Published 2013 by CEP Copyright © Leanne Hill 2013 This resource is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the only parts of this book that may be copied without the written permission of the publisher are the photocopiable masters that are clearly indicated. These pages may only be reproduced for use in the Christian Education classes of the purchaser’s school or of the schools in which he or she has the responsibility for the provision of Christian education. National Library of Australia ISBN: 978-1-922000-60-6 Christian Education Publications PO Box A287, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Australia Phone: +61 2 8268 3344 Fax: +612 8268 3357 Email: sales@youthworks.net Web: www.cepstore.com.au PO Box 7073, Palmerston North, 4443 New Zealand Phone: + 64 6 357 0281 Fax: +64 6 357 0283 Email: sales@cepstore.co.nz Web: www.cepstore.co.nz Written by Leanne Hill Managing editor: Natasha Percy Theological editor: Jodie McNeill Cover: Chrisy Savvides—Neo One Design Vox pop videos: Tim Andrews Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc. CEP has, where appropriate, pursued permission to reproduce copyright text and images used in War of the Spirit World Teacher’s manual. However if you believe you hold copyright to some of this material and CEP has not requested your permission to use it, please contact us so that the situation can be remedied.
CONTENTS Using War of the Spirit World Teacher’s manual
5
Introduction
7
Chapter 1
The end of the world?
11
Chapter 2
A number, a beast and a battle
29
Chapter 3
Coming ‌ ready or not!
41
Chapter 4
Satan: master of disguise
47
Chapter 5
An angel to watch over me?
56
Chapter 6
Witches, vampires and things that go bump in the night
63
Chapter 7
Heaven and hell
73
Chapter 8
There is nothing weird about being a Christian
81
USING WAR OF THE SPIRIT WORLD TEACHER’S MANUAL Welcome to War of the Spirit World Teacher’s manual. This unit is designed for students in years 8–10, aged 13–16. It is intended to accompany the War of the Spirit World Student handbook. Much of the teaching about Jesus’ second coming, Satan and the supernatural is characterised by ambiguity, confusion and misinformation. This resource addresses these misconceptions and hopes to ground students in biblical teaching which will give them clear and helpful instruction in these topics. This product forms part of the range of high school resources developed for biblical studies classes in Christian schools and Special Religious Education classes in State schools. This material could easily be used in other contexts such as youth groups and camping or outdoor education programs. All Christian Education Publications (CEP) are grounded in the belief that God is the source of all truth and his word, the Bible, is where God reveals himself and his saving purposes. God has acted in Christ to achieve his saving purposes for humanity. CEP high school resources aim to help students to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith, respond to the claims of Christ and grapple with how to apply their faith to life. CEP high school resources cover the following six aspects of the biblical studies program, assisting students to:
ENGAGE WITH THE BIBLE Students will read the Bible and increase their understanding of what it says on this topic. They will also be encouraged to apply the Bible to their lives and will be introduced to the concepts of biblical theology.
KNOW THE GOSPEL Students will learn about the life and teaching of Jesus, come to appreciate the significance of his death and resurrection, and consider their own response to him.
EXAMINE DIFFERENT WORLD VIEWS In a safe and supportive environment students will be encouraged to question, discuss and critically evaluate other world views and practices.
Using War of the Spirit World Teacher’s manual | 5
LEARN ABOUT THEIR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE Students will have the opportunity to learn about key events and people who have impacted history as they have put their faith into action.
EXAMINE ETHICAL ISSUES Students will be encouraged to see the relationship between faith and behaviour as they examine a range of personal and public ethical issues.
HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH Students will be encouraged to grow in their personal knowledge of God and in their worship, trust and obedience in the context of Christian community and through opportunities to serve others.
Outcomes By the end of this unit students will:
KNOW ABOUT: • • • • • •
BE ABLE TO: •
Unit aim War of the Spirit World aims to give students biblical teaching on the second coming, Satan, angels, the supernatural, and heaven and hell. It is hoped that such teaching will equip students to evaluate these topics critically when they encounter them in various contexts, such as the media, (including movies, music and social networks) and casual conversations with friends. While the aim is not to make students experts on these topics, it is envisaged that they will be well prepared to detect misinformation when these ideas are being discussed.
• •
appreciate that the Bible gives us an understanding of certain elements about end times, but does not give us exact dates and intricate details recognise that God deals with his creation justly understand that God is sovereign and therefore we do not need to fear the evil one.
HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO: • •
• • •
6
the end of the world and Jesus’ second coming the significance of numbers, particularly 666 the role of Satan and his demons, and the role of angels heaven and hell the truth about supernatural beings the assurance we can have if Jesus is our Saviour.
engage in group discussion and draw conclusions about God’s actions in the world discern incorrect worldly views of the supernatural in contrast with the teaching of the Bible understand that a Christian can have assurance of eternal life draw hope for the future from God’s infallible word listen to and appreciate the opinions of their peers.
INTRODUCTION There are some teachings in the Bible that are often considered to be too difficult, too ‘out there’ and much too controversial to consider teaching to young people. However we should never underestimate the ability youth have to engage in the obscure and the downright weird. They want answers to the perplexing and if the rate of TV shows and movies is any indication of their obsession with the supernatural, then we need to present them with an alternative reading: God’s reading. In short, just what is God’s perspective on where this world is heading, on the occult, on angels and demons? This unit aims to answer these questions. It is often said that we live in uncertain times. No doubt that has been true of every generation. However, the Bible answers this uncertainty by providing us with a hope which is not ‘pie in the sky’, but which is grounded in the sure promises of Jesus. He assured us that he will be with us ‘even to the end of the age’. While doomsday prophets seek to ascertain the end of the world, the Bible instead reassures us that God is sovereign and that he is overseeing its makeover. Romans 8:22 tells us that the world is groaning to be free from suffering and decay. This ultimate makeover, or renewal, gives us hope. Chapter 1 of War of the Spirit World examines the ‘end of the world’ predictions, while Chapter 3 explores the return of Jesus, the King. What do Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Osama bin Laden and George Bush all have in common? They have all been alleged to be the antichrist! There has been debate over the number 666 ever since John put quill to papyrus and the debate doesn’t seem to be subsiding. Many have tried to decipher this number, and much attention has been given to the beast in Revelation, and what it might represent. Chapter 2 deals with these tricky topics and tries to make meaning out of these dazzling and mindboggling images. A teacher recently said, ‘I wish I had known what the Bible said about the occult when I was in Year 8. I wouldn’t have dabbled in ouija boards if I had known how dangerous they were’. This danger is addressed by CS Lewis in his book The Screwtape Letters. He gives us this warning:
There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.1 1. Lewis, CS 1976 The Screwtape Letters, Flaming H Revell Company, Old Tappan.
Introduction | 7
The challenge, therefore, is to inform the student without creating undue fear or an ‘unhealthy interest’ in the unknown. While it is, by nature, tricky, this challenge should not be shirked and put into the ‘too hard basket’; it needs to be addressed if we hope to mould a generation which will stand apart from the mindsets they encounter in episodes of Charmed or the Twilight saga. Chapters 4 and 6, which examine Satan and the supernatural, are designed to help with this challenge. The Western mind is characterised by individualism. This is fed by ads which tell us that the most important person in the world is ourselves. So it should come as no surprise when the idea of our own personal angel to watch over us appeals to this mindset. It is comforting to think that an angel has been assigned to each of us and is looking out for us, keeping us away from danger and working for our interests. Chapter 5 gives biblical teaching on angels which addresses these false premises. If you have been to a funeral lately, you may have noticed that they have taken on ‘a life of their own’ (paradox intended). They are no longer simple farewells but have become extravagant productions complete with slide shows, doves and balloons. What used to be a sobering reminder of the brevity of life has become almost a party. We just don’t like the thought that death might mean that we will suffer beyond the grave. Chapter 6 explores this thinking as it discusses heaven and hell. Many of these ‘way out’ teachings are not so ‘way out’ when properly understood in their biblical contexts. While these ideas may be confronting for some, it is hoped that the young person will be encouraged to trust a God who is superintending world events, who has a future for them and who will work according to his holy and loving nature. The last chapter challenges students to not waste their lives, but to put God’s kingdom first and to make their time on earth count. Those young people who are already living with ‘eternity in view’ will be encouraged to ‘keep on keeping on’; those who are yet to take that step will be challenged about the sanest decision they could ever make: the decision to follow Jesus. A version of this introduction features at the beginning of the Student handbook. Encourage students to read this if you feel it would be helpful to give them a brief idea of the topics you’ll be covering in War of the Spirit World.
8
CD-ROM The CD-ROM that comes with this Teacher’s manual contains: • • • •
supporting PowerPoints for each lesson that complement the Student handbook PDF version of the Teacher’s manual for you to download and print as required PDF versions of the black line masters for each chapter video clips of vox pop questions on each topic. These are a great way to get students thinking at the beginning of the class.
The War of the Spirit World Teacher’s manual This teaching resource gives you the flexibility to choose the activities that will work best for your class. It is not expected that all activities will be attempted, but the different exercises do cater for the different interests and abilities your students are bound to have. Extension activities are included both to enhance and challenge student learning. Discussion is a key learning tool of War of the Spirit World as it is through question, answer and engaging with ideas that much of students’ learning will occur. If the topic considered is generating considerable discussion, ‘go with the flow’ and let that dominate the lesson. Rigid adherence to the handbook may stifle interest and prevent students from engaging with the content. It is essential that all students feel that their questions and concerns are valid, so giving them adequate time will help them to maintain interest and enthusiasm. Small group work is also a feature of the program as this encourages the class to delve into the Bible, discover what is said on the topic and listen to each other.
Mega moment This is the key point for the whole chapter. This concept should be emphasised and is what you want your students to remember.
Vox pops These are videos a couple of minutes long which feature vox pops of teens giving their opinions of the issues that will be considered in each chapter. These are designed to be Mind grabbers, which get students thinking, and perhaps pondering ‘How would I answer that question?’. These quick grabs are designed to be used at the beginning of your lesson, but feel free to use them at any stage.
PowerPoint Indicates where the PowerPoint slides are available to help you to display information.
Background notes This contains background information for your benefit to help you to understand and explain where the chapter is taking the class and to outline the key ideas to be examined and discussed.
Lesson structure Each lesson is self-contained and incorporates the following features: • •
• •
Mind grabber (including Vox pops)—exercises to get students thinking. Student handbook—the main chapter where learning occurs through group work, activities and class discussion. This also includes ‘What to cover if you’re short on time’. Wrap-up—ideas for concluding the learning Deep probe—extension activities covering a range of options, which may be used if lessons are longer, or if you have more than one lesson a week.
MIND GRABBER This chapter includes activities to grab and hold the students’ interest and to get them thinking about the key issues in each chapter. Suggestions given range from video clips to brainstorming or vox pop questions. As these are suggestions, feel free to use your own ‘hook’.
STUDENT HANDBOOK In this chapter, students engage in a variety of activities to focus their minds on the Mega moment. They may be assigned Bible passages for group or whole class discussion. They record findings in their Student handbooks, report to the class or respond individually. All activities are designed to have students consider the biblical text carefully and then respond through verbal or written communication. It may also be appropriate to pursue the topic in more detail if students show an interest and need to have their questions answered. It would then be reasonable to extend the chapter to two lessons. This component is presented in this manual as a double-page spread providing you with a mini-version of the corresponding Student handbook pages. This makes linking suggested activities to the Student handbook easier. The Student handbook features a two-page introduction for students to read if they wish. This introduction outlines the topics students will be looking at over the curriculum.
WRAP-UP This is linked to the Mega moment and reminds you to conclude the lesson with the key thought and its implications for the students. It is essential that a component of the lesson is devoted to a challenge or personal reflection. No lesson should be so content-based that there is no time for considering what has been presented. If you are able to engage with students via an online forum, such as Moodle, then it would be appropriate to encourage students to share their thoughts and pose their questions via this medium.
DEEP PROBE These extension activities build on the Mega moment of each chapter. They can be found in each chapter of the Teacher’s manual. It is important to read ahead and plan for these, selecting the activities that are most suitable to your time frame and students. There are a variety of options and many of the activities come with black line masters (BLMs) for you to copy and use.
Introduction | 9
Icons The following icons appear in the Student handbook to distinguish between the types of activities that are featured. Below is an outline of what these icons mean. This shows you where students will need to look at the Bible, usually to answer questions. This suggests helpful questions for the class to discuss. This provides questions for students to think about on their own at a deeper level, with space to write down their thoughts. This shows you where you will show War of the Spirit World PowerPoints to the class. They will need to refer to these PowerPoints to be able to complete these activities. This indicates class activities that are designed to help students learn and grasp the concepts tackled in each chapter.
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CHAPTER 1
THE END OF THE WORLD? Mind grabber • • • •
Vox pops Movie clip—2012 Group work investigation Brainstorm
MEGA MO
MENT
The earth is in the p of being renew rocess ed.
Student handbook • • • • • • •
The end of the world? Bible probe Get the picture of God’s big plan God’s first Eden/God’s renewed Eden So is there an end of anything? God keeps his people: past, present and future Testimony of God’s provision today: Bethany Hamilton
Wrap-up • •
God is giving us time to turn to him. God wants everyone to repent—read 2 Peter 3:9 from a Bible.
Deep probe • • •
Letter to the editor Digging deeper Lyrics of despair/Lyrics of hope
The end of the world? | 11
Background notes The Bible reveals God’s plan for his world, and the Christian can take much comfort knowing that God is at work, especially in hard times. For we are told in Romans 8:21 ‘that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God’. Many have supposed that the ‘liberation’ of this earth means its total destruction, yet we see in God’s redemptive dealings with his people that this is not his ‘modus operandi’. From Noah through to Moses, and then to the captivity of Israel, we see God reserving for himself a remnant. Noah went through the waters and was safely delivered to a world that had undergone terrible judgement. God is faithful to his promises and will deliver his people and give them a world where he will dwell: that is, the new heaven and earth. This chapter explores the misconception of ‘the end of the world’ and explains to students the certain hope found in the Bible that God will make all things new. Jesus’ promise that he will be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20) gives us the assurance we need, but also implies that the age has a time limit. Students are encouraged to see that ‘now is the day of salvation’ (2 Corinthians 6:2) and are challenged accordingly. By exploring how God worked, is working and will work, the student will understand God’s redemptive work in his world and will be able to have the assurance that God does all things well.
Mind grabber Vox pops Play the Vox pops clip for Chapter 1, which features the following questions: • ‘Do you think the world will end? How?’ • ‘If the world was going to end tomorrow, how would you live today?’ Feel free to use these to get students thinking, or perhaps ask students how they think they would answer these questions at this stage.
Movie clip–2012 Show the trailer for the movie 2012, http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=MXTqXpY1xz0 (viewed August 28, 2013). Watch from 0.35—3.04 minutes. Explain that this trailer is one interpretation of a prophecy by the Mayan civilisation that the world would end in 2012. Encourage students to reflect on this suggestion and discuss the different reactions people around the world had as December 21 approached. Look up some news stories about the Mayan predictions, such as ‘End of the world hype fizzles as Mayan calendar ends’ from the ABC News website, http://www.abc. net.au/news/2012-12-21/end-of-the-world-due-tohappen/4439348 (viewed August 28, 2013).
Group work investigation Photocopy BLM1 ‘The top ten weirdest doomsday predictions for 2012’ and allocate one prediction to each group of two or three students. They should read the prediction and report to the class what it says. After listening to all ten, students can vote for the one they think is the weirdest. Show the list of predictions in PowerPoint slide 1 so that students can vote when their choice is referred to. Complete this activity if more than one lesson each week is allocated to biblical studies.
Brainstorm Discuss any theories students have heard about the world ending. Have students write these on the board. Ask them if they think the world will end, and why/why not.
12
Student handbook
THE END OF THE WORLD? This chapter is a panorama of God’s big story and moves very quickly from creation to Jesus’ appearance. Try not to get bogged down in detail. You might wish to indicate that Jesus is the focus of God’s story and all of God’s dealings with mankind were to prepare the way for his coming. For the teacher who is not familiar with this idea and would like some background reading, Vaughan Roberts’ God’s Big Picture is an excellent and very accessible resource on this concept. Divide the class into groups and have them work through the text assigned to them. See BLM 2 for photocopiable Bible passages. Encourage all students to record their groups’ findings. The main concepts students should have are: 1. God made the world perfect and placed humans in it. 2. Humans sinned by disobeying God and were removed from the garden.
3. Humanity continued to rebel, and the result was God judging the world through the flood and choosing one man, Noah, to continue his relationship with mankind. 4. Jesus is the good news for humanity, for he is the means by which our broken relationship with God is restored. 5. Jesus warns of what will happen before his second appearance. 6. God renews the garden by establishing his kingdom on earth through his King, Jesus.
BIBLE PROBE Assign numbers to groups of students so that each group has one passage to tackle. Have them work through the Bible text assigned to them. If you don’t have Bibles, see BLM 2 for photocopiable passages. Encourage all students to record their group’s findings.
The end of the world? | 13
GET THE PICTURE OF GOD’S BIG PLAN
SO IS THERE AN END OF ANYTHING?
In this exercise the students are encouraged to read the text carefully in order to draw an image or graphic. A series of symbols might be helpful if students would like a more challenging exercise here. This activity is designed to help them to picture God’s movement from creation to renewal. Perhaps you could use a program such as Comic Life to enable students to produce electronic versions on their computers.
Emphasise the comfort we can find in Jesus’ words that he is with us and will be until the world ends.
GOD’S FIRST EDEN/GOD’S RENEWED EDEN Use PowerPoint slide 2 to help students to fill in the First Eden and Renewed Eden boxes.
14
GOD KEEPS HIS PEOPLE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE This chapter is intended to encourage Jesus’ followers by showing them that God: • has protected his people in the past while he judged those who weren’t following him • continues to protect his people today • has given his people his Spirit to give them confidence rather than fear of the future. If you have time, further discussion could be made on whether there is a place today for fear about the end of the world in our lives, or in the world around us.
TESTIMONY OF GOD’S PROVISION TODAY: BETHANY HAMILTON For your own background information, you can watch Bethany Hamilton’s testimony yourself at http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/ bethany-hamilton/ Perhaps you could consider showing this clip to your students as well. In addition to this, Bethany Hamilton’s website, bethanyhamilton.com, features more indepth information about Bethany’s story, as well as photos and videos, and information about Soul Surfer, the autobiography she wrote which was later made into a film. You might like to enlighten students about the remainder of Bethany’s story. Just one month after
she was attacked, she went back into the water and returned to surf competition two months later. In a little more than a year after she lost her arm, she won first place in the Explorer Women’s division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships, her first national title. She is now a professional surfer, who continues to share her story. Note: the I am Second website, iamsecond.com, features several other Christian testimonies from people who have faced different types of struggles and speak of God’s presence with them through their trials. You might like to share one of these if you have extra time. Be sure to watch the videos beforehand to ensure they are appropriate for your class.
WHAT TO COVER IF YOU’RE SHORT ON TIME Leave out ‘God keeps his people: past, present and future’ and ‘Testimonies of God’s people today’. The main points are covered in the first two pages.
The end of the world? | 15
Wrap-up Make sure your students understand why God is delaying his Son’s return: he wants many more to enter his kingdom. Refer to 2 Peter 3:9 if desired. Do emphasise that this delay won’t last forever and a time has been set for everything to be made new again.
Deep probe Letter to the editor: It’s not the end of the world! In 2011 some say Harold Camping gave Christians a bad name when he predicted that the world would end on May 21. He then revised it to October 21 when the end hadn’t occurred. Distribute BLM 3 to students. This activity will prompt students to examine reactions to these ‘prophecies’ and then respond with their own letter.
Digging deeper In this activity, the students will engage with Bible passages which speak of the end of the age and the age to come. This activity gives them a deeper understanding of ‘end of age’ terminology. Copy BLM 4 and distribute to students. Below are some concepts which the students should include: • Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43: images of wheat and weeds are ways of describing those who follow Jesus (the wheat) and those who have rejected him (the weeds). The harvest occurs when Jesus returns. The explanation in verses 36–43 makes very clear the identity of the one sowing the weeds—Satan. • Matthew 13:47–52: The image of the good fish and bad fish further emphasises that there will be a separation of the righteous from the unrighteous. • Luke 18:29–30: Eternal life is a feature of the new age. • Luke 20:34–36: People will not be married in the new age and they will not die. The concluding summary should mention such points as God showing his love by restoring the earth to what it once was. God loves his people so much that he wants to give them a place where there will no longer be death and where evil no longer exists.
16
Lyrics of despair/Lyrics of hope Students examine Matchbox 20’s lyrics for ‘How far we’ve come’ and analyse it for its despairing view of life and the world. To source these lyrics, visit http:// www.metrolyrics.com/how-far-weve-come-lyricsmatchbox-20.html. Distribute BLM 5. To get the students started, point to such phrases as ‘Now I wonder what my life is gonna mean if it’s gone‘ and ‘Where you going man, you know the world is headed for hell?’. These all highlight that the world seems to be heading for destruction and that this throws up questions about the meaning of what we see and experience now. The song does not offer any hope for the future. Students are given the challenge to compose their own lyrics, but ones which offer hope.
Sources General Source: Dickson, J and Clarke, G 2007, 666 and All That, Blue Bottle Books, Sydney. Book: Jackman, D 2004 Teaching the Christian Hope, Christian Focus Publications, Fearn, 2004. Book: Roberts, V 2002 God’s Big Picture, Inter-Varsity Press, Nottingham. BLM 1 : Article: Gayathri, A 2012, ‘2012 Mayan calendar: Top ten weirdest doomsday predictions’, International Business Times, January 3, viewed May 1, 2013, <http://www.ibtimes.com/ articles/275504/20120103/2012-mayan-calendar-top10-weirdest-doomsday.htm>. Used with permission. BLM 3: Letter: Brunelli, M 2011 ‘Letter to the editor: Camping, false prophets cannot divine doomsday’, Daily Times Delaware County, May 16, viewed May 1 2013, <http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/05/16/ opinion/doc4dd08fe33a651294648851.txt. Used with permission. Letter: Hedrick, L 2011 ‘Letter to the editor: Harold Camping’ Landon Hedrick Blogs, July 13, viewed May 1 2013, <http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/05/16/ opinion/doc4dd08fe33a651294648851.txt>. Used with permission. BLM 5: Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Kyle Cook, Bryan Yale, ‘How far we’ve come’, Exile on Mainstream, Atlantic Records, United States. Quotes sourced from http://www.metrolyrics.com/ how-far-weve-come-lyrics-matchbox-20.html
Chapter 1 | BLM 1:1
TOP
10
WEIRDEST DOOMSDAY PREDICTIONS FOR 2012 A roundup of the weirdest and most widely circulated theories surrounding the 2012 doomsday prediction In your group read, discuss and report back on the prediction allocated to you.
1 PLANET NIBIRU
This is a planet-sized object which, according to believers, was set to collide with the Earth in 2012. It is under NASA surveillance, which the US Government is keeping top secret. Planet Nibiru, sometimes referred to as Planet X, is the brainchild of Nancy Leider, founder of the website ZetaTalk. She describes herself as a ‘contactee’ who can receive messages from extra-terrestrial life. Leider has said a collision with Planet Nibiru would destabilise Earth’s pole, which would subsequently displace the Earth’s crust. Scientists have rebuffed the idea of the invisible Planet Nibiru, and have successfully debunked the conspiracy theories surrounding its existence and trajectory.
2 MASS EXTINCTION
Some doomsday theorists say that there is a pattern to the mass extinctions that have occurred over the ages in Earth’s history. It is being speculated that the mass extinctions occur every 26 million years, due to the vertical oscillations made by the Sun as it orbits the galactic centre, regularly passing through the galactic plane. The shift in the Sun’s position increases the likelihood of galactic collisions leading to the mass extinction of species. However, scientists reject the theory saying that the supposed ‘alignment’ takes place over tens of millions of years, and could never be timed to an exact date. Scientific evidence, based on the Sun’s galactic position, doesn’t suggest any sort of ‘apocalyptic realignment’, at least for another ten million years.
3 DEATH OF BETELGEUSE
4 ALIEN INVASION
Speculators have tried to connect the impending death of a red supergiant star named Betelgeuse to the final stages of the Earth. Even though the Betelgeuse is set to undergo a supernova at some point in the future, it can never be a threat to the Earth, as the star is approximately 600 light years away, thus making it a scientific impossibility for the Earth to be affected by the explosion.
Conspiracy theorists claim that SETI, a collective name for search for extraterrestrial intelligence, has detected three large alien spacecrafts due to arrive on the Earth in 2012. However, in January 2011, Seth Shostak, chief astronomer of SETI, issued a press release debunking the claims.
17
Chapter 1 | BLM 1:2
5 GEOMAGNETIC REVERSAL
6 GOD’S DESTRUCTIVE INCARNATION
7 ESOTERIC FRENCH VILLAGE
8 TIMEWAVE ZERO
9 WEB BOT PREDICTION
10 8 PHOTON BELT
18
Another idea tied to the end of the world in 2012 involves pole shift or geomagnetic reversal, a term used to refer to the reversal of the Earth’s magnetic south and north poles. Proponents claim that the reversal could be triggered by a massive solar flare releasing the energy equivalent to 100 billion atomic bombs. Scientists reject the claims, saying that geomagnetic reversals span up to 7000 years and don’t start on a particular date. Evidence suggests that the “solar maximum” has nothing to do with geomagnetic reversals, which is driven by forces confined to the Earth.
Indian mythology says that Lord Kalki, or the destructive incarnation of Lord Vishnu, will degenerate the Earth in 2012, marking the end of the final phase of time in Earth’s current cycle, known as the Kali Yuga. Over 15 million people believe that Lord Kalki has already been born, in 1998, and is preparing to destruct Earth this year (in 2012).
The small village of Bugarach, which became popular in the 1960s and 70s with the hippie movement, is being touted as the only place on the Earth that would be spared in the 2012 apocalypse. The New Age believers claim that the local mountain, Pic de Bugarach, possesses mystical powers to save thousands of people who may swarm the village to avoid death and destruction. In 2011, the local mayor, Jean-Pierre Delord, said that the town would be overwhelmed by the visitors in 2012, and suggested he may call in the army.
Terence McKenna, an American philosopher and psychonaut, devised a numerological formula that claims that the universe would reach ‘Infinite Complexity’ in 2012. He calculated the end date as November 2012 based on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. However, he later revised the hypothesis to match with the end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012.
A computer program known by the name Web Bot Project predicted doomsday in 2012 based on internet chatter. Even though the programmers have claimed that the Bot has successfully predicted several natural disasters, critics reject the claims saying that internet chatter may predict manmade disasters like a stock market crash, but not natural disasters.
According to beliefs linked largely to the New Age movement, belts or rings of photons are going to envelop the Earth causing apocalypse or a spiritual awakening. However, scientists say that it is physically impossible for photons to form belts, as photons always travel in straight lines.
Chapter 1 | BLM 2:1
GENESIS 4
2:4–9
GENESIS
This is the account of the heavens and the
17
3:17–24
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your
earth when they were created, when the LORD
wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I
God made the earth and the heavens.
commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
5
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth
and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD
through painful toil you will eat food from
God had not sent rain on the earth and there
it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce
6
was no one to work the ground, but streams
thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat
came up from the earth and watered the whole
the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your
surface of the ground. Then the LORD God
brow you will eat your food until you return to
formed a man from the dust of the ground and
the ground, since from it you were taken; for
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and
dust you are and to dust you will return.”
7
the man became a living being. 8
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in
the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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Adam named his wife Eve, because she would
become the mother of all the living. 21
The Lord God made garments of skin for
Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23
So the Lord God banished him from the
Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
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