Prophets and futurists predict the end of life as we know it in 2008

By DEREK CLONTZ
Your World Report

CLERGYMEN, scholars, futurists and even ancient prophets agree: The years 2008-2011 will mark the beginning of a cataclysmic end to life as we know it, paving the way for a stunningly different world at the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2012.

“If you think it’s going to be business as usual, if you think anything is going to be like it is today, you’re not only dreaming, you’re wrong,” Derek Clontz, a writer, futurist and, some have said, although he denies it, psychic, told a gathering of scholars, journalists and laymen at the second annual “Conference of the Future” in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he continued. “The changes aren’t going to be all bad. But if you aren’t quick on your feet, if you don’t have faith that a Supreme Being or Guiding Force is orchestrating these changes for the benefit of mankind, you are in for a rude and perhaps terrifying shock.

“The world as we have known it is vanishing before our eyes and one thing is clear: The new world will belong to those who are wise enough and courageous enough to see that changes must come if mankind is to have even a ghost of a chance of surviving to experience the dawn of the Fourth Millennium 1,000 short years from now.”

Clontz, who hails from Charlotte, N.C. and now calls Florida’s West Coast home, addressed the group in a spellbinding keynote speech that drew from prophecies and predictions offered up by a diverse group of clergymen, scientists, futurists and even ancient prophets - one of whom scratched his vision of the changes we are facing today on a papyrus scroll 2,300 years before the birth of Christ (see Derek Clontz blog, Ancient Prophecies.

“The most dramatic and frightening of the events to come will be the dissolution of the United States,” Clontz explained.

“I am sure that Americans see just how imperiled the country is, riddled as it is with crime, corruption and even more importantly, the steady decline in morals and values that we are experiencing throughout the Western world.

“What I am not so sure of is whether they have a sense of the depth of the problem, of the extensiveness of the decay.

“I find quite the consensus among a variety of thinkers, most notably from the ranks of clergy, many of whom are convinced that global changes will be preceded by the sudden, total collapse of the U.S. - both as a country and as a force for good in the world.

“I must emphasize,” he continued, “that we aren’t “fortune-telling’- nor are we trying to read God’s mind in an attempt to determine in advance when the end will come. All we’re doing is discussing theobvious signs of change that Providence has chosen to warn us with.

“The future, as always, is formed in the present. Should you wish to ponder the future and prepare for the future, all you have to do is open your eyes and see the future.”

Here are some of the more spectacular predictions Clontz and his colleagues have made for the turn of the Millennium - and beyond. Each item is attributed to the author. A brief biographical statement to identify the author is included where appropriate.

1. The social, political and economic collapse of the United States and other world powers is likely within weeks or months after the dawning of the New Year on Jan. 1, 2009, just weeks before the president voters elect in 2008 would be expected to take his - or her - oath of office. Look for an extended period of anarchy - and all the terror and madness that anarchy entails.

Also expect to see order slowly but steadily restored under vastly different political systems than are in place today. Clontz, who makes this prediction himself, believes the “re-creation” of the U.S. will be accomplished not by federal government and troops as they exist today - but instead, by churches, militias and other intensely patriotic groups that will establish a loosely-knit collection of independent “republics” - not unlike ancient Greek city-states.

“These republics,” he noted, “quite likely will stand alone politically but cooperate in matters of trade and national defense.”

He bases his prediction on his belief that “Americans, as fiercely independent as they are, will band together in small groups to preserve what is left of their freedom and standard of living by any means. I am convinced that Americans have soured on a paternalistic national government that is beyond the scope of their reckoning and literally out of their control.

“When rebuilding this country following the anarchy and madness that follows in the wake of its collapse, those citizens who are left and who are able will resurrect America as an aggregation of small, highly democratic ‘mini-states’ where everyone will be accountable, not to an unwieldy and immoral national government, but to their communities, their neighbors and their friends.”

2. As Americans struggle to re-create themselves and their country, Europeans do the same. Bitter skirmishes among ethnic and nationalist groups competing for scant resources that remain after global collapse threatens to rage out of control. Lack of money and supplies keeps them somewhat contained. Still, millions die, either from warfare or simple deprivation, Maurice Delacourt, the French futurist, predicts.

“Europeans will manage to rebuild but you can expect to see many more ‘nations’ than you see today,” he continued. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 80 to 100 almost ‘tribal” groups vying for land, resources and recognition in the aftermath of what I call the Great Collapse of Western Civilization.

“In that regard, wars and rumors of wars will likely rage for decades to come. As happened following World Wars I and II, I would think that no real stabilization will occur until the United States recovers to the point where it can offer significant economic aid and even political and constitutional guidance.

“It is quite conceivable that this ‘New Europe’ will be modeled on the smaller social and political units that are likely to make up the ‘New United States’”

Clontz seconded Delacourt’s predictions, but with a qualifier: “I believe U.S. aid to Europe, while certainly forthcoming, will be quite selective, with U.S. monies being funneled exclusively to European states that share old-fashioned American ideals of freedom and personal responsibility and are willing to embrace both Christian and politically-conservative ways of life.

“I seriously doubt we will see anything approaching current levels of tolerance and liberalism in the West.

“In fact, I believe that most Westerners, Americans in particular, will blame the collapse on liberal policies and the welfare state.”

3. The most terrifying conditions following collapse will be seen in the Middle East, where limited but still devastating nuclear war will break out “in what will appear to be a scene straight from the Book of Revelation, perhaps in the coming year but under no circumstances later than 2011,” Rev. Marc Clement, the ultra-conservative Belgian evangelist, predicts.

Again, limited resources - including short supplies of nuclear weaponry - stop the war short, but you can still expect to see several million deaths and almost incomprehensible devastation.

Ironically, after the smoke clears, the Middle East remains much as it is today, says Rev. Clement - with one astonishing exception: The diverse peoples of the region will lay down their arms and their prejudices and live together in peace.

“Many people will wring their hands and gnash their teeth thinking the war in the Middle East is the beginning of Armageddon,” said Rev. Clement.

Interjected Clontz, “In fact, it will be the end of Armageddon, which is the battle we think we have been waiting to fight but actually have been fighting since the beginning of the 20th Century.

“Armageddon is drawing to a close, and it will, in fact, be over and won shortly after the smoke of nuclear bombs clears in the Middle East. So you see, a great and glorious day is coming. And many of us will survive to see the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

“But I don’t believe the Kingdom will simply descend from the Heavens with angels blowing trumpets and singing to God.

“I believe the Kingdom is something we will build with our own hands after God has washed humanity and all the Earth clean of the evils of Satan and of men.

“That cleansing is the moral and social collapse that will culminate in all-out war in the Middle East.”

4. Christ will return to Earth - if He hasn’t already (see Derek Clontz blog, Jesus Christ appears in Nigerian hospital) - to lead mankind in the reconstruction of Earth according to Divine Plan beginning on New Year’s Day or shortly thereafter in the year 2011.

This prediction is almost universally subscribed to by a staggering variety of thinkers and experts . . . even non-believers, Dr. Charlotte Mills, the English author of the forthcoming book, You Don’t Have to Believe to Believe, said.

“True believers are convinced that Christ will return in physical form to establish Heaven on Earth and they might very well be right,” she explained.

“On the other hand, I find non-believers, including many scientists and intellectuals, who will concede that even though they are agnostic or atheists, they don’t doubt that Christ - or the love of Christ - will bring dramatic changes to planet Earth just a few years hence.

“This might sound like a contradiction, but when you think about it, the position makes sense and can be scientifically defended.

“These non-believers are merely recognizing the power of Christ as it resides in the minds and hearts of so many hundreds of millions of true believers around the world.

In effect, they are recognizing that the love of Christ can accomplish miracles and fulfill Bible prophecy all on its own.”

Added Clontz, “Of course, nobody has to rely on intellectuals and scholars to justify their faith - and faith’s implicit “call to arms” to accomplish good and great deeds in the world.

“Believers know what believing is - and there can be little doubt of the great things belief will bring following the disasters that so many foresee as occurring within the next few years.”

“I don’t think there’s any question that we are living in the most exciting time in all of history and I, for one, am grateful to be here,” he continued.

“I also believe that each and every one of us is here, now, for a very special reason. In that regard, I encourage everyone to reach out and embrace our fellow humans every day. We are, after all, in this together.”

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