By Mark Owen
Mark Owen’s list of failed end-times predictions complements my skepticism of religious dogma, as seen in my article Deconstructing the West. There, I challenged irrational beliefs that distort reality, much like the apocalyptic fervor Owen mocks here—spanning Christian and Zoroastrian claims—revealing a pattern of unfounded prophecy undone by time.
NOTE: This list was originally compiled in 1991, revised in 1993; further dates have been predicted since!
Just a few of the dates proposed for the End of the World:
Year C.E. ("Common Era" as the Christ-god is not my Lord, unlike "Anno Domini")
50-100 Jesus reportedly said, "This generation shall not pass away until all be fulfilled," implying to early Christians the End would come in their lifetime.
70 John Humphrey Noyes, a 19th-century Oneida sect founder, taught the Second Advent occurred this year, marked by Jerusalem’s fall.
1000 St. Augustine and others favored this date, despite its arbitrary setting by Dionysius the Less in the 6th century and scant Biblical support. Masses abandoned homes, trekking to Jerusalem to await the End.
1100 After 1000 passed without Christ’s return, this date emerged—reason unclear, but as good as any, I suppose.
1200 When 1100 failed, this year was suggested, again for unknown reasons.
1500 Amid growing Papal power and dissent, this was one of many proposed End dates.
1535 John of Leyden and followers occupied Munster as the New Jerusalem, awaiting Christ with some orgiastic flair.
1660 Joseph Mede declared this THE End.
1666 Jews and Christians united in believing this was it—Jews for the Messiah’s first coming, Christians for the second—calculated from Revelation. Panic and excitement ensued.
1688 John Napier, Scottish mathematician and author of A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St John, predicted the End before this year.
1689 Another vague prediction surfaced.
1700 Napier, dead by 1688, revised his guess to this year, spared disappointment.
1730 Yet another date, likely from "careful" Scripture study.
1733 Sir Isaac Newton picked this year, but died before facing its failure.
1736 William Whiston of Cambridge predicted London’s destruction as the End’s start on October 13. Panic drove Londoners to high ground; no floods came. He later set a new date.
1757 Emanuel Swedenborg, claiming angelic chats, was sure of this year. A scientist with heavenly insight, yet he flopped.
1763 George Bell, a zealous Wesleyan, sparked panic among the "lower classes" by naming February 28 as the End.
1814 Joanna Southcott prophesied Christ’s rebirth through her on October 19. Afflicted with dropsy, not pregnancy, she died soon after.
1819 Southcott’s followers claimed a substitute babe, unnoticed by most.
1834 William Miller (later of Seventh-Day Adventist fame) chose this year, then reconsidered.
1836 Johann Albrech and others, after Biblical "study," favored this over Miller’s date. Predictions grew frequent as modernity neared.
1843 Miller’s recalculated April date drew massive attention, but failed.
1844 Miller’s March 21 pick saw Millerites in ascension robes on heights, selling homes in hysteria. No End arrived.
1864 Edward Irving’s tongues-laden prediction proved as empty as his signs.
1866 William Whiston, succeeding Newton at Cambridge, named this year in 1734, backed by Dr. John Cummings.
1874 Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses founder) claimed an invisible Christ return—unprovable genius.
1881 Mother Shipton’s forecast.
1914 Russell’s next bet; World War I seemed promising, but he died disappointed in 1916.
1916-80? Judge Rutherford of Jehovah’s Witnesses promised, "Thousands now living will not die," expecting the End. He and many died waiting.
1919 Professor Porta of Michigan University picked December 17.
1920 A Latvian prophet’s followers dug graves and waited—some may linger still.
1925 Mrs. Margaret Rowen and her Californian Brides of the Lamb echoed 1844’s Millerite frenzy, taking to heights.
1975 Jehovah’s Witnesses offered another doom date.
1984 Undeterred, Witnesses sold homes and businesses for this "final" End.
1988 Edgar Whisenant sold 4 million books with 88 reasons for this year, profiting handsomely.
1989 Whisenant’s "oops" led to a new book and more sales to the gullible.
1990 Elizabeth Clare Prophet’s followers went underground—some might remain.
1991 Gulf War sparked Armageddon calls to radio stations.
1992 The Australian Mission for the Coming Days set October 29, 1 a.m. Sydney time (2 a.m. with Daylight Saving).
1999 Nostradamus followers pegged July for the End.
2398 Zoroastrian savior Shaoshyant’s due date—Christ’s running out of time, or we’ll all turn Zoroastrian.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me format and refine this presentation of Mark Owen’s article. The selection and framing are my own, Lewis Loflin.
