The End That Never Was: A History of Doomsday Predictions

History is filled with predictions of the end of the world, or doomsday prophecies, that have come and gone without incident. These predictions have been based on religious texts, astrological events, numerology, and even scientific theories. Every year it is the same. Someone will inevitably predict the end of the world. REM made light of this in a comical song they recorded called The End of the World As We Know It. In fact, here it is in September of 2025 and it is all over the internet that September 23, 2025, will be the end of the world as we know it. Their predictions are all wrapped up in all kinds of twisted logic about the Feast of Trumpets of the Jews. In August of 2011, a certain false prophet named Harold Camping, masquerading as a man of God predicted the end of the world and even had billboards put up all around the United States. It wasn’t the first time this guy did this. He also predicted the end of the world in 1984.  And most of us remember in 2012 it was said

the Mayan calendar ran out, indicating the end of the world would in 2012. Of course, on all these occasions, the date predicted came and went. There were a lot of mixed feelings when the dates came and went. Some were relieved. Some were laughing. Some were sorting through their feelings, not knowing what to say or think. I am sure many Christians got taunted by co-workers because they mistakenly group all Christians with every cult and false prophet that comes along that claims to be a Christian. That is nothing new, is it? When a TV evangelist falls to sin or gets caught fleecing the flock of their money, all Christians are blamed and grouped with them. It’s nothing new. The Crusaders of the 1100’s who called themselves Christians, killed Jews and anyone else who wasn’t Catholic. Farther back than that, when Rome caught fire, the Christians were blamed for that (Some say Nero started the fire on purpose so he could blame the Christians.). But you know what? This life ain’t no PR campaign. It isn’t about us looking good. Look what they did to Jesus and He did nothing but good.

How should the true believer react when false prophets spew their false prophecies?

How should the true believer react when false prophets spew their false prophecies? If you are a little fearful, get with God and pray till you’re sure of your salvation, then come what may, you can say, “Come Lord Jesus, I am ready. If you are a little persuaded by false prophets, twisted mathematics and scriptures taken out of context, let it persuade you to spend more time in the Word of God for yourself, so you will know what you believe and be fully persuaded (Romans 4:20-21) as to what you believe based on the Word of God, then no one will ever sway you.  “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; “ (Ephesians 4:14). Don’t be easily fooled remember even the scriptures warn that Satan appears as an angel of light to deceive the very elect of God, if possible (2 Corinthians 11:14) . That means he will appear in a form that is pleasing to us, something he hopes will tempt us to believe his lies. And be steadfast and use the opportunity to witness to your friends and co-workers. Show them you are not shaken or ashamed. Jesus said as the end of days approached, there would be an increase in false prophets (Matthew 24:5. Mark 13:6, Luke 21:8). And get busy with the work of the Kingdom. Look around you at those in need of a Savior, in need of food and shelter, in need of love, in need of a friend ….and be there for them. For as you do unto the least of these (OR NOT!) you do it unto Him (Matthew 25:32-46).

These are exciting times! We are truly living in the last days, but no one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return (Matthew 25:13). Read Matthew chapter 24 in its entirety also.  “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man will come.” (Matthew. 24:44).

Here is a list of some of the most notable failed end-of-the-world predictions:

Ancient to Pre-Modern Era

• The Essenes (A.D. 66-70): This ancient Jewish sect believed that the Jewish uprising against the Romans in Judea was the final “end-time battle” that would usher in the Messiah.
• The Great Flood (1524): A group of London astrologers, including Johannes Stöffler, predicted a cataclysmic flood on February 1, 1524. People panicked and fled to higher ground, but only a small drizzle occurred.
• 1666: The year 1666, containing the number of the Beast (666), was a source of fear for many Christians. The Great Fire of London, which occurred that year, seemed to confirm these fears, but the world did not end.
• The Dark Day of New England (1780): On May 19, 1780, the sky in New England turned pitch black in the middle of the day due to a combination of fog and smoke from forest fires. Many people believed it was the end of the world, but the darkness lifted by midnight.

19th and Early 20th Centuries

• The Prophet Hen of Leeds (1806): In Leeds, England, a hen began to lay eggs with the message “Christ is coming” written on them. A panic ensued until it was discovered that the hen’s owner had been inscribing the eggs with corrosive ink and reinserting them.
• Millerism (1843-1844): William Miller, a Baptist preacher, attracted a following of thousands of “Millerites” by predicting that Jesus Christ would return sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. When the prediction failed, he recalculated and set a new date for October 22, 1844, an event that became known as “The Great Disappointment.”
• Halley’s Comet (1910): When Halley’s Comet passed by Earth in 1910, some people feared that a poisonous gas (cyanogen) in its tail would wipe out all life on the planet. This led to a panic, with people buying “comet pills” and gas masks. The comet passed without any harm.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses (1914): The Jehovah’s Witness religion, founded in the 1870s, had long predicted that 1914 would be the year Christ’s kingdom would return to Earth and the world would come to an end. This did not happen, though the start of World War I that year was seen by some as a sign of the end.

Late 20th and 21st Centuries

• Heaven’s Gate (1997): This cult believed that a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet would take them to the next life. Tragically, 39 cult members committed mass suicide in March 1997, believing they would be transported to a higher existence.
• Y2K (2000): Widespread panic and fear centered on the turn of the millennium. The “Y2K bug” was a fear that computer systems would fail when the date changed from 1999 to 2000, causing global chaos. While some glitches occurred, the world’s technology did not collapse.
• Harold Camping (2011): A Christian radio broadcaster, Harold Camping, predicted the Rapture would occur on May 21, 2011, based on his biblical calculations. When that date passed, he revised his prediction for a “Judgment Day” on October 21, 2011, which also failed.
• The Mayan Calendar (2012): Based on a popular but incorrect interpretation of the Mayan Long Count calendar, many people believed the world would end on December 21, 2012. Hollywood movies and media speculation fueled this fear, but the date passed without any catastrophic event.

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