The End of the World: Prophecy or Reality?

Is it the end of the world now? No. And three years after this question was posted, still...

Through the ages, countless prophets from Abrahamic religions have spoken of the end of the world. Yet, not a single such predicted event has materialized. Instead, humans have experienced hundreds of moments in their lifetimes when they wrongly feared the imminent end of the world. This raises a significant question: Should we instead examine our beliefs and mental frameworks?

End of the World, Myth or Reality?

The mythological character of Jesus, in his teachings, develops a profound perspective on the spiritual journey. He often used the phrase, “My kingdom is not of this world.” In this context, joining the spiritual kingdom entails ending the world as we know it—specifically, those aspects dictated by the ego and corrupted by societal norms. From a spiritual viewpoint, what we call 'the world' is a manifestation of thoughts, words, and actions driven by ego. Essentially, 'the world' is the world within us.

End of the Inner vs. Outer World

In the Abrahamic traditions, the message is often delivered in a veiled manner, with statements like, 'When will this world end? When will the seeker reach the inner realm? Nobody knows.' These events, however, will come 'like a thief,' spontaneously and without calculation. This event is the end of the ego's control, not the end of the world as we know it.

Nevertheless, there is a real possibility of future disasters and upheavals brought about by climate change, ecological collapse, and atomic threats, among other factors. This situation might lead us to consider the absolute end of our species. However, it is more likely that we will face significant and unprecedented changes.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Human Behavior

There is a sense in which these upcoming disasters might be the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is clear that we are witnessing a collective suicide. We have, for so long, been waiting for an end of the world that has never come. In a sense, we have created an external apocalypse by our inaction and denial of personal change. Could it be that our failure to address the inner world might lead to the end of the outer world?

Originally, the prophets invited us to end the world of the ego, not the world as a whole. This message, from figures like Jesus, stands as a promise of liberation and a call to spiritual awakening. It is a challenge for us to shift our focus from societal and environmental issues to individual spiritual growth.

So, let us not be preoccupied with the end of the world to the extent that it clouds our ability to take action. Instead, we should focus on our own spiritual development, understanding that true change starts within.