of impending disaster for our planet. There is speculation, some of it based on solid science, that we may experience a dramatic pole shift. Some scientists seem to think that a major pole shift has occurred in the past and that it is only a matter of time before it occurs again. It is common knowledge that the "magnetic pole" has already begun shifting by a few degrees. There are others who state, based on Mayan calendar interpretations, that when our sun aligns with the Center of the Milky Way Galaxy on the winter solstice in 2012 there will be a pulse of light that engulfs our planet possibly emanating from the black hole located at the center of our galaxy, commonly referred to as the Dark Rift. This celestial alignment of our sun with the center of the galaxy apparently occurs every 26,000 years or so.
Obviously, we don't know what to expect when the alignment occurs because the human race was not keeping written records at that time, or if they were, they have been destroyed or not as yet uncovered. The pulse of light that may or may not engulf our planet could be explained away as Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) or solar flares. The year 2012 appears to be the height of another solar flare cycle that occurs on a regular basis. If the earth is hit with major solar flares or GRBs, it could disrupt our electrical grid for years into the future. This of course would be devastating for us especially in the cities. We have witnessed what happens when a city or a portion of our country faces a major threat such as a hurricane. The stores are immediately emptied, ransacked or looted. Look at what happened to New Orleans immediately after Katrina hit. It still has not fully recovered. Still others suggest that the earth may shift on it axis as the sun aligns with the center of the Milky Way due to the intense gravitational pull of the black hole.
If the earth rapidly shifts on its axis, all hell would break loose. Instantly we would be facing major earthquakes, tsunamis, and freezing temperatures in places where it is normally temperate. California, a major breadbasket for the United States, would no longer be able to grow the food we need. Neither would other once temperate areas. This would create major food shortages around the globe. The United States would have to cut food subsidies to other third world countries. Less fortunate countries would suffer greatly and immediately; more than what they are suffering now. Many people and animals would no longer have the necessary provisions they need to survive. If Edgar Cayce (1877-1945), commonly referred to as the "Modern Day Prophet," is correct, Armageddon is upon us now suggesting that the final chapter of the Christian Bible entitled Revelation is not about some far off date in the future.
The Hopi Elders suggest that we are in the fourth world and that this world is soon to give way to the fifth world. That would coincide with science in that we are currently in a four dimensional world, a space time continuum i.e. height, width, depth and time. The Hopi are then implying that we will be soon entering the fifth dimension. Nostradamus' writings, if interpreted correctly, point to the advent of a third world war that will last for twenty seven years. This is consistent with Hopi prophecy. Hopi prophecy states that a majority of the people living on earth will not survive the next world war. The bible says that as we near the "end times" there will be wars and rumors of wars; but then again, when have we ever had lasting peace on our planet? Today we are facing famine, wars, conflicts, pestilence, earthquakes, floods, starvation and more. I was shocked to find out that more than 30,000 children die each and every day on this planet silently due to lack of adequate food and clean water. These and other signs may be pointing to the end of times as we know it. Surely the planet cannot sustain our current population and what we are doing to it.
And I haven't even started talking about the effects of global warming. If we continue to add green house gases to our atmosphere, what temperatures might we reach? Certainly more droughts will negatively affect our crops. Whether caused my man or just another warming trend, some scientists expect the oceanic water levels to rise as much as 20 feet or more due to the melting ice sheets. Unless somehow checked, this rise in water levels would flood major cities along the coasts. Whether we are in the "end times" or not is speculation. There may have been prophets of doom in every generation since the beginning of time. And of course, there is always choice. Nothing is ever predestined. In fact, we decide our future. Let's hope that mankind is smart enough to avoid another world war, is able to stem global warming before it is too late, and that the 2012 prophecy is just another Y-2-K; a simple transition of time where mankind finds themselves needlessly worrying about nothing.
Gary J. McDonald is a non-profit executive, Licensed Professional Counselor, and the author of Everything You Need To Know To Get To Heaven; Decoding the Bible -- The Secret Behind 2012, now available on Amazon.