Top 10 Failed Apocalyptic Predictions

Explore the top 10 failed apocalyptic predictions in history—from Montanus’s prophecy to the Y2K panic. Discover bizarre beliefs, cults, and curious facts that never came true!

1. Montanus

Montanus was an early “heretic” in Christianity who predicted that the end times were near. Along with two “prophetesses,” he claimed to be the embodiment of the Holy Spirit and preached a third testament. His beliefs spread widely, causing confusion within the early church. He was eventually condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD.
Interesting Fact: He taught that Turkey would become the “New Jerusalem” before the final judgment.

2. Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, a founder of the Methodist Church, predicted the end of the world in 1794. His brother John later predicted the apocalypse would begin in 1836.
Interesting Fact: Despite founding Methodism, Charles asked to be buried in an Anglican graveyard.

3. Jehovah’s Witness Predictions

Jehovah’s Witnesses have made multiple predictions about the world’s end — including the years 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, and 1994.
Interesting Fact: Founder Charles Taze Russell sold “Miracle Wheat” at high prices, promising miraculous yields.

4. The Great Disappointment

William Miller, a Baptist preacher, predicted Jesus’s return between 1843 and 1844. After multiple failed dates, his followers became known as Millerites.
Interesting Fact: This movement later evolved into the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

5. Joanna Southcott

Joanna claimed she was the woman from Revelation 12 and predicted the Messiah would be born through her on October 19, 1814. She died shortly after.
Interesting Fact: Her sealed box of prophecies can only be opened by 24 Anglican bishops—still unopened!

6. 1910 – Halley’s Comet

In 1910, fear spread that Halley’s Comet would release toxic gas over Earth. Panic was caused more by science than religion this time.
Interesting Fact: Mark Twain, born during a Halley’s Comet pass, also died during its return in 1910.

7. Planetary Conjunction (1919)

Meteorologist Albert Porta predicted that six-planet alignment would cause solar explosions and destroy Earth. Nothing happened.
Interesting Fact: Porta lost his job and ended up writing weather columns.

8. The Jupiter Effect (1982)

A book by two astrophysicists claimed a planetary alignment would trigger natural disasters. It didn’t happen.
Interesting Fact: The gravitational pull only increased ocean tides by 0.002 inches.

9. Hale-Bopp Comet (1997)

A companion object near the Hale-Bopp comet triggered mass hysteria. The Heaven’s Gate cult committed suicide believing a spaceship was following it.
Interesting Fact: The internet played a major role in spreading this panic.

10. Year 2K / Y2K Bug (2000)

Doomsayers feared technology would fail at midnight, 2000, due to computer bugs. Nostradamus’s 1999 prediction was tied into it.
Interesting Fact: Despite the panic, nothing catastrophic happened—and computers survived the rollover.