Doomsday 2012
A Christian prophecy predicts a global Apocalypse before 2021. NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring

A series of apocalyptic events, including floods and earthquakes will spell the end of the world before 2021, according to a doomsday prophecy.

Some Christian groups have warned about the imminent end of the world triggered by deadly plagues and disastrous natural calamities, the Daily Express reported.

According to the news website, the prophecy foresees a 'Rapture' phenomenon that will bring on a global apocalypse in the next seven years.

Taking recourse to Biblical texts, believers of the prophecy have claimed that the world will witness an Armageddon signalling the "second coming of Jesus," according to the website.

Ancient history is witness to such events, they say, citing instances of the Biblical Flood of 2348 BC, told in Genesis, and the Three Plagues of Egypt.

Others dismiss the prophecy as absurd and point to the doomsday predictions for 2012 which never came to pass, but went viral, so much so that Hollywood even made a movie with the title 2012.

However, the president of the World Bible Society, Dr F Kenton Beshore, has put his faith in the terrifying prophecy that predicts the destruction of the world.

According to Beshore, Rapture is likely to happen within the next seven years, more precisely between 2018 and 2021, which will bring an end to the civilised world.

Beshore, an expert in Theology, argues that his predictions are based on excerpts from the Bible including the book of Thessalonians, which says:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

He went on to warn that people need to be prepared for the worst when "the Lord will return."

His claims were rejected by bishops as "Hollywood scaremongering."

What do you think? Do you believe that the world will end? Post your views in the comments section below.