A Brief History of the End of the World by Jeremiah A. Gilbert
Throughout history, various individuals and groups have predicted apocalyptic events, often associated with religious, cultural, or pseudoscientific beliefs. I have used a few of these predictions to plan travel—if the end of the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012, then why not be in the area when it happens?
Similarly, Harold Camping’s original May 21, 2011, prediction happened to fall on a date when I would be in Israel. Armageddon, the site of the final battle between good and evil in the Bible, is located in the Jezreel Valley of northern Israel at the ancient city of Megiddo, so I made sure to visit on that day. Again, if it’s going to happen, why not have a front-row seat?
Following are some of the notable predictions for the end of the world. All dates are Common Era (CE). If you are reading this, then none have come to pass.
First Millennium CE
The belief that the world would end at the end of the first millennium, around the year 1000 CE, is tied to millennialism, the expectation of a significant change or apocalyptic event after 1000 years. This interpretation is often rooted in passages from the Book of Revelation in the Bible, particularly Revelation 20:1-6, which speaks of Christ's thousand-year reign. When the apocalypse did not occur in 1000 CE, some recalculated and extended the timeline, suggesting the end might happen in 1033, which marked 1000 years after the crucifixion of Christ. That didn’t happen either.
February 1, 1524
The prediction of a great flood on February 1, 1524, is a notable example of how astrology and superstition influenced public beliefs in the Renaissance era. The prediction was made by German astrologers, who believed that a rare conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in the constellation Pisces (a water sign) would result in catastrophic flooding. Pamphlets and other writings spread the prediction across Europe, amplifying public concern. Astrological forecasts were taken seriously at the time, even by educated elites. The flood prediction was also linked to apocalyptic fears, with some interpreting it as divine punishment for human sins.
September 2 – 6, 1666
The Great Fire of London, which swept through the City of London between 2 and 6 September 1666, fueled apocalyptic fears due to its association with the “number of the beast” from the Bible, 666, found in Revelation 13:18. This devastating event combined with religious and superstitious beliefs to create a climate of anxiety that the end of the world might be imminent. Just a year earlier, London had suffered the Great Plague of 1665, killing an estimated 100,000 people. The combined disasters seemed to confirm divine judgment for many.
October 22, 1844
Later known as the “Great Disappointment,” William Miller and his followers (Millerites) predicted Jesus Christ’s return on this date. Miller was a Baptist preacher in the early 19th century who studied the Bible, particularly the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation. He concluded that the Second Coming of Christ would occur sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, based on his interpretation of Daniel 8:14, which mentions “two thousand and three hundred days” before “the sanctuary be cleansed.” (King James Version). When the initial period passed without incident, Miller and his followers reinterpreted the prophecy. One follower, Samuel S. Snow, proposed October 22, 1844, as the final date, coinciding with the Day of Atonement in the Jewish calendar.
May 18, 1910
Panic arose due to Earth passing through Halley’s Comet’s tail, which some thought would poison the atmosphere. Although scientists knew that the gases in the tail were highly diffuse and posed no real threat, the public and some media outlets misunderstood or exaggerated this information. Newspapers and magazines published alarming stories about the potential for mass poisoning. Headlines suggested that the comet’s gases could suffocate life on Earth or contaminate the atmosphere. Some opportunists exploited the fear by selling “anti-comet pills,” gas masks, and even bottled “oxygen.”
December 21, 1954
Dorothy Martin, a Chicago housewife, claimed to receive messages through automatic writing from extraterrestrial beings she called the Guardians from the planet Clarion. According to Martin, the Guardians warned of an impending global flood that would destroy the Earth on December 21, 1954. Martin’s followers, known as the Seekers, believed they would be rescued by alien spacecraft before the flood. They prepared for their deliverance by abandoning their jobs, possessions, and relationships. Midnight came and went with no sign of aliens or a flood. The group was initially disheartened but did not abandon their beliefs. Martin claimed to have received a new message from the Guardians: the Earth had been spared because of the group's faith and dedication.
August 16 – 17, 1987
The Harmonic Convergence of 1987 was a highly publicized spiritual event promoted by José Argüelles, an American author, artist, and New Age thinker. Argüelles tied the event to the Mayan calendar and planetary alignments, predicting both a spiritual awakening and the potential for catastrophic changes. Argüelles was deeply influenced by the Mayan calendar and its long-count cycle. He interpreted the date August 16–17, 1987, as a pivotal moment marking the transition to a new era of consciousness. Argüelles warned that if humanity did not embrace this opportunity for spiritual renewal, it might face natural disasters or global upheaval.
January 1, 2000 (Y2K)
The Y2K bug sparked fears of global technological collapse and societal breakdown. Predictions ranged from minor inconveniences to catastrophic failures, including financial systems (banks miscalculating interest, loans, or failing altogether), infrastructure (power grids, water systems, and telecommunication networks shutting down), transportation (failures in air traffic control and public transit systems), and healthcare (medical devices and hospital systems malfunctioning). Media and public discourse amplified concerns, with some speculating that Y2K could lead to societal collapse, including food shortages, economic crashes, and even global conflict.
October 21, 2011
The predictions by Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster, regarding the Rapture on May 21, 2011, and later October 21, 2011, gained significant attention for their detailed claims and widespread promotion. These dates marked one of the most prominent modern apocalyptic prophecies, which captivated both followers and the media alike. Camping relied on specific passages from the Bible and his own mathematical formulas to predict May 21, 2011, as the day of the Rapture, and October 21, 2011, as the final destruction of the Earth.
He interpreted Genesis 7:4 (“Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth”) as a prophetic timeline, equating “seven days” to 7,000 years since the Great Flood. Camping and his followers launched a global campaign, spending millions on billboards, advertisements, and literature proclaiming the impending end. I enjoyed the day exploring Megiddo, Israel, where it didn’t even rain.
December 21, 2012
The date December 21, 2012, became one of the most widely discussed apocalyptic predictions of the 21st century, largely due to the interpretation of the Mayan calendar’s Long Count cycle. This date marked the end of a 5,126-year cycle in the Mayan Long Count calendar, which some believed signaled the end of the world or a significant transformation in human history.
The end of the Mayan calendar was a natural reset of the cycle, but it did not indicate the literal “end of the world.” The Maya themselves viewed the completion of a cycle as an occasion for renewal, not destruction. However, the popular misconception emerged that this event would signal an apocalypse or dramatic global change.
Doomsday preppers and survivalists stocked up on food, water, and supplies, fearing disasters ranging from natural catastrophes to nuclear war. Some religious groups linked the date to Biblical prophecy or interpreted it as a sign of Christ’s return or the start of an apocalyptic tribulation period. Indigenous Mayan communities, however, distanced themselves from the prophecy, explaining that the end of the calendar simply marked the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, not an apocalypse.
June 9, 2019
On this day, Ronald Weinland, leader of the Church of God – Preparing for the Kingdom of God, claimed that the Second Coming of Christ would occur shortly. This was part of a series of failed prophecies he had made. Weinland had previously predicted the end of the world several times, with earlier dates including 2008 and 2012. Despite his prior prophecies not being fulfilled, he continued to assert that the end times were imminent, with his followers preparing for catastrophic events. My wife and I flew from London to Tirana, Albania, on June 9, 2019. The world did not end.
Future Predictions
In late February and early March of 2003, media attention surged worldwide over a collection of largely unpublished and previously unknown documents, allegedly written by Isaac Newton, suggesting that he believed the world would not end before 2060. This revelation sparked widespread public fascination and quickly made headlines in several major newspapers. In the weeks that followed, television and online coverage amplified the story, leading to the production of several documentaries exploring not only Newton's 2060 prediction but also his lesser-known beliefs and practices.
The year 2239 is a lesser-known date in apocalyptic speculations, particularly within the Jewish tradition, based on interpretations of the Talmud and Jewish eschatological teachings. Some Jewish scholars, particularly within the realm of Kabbalah and mystical Jewish thought, have suggested that this year could mark the end of the current era or the beginning of a new, messianic age.
In contemporary Jewish thought, the idea of 2239 as a potential end date is often regarded as speculative, with some modern scholars arguing that it reflects a symbolic or allegorical understanding of time rather than a literal, fixed deadline. However, it resonates with certain Jewish mystical circles, where ideas about the Messianic Age and the end of days remain significant.
The Egyptian-American biochemist Dr. Rashad Khalifa was a controversial figure known for his research on the Quran, particularly focusing on the numerical code he believed was embedded within the text. Dr. Khalifa is most famous for his discovery of a pattern based on the number 19, which he argued was a divine mathematical code woven into the Quran. He suggested that this code was a feature of the Quran’s linguistic structure and held deeper meanings related to prophecy and the future. His interpretation of this code led him to predict that the world would end in 2280, based on his analysis of certain Quranic verses.
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All of these past and future predictions reflect humanity’s long-standing interest in the “end times,” blending spiritual, cultural, and scientific themes. Most predictions lack empirical evidence and often reveal more about human fears and imagination than the actual fate of the world. They can, however, provide some interesting travel ideas.
Megiddo, Israel
Megiddo, Israel
Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
