The year 2012 is only seven months away.

According to many people, this will mark the beginning of the end of the world as we know it. But what exactly does that mean? What exactly is predicted to happen in 2012?

Does it mean the planet is on the threshold of some galactic catastrophe? Or does it mean that the human race is on the threshold of a positive transformation that will touch our minds, bodies, and even our souls?

Or does it mean something else entirely?

The Controversy Over 2012

At present, there are tons of sites across the web that focus on the 2012 prophecy. These sites can all trace their roots back to the Mayan Long Count Calendar.

This calendar is a non-repeating, base-20 calendar that identifies a day by counting the number of days that have passed since the date of creation. For the Mayan, the date of creation equates to August 11, 3114 BCE on the Gregorian calendar.

August 11, 3114 BCE is the date. This date also was the start of the present 5,125-year cycle which is set to end on December 21, 2012.

This cycle is based on the Mayan study of astronomy. The Mayans realized the earth wobbles as it spins on its axis. This wobbling rotation causes the stars’ patterns of movement to drift gradually in the sky in a 5,125-year cycle.

With this information in hand, along with their knack for mathematics, the Mayan came up with their Long Count Calendar around 355 B.C.

The Translation of the Mayan Long Count Calendar

The Long Count Calendar was rediscovered and translated in the 1950s. However, it was a 1966 interpretation of the Mayan Long Count Calendar that seems to have taken the world by storm.

In 1966, Michael D. Coe wrote in his book, The Maya, that “there is a suggestion … that Armageddon would overtake the degenerate peoples of the world and all creation on the final day of the 13th b’ak’tun.”

According to the Mayan Long Count Calendar, we are currently in the 13th b’ak’tun.

So, the big question is: What happens on the final day of the 13th b’ak’tun?

Theories About Armageddon

It seems everyone has their own idea about what is predicted to happen in 2012.

Since the Mayan were such astute astronomers, many people believe that the earth is doomed to end in a cosmic catastrophe. In particular, an interplanetary crash between Earth and Nirbiru, a planet supposedly discovered by the Sumerians.

However, there is no real science behind this idea or most of the other astronomical predictions related to Mayan prophecy. So much so, that NASA has even created a websitedebunking most of these “predictions.”

However, there are others who believe that December 21, 2012 will not mark the destruction of the planet, but rather some sort of spiritual change.

This idea comes with a lot of criticism. Most Christians seem to believe that there is absolutely no biblical evidence that the 2012 Mayan prophecy represents an accurate prediction of doomsday or spiritual enlightenment.

Many people try to relate 2012 with Hinduism. However, traditional Hindu scriptures do not agree to this linkage either. The 2012 prophecies do not coincide with the Hindu belief of Satya Yuga and Kali Yuga, the beginning and ending of the universe.

Will the World End in 2012?

So, what can we expect to happen on December 21, 2012?

For once, it seems that science and religion is on the same page. Even modern-day Mayans do not apply any real significance to the Long Count Calendar. There are no precautions or preparations being made in the scientific or religious realms.

However, mainstream science and religion has been known to be wrong before. The only thing that is certain is that on December 21, 2012 the winter solstice will occur. Beyond that, we will just have to wait and see.