Before I begin, allow me to state that I don't particularly believe in 2012 as a special event; the most I would possibly construe it as, even in the "metaphorical" sense is a road sign on the side of the universal highway, indicating an eminent proximity to a destination. Out of curiosity I decided to see if Christianity had anything to say about 2012; as far as I've seen it hasn't been dragged into the equation, thus far, in the modern twitter about the concept. Some of the first results I found interesting were books from the 19th century, written in interpretation of Biblical prophecies - specifically Daniel and the theory that it implied literal dates. What I present is snippits from two of the books I located, tied together a bit, with a paraphrase of one aspect of the book of Daniel; thus - for your consideration !

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I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

These great beasts, which are four, [are] empires, [which] shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall become the empire, and possess the earth for ever, even for ever and ever.

I then knew the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] assmilated all, broke it to pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a world empire- that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his empire is [that] which shall not be destroyed --

And the ten horns out of this empire [are] ten rulers [that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the forebearers, and he shall subdue three of his kin. And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; [by] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them - Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Yet the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. And then the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
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Begin Excerpts

They shall be given into his hand until a time and the dividing of a time." Every writer upon prophecy is satisfied that a "time" signifies, in prophetic language, a year; "times," two years; and "the dividing of a time," or "half a time," half a prophetic year. But, as the prophetic day stands for a literal year, so a prophetic year consists of 365 prophetic days, or 365 literal years. A time, times, and a half time, make then, when added together, 1,260 prophetic days, called by St. John in the Apocalypse, 42 months. We are to understand, then, that the saints of God were to be given into the power of the ecclesiastico-political despotism for 1,260 years. If we begin to count the period in A.D. 752, under Pope Stephen* and the grant of Pepin, the 1,260 years will bring us A.D. 2012, still in the future. The grant conferred by Pepin was confirmed also by Charlemagne and his successors, and it was undoubtedly at this period that the papacy began to assume its place among the sovereignties of Europe. In favour of this opinion - that this event was the rise of the Papacy -- the terminus a quo of a prophecy, the following considerations may be urged.

*(Pope Stephen can be remembered for ordering the forgery of the Donation of Constantine. Ostensibly penned by Constantine the Great in 315 AD after his conversion to Christianity in return for being cured from leprosy, the document granted the See of Rome (the pope) dominion over all earthly thrones of Europe. In 1440, anachronisms in the document proved that it was really a fraud written around 752, during the reign of and under orders of Pope Stephen II. )

(a) We have here a definite act -- an act which is papable and apparent, as characterizing the progress of this domination over men.

(b) We have here properly the beginning of the temporal dominion, or the first acknowledged exercise of that power in the acts of temporal sovereignty -- in giving laws, asserting dominion, swaying a temporal sceptre, and wearing a temporal crown. It was only in the time of Pope Stephen, and by the act of Pepin and Charlemagne that this dominion of a temporal character was settled in the Papacy. All the acts before had been of a spiritual character, and all the deference to the Bishop of Rome had been of a spiritual nature. Henceforward, however, he was acknowledged as a temporal prince, and took his place as such among the crownded heads of Europe.

(c) This is properly the beginning of that mighty domination which the Pope wielded over Europe -- a beginning, which, however small at first, ultimately became so powerful and so arrogant as to claim jurisdiction over all the kingdoms of the earth, and the right to absolve subjects from their allegiance, to lay kingdoms under interdict, to dispose of crowns, to order the succession of princes, to tax all people, and to dispose of all newly discovered countries.

(d) This accords better with the prophecies than any other one event which has occured in the world -- especially with the prophecy of Daniel, of the springing up of the little horn, and the fact that that little horn plucked up three others of the ten into which the fourth kingdom was divided. The three empires supplanted by this little horn were the three kingdoms of the Vandals, Ostrogoths, and the Lombards, who were, after a succession of troubles, routed up by the papacy, and constitutied into the states of the Church; and the pope wears upon his head at this very moment, the tiara, or three crowned cap, to denote the three kingdoms or horns which he rooted up, and over which he now reigns.


(e) And it should be added that this agrees with the idea all along held up in the prophecies, that this would properly be the fourth empire prolonged. The fifth empire or kingdom is to be the reign of the saints, or the reign of righteousness on the earth; the fourth extends down in its influences and power to that. As a matter of fact, this Roman power was thus concentrated in the Papacy. The form was changed, but it was the Roman power that was in the eye of the prophets, and this was contemplated under its various phases, as heathen and nominally Christian, until the reign of the saints should commence, or the Kingdom of God should be set up.


[As prophecy had a gradual beginning, it is likely it will have a gradual ending. ]

Notes critical, explanatory and practical on the Book of Daniel, Volume 2 By Albert Barnes (1852)
Select notes on the International Sunday school lessons by W.A. Wilde Co. (1877)

This is simply a Christian example of 2012 prophetic belief written approximately a century and a half ago; seeing as how a number of ancient religions have been dragged into the fold of this modern conception it only seems appropriate to throw in some ideals of people in the Christian faith about 2012. I won't argue the validity of 2012 theory with you, nor the validity of the Christian religions - this is simply one perspective from a past age on what is coincidently an idea gaining prominence in our present society.

If one were to believe that the prophecy of the book of Daniel were meant to be taken literally, and that the interpretation of the prophetic year as assumed is correct - and the date of 752 were the initiation point of the prophecy - it would imply that the "world conquering engine" of the Papacy is the 4th beast, and that the control of that force maintains itself to the present day - and that this engine will reach its conclusion in the year 2012, upon which time the system will begin to wane and a new force will gain predominance over our world - forces of a nature beyond man.

Notwithstanding the various other dates that were ascribed to the initiation of the prophecy, it is an entertaining precept in light of today's 2012 hype.

Yes, it is interesting that 2012 has been mentioned that early from a Christian perspective. Although using the political legitimacy of the Catholic Church from that time--while intriguing--is highly speculative.

I've mentioned a few times on these boards that work and current location put me into close contact with a large community of folk practicing various--and for lack of a better term--new age beliefs. While they have any number of differing beliefs, there are a few issues they really come together on. The main one being the belief that organized Christianity is one of the major causes of the world's ills. They are ready for a new spirituality...and 2012 sounds about right with them--whether they believe in Ascension or whatever.

So the thought has hit me that a coming world-wide religious system that dislikes and is distinct from Christianity, might also give its adherents a date/time that would put end-time events in a context that is compatible with their beliefs. I guess kind of what I'm saying is maybe beezlebub was the mathematician that taught the Mayans and 2012 was his best guess?

You're saying that the Mayans were also in contact with the entity Beelzabub?

You threw me off with the math comment ;0 I definitely think that the various priesthoods of old were on very similar pages, whether that was due to actual communication or just some hardwired conclusions that all peoples come to.

Originally posted by illusionincarnate
You threw me off with the math comment ;0 I definitely think that the various priesthoods of old were on very similar pages, whether that was due to actual communication or just some hardwired conclusions that all peoples come to.

Yeah, hardwired is a possibility. Another possibility along those lines could be that we are better at 'math' on a subconscious level and that some of these priesthoods have determined the approximate rate that mankind would 'self-destruct' before a new paradigm became inevitable.

2012 doesn't specifically show up that much, but the year 2000 has been the starting point for numerous 'prophecies' of this kind. There does seem to be somewhat of a historical precedence about the millennium.

Whether an event of significance happens in 2012 or not, I'm betting that the 2012 meme will cause a lot more sociological aberrations in the months preceding it than Y2K did.

First bump of 2012; because the information is still interesting

Hm. Well I'm not convinced that Obama is an alien, and what would it matter if he was born in another country? The simple fact is that his association with the Trilateral Commission, which is dedicated to eliminating the conception of the nation state, is a far more pressing matter. He could have been born in America or Zimbabwe and if he shares the ideals of said international think tank, ultimately his place of origin is irrelevant, wouldn't you agree? Even an ostensibly well intentioned politician such as Ron Paul is not going to magically cure an enormous deficit - because frankly the FED loans us the money that makes this whole America thing happen, and although it sounds good and righteous you can't escape debt simply by declaring the money lender a non entity. I respect his political honesty, nonetheless, but the standards for political honesty aren't exactly high.