Countdown to the Millennium

Many feared that millennium madness - the fear and expectations of the year 2000 - would sweep the world

1999 and 2000 were thought to be interesting years. Although the new millennium didn't actually begin until January 1, 2001, most people looked at the year 2000 as the beginning of a new era – and 1999 as the end of an old one. And as we examined in the article about prophecies, many psychics and prophets believed that 1999 and 2000 would be years of radical transition, possibly the years in which we would experience the Second Coming, the rapture, the arrival of the Antichrist, the arrival of extraterrestrials, a pole shift, a devastating hit from a comet or meteor or some other cataclysmic event.

Ironically, the greatest threat facing us in the year 2000 is not from some cosmic, spiritual, demonic, or extraterrestrial force, but is rather a threat of our own making - the Y2K computer problem.

People seemed to expect something extraordinary or supernatural to happen as we entered the new millennium. Never mind that it is just an arbitrary date we have placed on this particular orbit around the sun, humans – being superstitious by nature – attribute cosmic significance to the millennium. Because of this anticipation, a certain amount of fear was also generated, all accumulating in a kind of millennium madness that escalated the closer we got to 2000. This kind of madness was also evident in Western civilization at the turn of the last millennium – the year 1000 – when there were also some apocalyptic expectations.

Ironically, the greatest threat that faced us in the year 2000 was not from some cosmic, spiritual, demonic, or extraterrestrial force, but was rather a threat of our own making – the Y2K computer problem. And although no one knew how profound and far-reaching the effects of this computer glitch would be (the predictions ranged from minor inconveniences to complete social chaos), it could have been the biggest problem we face at the millennium. Thankfully, it wasn't.

Not surprisingly, there were scores of websites scattered across the Internet on the millennium, each bearing its own forecast for 2000 based on whatever agenda the authors sought to broadcast. Here's a sampling:

• Center for Millennial Studies provides a level-headed view of the millennium, how people might react to it, and what it might mean for the direction of our society. They also include a handy countdown counter on their main page.
• Last Days Worldwatch. Another site keeping an eye on world events and their relationship to Biblical forecasts.
• Lightshift 2000. This site takes a decidedly more positive stance, calling on people all over the world to join in a combined raised consciousness to improve our fate in the next millennium. Hey, at least it's positive.

Again, this is just a small sampling of what's out there. I just hope most of us can continue to keep our heads, keep our perspective, not give in to the hysteria, and – despite all the unexplained wonders in this world – know that life will go on pretty much as usual through 2000 and beyond. Then again... I could be wrong.  

• More Millennium Madness

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