Compiled By S. E. Ray

Since Mel Gibson released the film "Apocalypto" into theatres December 8, 2006, a new interest has arisen regarding the Mayan calendar, specifically the defined end date. The title of Mel's movie "Apocalypto" which in Greek means "an unveiling and a new beginning" certainly fits with the Mayan definition of the "Fin de los Tiempos" as discussed below. This event will occur on the "End Date" of the Mayan Long Count Calendar which points at 13.0.0.0.0. From the Mayan point of view, this is the "End of Days." It is so significant that the calendar comes to a stop. This date is also December 21, 2012 as we would know it, the day of the Winter Solstice.

Even though the film has numerous anachronisms and other historical inaccuracies, it did accurately highlight the fact that the Mayas were an advanced people. The Mayas were superb mathematicians and astronomers who devised one of the most accurate calendars known to man, far more accurate than our Gregorian calendar. The Mayan Calendar was devised through accurate observations of the sun, the planets, the stars and the Milky Way. Mayan astronomers accurately knew the exact location of the center of the Milky Way and attached great meaning to the birth and death of stars at this center. In addition, they possessed the required knowledge concerning the "Precession of the Equinoxes" that is necessary to create an accurate calendar. Their magnificent pyramids were perfectly aligned to the sun and the one at Chichén-Itzá was constructed in such a way that during the equinoxes, the setting sun casts a shadow of a serpent (Kukulcan/Quetzalcoatl/Jesus Christ) descending on the northern steps of the pyramid.

The Maya's astronomical knowledge was inherited from even an older and more mysterious civilization at Teotihuacan near Mexico City which contains the famous Pyramid of the Sun and of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is perfectly aligned with the star cluster called the Pleiades which the Egyptians also took into account in building their pyramids at Giza. There is a connection between the ancient religious beliefs of the Sumerians, the Egyptians and the Mayas, especially as they relate to the creation of the universe, of the human race and of the future.

The Mayan calendar was started in 3113 BC. But, most of the documents that could tell us anything about this design of this calendar were destroyed long ago. In Mesoamerica, South America and on Easter Island, zealot priests destroyed almost all the written documents. Previous of this, the library at Alexandria in Egypt was distorted by fire, several times. Almost all ancient history books in China were destroyed on the order of a dying emperor. All in attempts to wipe out any written trace of ancient knowledge. However, writings on stone have since been found. In Mesopotamia were found thousands of clay tablets. These and other writings advise us to look for "Signs in the Sky". Scholar Adrian Gilbert in his book "Signs in the Sky" brings together knowledge of ancient Egypt, the pyramids, and Biblical references by looking closely at the books of Revelation and Daniel. He builds a powerful case for this system founded by the Mayas.

The Mayas approached "prophecy" by intensely studying the periodicity of cycles, especially astronomical ones, and their synchronicity to human events. They were aware of the role that human consciousness plays in connecting to and interpreting information accurately. They knew that a proper dietary regiment would enhance their perception, allowing them to interpret realities and scientific truths. This knowledge must explain how they were able to ascertain what will happen on October 21, 2012. Incredibly, they knew, over a thousand years ago, that on this date there will be an astronomical alignment of our sun and the center of the Milky Way. This impending alignment of the sun at that very point, according to Mayan calculations, culminates at the Winter Solstice of December 21, 2012. Also, on this date, the tail of the "shadow" serpent descending the northern steps of the pyramid at Chichén-Itzá will be pointing exactly towards the Pleiades star cluster which will be located straight up and over the structure.

Today, modern astronomers, with advanced technological instruments, know that the center of the Milky Way galaxy contains an immense "black hole" which is constantly giving birth and consuming stars. The Mayas had a glyph that represented a "black hole" in the center of our galaxy. How they were able to ascertain this information, no one knows. The Mayas tied their philosophy entirely on what they observed in the heavens. They thought that the center of our galaxy was a "Cosmic Mother Womb" and that it gave birth to our world. They believed that our world went through cycles of birth, death and rebirth. October 21, 2012, they said will end the cycle and our world will end by fire but will be reborn in a new, different and more evolved form. This will be the beginning of a new sun or the "Sixth Sun" according to the Mexicas (Aztecs).

The Mayan declaration of the second epoch of earth ending in fire to herald the third epoch of a new earth is not a foreign teaching of scripture "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:10-13. Also see Isaiah 24:5-23 which prophesies this to be not only a climatic event, but the sweeping judgment of God on a depraved earth.

Graham Hancock claimed in "Fingerprints of the Gods" that a planetary alignment would cause some kind of gravitational effect on Earth, wiping out most life on December 2012. Planetary alignments have historically not caused much effect on Earthly life, but in any case, the referenced planetary alignment actually occurs the previous year. He links with evidence the temples and tombs to extol the theory that Mexico and Egypt were part of a great and ancient global design. That humanity is a "species with amnesia" which has forgotten the greatest episode in its history, the destruction and near-complete effacement of an antediluvian civilization whose tiny, scattered remnants form the essence of humanity.

Using the science of the stars as the wise men did to locate baby Jesus in Bethlehem, 13.0.0.0.0 shows Saturn is on the horizon when the Sun is on the solstice. Saturn, said to be a god of fertility, also associated with Satan, is the god for which Saturday is named. Saturn drags behind him the spent scales of Judgment, the constellation Libra. The judgment now over, Libra will be the symbol of Justice in a new age of Peace and Harmony, the Age of the Matriarch. One of the ancient documents suggests there is to be three and a half years of "tribulation." This would be the period of judgment. For this to complete on December 21, 2012, the tribulation needs to start in June of 2009.

As I write compiling this column, I realize the error of date setting and do not adhere to or advise such actions. Historically every past date setter for the reign of Messiah has been obviously wrong. Undoubtedly, the universe does affect our planet in many measurable and scientific ways. However, the God inspired scriptures are clear to say "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Mark 13:32. "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth." Luke 21:34-35.