Wallace G. Smith

Well, a milestone of sorts has been reached. From now on, the so-called “Mayan Doomsday” date of December 21, 2012 (or December 23, 2012, depending on whom you ask) is less than a year away. Does mankind have anything to fear from that much-discussed date? How should Christians react?

On Monday, October 24, 2011, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace published its recommendation for a globally empowered international authority over the world’s finances.  This move by the Vatican may seem like simply “another academic paper” for policy wonks.  But for students of Bible prophecy, the move represents possibilities of tremendous prophetic significance.

Many professing Christians were disappointed when claims of a “rapture” on May 21, 2011 were proved false. Afterward, some said “Oops!” and looked instead to October 21, 2011.  Well, “Oops!” again!  Meanwhile, “New Agers” are looking to December 21, 2012. Some see it as “Doomsday” while others expect the dawn of a new spiritual breakthrough. Of course, both views will soon be proved wrong and their followers disappointed.

Are the “Dark Ages” creeping up on Europe once again? The news and opinion pages are full of dire headlines. Some are taking the demise of a unified Europe as an impending inevitability. But is that really what comes next? Or is there more to the story?

As I read the news coverage of Osama bin Laden’s death, one forceful comment jumped out at me: “Welcome to Hell, bin Laden,” wrote Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate.  Is Huckabee right?  Is Osama bin Laden now in Hell?