Ohh man! I always miss this week every year. On History Channel they have their version of “Shark Week” (which Discovery Channel has yearly) called “Armageddon Week”. And, no, its not a week long viewing of the Bruce Willis starer with the Asteroid, its an entire week of Armageddon themed documentaries (like last nights Nostradamus 2012–which I DVRed!). I think Armageddon Week is so much better then stupid “Shark Week” I mean come on, a shark versus the end of the world…unless that Shark was trained by Stephen Speilberg…
Anyway, for Christmas I wanted some books on 2012 (one of which was “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to 2012: An Ancient look at a Critical Time”…now, some can call me a complete idiot, but I like these books because where they don’t tell me everything I need to know, they give me a lot of information and give me just a taste of what I want and then I can go out and look for other things to branch out of that–for example I didn’t know that the Mayan pyramids are older than the Egyptian pyramids and that the Mayans probably pre-date a lot of the older cultures. In fact! They may be the fifth “classic civilization” behind Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India…
Also, my Father picked up for me another 2012 book entitled: “2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl” by Daniel Pinchbeck, (according to The Complete Idiot’s Guide: “Quetzalcoatl, or Kukulkan in Mayan, was a god who appeared in human form as a white man with a black beard and brought wisdom to the Maya. The legends say he left in a boat proclaiming he would return to bring prosperity and peace.” Which, if you look at the back of the Daniel Pinchbeck book, he actually looks like a Quetzalcoatl…)
So, not that I’m morbid or anything, but end of the world stuff always intrigued me, maybe it was because of the amount of stories that could be told along those lines you know…..
….Speaking of end of the world, I don’t think I ever posted the trailer for Independence Day/Day After Tomorrow director Roland Emmerich’s new movie, 2012, check it out:
Getting back to Armageddon Week, there are a bunch of good documentaries on this week, I’ll post the schedule on the continuing link, but here is what they wrote on HistoryChannel.com about Armageddon aka The End of the World:
The End of the World
Since the beginning of recorded time, people have been thinking about the end of the world and making predictions about how and when it might happen. According to a 2007 article in The New York Times: “Gnostics predicted the imminent arrival of God’s kingdom as early as the first century.†The Shakers thought the world would be over in 1792, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses pegged various years between 1914 and 1994 as an end date. More recently, some doomsday forecasters have focused on the year 2012. Citing the conclusion of a lengthy cycle in the ancient Mayan calendar, certain theorists anticipate the end of life as we know it on December 21, 2012. These theorists believe that on December 21, 2012, the Earth will experience unprecedented, cataclysmic disasters ranging from massive earthquakes and tsunamis to nuclear reactor meltdowns. In order to prepare for these events, some proponents of the 2012 prophecy have already begun stocking up on survival supplies.
The planet’s major religions each have their own beliefs about the end of the world, the triumph of good over evil and Judgment Day. In Christianity, the Book of Revelation, the last chapter of the Bible’s New Testament, mentions Armageddon, the final battle on Earth between the forces of God and Satan. The word Armageddon is thought to come from the Hebrew for “mount of Megiddo.†Located in present-day Israel, Megiddo, an ancient, strategically positioned city, was the site of a number of battles. Some Christians interpret the Book of Revelation as a roadmap that lays out exactly how the world will end. They contend that Judgment Day will take place on Armageddon and Jesus will save the true believers, while non-believers left behind will face enormous suffering.
In Islam, the end of the world is referred to as the Hour and involves Jesus returning to Damascus to slay an anti-Christ who has put the planet in peril. With the anti-Christ out of the picture, a period of perfect harmony will ensue. Jesus will later die a natural death, which will usher in a time of destruction that leads directly to the Hour. In Judaism, there is no term for Armageddon, but there are references in the Hebrew bible to events that could be compared with Armageddon, including the Day of the Lord (in which God causes death and destruction to people who deserve to be punished) and the War of Gog and Magog (in which Israel and its god fight their enemies, rather than an anti-Christ).
In Hinduism, there is the story of the god Vishnu coming back in the last cycle of time as a figure called Kulki, who rides a white horse, carries a sword that looks like a comet and destroys the forces of evil. In some Buddhist prophecies, the equivalent of Armageddon is Shambhala, in which good triumphs over evil; however, the planet is restored rather than destroyed so people can pursue enlightenment.
Despite the many theories and religious interpretations, the only thing that’s certain about the end of the world is that no one can know for sure what will happen. And until that day arrives– if it arrives–people will no doubt continue to speculate endlessly about when it will all be over.
Continue for more thoughts and History Channel Schedule:
Anyway, I thought it was only appropriate to put a Terminator as the user icon for this post seeing how the whole Terminator franchise is about “Judgment Day” and all that. Hope some of you end up watching “Armageddon Week”. Enjoy.
–Cos
History Channel schedule:
Armageddon Week TV Schedule
SUNDAY January 4
8:00 PM ET / PT
Seven Deadly Sins: Pride
The Italian writer Dante called the sin of pride the “Chief of All Sins” — the sin of Satan himself. The sin of pride was condemned by the Bible and the philosopher Socrates, while Romans and Vikings made it their greatest virtue. The sin of pride is thought to have led to the fall of Satan but strangely enough, the most famous story about Satan is not in the Bible. So what is the origin of the sin of pride? CC HD [TV14]
9:00 PM ET / PT
Nostradamus: 2012
In 2012, a rare and possibly Earth-shattering astrological alignment is due to occur that will precipitate a cataclysmic event. Whatever is in store–a massive cosmic collision, a global environmental disaster, an Armageddon-like religious showdown, or a more subtle transformation–there have been multiple predictions from different times and cultures that December 21, 2012 will mark a major shift in the history of our planet. This explosive two-hour special seeks answers to key critical questions that may loom in just four years: Is there any modern scientific proof that such an alignment will indeed happen? Is any other compelling evidence throughout history that 2012 will be a year of unprecedented, even deadly, upheaval? We’ll look for the parallels between the nightmarish daily headlines and the 2012 prophecies from Nostradamus and others. CC HD [TVPG]
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Monday January 5
8:00 PM ET / PT
The Bible Code: Predicting Armageddon
Is there a prophetic, highly accurate code locked within the Bible that outlines past and future events? Does the Code contain hidden messages about people such as Napoleon, Einstein, and Hitler, and key world events like WWII, the Kennedy brothers’ assassinations, and 9/11? More frightening are references to future events–including Earth’s impending end. We take a balanced look through the eyes of Code supporters and critics and let viewers determine its accuracy in predicting the future. CC [TVPG]
9:00 PM ET / PT
Seven Signs of the Apocalypse
The Seven Signs are clear: We will be struck by deadly plagues, famines and earthquakes… The sky will turn dark and oceans will turn to blood… And the antichrist will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil. Could this all be true? Experts decode this powerful prophecy and come to a startling conclusion: there is now scientific evidence that many of these catastrophes could, in fact, be occurring. A star falling from the sky could be one of thousands of rogue asteroids that may be approaching earth. The plague foretold in the Bible could be a deadly strain of avian virus that researchers fear could kill millions. Oceans turning blood red could be triggered by microorganisms that release dangerous neurotoxins that have the same effect as nerve gas. To reveal the ultimate truth behind the prophecy, this investigation will turn to the past to reveal why the prophecy was written, and why it keeps such a powerful hold on our imagination today. CC HD [TVPG]
11:00 PM ET / PT
Bible Code II: Apocalypse and Beyond
As we delve further into the provocative theory that a cryptogram exists in the Bible outlining past and future events, we learn how the Code works from supporters and examine supposed examples of precise messages. And we hear from critics who present compelling arguments that the Code is merely a statistical anomaly. We uncover how military and intelligence organizations interact with the Code, and compare it with other sources of biblical prophecy. CC [TVPG]
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Tuesday January 6
8:00 PM ET / PT
Earth’s Black Hole
Explore with us the wonders and mysteries of the Black Holes in our universe. Is it possible that areas on earth might, in fact, show black hole like tendencies? We take a hard scientific look at an area known as the Bermuda Triangle to see if there are indeed any similarities between the supposed forces in the triangle and the destructive force of a black hole. From a research boat trip through the triangle to interviews with scientists at the US Geological Survey, Harvard University, and the UK’s Cardiff University, we go far beyond the event horizon to explore the dangers in this area and what relation they might indeed have with its counterpoint in space. CC HD [TVPG]
9:00 PM ET / PT
The Universe: The End of the Earth
Deep Space Threats to Our Planet. Asteroids, comets, gamma ray bursts and the sun all combine to make the Earth a dangerous place to live. NASA’s top brass and other scientists are arming themselves with the latest technology to pre-empt an apocalyptic attack. Watch and investigate bizarre, and terrifying apocalyptic scenarios and the ways that scientists are racing against the clock to develop technology to defend our planet. CC HD [TVPG]
10:00 PM ET / PT
Siberian Apocalypse
At 7:15AM on June 30, 1908, a giant fireball, as bright the Sun, explodes in the Siberian sky with a force a thousand times greater than the Hiroshima bomb. It decimates 1,000 square miles of forest–over half the size of Rhode Island, and was the biggest cosmic disaster in the history of civilization. What caused the apocalyptic fire in the sky? Over a hundred theories surround what is called the Tunguska event, varying from asteroids and comets to black holes and alien spaceships. Most scientists agree the Tunguska event will happen again, and next time, the human toll could be unimaginable. Now, NASA and other organizations race against time to stop the next planet killer before it ignites Armageddon. CC HD [TVPG]
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Wednesday January 7
8:00 PM ET / PT
Decoding the Past – Doomsday 2012: The End of Days
There are prophecies and oracles from around the world that all seem to point to December 21, 2012 as doomsday. The ancient Mayan Calendar, the medieval predictions of Merlin, the Book of Revelation and the Chinese oracle of the I Ching all point to this specific date as the end of civilization. A new technology called “The Web-Bot Project” makes massive scans of the internet as a means of forecasting the future… and has turned up the same dreaded date: 2012. Skeptics point to a long history of “Failed Doomsdays”, but many oracles of doom throughout history have a disturbingly accurate track record. As the year 2012 ticks ever closer we’ll speculate if there are any reasons to believe these doomsayers. CC HD [TVPG]
9:00 PM ET / PT
First Apocalypse
Sixty five million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped off the face of the Earth. Over the years there have been a number of theories as to why. Most believe that this mass extinction was caused by a cataclysmic weather shift, but what caused that? For the last three decades it has been thought that the cause was an asteroid impact in Mexico. Now, a team of American scientists believe it’s more likely the real culprit is the Deccan Traps, a giant volcano in India, which is believed to have been the scene of an eruption of a huge amount of sulphur dioxide that accumulated in the atmosphere–a staggering 10,000 gigatons in total. This caused a global freeze so powerful that the dinosaurs, masters of the Earth, were driven to extinction. If something so large that ruled the earth for so long can be wiped out in a matter of centuries, what does that say about our ultimate survival? Are we doomed to follow in their footsteps or can we face down extinction? CC HD [TVPG]
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Thursday January 8
8:00 PM ET
Nostradamus: 2012
In 2012, a rare and possibly Earth-shattering astrological alignment is due to occur that will precipitate a cataclysmic event. Whatever is in store–a massive cosmic collision, a global environmental disaster, an Armageddon-like religious showdown, or a more subtle transformation–there have been multiple predictions from different times and cultures that December 21, 2012 will mark a major shift in the history of our planet. This explosive two-hour special seeks answers to key critical questions that may loom in just four years: Is there any modern scientific proof that such an alignment will indeed happen? Is any other compelling evidence throughout history that 2012 will be a year of unprecedented, even deadly, upheaval? We’ll look for the parallels between the nightmarish daily headlines and the 2012 prophecies from Nostradamus and others. CC HD [TVPG]
10:00 PM ET / PT
Cities of the Underworld: Underground Apocalypse
For billions of people across the globe, Jerusalem is considered ground zero for Armageddon. And while most of the world’s population considers it a holy land, it’s also one of the bloodiest cities the world has ever known. From a hidden occult city built by the Knights Templar to the hiding place for the Dead Sea Scrolls, the evidence of the apocalypse is buried all over the holy city. Host Don Wildman has special access to a sacred stone said to keep the world from ultimate chaos, and finds evidence of John the Baptist’s apocalyptic sermons… he’s heading into a vast underground that ignited the violent visions of the end of the world. CC HD [TVPG]
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Friday January 9
8:00 PM ET / PT
Last Days on Earth
Could the human race become suddenly extinct? We count down seven ways in which the world as we know it could meet an abrupt and untimely end, from a mammoth asteroid strike to the eruption of a super volcano. What would happen as computers literally become trillions of times smarter than we are–would they program our mass murder? Scientists, experts, and witnesses describe these and other vividly pictured disaster scenarios, from super bugs created in secret labs to black holes that could suck earth into oblivion. Using state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics and interviews with the world’s top scientists, we will leave viewers pondering humanity’s place in the universe and will reveal the most terrifying truth of all–that our greatest enemy is ourselves. CC HD [TVPG]
10:00 PM ET / PT
Black Blizzard
Take a front row seat on a period of U.S. history from 1930-1940 when America’s heartland was ravaged by a weather phenomenon that became known as a “black blizzard.” Watch as scientists and special effects experts recreate the black blizzards in amazing detail and reveal that this was a man-made disaster. Discover how these phenomena form, what they’re made of, and how they affect people’s health and the environment. Learn how a black blizzard emerged so ferociously that it seemed like a moving mountain range creating enough static electricity to power New York City. Hear the story of the people who refused to leave their land and learn the history of the Great Plains and how it came to be settled. CC HD [TVPG]
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Saturday January 10
8:00 PM ET / PT
Seven Signs of the Apocalypse
The Seven Signs are clear: We will be struck by deadly plagues, famines and earthquakes… The sky will turn dark and oceans will turn to blood… And the antichrist will emerge to fight the final battle between good and evil. Could this all be true? Experts decode this powerful prophecy and come to a startling conclusion: there is now scientific evidence that many of these catastrophes could, in fact, be occurring. A star falling from the sky could be one of thousands of rogue asteroids that may be approaching earth. The plague foretold in the Bible could be a deadly strain of avian virus that researchers fear could kill millions. Oceans turning blood red could be triggered by microorganisms that release dangerous neurotoxins that have the same effect as nerve gas. To reveal the ultimate truth behind the prophecy, this investigation will turn to the past to reveal why the prophecy was written, and why it keeps such a powerful hold on our imagination today. CC HD [TVPG]
10:00 PM ET / PT
First Apocalypse
Sixty five million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped off the face of the Earth. Over the years there have been a number of theories as to why. Most believe that this mass extinction was caused by a cataclysmic weather shift, but what caused that? For the last three decades it has been thought that the cause was an asteroid impact in Mexico. Now, a team of American scientists believe it’s more likely the real culprit is the Deccan Traps, a giant volcano in India, which is believed to have been the scene of an eruption of a huge amount of sulphur dioxide that accumulated in the atmosphere–a staggering 10,000 gigatons in total. This caused a global freeze so powerful that the dinosaurs, masters of the Earth, were driven to extinction. If something so large that ruled the earth for so long can be wiped out in a matter of centuries, what does that say about our ultimate survival? Are we doomed to follow in their footsteps or can we face down extinction? CC HD [TVPG]
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Saturday January 11
8:00 PM ET / PT
Decoding the Past: Mayan Doomsday Prophecy
The world is coming to an end on December 21, 2012! The ancient Maya made this stunning prediction more than 2,000 years ago. We’ll peel back the layers of mystery and examine in detail how the Maya calculated the exact date of doomsday. Journey back to the ancient city of Chichen Itza, the hub of Maya civilization deep in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, to uncover the truth about this prophecy. The Maya were legendary astronomers and timekeepers–their calendar is more accurate than our own. By tracking the stars and planets they assigned great meaning to astronomical phenomena and made extraordinary predictions based on them–many of which have come true. Could their doomsday prophecy be one of them? In insightful interviews archaeologists, astrologers, and historians speculate on the meaning of the 2012 prophecy. Their answers are as intriguing as the questions. CC [TVPG V]
9:00 PM ET / PT
Next Nostradamus
Two men sharing startling visions of the future possess distinctly different backgrounds: Michel de Nostradamus was a French apothecary and healer in the 16th century; he would become the most famous seer in history. His 21st century counterpart is Dr. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a renowned political scientist who teaches game theory at New York University and Stanford. While Nostradamus looked to the stars and mysticism to divine his apocalyptic revelations, Dr. Bueno de Mesquita relies on the most omnipotent tool ever designed by man to predict future events: the computer. This special explores not only the commonalities of these men’s visions about World War III, famine and the coming of the Anti-Christ, but it also traces the evolution from mysticism to hard math, and determines whether science has always existed in prophecy, manifesting itself in different forms through the ages. CC HD [TVPG]