RCG’s David Pack falsely asserts that the Great Tribulation will begin January 14, 2023
Logo of the Restored Church of God
Today, I listened to part of a video done on January 4, 2023 by David Pack of the Restored Church of God (RCG). He stated the following related to the Hebrew month of Tevet, 2023, and the Great Tribulation:
The Day of the Lord is perfectly, perfectly, Christ’s day–the day He became our Saviour … the 21st of this month {Tevet}, which is next Sabbath, ten days away, not quite ten, the 21st begins the Great Tribulation.
As far as Tevet and the Roman calendar date in January goes, notice the following:
14/01/2023 Saturday 21 Tevet, 5783 https://www.webcal.guru/en-GH/event_list?calendar_id=system_hebrew accessed 6 January 2023
In other words, David Pack is falsely asserting that the Great Tribulation begins on January 14, 2023–or since he said not quite ten, perhaps after sunset on the 13th of January 2023.
That is not possible.
David Pack, like many who have pushed wrong dates, did not point to certain events that Jesus said to look for in places such as the 24th chapter of the Book of Matthew, which also refers to events in the Book of Daniel. Instead, David Pack points to his own imagined calendar connections.
In that respect, he reminds me of the late Protestant Harold Camping who relied on his own false calculations for the return of Jesus (for some details, check out Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible).
That being said, David Pack has long pushed wrong dates.
In November 2022, David Pack claimed that RCG followers would look like Christ on December 9th, 2022 and that the Day of the Lord would begin on December 24th, 2022. Those events did not happen as David Pack asserted.
For over a decade, I have denounced false predictions of David Pack–I have never been wrong in my denouncements, and he was never right when I posted he would be wrong. Here is a link to a recent post related to that: RCG’s David Pack made two more predictions that will soon be proven to be false.
Back in 2016, David Pack took a stand against a teaching of Herbert W. Armstrong with his sermon on the 1335 days of Daniel. Notice what RCG’s website stated:
While many understand what happens 1,260 days before Christ returns, as well as what happens 30 days earlier (the 1,290 date), no one understands what happens at the 1,335 days, referenced in Daniel 12:12 (NEWS AND UPDATES. Date: 2007-11-16 New Sermon. http://www.thercg.org/news.html viewed 11/21/07).
…one elder commented here at headquarters, if people can’t be motivated by a clarion call to finish the work such as this, why will those same people somehow believe the internal signal given to the church of the 1335? Why would they believe it? (Pack DC. Clarion Call — The Time is NOW! Sermon of 11/03/07).
Apparently David Pack has not read what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about this as Herbert W. Armstrong basically did understand it–and it is not an internal signal. This is just another example of RCG deviating from proper prophetic knowledge. More information on what Herbert W. Armstrong taught is in the article Who is the King of the North?
Despite all of this, notice another claim from David Pack:
You have come in contact with the only Church on the face of the earth that truly understands prophecy. On The World to Come program, we teach the meaning of today’s events, and what lies ahead for the world—and do so in detail. (Pack D. Did God Send Nostradamus? Real Truth, January 12, 2010).
Those who believed that statement from David Pack are being severely misled as he and his church clearly misunderstand various aspects of prophecy (as well as other biblical matters).
David Pack has made many wrong prophetic announcements, misunderstands prophecy, and has been misleading people prophetically.
RCG also falsely claimed that it is certain that the 1335 days were to begin on October 25, 2022 (see RCG improperly claims it was ‘certain’ the 1335 days were to begin on October 25, 2022).
No, the 1335 days did not start on October 25, 2022 as RCG taught. RCG has so many obvious prophetic failures and doctrinal errors that it is astounding any are still with it. Regarding the 1335 and being “certain,” RCG was certainly wrong.
As far as the 1335 days go, back in 2008, I denounced Ronald Weinland for declaring that the 1335 days had begun (see CGPKG: Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God). In 2009, I denounced the now late James Malm for his false claim about the start of the 1335 days of Daniel 12 (see also Shining Light: Error-Ridden James Malm Not Doing an Elijah Work).
More on the 1335 days can be found in articles such asWho is the King of the North? and J. J The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27.
As far as the start of the Great Tribulation goes, I also denounced Ron Weinland for making that claim in 2008 as well as the late James Malm who pointed to almost every year since 2008.
The biblical reality is that necessary events that Jesus and Daniel mentioned that will allow for that have not happened.
For some scriptural proof, let’s look at the account in Matthew 24:
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
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.
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:4-16)
There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2023 and those who rely on the Bible have realized this. It is only those who overlook scripture and rely on their own views and/or false traditions who make the mistake of thinking that the Great Tribulation can, or could, happen in 2023.
Why do I state this?
Jesus pointed to Daniel.
Thus, one reason that the Great Tribulation will not begin yet is that one known as the final King of the North in Daniel 11 needs to rise up.
The Bible shows that the coming “King of the North” will make a deal of some sort with one called the King of the South just before the appointed time of the end:
27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27).
Daniel chapter 11 tells much about the end times and it involves both a King of the South and a King of the North. And while there was a president of the South and a president of the North in the Union for the Mediterranean (see Deal Leading to Psalm 83?), these individuals have not held the type of power (nor prerogatives) of the prophesied King of the North and the King of the South. Nor will the current head of the post-Lisbon European Union, likely be the final King of the North as she does not seem to fit that description.
Since the Great Tribulation will not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual final King of the North Beast leader –it is not yet.
Now the Bible shows that a “prince” will apparently confirm a peace deal with Israel:
26 And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
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 9:26-27).
There are several reasons that this “prince” is referring to the leader of the developing European empire (see King of the North and Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation). One is that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. The European Union includes much of the land and peoples that were part of the ancient Roman Empire. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 is referring to. Thus, this prophecy tells us that a lower level European leader will officially start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the Great Tribulation (and yes, according to Jesus, some “tribulation” does happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation). Another is the fact that the “beast of the sea” (Revelation 13:1) fits with the beasts from the “great sea” (Daniel 7:2)–and that is the Mediterranean Sea according to the Old Testament–hence this is an empire like the old Roman one (for more details, please see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).
This portion of scripture in Daniel seems to be discussing some type of peace deal that the Europeans will either propose or at least one from Europe will endorse. Such a deal did not exist as of late 2022, or at least was not publicly confirmed by the “prince” by then. The deal will be broken 3 1/2 years later (Daniel 9:27; 11:31).
Furthermore, there must be a Beast who was given power through the reorganization of Revelation 17:12-13–and that is not about to happen this month. Also, the 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel lays out certain persecutions and steps that have not yet started and cannot possibly be completed by the 14th of January (see Persecutions by Church and State and Who is the King of the North?).
Some may wish to see what the old Worldwide Church of God taught would begin the Great Tribulation, as written by the late Herbert W. Armstrong:
“And the abomination that maketh desolate set up.” What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15 … From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ’s coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days.” Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us–GOD”S CHURCH–who wait and endure until the 1335 days–approximately 1335 days prior to Christ’s coming … 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 the United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble,” spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. And Jacob’s name was named on Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:16). At that time a third of the people in our nations will die, or shall have died, by famine and disease epidemics; another third will dies of the war–our cities being destroyed (Ezek. 6:6), and the remaining third will be carried to the land of our enemies as slaves (Ezek. 5:12). Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).
Even though the Great Tribulation is coming soon, it will not begin in 2023.
That said, I have long warned against RCG, never believed that David Pack was an apostle, and doubt he is actually a converted Christian.
I have long felt that the following applied to David Pack:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3)
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. (2 Peter 2:12-14)
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-20)
I believe that David Pack is false, is covetous, is a bully, causes the way of truth to be blasphemed, is lustful for money, and speaks great swelling words of emptiness because of his own corrupted ego.
Hopefully, people in RCG will wake up.
Will those of you associated with RCG anoint your eyes?
David Pack is false and is not faithful.
The Great Tribulation will not begin on 14 January 2023.
Some items of possibly related interest might include:
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
RCG: Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise. Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Por qué no la Iglesia de Dios Restaurada?
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. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong? Two related sermons are available Elijah: Prophecies and Heresies and Elijah, Herbert W. Armstrong, and CCOG.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
How does the Continuing Church of God differ from other Sabbatarian COG groups? There are scores of different groups claiming to be Church of God. How is the Continuing Church of God different?
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; and When Will the End of the Age Come?
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