Stop me if you've heard this before: The world is going to end.
Christian numerologist David Meade, who also self-publishes post-apocalyptic survival guides, points to bible verses in the book of Luke, which mimic recent events, such as the solar eclipse and Hurricane Harvey.
Why September 23rd? He says it's a date that was pinpointed using codes from the Bible, as well as a "date marker" in the pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
If all this has you shaking your head, you're not alone. While the theory has been traded across social media, it's been debunked by the Catholic Church, as well as NASA.
Dr. Lee Basham at the South Texas College, who has researched conspiracy theories, says there is a reason they remain constant and popular in society.
"Once in a while, rarely enough, they turn out to be true," he tells News Radio 1200 WOAI.
And, he says, they will persist, even though the facts in this case seem to be cherry-picked to form a conclusion
"People have been forming conspiracy theories from ages five years and up. It's a natural, normal human behavior."
And, while some may be annoyed at the end-of-the-world theories, he says, they can be a good thing. Many conspiracy theories target those in power. He sees it as part of the checks-and-balances system
."Are they dangerous? Sure, by sometime they're dangerous to people that need to be put into danger."