2012 Will Not Mark the Start of ‘The Great Tribulation’

“Orthodox” 16th Century Representation of the “Apocalypse”

The Great Tribulation will not begin in 2012. And I have studied this matter extensively and even written a book that teaches that (2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect).

Despite the fact that inaccurate “prophets” such as Ronald Weinland and Harold Camping have declared that the biblical period known as the “great tribulation” began some time ago (both changed dates in the past and both have been shown to be wrong in the past), the reality is that this biblically prophesied event cannot begin prior to 2015. Nor does it matter what James Malm (who has also been shown to be wrong in the past), in a 7/28/11 post titled Present Trends and Dating The Tribulation, stated:

There is a very high likelihood that the tribulation will begin late next year; with the abomination being set up on or near September 16th 2012 with the tribulation beginning on 30 Nov ~ 1 Dec time frame.

There is absolutely no likelihood that the Great Tribulation will begin next year nor the biblically required abomination of desolation set up that Jesus (Matthew 24:15) mentioned related to a prophecy in the Book of Daniel 11:31. James Malm also made a similar post on November 6, 2011:

IF 2012 were to be the year then the abomination would be set up in mid Sep 2012. DO NOT BE DECEIVED: ALL THE BIBLICAL SIGNS MUST BE PRESENT BEFORE THE TRIBULATION WILL START!

And while IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE GREAT TRIBULATION WILL START IN 2012 NOR IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE ABOMINATION WILL BE SET UP IN SEPTEMBER 2012, he is correct that all the biblical signs must be present for the Great Tribulation to start–but they are not.

Daniel the prophet wrote this in an earlier chapter:

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

Without going into all the details, the above is understood by many (including the Living Church of God and the Arroyo Grande, California book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect) to mean that a seven year (one prophetic week) Middle East peace deal or similar covenant is confirmed. Of course, the sacrifices must start before they stop, and they have not started yet (and may not start until after the peace deal is in place).

Although the end is coming soon, it is not now quite the time for the Great Tribulation to being. FWIW, I have traveled to Europe many times in the past few years (my last trip was just two months ago), and can state that the Europeans are simply not unified enough to be ready to fulfill their role as the supporters of the King of the North – the Final Beast power, yet. But they are looking at proposing peace deals in the Middle East (http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-13-voa26.cfm) and are trying to form a powerful empire–but it is not ready yet.

Great Tribulation Cannot Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014

Now I have been criticized in the past for pointing out that the “great tribulation” could not begin in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, etc. And when I posted the item that the Great Tribulation Cannot Begin Before 2015, I got several emails from people insisting I was wrong.

But I was correct then, and am now.

Why?

Well in addition to the fact that there is no Middle East peace deal that fulfills Daniel 9:27, there still is not yet in place the final leader known as the King of the North. Nor is there a leader yet in place who is the final King of the South (and both of those leaders need to make their own deceitful deal per Daniel 11:27, prior to the start of the Great Tribulation). And while these leaders could be in those positions relatively soon, several of the events that Jesus also said would occur first (Matthew 24:4-14) have not yet been completely fulfilled.

One of the ways that we in the Living Church of God differ from many with current or former COG ties like James Malm is that we believe that Matthew 24:14 still needs to be fulfilled. That passage states:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

The above verse is the one just prior to the abomination being set up (Matthew 24:15), and needs to be fulfilled. And while the Herbert W. Armstrong did his part in that, he never felt that this preaching could be stopped until the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God fled to a place of safety. Notice some teachings from his old church:

Philadelphia has little strength to do this great work that God has given it to do. God has opened the door, and yet look how insignificant, how weak, how little strength we as a Church have to do that work…Revelation 3:7-13: “And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that OPENETH, and no man SHUTTETH; and SHUTTETH and no man openeth.” The great door that God has opened to this work is the facility to go into all the world and preach the gospel; the door of radio, the door of the printing press, plus many other such doors. God has set before us an open door and no MAN can shut it. God can shut it, and He will when the work is finished and the Philadelphia Church goes to a place of safety. …The Laodicean Church is not going to he worthy to escape to a place of safety. When it is too late, they will find that the Church of Philadelphia has gone to safety (What Is the “LAODICEAN CHURCH”? Good News August 1959 Vol. VIII, Number 8).

When this European empire is perfected, the great Work God is doing through this Church will be quickly completed–finished…The sign He gave was that which He is doing through us–proclaiming for the first time in 1900 years to the world the Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD (Matthew 24:14). But next, after our work, is to come the GREAT TRIBULATION (verses 21-22. That shall be ended, verse 29, by supernatural, frightful signs in the sun, moon, and stars; signaling the “day of the Lord”–see also Joel 2:31)…Events now occurring SWIFTLY in the world are SIGNS of the imminency of the Great Tribulation. No one will be allowed to proclaim Christ’s Gospel then. The “Philadelphia era” or succession of God’s Church will be taken on the “two wings of a great eagle”–whatever that symbolizes–to a place of protection where we are to be “fed”–provided for. We need now to begin to be ALERT, for this “flight” may happen suddenly. DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE NEGATIVE SNEERING OF EXCOMMUNICATED MINISTERS: Both Revelation 12:13 and 3:10 warn us. We, ourselves, are a sign (Matt. 24:14) of the very imminency of these things! (Armstrong HW. Great Significance of Summit Conference. Pastor General’s Report, Vol. 2, No. 26, June 27, 1980).

Our work in the hands of Christ is NOT YET FINISHED, and He will not allow the Work to stop until it is finished. And when will that be? … since no one can know the day or the hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day that this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED EUROPE shall appear –the revival of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire.” We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later “the beast’s” armies will surround Jerusalem. Thirty days later the Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain–and possibly the same day or immediately after, on United States and Canadian cities (Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.1, NO.15 NOVEMBER 20, 1979).

Next, when our Great Commission is in God’s sight completed, we are to be taken–symbolically flown on the two wings of a great eagle–we shall be taken to a place of protection from the Great Tribulation (Armstrong HW. Looking…PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.3, NO.4 January 23, 1981).

That is why we in the Living Church of God, in addition to being on the internet and producing millions of pieces of literature, are on hundreds of television stations to preach Christ’s gospel of the kingdom to the world. LCG also does special presentations with evangelists and ministers around the world to reach nations personally as well. When God decides this should stop (which would be shortly before the start of the Great Tribulation as the HWA quotes indicate), then we will.

While world events leading up to the “great tribulation” are occurring (they are as I report about them frequently, notice Might Kurt Koch become or support the coming “antipope” antichrist? and As I Warned, Interim Government of Egypt Looks to be Replaced by Islamic-Focused One to cite just two examples), the final 3 1/2 year countdown has not yet began, hence the great tribulation will not possibly start prior to 2015 (with 2016 probably more likely as the earliest year).

James Malm Also Wrong About the King of the South

In a post today, titled The Coming Middle East War, James Malm actually posted:

I have consistently said that Egypt is the King of the South along with her allies Israel and the British/American nations; and that the Islamic nations will join themselves with the King of the North as per Psalm 83.

Islam, either Radical or Moderate, has nothing to do with the King of the South [other than Egypt happening to be an Islamic country] and the majority of Islamic countries will be in league with the King of the North, Psalm 83! This biblical position is in harmony with the massive Islamic presence in Europe; and is the exact opposite of the many COG Group’s, unbiblical and irrational position.

In saying these things I have been called a false prophet simply because I have not agreed with the general, extrabiblical COG take on Islamic Extremism coalescing into the King of the South.

These next few months will now reveal whether I was correct concerning these things or whether such Groups as UCG, LCG and PCG have been correct all along.

If regime change does take place in Iran and Syria, my warnings shall be vindicated and the COG Group’s positions of Islamic Extremism becoming the King of the South will; be proven wrong!

The first time I recall hearing the false hypothesis that Britain and the USA were part of the King of the South was from literature from the Jehovah’s Witness. The USA and Britain ARE not going to be part of the King of the South.

Yet, let it be stated that it certainly is possible that there will be a regional war in the Middle East prior to the apparent peace deal in Daniel 9:27, as well as a regime change in Iran and/or Syria (the Bible teaches that Damascus will cease to be a city in Isaiah 17). And it is specifically true that the Islamic nations in Psalm 83 will align temporarily with the King of the North. But James Malm contention that a regime change in the next few months vindicates him is a stretch. It is James Malm who has repeatedly made prophetic claims which have been shown to be in error.

The end is coming. It is coming soon. But the end, meaning the “great tribulation” in this case, cannot possibly begin prior to the year 2015. And thus, in all due respect to James Malm, there is no way “There is a very high likelihood that the tribulation will begin late next year; with the abomination being set up on or near September 16th 2012” as he posted.

Nor will those who believe that the Mayan prophecies about the world ending in a flood be fulfilled.

The Great Tribulation biblically cannot begin before 2015, and in my view, 2016 or later is more likely.

Some articles of related interest may include the following:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Similarities and Differences Between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some interesting similarities, but many major differences. Would you like information on how to deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 15-16 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass. This book is a good reference and source for what will and will not happen in 2012 as well as the years shortly afterwards.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 16 já começaram a acontecer.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Brazilian Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel. Edição em português do Brasil. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 16 já começaram a acontecer.