resurrection three days later, all God requires is for
Christ alone for salvation: “No one comes to the
you to receive his pardon by faith and accept Christ
Father except through me” (John 14:6). He’s the
as your personal Savior. “To all who did receive him,
only way to God.
who believed in his name, he gave the right to be-
I recognize that the statement that Jesus is the only way to God offends many people. But those who maintain there are many ways to God make a mockery
come children of God” (John 1:12). Receiving Christ begins a life of faith that never ends…”whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47).
of Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus would not have
Tribulation and God’s judgment are coming; this may
come and paid the ultimate price if there had been
well be the generation that witnesses the return of
some other way. “God shows his love for us in that
Christ. Why not believe God’s Word and accept God’s
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us….for there
Son as your personal Savior today? You can use words
is no other name under heaven given among men by
like these if they express your heart’s true desire:
which we must be saved” (Romans 5:8, Acts 4:12).
“Dear God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against
Everyone must decide what he or she will do with
you. I gladly receive Jesus’ substitutionary death on
Jesus Christ. He entered human history born of
the cross as the full payment for my sins. I believe
a virgin, lived a sinless life, and was rejected by
Jesus rose from the dead, and I now trust him to be
his generation: “He came to his own, and his own
my Savior. Thank you for your forgiveness and for
people did not receive him” (John 1:11). He died
giving me new life and taking me into your eternal
on the cross for the sins of the world to purchase a
family. Amen.”
pardon for our sins—substituting himself for us— paying the penalty for our sins. The Bible tells us that we “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), separating us from God. But thanks to Christ’s death, and his
Good News Tracts 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187 For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: ESV.
©2010 Good News Tracts. Printed in U.S.A. Cover images: ©iStockphoto. Taken from 2012, the Bible, and the End of the World, by Mark Hitchcock. ©2009 Harvest House Publishers. Used by permission.
even religious leaders for salvation. Look to Jesus
B I L LY
G R A H A M
2012 AND YOU THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?
SIGNS OF THE TIMES December 21, 2012 marks the end of the 5000-year cycle according to the Mayan calendar. Was the warn-
time to rule the world for 1000 years. While that gives us significant breathing room, the Bible also predicts that the years before Christ returns will be filled with intense international tension, cataclysmic
Over the last few years, Americans have been
ing of the earth’s demise encoded in it? Were these
bombarded with a concept that can be summed
ancient timekeepers giving us the time for the end?
up by one little word: change. But few people are
A growing number of people are now predicting that
prepared for the kind of change that many are
date as the apocalypse deadline—history’s final day.
and influence of Jesus Christ.
But haven’t we heard all this before? You may
The critical thing is that when Christ comes again,
predicting—a change they believe has been bearing down on the planet for thousands of years, one that includes the colossal transformation of our solar system. All the predictions appear to focus on 2012, and often on one specific day—December 21. Never before
remember Y2K. People predicted that when
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
earth’s odometer rolled over from Decem-
disasters, and human misery. During that time world powers will be focused on eradicating the memory
he will dramatically improve the chaotic nature of the world. Then centuries later Christ the Creator will
SEEM TO SHARE A SENSE THAT
ber 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, we would
destroy the world and re-create one where no sin
THE WORLD IS APPROACHING
experience massive computer malfunc-
will be present. The single greatest reminder of hu-
tions, government shutdowns, chaos, and
man hatred and war—the world—will be erased and
“CLOSING TIME.”
even the end of civilization as we know it.
have so many people from diverse backgrounds and
But nothing out of the ordinary happened. Could it
viewpoints pinpointed one day as the expiration date
be that the whole 2012 thing is just another case of
for human civilization.
Y2K insanity? Or is this the real thing? Serious 2012
People everywhere seem to share a sense that the world is approaching “closing time.” Crises of alarming complexity are emerging and accelerating with frightening regularity. Life on Planet Earth over the last few years has been anything but business as usual!
watchers are calling 12.21.12, the “Mayan Y2K.”
replaced (Revelation 21:1).
PERSONAL EXPIRATION DATES As interesting as it is to know about our planet’s end, the Bible makes it clear that every person also has an expiration date! It’s important for you to know
When it comes to “signs of the times,” it helps to
what’s going to happen to you when your life ends.
consult the Bible. It was 100% right on over 300
None of us knows how much time we personally
prophecies written up to 700 years before Christ’s
have left. You need to be very concerned about
first coming to earth! And the Bible says that before
your destiny if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ.
the world ends Jesus Christ himself will return, this
Don’t make the mistake of looking to political or
your personal Savior. “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Receiving Christ begins a life of faith that never ends…”whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Tribulation and God’s judgment are coming; this may well be the generation that witnesses the return of Christ. Why not believe God’s Word and accept God’s Son as your personal Savior today? You can use words like these if they express your heart’s true desire: “Dear God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. I gladly receive Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross as the full payment for my sins. I believe Jesus rose from the dead, and I now trust him to be my Savior. Thank you for your forgiveness and for giving me new life and taking me into your eternal family. Amen.”
Good News Tracts 2012 and You While some movies, books, or rumors point to 2012 as the “end of the world”, the Bible makes it clear that only God knows the future. Bible references: ESV. Package contains 25 tracts.
TIMELY ISSUES