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May 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 31/05/2010 6:15 PM Page 36 36 Predicting the End of Time Special Report: Predicting desire for answers to life's big questions. Magnitudes 6 to 8 between 1900 and 2008. The "The truth is we want control, we want the End of Time to know. But no one knows the day or the hour, graph shows a drastic increase in earthquakes since the year 2000, and that's not including the By Christian Jennings not even the angels." most recent ones in China, Chile, and Haiti. And But did the Mayans know? Some still say the scenes like this scare people. ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Is it possible to answer is yes, and life-changing secrets are "I think the end of time will be in my foretell the future and predict when the world as hidden deep within their ruins. And of course lifetime," said Peterkin. we know it will come to an end? Some people others find any and all apocalyptic But many professors say there are believe it is and that life's most sought out predictions…rubbish. scientific explanations to explain the increase in answers are hidden deep within ancient Mayan Either way, our fascination with earthquake activity. Ruins built thousands of years ago. predicting the end of time remains. And if 2012 "Constant changes are guaranteed in Others believe film makers and authors too proves to be a false prediction, there are sure nature :14:28 The global warming seems to be are cashing-in on the hype with movies like the to be many more until the 'real end' arrives. releasing pressure. So when you melt ice, the latest blockbuster hit, '2012'. Solar flares, huge cracks in the Earth pressure is released then we can be having It's one of life's greatest mysteries. large enough to swallow skyscrapers, and earthquakes." said Dr. Babatunde Abayomi, When will the world as we know it come to an massive tidal waves… it's all a part of the on- ASU Professor. end? And when it's near, will there be screen global chaos seen in the movie '2012'. Although reasons behind end of time catastrophic signs? The prophecy is based on one of the predictions vary, one thing is clear. People "I think the end of time will be in my Mayan calendars. It began more than 5,000 everywhere are fascinated with the subject. lifetime," said Hurdie Peterkin. years ago, and is set to end in the year 2012. Widespread interest in the subject is According to some researchers, Peterkin "It's a concern of course. I want to live made clear by simply looking at a bookshelf At may be right. In fact, many believe the out my life," said Angie Kearbey. "Anytime Books A Million. Dozens of 2012 books are for apocalypse will happen soon; in the year 2012 there is some prediction I get nervous, that's sale. There is even an Idiot's Guide for 2012. in fact. Some theorists even pinpoint doomsday how I am." When we did a search on google.com to December 21st, 2012, when the earth and sun But those who study the Mayan culture for 2012 and the end of times, we got 44 million align with the approximate center of the Milky like Dougherty county school teachers Bryan hits. And on YouTube we found 46 thousand Way Galaxy. Collier and Jack Clay aren't buying into what clips warning viewers about their fate. "Some believe it's going to be an age of they call a 'hype' based on very little facts. "People have sold their houses, their new spirituality, others believe it will be the end "The Mayans today don't place much cars, gotten rid of their material things and we're of the world," said Jack Clay of the Dougherty emphases on this, or Westerners are coming in still here. I've lived through decades of them," County School System. saying 'this is what it means to us,'" said Clay. said Horton. Believers in the 2012 apocalypse theory "Really for the Mayans the end of the So is it really just a big 'hype' for point to the ancient Mayan culture. The long calendar was just the start of a new nothing, similar to Y2K. advanced civilization reached its height from calendar. We know they believed there was a Or is there truth behind the prophecies… 200 to 900 AD and is known for its intricate long count before, and that kind of implies there it may sound cliche , but only time will tell the architecture, astronomical expertise, and would be time after that," said Collier. answers to one of life's greatest mysteries and sophisticated calendars. Their longest cyclical Only it's hard to know for sure because finally put an end to predicting the end of time. calendar began approximately 5,125 years ago most of the Mayan temples were destroyed Other apocalyptic predictions were and is set to end in 2012. when the Spanish conquered the ancient made in the year 2007, 2000, 1988, and many But is the end of their calendar, like the civilization in the 1400s. other years where authors and movie makers end of ours, signifying simply the start of a new "Nobody can come up with a good cashed in on their theories. We did a Google one? Or does it hold a greater significance… is consensus as to what they truly believed," said search for 2012 and the end of the world and got it the end of humanity? Collier. 40 million hits. "There was a temple that is reported to But Methodist Pastor Mike Lyons There are thousands more clips on You have specific details about what the Mayans feel DOES know what he believes, and it has Tube too. like the end of the world was going to be like. nothing to do with the Mayans. "He'll come like But that temple was destroyed," Bryan Collier a thief in the night and there will be a sense of CHECKOUT THE ALL NEW of the Dougherty County School System. shock and awe about his appearance." ‘X’ ZONE STORE FOR YOUR "There are a lot of good researchers that Pastor Lyons tells his congregation to ‘X’ ZONE RADIO & TV SHOW have done a lot of talking about this and even live everyday like Jesus is coming tomorrow. AND then nobody can come up with a good He says no one can predict the end of the world PARAGATORS GEAR! consensus as to what they truly believed," said as we know it, and he has scripture to back up Collier. his beliefs. Angie Kearbey is and always has been "It talks about the return of Christ and it apprehensive about December 21st, 2012. "I'll says nobody will know the day or the hour." be nervous, I'll be glad when the day is past." Although most Christians don't try and She says anytime a prediction is made predict an exact day and year like December about the end of the world, she gets a little antsy. 21st, 2012, they do believe the final days are "When it was 1999 I was very nervous then among us. too." "There are biblical passages that tell us how we She's referring to Y2K, when some will know the end of times. There will be people feared the world would come to a halt earthquakes, wars, etc. So we are having some when the clock struck midnight in the year of those things," said Horton. 2000. In 1988, when the book 88 Reasons Why She's referring to the many passages in the Rapture is in 1988 hit the shelves, the nation the Christian Bible that speak of earthquakes, panicked, too. And the timeline of failed end of like Matthew 24:7 which reads, "Nation will www.xzonestore.com world predictions could go on and on. rise against nation, and kingdom against "Throughout the years I hear people talk kingdom. And there will be famines and www.xzonestore.com about this, that THIS could be the end," said earthquakes in various places." www.xzonestore.com Leesburg First Methodist Pastor Mike Lyons. "I think that has something to do with it, www.xzonestore.com Religious leaders like Lyons aren't now they're more prevalent than ever," said www.xzonestore.com buying into what they call a "hype". Pastor Peterkin. www.xzonestore.com Lyons says authors and movie makers are A graph which shows the number of www.xzonestore.com cashing in, and taking advantage of the public's deadly and destructive Earthquakes with