SDA Dr. Richard Ruhling claims time to flee Jerusalem is less than four weeks away!

Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), and retired medical doctor, Richard Ruhling emailed me a few times yesterday and asked me to watch and comment on a video he made titled 3 Reasons You Need to Consider.

His description online of that video states:

3 Reasons why Judgment is Impending this Spring
3 Reasons for Judgment on Jerusalem, Passover, April 23
5 Reasons why Judgment falls on US at 2nd Passover, May 21/22

He is wrong on all of those listed points.

Dr. Ruhling was Assistant Professor of Health Science at Loma Linda University, an SDA institution, from 1974-78.

Anyway, Dr. Ruhling is also the author of Apocalypse 2016, the book shown at the beginning of this post. Since people seem to predict the “Apocalypse,” better biblically called the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) every year, some who do not properly understand biblical prophecy will likely get the year right.

But 2016 is NOT the year (for details, see the video Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?) and Dr. Ruhling will soon be proven wrong.

Anyway, I did watch Dr. Ruhling’s video and found many biblical errors in it. And after I told him about them, he graciously responded, and I told him I planned to post about it today.

His video reminded me a lot of the teachings of the late, false prophet, Harold Camping (see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible.

Dr. Ruhling based a lot on calculations, without looking at enough of the Bible, the true order of events, etc. Like Harold Camping, his dates for events to occur will also be proven wrong.

For example, he said we can expect judgement, about a month from now on Passover. He told people to tell any they know in Jerusalem to flee because Jerusalem will be hit with a huge earthquake, attacked, and destroyed. But there was no reference to the following that Jesus said:

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. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:14-22)

Instead Dr. Ruhling’s date was based upon his interpretation of the 70 weeks of Daniel, jubilee years. and remaining time of a millennium. While some may find his basis interesting, since it does not align with the Bible, I found it false.

Let me flat out state that Matthew 24:14 has NOT been fulfilled yet (see also The Final Phase of the Work). Consider also that Jesus said the sign for those to flee Jerusalem had to do with “the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”–not some mathematical calculation. It is NOT the time to flee Jerusalem that Dr. Ruhling has calculated.

Now, Dr. Ruhling warned of a devastating “huge earthquake” which he expects will hit Jerusalem a day or two after the Passover (he has the Passover date wrong).

Could that happen?

Yes.

Would that prove him right?

No.

As Jesus declared Matthew 24:14 had to be complete and we are to see the abomination of desolation before that fleeing time. It is not prophesied to require an earthquake then (if you have any doubts, re-read Matthew 24:14-22 again).

Dr. Ruhling, in an email to me, added:

There appear to be multiple applications of prophecy. This includes your reference to the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place; Mark 13:14 says, “standing where it ought not” The early believers understood it to mean Rome and when Cestius came and planted the banner of Rome in the holy ground that extended some furlongs outside Jerusalem, the Christians fled and were spared the siege by Titus 3 1/2 years later.

Rome came last year and the pope stood where he “ought not,” in US Congress that is supposed to keep religion out of legislation, but his “Laudato Si” calls for respect of Sunday which is Rome’s claim to fame–nothing in the Bible about Sunday except the Protestant reformers saw the pope as the little horn that would change times and laws,

Since the term “holy place” is used in Matthew’s account, and the Congress of the USA is NOT a “holy place,” again I stand by my understanding of Jesus’ words that Dr. Ruhling’s understanding is in biblical error (as far as the Pope’s encyclical, check out Laudato Si: Pope’s Agenda or Kingdom of God?).

Part of Dr. Ruhling’s justification for the timing of the Jerusalem events he says are to happen next month are because there was a blood moon a year ago. And while there were a total of four “blood moons” in 2014 and 2015, the particular blood moon that is prophesied in the end happens after the great tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31)–it has not happened.

The “blood moons” of 204 and 2015 were NOT of prophetic significance. I denounced them in advance, while they were occurring, and afterwards, and was right that they did NOT have the prophetic importance certain Protestant preachers attributed to them (see also Blood Moons and Prophecy).

Dr. Ruhling in his video, correctly, stated that Passover is not monthly or quarterly, but annually (it is annually, see also Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?). He then mentioned, also correctly, that the Bible tells of a second Passover that biblically comes a month later (cf. Numbers 9:1-14). He neglected to say that the Bible only enjoins the second Passover observance if one could not keep the regular Passover (cf. Numbers 9:1-14).

He claims that if Americans will keep the second Passover, that God will allow the destruction that he claims will hit the USA in about 8 weeks, to pass-over them.

While he is right that Passover should not be monthly or quarterly, it should be annually on the first Passover (which will be after sunset on the 21st of April this year). Even if his prediction were right, NOT waiting until the second Passover for God to pass-over judgment is wrong.

We in the Continuing Church of God will keep Passover next month on the biblical date, as Jesus did.

Somewhere in the video, Dr. Ruhling swore about something being true, but Jesus said not to swear (Matthew 5:34). He also holds to the improper belief that Ellen White was God’s prophetess, which she was not (see also SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).

Somewhere in the video, Dr. Ruhling mentioned that churches are closed to the truth about what he was teaching. But many parts of what he is teaching are in error.

However, Dr.Ruhling is correct that the USA will face a destructive judgment (Habakkuk 2:6-8; Ezekiel 22:13-15; Daniel 11:39). And the USA will have more to suffer during the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8).

Yet, since the “great tribulation,” which is also called the Apocalypse by many cannot start until three and 1/2 years after the deal of Daniel 9:27 (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 and When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018?), and that deal has not been done, let alone confirmed, the Great Tribulation will not be happening for several years at least.

In the Continuing Church of God, and not in the Seventh-day Adventist church,

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21, KJV)

A detailed article about prophets in the Church of God is How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God. That article not only has scriptures, it also has historical COG writings that should help people who will believe the truth to be able to see the truth. Those wanting to see some specific SDA errors may wish to check out the article SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666.

It should also be mentioned that the various Laodiceans in the Church of God do not properly understand end time prophecy, and that will contribute to them NOT fleeing when they should (cf. Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:14-17).

A listing of some of their errors is in the article The Laodicean Church Era.

Bible prophecy is true, yet many, many do not properly understand or teach it properly.

The Great Tribulation will NOT begin next month.

Some item of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? 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 comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.
Seventh-day Adventist President Ted Wilson’s Comments on the Remnant Church Ted N. C. Wilson spoke on the SDAs striving to be the “remnant church”, but what do the related scriptures actually teach?
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?
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?
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
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.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!