http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/12/20/21122012-has-our-time-finally-come-clerics-pooh-pooh-doomsday-predictions/
21/12/2012: Has our time finally come? – Clerics pooh-pooh doomsday predictions Doomsayers have declared that the world is going to end today, Dec 21, 2012. Psy, the famous pop singer from Korea, is said to have completed what has been termed ‘a doomsday prophecy.’ Several videos have emerged and are being circulated on the Internet through social networking media, displaying Psy’s famous song ‘Gangnam Style’ and portraying it as the ultimate fulfillment of a prophecy that people have associated with Nostradamus. And why should we believe Nostradamus? A notorious psychic who lived centuries ago, Nostradamus reportedly predicted in his writings how Princes Diana would die, World Wars I and II, the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, various natural disasters, social and political changes around the world, the World Trade Center attacks, and last but not least, the ‘Gangnam Style’ dance, which has captured the interest of many. Doomsayers believe the Gangnam Style dance may be a clear sign of the end of the world. In a video circulated across social media, doomsayers quoted Nostradamus’ prophecy: “From the calm morning, the end will come. When of the dancing horse, the number of circles will be 9.” Doomsayers have pointed out that Psy’s Gangnam Style features him dancing like a horse. His video is already the most-watched video on YouTube, and if it reaches 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) views, the number could be seen as representing nine circles. It has been suggested that on Dec 21, 2012, the video will reach 1 billion views. As of writing this, the view count has reached more than 990,000,000 views. Will it reach 1 billion today? Muslims believe that the world will not end so soon. “The signs are not yet complete. The Holy Quran has mentioned major catastrophic events [that have yet] to happen on Earth,” said Hamad Yousuf, a Muslim preacher from the Islam Presentation Committee. “Number one: An earthquake will devastate the world. The Quran has mentioned three major earthquakes that will define the destiny of mankind; the devastation will be dreadful, and no words can describe the destruction. The three major earthquakes will happen in just 40 days. The earthquakes will destroy Makkah and Madinah. Such catastrophic events will happen only if the world is already submerged in sin – men will dress like women, wickedness will be everywhere, and wild beasts will appear and multiply. The Holy Quran has also mentioned the sun rising from the west instead of the east. These signs are mentioned in Surra Al- Qiyama, Chapter 75, or the last days – resurrection and tribulations. If you see the signs mentioned in the Holy Quran, the world will be in its final hours. Yet all these signs are still missing right now.” Kuwaiti Astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun said doomsayers are people who benefit from making controversial predictions. “It’s about money. They are saying these odd things to make money. There are films that have generated money because of the fuss they have created about Doomsday. Remember the latest film about Doomsday, ‘2012’? It generated lots of money because the producers cheated people by saying the end of the world is near. It can create interest, and some believed in it. So it’s about money and nothing else,” he stated. Saadoun remarked that the Samarians claim the world is going to end because of a planet hitting the Earth. “Previously, without a telescope, they saw 11 planets instead of 10, including the moon, but it turned out to only be nine. So they said the missing one would come and hit the Earth. This is part of their mythology. It is fake. The Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 because it was the only calendar they made. This does not suggest that the world will end on December 21. So who is creating the mysteries and havoc? It’s the corporations that are of course are benefiting from the fuss. Mind you, there are people benefiting from it,” he said. A pastor from a Christian church refuted the claim. “The world is going to end, no doubt about it. But regarding the specific date and time, no one in this world knows,” Reverend Gil Bantugan, an evangelical pastor in Kuwait told Kuwait Times.”In [Matt 24:36], even the angels in heaven and the Son (Jesus) do not know. There are signs, and Jesus mentioned the signs 2000 years ago. They talked about the end of the world 2,000 years ago, and everyone knows that the world we are living in is going to end one day and will be destroyed. God says so in the Holy Book, which offers wonderful illustrations on how God is going to destroy the world. The point here is whether we are ready and prepared to meet our Creator,” he said. Bantugan pointed out that the extra ‘biblical prophecy’ is not from the Bible, and he does not believe in it. “If Mayans say the end of the world is on December 21, 2012, I will leave it to them. Many times, people have said the world is going to end. We’ll leave it to them. But as Christians, we have only one source of information when we are talking about the end of the world, and it’s the Bible. The Bible says our world is going to end, but no one knows [when]. God said in the Holy Book that He will not destroy the world through floods – not anymore. We believe that. The Bible mentioned fire, but what kind of fire it will be, we don’t know.” Speaking from the Hindu perspective, Rajeshwri Subbaraman, a lecturer at the Arab Open University, said there are some who believe in Doomsday. “I have a student who assures me that December 21, 2012 will be the end of the world. So why take an exam? But I told him, no, the world will not end on December 21,” she stressed. According to Subbaraman, Hindus believe that everything around us, including the lifecycle of the Earth, happens in an endless cycle. “Yes, there will be destruction – maybe total destruction and the eradication of everything around us, including human beings – but the life preserver (Lord Vishnu) we call ‘hope’ will save the world, and life will be reborn again. It’s a neverending cycle. There will be life, then death (destruction) and rebirth. It will be endless,” she said. “Our Earth will see more turbulence – lots and lots of it – but according to Hindu mythology, creation will begin again if the Earth is destroyed. Lord Vishnu (the preserver) assumes an ‘avatar’ from the life around us. When we are eradicated through natural calamities, disasters, and the like, Lord Vishnu comes to save us. We believe that Lord Vishnu will come back, riding on a white horse, and will appear as ‘kalki’ (the avenger). The present is destined to be destroyed. Calamities and natural disasters are happening because of our evil deeds, because of corruption, but life will be formed again, and a new world will be born – probably a new one that is much better,” she remarked. Some people are cautious though. “I am sad that I cannot be with my boyfriend in India. What if it’s really true?” asked one observer. Another has decided she will not report to work on Dec 21. “I’ll stay at home and eat a lot of chocolate. I want to watch the news. I hope at the time we will still be able to watch television, and there will be electricity,” she hoped. Ben Gracia, Kuwait Times Staff [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
