Converging Lines of Evidence (continued)

of sinless Sabbath rest.  The most likely thesis is that the 6,000 year timeline began when Adam sinned, and the 4,000th year of sin arrived the year that Jesus entered the Jerusalem Temple at the age of 12 (or 12 1/2 years of age at Passover)--the day He began to publicly deal with the sin issue (Luke 2:41-52). What is not exactly clear is the birth year of Jesus, which has been debated by a wide variety of scholars who have suggested His birth occurred sometime between 6 BC to 2 BC. Of course, the traditional date is 0 BC, which would bring us to 2012 AD for the completion of the 6,000 year sin cycle.

Another guiding principle in the Hebrew Scriptures is the Year of Jubilee, which God instituted as recorded in Leviticus 25:8-54, just after the Exodus from Egypt.  It is possible that there will be 70 Jubilee cycles to the end of time.  The Israelites were demanded to keep Jubilee after counting 49 years, in the fiftieth year.  There are many possible dates/years offered for the Exodus (no specific date/year can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt), but if the Exodus occurred in 1489 BC it presents an interesting scenario.  The 70th Jubilee since the Exodus (70 Jubilees X 50 years = 3,500 years) would occur on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) in September, 2012. 

Mayan Calendar & St. Malachy Prophecy of Popes

There are two popular and widely publicized predictions that may also indicate we are nearing the climax of human history: the Mayan Calendar and the St. Malachy prophecy of popes. I want you to be aware of these, because they will be talked about more and more in the news in the next few years. However, these represent ideas and sources outside of the Word of God, and many around the world will turn to these worldly sources instead to God's Word and His Hebrew Calendar. 

The ancient Mayas invented the Mayan Calendar; it is said to be both remarkable and complex. The Mayas are known for their ancient pyramids, such as the Mayan Pyramid Chichen Itza, in Yucatan, Mexico.  The Mayan Calendar has a well known end-date of December, 2012.  There are many websites and articles devoted to the year 2012, as any search using "2012" shows.  One recent ABC article is Thousands Worldwide Prepare for the Apocalypse, Expected in 2012.

Last, the St. Malachy prophecy of popes. According to Catholic sources, in 1139, St. Malachy went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II. While at Rome, he received a strange vision of the future that unfolded a long list of pontiffs who were to rule the Catholic Church until the end of time.  According to this prophecy, Pope Benedict is the next to the last pope.  The prophecy says the last pope (next pope) will reign "in extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End."

Are these converging lines of evidence indicating that we are nearing the end of human history?  Very soon we will find out.