Buzz
Kudos! You've already outlived multiple doomsday forecasts. If not yet, it’s inevitable that you’ll soon encounter the next wave of end-time warnings.
The idea of an apocalypse is far from novel. In fact, apocalyptic warnings have been a cornerstone of both religious doctrines and scientific theories for hundreds of years. What’s particularly intriguing is that these predictions never envision a peaceful, uneventful end to the world. Instead, they often describe scenes of utter chaos—raging fires, catastrophic floods, and widespread destruction.
Curious about how bizarre these predictions can be? Here’s a list of ten of the most unsettling apocalyptic scenarios.
10. The Mayan Doomsday
The earliest traces of the Mayan civilization can be traced back to 2000 BC, spanning regions that are now Guatemala, Mexico, parts of Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador. At their zenith, they developed advanced mathematical systems, constructed pyramids and temples, created astronomical charts, and designed intricate calendars. Among their most famous contributions is the “long-count” calendar, which operates on a 394-year cycle.
According to new age historians and writers, December 21, 2012, was identified as a date of universal harmony and enlightenment based on the Mayan calendar. The Mayans also predicted humanity’s demise through the reversal of Earth’s magnetic field. This was widely misunderstood as a prediction of the world’s end, leading many to label the day as Armageddon. This belief sparked the publication of countless books and the creation of numerous websites warning of an impending apocalypse in December 2012.
Proponents of the Mayan apocalypse theory envisioned various catastrophic scenarios. Some claimed the world would end due to a collision with a mysterious planet named Nibiru, while others predicted solar flares would alter Earth’s axis, triggering massive floods to eradicate humanity. These chilling predictions caused widespread panic, with many preparing for the end by constructing arks, building shelters, and stockpiling survival supplies.
9. Isaac Newton’s Apocalyptic Prediction
While Isaac Newton is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in mathematics and science, few are aware of his doomsday prophecy. This is likely because it’s difficult to associate a figure of such monumental success with a prediction of catastrophic failure.
Despite his profound contributions to science, Isaac Newton also delved deeply into theology and religious studies. He immersed himself in biblical scholarship, believing that the prophecies within the Bible were symbolic and required interpretation by someone with his level of expertise.
Newton’s apocalyptic forecasts gained attention in 2003 when media sources alleged they had uncovered one of his early manuscripts predicting the world’s end in 2060. While some argue that Newton’s writings on the apocalypse were speculative rather than definitive, the speculation continues to circulate.
Critics of Newton’s doomsday prophecy argue that, despite his theological pursuits, he was an atheist who rejected the divinity of Christ and the worship of a supreme being. Therefore, they contend, his theological works could not have been the basis for a genuine apocalyptic prediction.
Similar to other end-of-the-world prophecies, the notion that the world will end in 2060 is difficult to accept. Only time will reveal the truth.
8. The True Way Apocalypse Prediction
The 'True Way,' also known as 'Chen Tao,' was a cult founded by Taiwanese leader Hon Ming Chen. This religious group blended elements of Taiwanese spirituality, Buddhism, Christianity, and UFO conspiracy theories into their apocalyptic prophecies.
Hon Ming Chen, a former atheist turned cult leader, prophesied that on March 31, 1998, at precisely 12:01 am, God would appear on television screens across North America. He claimed this would happen regardless of whether viewers had cable or not.
Unsurprisingly, the prophecy did not come true, prompting Hon Ming Chen to revise the apocalypse date to the following year. He foretold a cataclysmic end involving massive floods and demonic spirits. He even urged his followers to purchase their salvation by funding spaceships to rescue them from annihilation. When this second prediction also failed, the group’s influence rapidly declined.
7. Planet Clarion
This apocalyptic prediction originated in 1954 when Dorothy Martin, a Chicago housewife, claimed to receive messages from aliens on Planet Clarion. She warned of an alien-induced flood that would engulf the Earth, followed by newspaper headlines declaring 'A Day of Disaster.'
Despite lacking any evidence, her predictions attracted a group of followers known as 'Seekers.' In anticipation of the predicted doomsday, these followers quit their jobs, sold their possessions, and gathered at Dorothy’s home to sing hymns. However, Christmas Eve of 1955, the supposed end of the world, passed without incident, leaving the Seekers disillusioned.
When the aliens and flying saucers expected to rescue them failed to appear, Dorothy claimed to receive a new message from Planet Clarion. She announced that God had been so moved by the Seekers’ faith that He decided to delay the apocalypse. A clever save by Dorothy!
6. The Second Coming of Jesus – William Miller
Many apocalyptic predictions have religious origins, with the Book of Revelation providing detailed descriptions of the world’s end. Religious leaders have long prophesied the apocalypse, and one notable example is William Miller, a preacher who declared that Jesus would return in 1843.
Miller amassed a following of over 100,000 people, a remarkable number for that era. He foretold the skies parting and the world being purified, citing scriptures and urging his followers to repent. When 1843 passed without event, Miller revised his calculations and set a new date for Jesus’ return the following year.
That prediction also failed, as humanity remains intact. This event is famously referred to as 'The Great Disappointment.'
5. The Prophet Hen of Leeds
While apocalyptic predictions often come from people, it becomes even more unsettling when they originate from an animal. Such was the case in 1806 in Leeds, where a hen began laying eggs inscribed with the message 'Christ is coming.' This caused a religious uproar, with crowds flocking to witness the eggs and repent in anticipation of Jesus’ return.
Eventually, it was revealed that the hen was not producing prophetic eggs. Instead, its owner, Mary Bateman, had been writing the messages on the eggs and reinserting them for the hen to lay again. The deception was exposed by a devoted follower who had come to see the so-called 'prophetic egg.'
4. Halley’s Comet
If you’re a staunch believer in extraterrestrial life, it’s fortunate you weren’t around during the Halley’s Comet apocalypse scare. Today, we understand Halley’s Comet as a dusty celestial body visible every 76 years, thanks to modern science.
However, this wasn’t common knowledge—or belief—in the past. When astronomers announced the comet’s 1910 arrival, it sparked widespread fear and confusion. Rumors that its tail contained deadly cyanogen gas fueled apocalyptic predictions, while sensational media headlines amplified the panic.
Many abandoned their daily routines, barricading themselves indoors. As the predicted doomsday neared, people sealed windows, vents, and keyholes with towels and paper to block the supposed toxic gas. Meanwhile, skeptics watched quietly as the night passed uneventfully, with some hosting 'Comet Parties' on rooftops to mark the occasion.
3. The Sun’s Transformation into a Red Giant
Despite the lack of successful apocalyptic predictions, humanity’s obsession with doomsday scenarios persists. It seems our fascination with the end of the world is deeply ingrained in our nature.
The next prediction suggests that in six billion years, the sun will transform into a red giant after exhausting its hydrogen supply and converting it to helium. This process will cause the sun to glow 3,000 times brighter and expand to 20 times Earth’s current size. The intensified radiation will gradually erode planets such as Saturn and Jupiter. If Earth remains in its orbit, it will be unable to survive the sun’s overwhelming heat and radiation.
Some scientists theorize that the sun will eventually shrink into a white dwarf after its expansion phase. Others believe it will drift away from Earth, extinguishing life as we know it. Rooted in scientific principles, this prediction evokes a sense of dread akin to biblical end-time prophecies.
Thankfully, we won’t be around to witness whether this prediction comes true, as none of us will be alive in six billion years. This makes it neither a failed prophecy nor one we can verify.
2. The Heaven’s Gate Apocalypse Prediction
Marshall Applewhite initially worked in education but left his job following his father’s death, which plunged him into deep depression. Years later, he met Bonnie Nettles, a nurse who introduced him to mysticism. Together, they founded the Heaven’s Gate cult, convinced they were divine messengers sent to warn humanity of an impending apocalypse.
Following his arrest for failing to return a rental car, Applewhite seized his first opportunity to spread his beliefs while in jail. During his six-month imprisonment, he successfully converted a small group of inmates into followers. After his release, Applewhite and Nettles traveled to Oregon and California, where they recruited additional members to their cause.
With a growing following, Applewhite began teaching about extraterrestrial beings who would arrive in spacecraft to facilitate bodily transformations. His apocalyptic theories were heavily influenced by New Age ideologies and elements of popular culture.
Applewhite’s doomsday prophecies gained significant attention in the 1990s when the group learned of Comet Hale-Bopp’s approach. He reinterpreted his teachings, claiming the comet was the awaited vessel to carry their souls to salvation. In preparation, Applewhite and his followers orchestrated a mass suicide to embark on their transformative journey.
On March 26, 1997, members of Heaven’s Gate took their own lives using a combination of vodka, barbiturates, and plastic bags for suffocation. Authorities discovered 39 bodies, each with a cloth draped over their heads. This tragic event stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of religious extremism and another instance of a failed apocalyptic prophecy.
1. Shoko Asahara’s Apocalyptic Predictions
Rather than waiting for the apocalypse, Shoko Asahara, originally named Chizuo Matsumoto, decided to bring it about himself in 1995. A Japanese doomsday prophet, Asahara rose to prominence as a cult leader after being arrested for peddling counterfeit Chinese remedies.
Asahara began attracting followers in 1984 when he opened a yoga studio, boasting of his ability to levitate and achieve enlightenment. In 1987, he founded the Aum Shinrikyo religion, derived from a Japanese term meaning 'Supreme Truth.' With an estimated 10,000 followers in Japan and 40,000 in Russia, his influence even extended to candidates running in Japan’s 1990 legislative elections.
As his fame grew, so did his delusions of grandeur. Asahara convinced his followers that consuming his blood and bathwater would protect them from the impending apocalypse. He prophesied that the world would end between 1997 and 2000 due to gas poisoning. Some of his devotees took drastic measures, attempting to trigger the apocalypse themselves.
On March 20, 1995, Aum Shinrikyo members released deadly sarin gas on five trains, resulting in 12 deaths and over 5,500 injuries. Asahara was eventually captured by Japanese authorities and sentenced to death in February 2004.
