For some interesting academic+journalistic+experiential research/postulation on 2012, check out Daniel Pinchbeck's 2012:
The Return of the Quetzalcoatl. Very interesting stuff, although you'll have to make your own decision on some of his interpretations.
Pretty much every major religion/philosophy points to a change in the human condition -- an "end of era" sequence of events that will lead into a higher state of existence for humankind. Each one has its own take, but the commonality definitely gets you thinking.
In the end, I think it's much less about destiny and more about the collective freewill of humanity. Will we choose to progress under an ego-based framework, or will we choose to progress under a spirit-based framework. They seem to lead down two very different paths.
As for me, I'm working towards the latter. 