It amazes me how many times in the past few years some Christian ministers and prophets have predicted the end of the world. Either the end has come and we are left behind or else, these predictions about the end of the world came from false prophets who speak words which the Lord has not given to them.

The latest prediction about the end of the word has been announced by Christian numerologist David Meade who predicted that the world will end on September 23, 2017 because the earth will collide with Planet X, also know as planet Nibiru. Meade quotes the words of Jesus in Luke 21 and says that recent events in the skies are signs that something bad will happen in the near future.

An article published by FoxNews.com describes Meade’s prediction:

Christian numerologists claim that the world will end on Sept. 23, 2017 as they believe a planet will collide with Earth.

According to Christian numerologist David Meade, verses in Luke 21: 25 to 26 is the sign that recent events, such as the recent solar eclipse and Hurricane Harvey, are signs of the apocalypse.

The verses read:

“25: There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

“’26: Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.’

Sept. 23 is a date that was pinpointed using codes from the Bible, as well as a “date marker” in the pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Meade has built his theory, which is viewed with a widely skeptical lens, on the so-called Planet X, which is also known as Nibiru, which he believes will pass Earth on Sept. 23, causing volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes.

NASA has repeatedly said Planet X is a hoax.

Revelation 12:1–2, is supposed to be the start of the Rapture and second coming of Christ, which is also being mentioned heavily by Christian conspiracy theorists.

The passage reads: “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.”

In the passage, the woman is Virgo. On Sept. 23, both the Sun and the Moon will be in Virgo, as will the planet Jupiter. However, this occurrence happens naturally once every 12 years. There is also a rare alignment, known as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” which the conspiracy theorists are hanging their hats on.

This prediction about the end of the world is the latest example of false prophecies that tend to cause much anxiety in the hearts of people who do not know much about the Bible.

Harold Camping prophesied that judgment day would happen on May 21, 2011. It didn’t.

Many people believed that according to the Mayan Calendar, the world would end on December 21, 2012. It didn’t.

I am not a prophet, but I predict that nothing will happen on September 23, 2017. As my fellow blogger Clarke Morledge at Veracity said: “The September 23, 2017 ‘Prophecy’ of the ‘Revelation 12 Sign’ is Totally Bogus.” And I agree with him.

It is in times like these that we should review what the Bible says about false prophets. The prophet Jeremiah has much to say about false prophets:

“For who has stood in the council of the LORD so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it?” (Jeremiah 23:18).

“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21).

“I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32).

According to Jeremiah, a true prophet has been in the council of the Lord, has heard his word, and has been sent to proclaim that word.

On the other hand, false prophets have not heard the word of God, thus, they have nothing to say. Instead, they prophesy lies and prophesy the deceit of their own hearts (Jeremiah 23:26).

In the book of Deuteronomy, God warned the people about the coming of false prophets:

“But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak — that prophet shall die. You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a word that the LORD has not spoken?’ If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it” (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

September 23, 2017 is around the corner. Will the end of the word come as David Meade has predicted? Remember the words of Jesus: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). Jesus also said: “For false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

So, is David Meade proclaiming the word he received from the Lord or is he prophesying the deceit of his own heart?

We shall know the truth of September 24, 2017.

Claude F. Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

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