The Mayan calendar ends in December 2012. Add that to the worldwide economic crises, wars, violence and natural disasters and people wonder.
Are we near the end of times?
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a subject often discussed in Christian circles. "Millennial religions" abound in America. The popular books in the "Left Behind" series depict the buildup, a climax full of violence, upheaval and disasters. Evangelical religions often talk of a great reckoning. Books about Armageddon, Gog and Magog make for some thrill-a-minute reading.
Often less explored, however, are religious beliefs regarding the peaceful period after Christ's return — the millennium.
Webster's dictionary defines the millennium as "the period of a thousand years during which Christ will reign on the earth (Revelation 20:1-5)."
Search "millennium and Christ" on Google and you will find more than 3.6 million references.
As with many topics, different Christian faiths have separate interpretations on what these 10 centuries following Christ's return to Earth will be like, or if they will exist at all.
Here is a sampling of beliefs from some Christian faiths:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
This faith generally doesn't stress end times or the millennium. Its view is more, "It is enough to be certain that God's purpose will be accomplished," rather than rely on theological speculation about the end of the world, according to www.pcusa.org.
Presbyterians seek to feed the hungry, spread the good news and live as God would have men live, rather than dwell on specifics of Christ's return, or the period thereafter.
Some Presbyterians also believe the third millennium may have already begun, but that "God's charge remains: confidently hope and watchfully work until the Lord returns."
Seventh-day Adventists:
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has one of the most unusual slants on the millennium. Its Web site (www.sdacc.org) says:
"The millennium and the end of sin: The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with his saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close, Christ with his saints the Holy city will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever."
Jehovah's Witnesses:
They basically believe that Adam and Eve should not have sinned, that God's plan was for the Garden of Eden state to continue forever. They believe "a new world" is at hand in the millennium.
This means:
Wickedness, warfare, crime and violence will be gone.
Jehovah's worshippers will live in security.
Food shortages will not exist.
The whole earth will become a paradise.
There will be peace between animals and humans.
Sickness and disease will vanish.
Dead loved ones will be restored to life with the prospect of never dying.
Lutherans:
The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, rejects the idea of a millennium. Since 1932, this Lutheran church has believed this statement from its Web site:
"We reject every type of millennialism, or Chiliasm, the opinions that Christ will return visibly to this earth a thousand years before the end of the world and establish a dominion of the Church over the world; or that before the end of the world the church is to enjoy a season of special prosperity; or that before a general resurrection on Judgment Day a number of departed Christians or martyrs are to be raised again to reign in glory in this world; or that before the end of the world a universal conversion of the Jewish nation (of Israel according to the flesh) will take place.
"Over against this, Scripture clearly teaches, and we teach accordingly, that the kingdom of Christ on earth will remain under the cross until the end of the world … that the second visible coming of the Lord will be His final advent, His coming to judge the quick and the dead … that there will be but one resurrection of the dead … that the time of the Last Day is, and will remain, unknown … which would not be the case if the Last Day were to come a thousand years after the beginning of a millennium; and that there will be no general conversion, a conversion en masse, of the Jewish nation."
Catholics:
According to the "Catholic Encyclopedia," Catholics believe these main points about the millennium:
The early return of Christ in all His power and glory.
The establishment of an earthly kingdom with the just.
The resuscitation of the deceased saints and their participation in the glorious reign.
The destruction of the powers hostile to God, and at the end of the kingdom, the universal resurrection with the final judgment, after which the just will enter heaven, while the wicked will be consigned to the eternal fire of hell."
Catholics also believe, according to their encyclopedia, "The duration of this glorious reign of Christ and His saints on earth is frequently given as one thousand years. Hence it is commonly known as the 'millennium.'
"This term of one thousand years, however, is by no means an essential element of the millennium as conceived by its adherents. The extent, details of the realization, conditions, the place of the millennium were variously described."
United Methodists:
"United Methodists have varied interpretations and understandings of the second coming of Christ as referenced in scripture," according to beliefs listed on their Web site. "While you would find many who take a literal approach to belief in the second coming, most United Methodists would be uncertain about the meaning of the second coming."
Pastor Steve Goodier of Salt Lake's Christ United Methodist Church said his faith has no official stand on the millennium.
"We tend to focus on the here and now," he said. That means finding love, reconciliation and forgiveness now and not worrying about the future. "Any talk of a 1,000-year rule of Christ on earth in a so-called millennium is pure speculation," Pastor Goodier said.
Still, he said there's room for a diversity of opinion among United Methodist members and they will hold a variety of personal beliefs on subjects such as the millennium or second coming.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
For members of the LDS Church, the millennium is a return to the earth's paradisiacal glory. In other words, the earth will return to how it was during the Garden of Eden, before the fall of Adam and Eve.
From "The Encyclopedia of Mormonism," "Mormon Doctrine" and "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," here's a summary of some LDS teachings regarding the millennium:
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will not usher in "the end of the world," but rather "the end of the wicked," as all persons not living at least a terrestrial law will be swept away.
(The "terrestrial" kingdom is the middle of the "Three Degrees of Glory" of LDS doctrine. "Telestial" is lowest and "celestial" is the highest kingdom.)
This means good people of all churches will be left on the earth during the millennium, though everyone must eventually join Christ's true faith or vanish.
Satan will be bound and will not have to power to tempt.
Life will go on for those on earth. People will build houses, plant gardens and eat of the fruit of them. However, the "First Resurrection" (of righteous Saints) will usher in the millennium.
The number of temples will expand. Temple work will be the main activity on earth.
There will be no weeds, thistles or sickness. All the world's land mass will be joined to one large continent
Christ and resurrected Saints will govern the earth. However, they will probably not live here, as they are of a celestial order, but will visit often.
Death as we know it will be gone. People will live to the age of a tree and then be changed from mortality to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
Animals will be changed. There will be no more meat-eating, and the lamb and lion shall lie down together.
The "Lost Ten Tribes" and the City of Enoch will return.