How the World Will End is an article written by Arthur Conan Doyle first published (posthumously) in the Sunday Express No. 603 on 20 July 1930.
A Strange Prophecy and a Description of the “Last Day”.
This extraordinary document, which purports to tell what the “Last Day” and the end of the world will be like, is in the form of a letter written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle some time before his death to Mr. S. Fowler Wright, the author of “Deluge,” the much-discussed novel which gives an imaginary description of the end of the world.
Sir Arthur claims that it is based on spiritual communications which he received, but, as he indicates in the text, he did not wish it to be published during his lifetime.
The “Sunday Express,” of course, does not take these prophecies seriously, but publishes them simply because they deal with a subject which is of intense interest to a large number of people.
These various forecasts of the immediate future of the world must be used with the utmost discretion. Above all we must avoid sensationalism and unworthy journalistic tricks.
It must be remembered that there have been alarms before which have come to nothing. Also that the planes can always be modified, either because there is some higher court behind it that overrules it, or because there is some change in the human situation.
Still, even if we make all possible allowances for these things, these warnings have been unsought and often unwelcome in many quarters, and they are
Still, even if we make all possible allowances for these things, these warnings have been unsought and often unwelcome in many quarters, and they all have roughly the same effect. They have also been accompanied by a noticeable increase in worldwide seismic activity which manifests itself precisely in the quarters to which the warnings refer. In my opinion, it is impossible not to take them seriously, because they represent in themselves a psychic phenomenon of which I know of no parallel.
ONE HUNDRED MESSAGES.
Our circle seems to have been chosen as the exchange centre for these messages, because although we would not dare to claim that they have all reached us, it is very remarkable how they have converged towards us from all quarters. Some have been oral, but taking the whole series it would not be an exaggeration to say that we have had a hundred messages all independent of each other.
But they must be taken as a supplement to our own direct information obtained during the last four or five years through my wife with the help of my own control Feneas. These cover in detail each phase of the anticipated crisis.
As for time, we have never had anything really definite in our own circle, terms like “soon” and “very soon” are always used. It is a belief that the control sees things in pictures and not in terms of mundane time.
My American co-operators, who work with an excellent and tested medium, were told on January 8 that they could count on six months of preparation from that date.
They did not say that this was an absolute minimum. We have always been given the autumn as the time of year.
If you set out the course of events as described in these various documents and verify them with our own information, the result is overwhelming. It would involve a period of terrible natural convulsions during which a large part of the human race would perish. Earthquakes of great severity, enormous tidal waves seem to be the agents. There is talk of war, but this would seem only in the early stages and in some way to be the signal of the crisis.
What makes the matter more difficult to understand is that we are always told that the deaths are not indiscriminate, but selective. One could only explain this by supposing that it is the gases released from the earth which are fatal and that some become immune. I cannot understand how to explain selection in the case of the tidal wave, except that a warning may come which some will accept and others ignore.
CRISIS IN AN INSTANT.
The following general details may be gathered:
That the crisis will come in an instant;
That the general destruction and complete dislocation of civilized life will be incredible;
That there will be a short period of absolute chaos followed by some reconstruction;
That the total period of upheaval will be about three years;
That the main centres of disturbance will be the eastern Mediterranean basin, where no less than five countries will disappear entirely.
Also the Atlantic, where there will be a rise of the ground which will be the cause of those waves which will bring about great disasters on the American, Irish and Western European coasts, affecting all the low-lying British coasts. Other great disturbances are foreseen in the South Pacific and in the Japanese region.
SWEEPING AWAY THE DESPERATE.
These are the main points made, some in one corroboration, some in another, and all in our messages. However, it is continually insisted that the really important side is the psychic and that everything physical is subordinate to it.
Throughout the course of events there is a psychic accompaniment with manifestations of spiritual power which will culminate in a complete tearing of the veil so that spirit and matter will be face to face for a time.
When they are again separated, a large number of those who have labored in the cause will be privileged to die with their spiritual friends and without death in the ordinary sense of the word. Others of the “chosen,” if I may use the present word, are retained for some years to establish the new order on a solid basis.
Thus the race may be divided into three sects: the desperate material which is swept away, those of us who are faced with what might be an “chosen” who changes its sphere, and the central body which carries out a less-chosen leadership.
I believe that the whole aim of the spiritualist movement from the beginning has been to prepare a body of thought which will understand and be able to co-operate in such a crisis. In the course of these world-shaking events there will be on Earth a strong spiritual influence which, acting directly or through others, will control events.
At the supreme moment this elevated spirit will be visible to all and will demand the reverence of all. This seems to correspond with the idea of a Second Coming. In fact, the whole course of events culminating in a happier world will follow the general line of what was dimly seen by the prophets of old.
When these things happen, it will be the duty of all who have any knowledge of spiritual facts and of the meaning of these events to go forth and devote themselves wholly to the comfort and instruction of the terrified and bewildered human race.
We must therefore cultivate for ourselves the knowledge and spiritual strength to meet what may be a very great strain. Spiritualism is the basis of the religion of the future.
I repeat that I am not certain about these facts. I cannot but pass on what has been conveyed to me, but I would not take upon myself the responsibility of doing so if I were not deeply impressed by the facts that actually occurred. A great conspiracy to deceive the other side would seem to be the only alternative, and that is hardly consistent with the high teaching that accompanies the messages.
We do not want hysterical events, nor do we want to compromise the spiritualist movement with a prophecy that may not materialize.
At the same time, without publicly compromising the movement in any way, I would like individuals to know what my individual point of view is so that they can now observe the course of events for themselves and draw their own conclusions and line of action.
The enigmatic arthur conan doyle, more than an author
The title of SIR, which means serpent in ancient egyptian/phoenician language is given in the UK to all those people who have gained the respect of public, and by occult trust of the elites. Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the famous saga, “Sherlock Holmes” was more than a prolific writer, he was a Freemason, as popular writers and poets are, and he was an spiritists. He was an interesting figure and had, undoubtely a great creative, and by consequence, a diferent way of perceiving reality. In many of these paranormal contacts he was told how the world would end, and what is the only thing we can do to get saved, turn to spirituality.
