The television commercial for the end-of-the-world extravaganza “2012” - complete with images of the earth being covered in a flood - prompted the following theological discussion between my 7 and 4-year-old daughters.
“Look at all the water,” the younger one observed, her big eyes even larger than usual.
“Don’t worry,” the older one reassured her. “God promised Noah that would never happen again.”
I wonder what she would have said if she actually saw the movie. “2012” embraces the Noah reference and even tries to one-up the Bible story – the climax features a whole fleet of arks. Considering, as my daughter pointed out, this is a direct rebuttal of God’s covenant, could “2012” be considered blasphemous?
Perhaps, but it’s hard to get worked up about yet another cheesy disaster movie from noted landmark basher Roland Emmerich (the Statue of Liberty took a hit in the director’s “The Day After Tomorrow,” while the White House is only one of the iconic victims here.)
The movie did make me wonder, though: Is there any value in surmising the apocalypse?
This isn’t only a secular pastime. Sure, popular fiction often deals in this sort of stuff – this month we’ll also get the big-screen version of Cormac McCarthy’s bleak “The Road” – but many Christians have made it a hobby, as well. God seems to have felt that Revelation provided all the information we need about the end times, but the often mystifying visions in that book only feed our appetites for destruction. We pore over those passages interpreting symbols, finding contemporary parallels and even, in some cases, trying to make God’s Word follow a human calendar.
Can anything fruitful come of all this? Can it simply be written off as an understandable curiosity about the future, or is there a danger in imagining, as “2012” does, the end of the world as we know it?
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Comments (6)
Peter: “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”
Isaiah: “For I will shake the heavens. The earth will move from its place when the Lord of Heaven’s Armies displays his wrath in the day of his fierce anger.”
Jeremiah “The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,' "
Zephaniah: “In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."
And of course the apocalyptic theme is woven throughout Daniel, it’s a key teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, its a topic that Paul addresses and is the main subject of the book of Revelations.
Some might say that dwelling on the end of the world is unhealthy, but I think in reality we are averse to dealing with the subject in the Church. There are benefits to contemplating the end. Peter says, “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along.” John even pronounced a special blessing upon the readers of his Revelation.
Of course, being as good a steward of this earth as possible is presently our calling. But it’s also important to remember that this world is fallen and despite our best efforts this world will never be what it was intended to be until God destroys and remakes it. There is an inner awareness deep in the psyche of every culture that acknowledges the earth is broken, we have sinned and a day of reckoning is due. Every culture seems to have its doomsday myth.
In commenting about the popularity of end time movies and prophecies, Alexander Riley, a sociology professor at Bucknell University says, "All of us deep down know that something's wrong with the world and with us as people," he says. "There is something wired into us, or placed in there by God, that says, 'Every one of you is going to have to deal with the issues that ... aren't right in your life.'
In other words, deep down we know we deserve judgement, that's why these films are popular. Despite how cheesy and predictable 2012 may be, these kinds of films can reawaken in us an awareness of the holiness of God, the power of God, the brevity of life and our need for salvation.
I think movie people stole ideas from the bible but I wouldn't picture them as people concerned with God and Jesus but I could be wrong.
Espcially if the Alimighty dollar comes first,it depends on the motive.
I wonder if it was made out of greed to sell a movie.
Fear sadly has been used to sell things and propaganda ideas.
Fear makes me not trust God and Jesus.
So this end of the world stuff, never seems that helpful to me, except to make me feel happy I have God and Jesus to lay on.
To inspire me to get closer to God and Jesus so I don't have to worry.
Except personal responsibilty to take care of the planet useing the 4 Rs. So I wouldn't hurry distruction period even on a small scale that could add up and not stab the good Earth God created as a gift to me and us.
The religion tell us to pray to God for forgiveness for our sins (dark illusory realities) and if we don't God will condemn us to hell fire. That is false. The churches have become so corrupt with sex scandals, money laundering and fear tactics that it is hard to rely on churches. The bible has been indoctrinated that most portion claiming God is a destructive God and Jesus will fly through the skies to save us from our dark illusions we continue to create as Christan's - all points to fear tactics and lies. Do the maths!
God is a spirit and light energy. Light energy attracts and does not destroy. Only dark energy destroys. Therefore God does not destroy.
Humans create their dark illusory energies/realities/karmas and are responsible for their actions. If they dwell in dark energy, the dark energy will destroy them and if they dwell in light energy, the light energy will take them to the path of ascension (return to the light/God).
Our ultimate goal is to return to the light (God) and the ascension process is through dimensions. We are currently in 3/4 dimension and moving to 5th dimension.
2012 is not a doom and gloom like most people think. Its a change of a cycle (5th dimension) which is already ongoing. A new cycle begins in 2012. The Mayas, Religion, and Scientists knew about it so its not a secret even though that portion was removed from the bible.
First, I will say to Christians to forget about Mayas, 2012, and new age stuff. Also, forget about sin, evil, devil, Satan etc. All these are words created by Religion to keep humanity in state of fear and panic so you pay more tithe and offerings to the churches. They do exist in a different way that is kept secret from the bible.
Focus on light energy, God/Jesus representing the light and not a destroyer. The dark representing Lucifer and the destroyer. Illusion such as money, materialism, ego etc as allowed by God to wake us up. Duality as activities we create by combing light and dark energy. We are responsible for the duality/karma we create.
With that in focus, research about consciousness, frequency, vibration, unconditional love, duality, illusion, dimensions, spirituality etc
Once,you have done this, you will get a clear picture of what will happen in 2012, where you stand, what your roles are and where you are going in 2012.
In addition to this, try to have an open mind about benevolent Extra- terrestrials as they have a role to play in our consciousness. They are not God's or angels but our knowledge about their existence as God's creation helps us in our awakening and consciousness. This is why their existence has been kept secret from humanity.
If after you have read this and done the research and you still don't feel it is necessary to welcome the fact that 2012 is a new beginning for humanity, and one that is divine by God, then you just wait and see what will transpire in a couple of years but please stop criticisms. of those who have woken up to these facts and are preparing for the coming changes.