A
Christian numerologist claims that the world will end next Saturday
when a planet will, supposedly, collide with Earth.
According
to Christian numerologist David Meade, verses in Luke 21:25 to 26 are
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's
views are not endorsed by Roman Catholic, Protestant or eastern
Orthodox branches of Christianity.
Meade
has built his theory 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, according to British
newspaper The
Sun.
NASA
has repeatedly said Planet X is a hoax.
For
a certain branch of evangelical Christianity, Revelation 12:1–2,
describes the beginning of what is known as the rapture and the
second coming of Christ.
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.
According
to the Express,
author Jonathan Sarfati wrote that the same planetary coincidence
previously happened four times in the last millennium.
"As
usual with any astrology (or Christian adaptations of it), one
cherry-picks the stars that fit the desired conclusion," Sarfati
wrote, according to the Express. "There is nothing to suggest
that 23 September is a momentous date for biblical prophecy, and
Christians need to be careful about being drawn into such
sensationalist claims."
