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The world order has been changing.

We have heard of wars and rumors of war.

The situation in the Middle East is tense.

Jesus’ disciples specifically asked Him how to know when this would happen (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:4; Luke 21:7)–and He responded with details. Several of those details are yet to be fulfilled.

But sadly, many overlook what Jesus taught, but instead try to point to other things.

Consider, for example, that although some claimed that the blood moons in 2014 and 2015′ may have marked the beginning, I correctly denounced that years ago (Blood Moons, Eclipses, and Prophecy; a related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015) and was proven right. I also denounced the so-called Shemitah year and the claimed devastation that was supposed to hit the world economy, etc. in late 2015 (see also 6000 years up and Jesus to return in 2016? and September ‘convergence’: a harbinger of potential disaster?), and again was right. On January 1, 2017, I blasted the idea that the claimed ‘Jubilee of 2017″ would mark the end (see Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2017? Furthermore, I blasted the idea that the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 (see Solar Eclipse and the Apocalypse) or Planet Nibiru would begin the tribulation or destroy the Earth (see Doomsayers: Planet Nibiru to destroy Planet Earth in four weeks).

Why?

Because according to the Bible, other events needed to occur first.

There are various clues in the Bible, in such books as Daniel and Matthew, that make the prospect of the Great Tribulation happening in the next three years impossible.

Yet, we have seen events occur that are getting us closer.

Furthermore, from abortion to increased acceptance of sexual immorality to terrorism to politicians we are seeing the following being fulfilled:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

With all this going on, can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?

Let’s look at the claims of some who have said so:

The Blood Moon Triads that occurred to specifically point to 2011 and 2018, and which act as a celestial frame around the amazing Blood Moon Tetrad on Jewish Feasts that occurred between Passover of 2014 and Sukkot of 2015, shows that the years 2011 through 2018 are extremely significant. …

Due to the previous prophetic dates already disclosed in this chapter (i.e. 2010 AD, 2017 AD and 2018 AD), this interpretation of Daniel’s “sevens” has startling implications. In 1948, the modern nation of Israel was at peace after winning a war against her enemies. It was also finally recognized as a nation by the world, and Jerusalem could again be rebuilt. 1948 is therefore the future time when “the command to restore and build Jerusalem” was issued! Just as in ancient times, Jerusalem has been rebuilt “in troublesome times” (Daniel 9:25). …

In the near future, another cutting off or removal of God’s chosen representatives from the world scene may occur with the First Rapture of the saints in the 70th year after Israel became a nation again. This year is likely the year 2018, and not 2017. Then the Great Tribulation will begin. Then, near to the end of the three and half years of the Great Tribulation, I believe that a Second Rapture may take place when the Two Witnesses are resurrected from the dead. …

If seven more “sevens” or years are added to 2010 AD, we arrive at 2017 AD, and 2017 may be the last year of the Seal Judgments and the prelude to the beginning of the Great Tribulation in 2018. … a seven-year period in which five of the Seal Judgments have been released appears to have fallen from 2011 through 2017 AD. In conjunction with the Blood Moon Triads that frame the years 2011 and 2018, and the Blood Moon Tetrad that marked the years 2014 and 2015 as significant, it appears that the years 2010 through 2018 that correspond with Hallel Psalms 110 through 118 were targeted by Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks as extremely significant. …

In summary, according to the principle that each one of Daniel’s seventy weeks equals one year, then 2018 is the year that will mark Daniel’s Seventieth Week! Here is a prophecy written thousands of years ago by a captive prophet named Daniel that verifies the beginning and end dates that may mark the Tribulation period before the Great Tribulation, as well as the beginning of the seventieth “week” or year in 2018! Also, although no one except God the Father knows the exact day or hour of the Rapture or Catching Away spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Tu B’Av in 2018 would be a more than appropriate time considering the interesting Heavenly Sign that will appear on that night . Furthermore, if 2018 is the time of our deliverance in the Rapture, my understanding of Daniel Chapter 9 leads me to believe that the time of our deliverance in 2018 will be followed by three and a half years of Great Tribulation, making late 2021 to mid 2022 the timing for the Battle of Armageddon, when Christ will return with His resurrected saints, and slaughter ALL the wicked that found such pleasure in abusing God’s beloved children.

Another good possibility for the Rapture is sometime around Chanukah of 2017, which falls from the evening of December 12th through to December 20th, 2017, and of course Passover Week from the evening of March 30th through April 6th, 2018 (Resurrection Sunday is on April 1st), as well as Pentecost Sunday, a.k.a. Shavuot, which will be from the evening of May 19th through to the evening of Sunday May 20th, 2018. (Helena Lehman of Pillar of Enoch Ministry. http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2017/)

Israel became independent on May 14, 1948, and this was officially recognized May 1, 1949. This independence has affected the views of many Protestants related to prophecy. Many base a lot of their prophetic understandings on it.

Many Protestants believe that the modern nation of Israel, along with Jews scattered around the world, is ALL OF ISRAEL. These traditions are in error.

As shown by various scriptures (e.g. Genesis 48:11,15-16,19-20; cf. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2), the name Israel was to be placed on the descendants of Joseph–this made 13 tribes (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). Later, the Bible shows that God separated ten tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:31) from those of Judah (1 Kings 12:20).

Yet, it was prophesied that most would call the Jews ‘Israel’:

1 Hear this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah (Isaiah 48:1)

This has happened today.

However, because of not understanding other scriptures, many overlook the scriptures that teach that there are other tribes of Israel in other places. Notice the following from the New Testament:

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. (James 1:1)

So, the idea that there were still other tribes that were not in the area of Judea/Palestine was still recognized in the New Testament.

What might any of this have to do with the nation now called Israel?

Some, mainly Protestants, have pointed to the formation of the small nation of Israel as the fulfillment of many end time prophecies. And this has frequently been overstated. Many consider that the final generation to see the great tribulation and Jesus’ return started in 1948.

The Christian Research Journal published the following:

Many Christians in the United States believe that it is their biblical responsibility to support the contemporary Jewish State of Israel for specific theological reasons (as opposed to general political ones), a view known as Christian Zionism. The Pew Research Center put the figure at 63 percent for white evangelicals. This view holds that the regathering of Jewish people to Israel since 1948 is the miraculous fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham to establish Israel as a nation forever in Palestine. Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind novels, together with books written by Hal Lindsey, Pat Robertson, and many others, which propound this view, have sold well over 100 million copies.  …

A growing number of Christians, however, are left increasingly uneasy about the idea that God would bring the Jewish people back to Palestine while they are in unbelief, since that was why they were exiled from it in the first place. The methods Israel has used, moreover, to colonize the land and subjugate the Palestinians— many of whom are Christians—do not match the picture of a God‐fearing Israel that Christian Zionists find in their literal interpretation of the ancient prophecies.

(Christian Research Journal, volume 29, number 06, 2006 http://www.equip.org/article/modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy-promised-return-or-impending-exile/#christian-books-1 accessed 04/18/15)

In other words, many Protestants believe this even though Protestant writers have made claims that are not backed up by the literal interpretation of the prophecies in the Bible.

Notice also another claim from an article titled 10 Prophecies Fulfilled in 1948:

The people of Israel would return to “their own land”

Bible passage: Ezekiel 34:13
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: after May 14, 1948

In Ezekiel 34:13, the prophet said that God would gather the people of Israel scattered throughout the world and bring them back to “their own land.” After many centuries of dispersion, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned to their ancient homeland beginning in the late 1800s. But, millions more returned after Israel declared independence in 1948. In other words, millions of exiles returned to their ancient homeland which was now truly “their own land” in the sense that it was now a sovereign Jewish state. (10 Prophecies Fulfilled in 1948 Last Updated: 07/31/2013 21:28  http://watchmanbiblestudy.com/articles/1948propheciesfulfilled.htm accessed 04/18/15)

But is what happened in Israel a possible fulfillment?

No.

Notice the verse mentioned above and then some others:

13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 18 Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture — and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them — My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’” (Ezekiel 34:13-30)

The tiny nation of Israel since 1948 has NEVER truly dwelled safely. Furthermore, Israel is regularly ‘shamed’ by Gentiles via United Nations’ resolutions, terrorism, and various international statements and actions.

But most importantly, an overwhelmingly large number of Jews in Israel do not know the true God, as God. This has NOT yet been fulfilled, but will be later (see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

What about the nation of Israel supposedly fulfilling the prophecies claimed to be related to Jesus’ parable of the fig tree?

Here are comments from two Protestant/Baptist prophecy interpreters:

Prophecy,…why is the subject so popular today? One word: Israel.

You see, none of the prophecies concerning the end times were relevant — much less understood — until Israel became a nation again in 1948.

In His parable concerning the fig tree, Jesus told His disciples that when it begins to put forth leaves, they would know that summer is near. In the same way, He said that the generation that saw all of the signs He listed occurring within the same time span, and increasing in frequency and intensity, should recognize that His coming is near.

Many of those “signs” involved the nation of Israel. But before there actually existed a nation of Israel, none of them made sense.  (Lindsey H. The Hal Lindsey Report. 11-01-2013. http://www.hallindsey.com/the-hal-lindsey-report-11012013/)

And there is one main event in bible prophecy that had to happen to usher in the time that the bible calls the “Last Days”, or the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” and that event happened on May 14, 1948 … ”Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Matthew 24:32-34

This is what’s known as the Fig Tree Prophecy.  (The Fig Tree Prophecy of Matthew 24: How The Rebirth of Israel Signals The Last Days. http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/pages/the_fig_tree_prophecy.htm viewed 05/06/14)

Israel the fig tree has put forth its leaves and been reborn as a nation therefore the coming of Christ draws near. Luke 21:32 also states that a generation would not pass. A generation is between 70-100 years, Israel was established again on May 15, 1948. Jews are still immigrating back to Israel from nations far and wide, just like the Bible said they would. https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15

Here is one of the passages of scripture that certain ones believe relate to the 1948 formation of the State of Israel:

2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.”

4 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. (Jeremiah 24:2-5)

Notice that the above ties Israel with figs, but only claims to bring the good figs back. Although I have seen the above shown as scriptural evidence that Jesus’ parable of the fig tree relates to the modern nation of Israel (https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15), that makes little sense as the modern Jews do not seem to be any closer to God than those in Jeremiah’s time.

Furthermore, look at the other passages that follow:

6 For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:6-7)

The above clearly has not happened.  Not only has the nation of Israel NOT returned to God with their whole heart, that nation has also lost some of the land that it had in various ‘peace’ negotiations.  Jewish settlers have been plucked up. Hence it is not appropriate to tie Jeremiah 24:2-7 to the modern nation of Israel.

Now why would anyone try?  Well they do to attempt to prove that the nation of Israel is the fig tree that Jesus referred to in the gospels. Here is what Jesus said:

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!  34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  (Matthew 24:32-35)

28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near — at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (Mark 13:28-30)

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. (Luke 21:29-32)

We will get to what the “all things” Jesus referred to are.  Before going there directly, perhaps it should be mentioned that although he believed that the 1948 recognition by the UN was a prophesied prophetic event, the late Protestant/Baptist scholar Dr. Walvoord wrote:

Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-21; Luke 21:29-33 … A common interpretation has been to interpret the fig tree as a type of Israel and the revival of Israel as the budding of the fig tree … there is no scriptural basis (Walvoord JF. Prophecy Handbook. Victor Books, 1990, pp. 390-391)

Not only was Dr. Walvoord correct that there is no scriptural basis, I will take it a step further. Unless a generation is over 70 years, it is NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE FORMATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL IN 1948 FULFILLED THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE IN MATTHEW, MARK, OR LUKE.

Why?

Jesus noted that the events in Matthew 24. Mark 13, and Luke 21 would all happen within the same generation.  Biblically, a generation was normally considered only 30 or 40 years according to what seems to be Smith’s Bible Dictionary’s understanding of Job 42:16 (Smith W. Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Originally written 1863, Hendrickson Publishers, p.  211).  Here is that scripture:

16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. (Job 42:16)

Essentially, 140 years divided by four generations equals what may be considered 35 years per generation, with 40 years more probable as that would make the grandchild of the last generation 20 years of age.

Even if a generation is biblically longer, it would not seem to be over 70 years or maybe 80:

10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10)

Seventy years would seem to be the maximum length of a biblical generation.  Since the Great Tribulation cannot possibly start prior to 2021 (and likely later), and Jesus cannot return until 3 1/2 years after that, if Jesus’ reference to “this generation” meant 70 years or less, then the view that the formation of the State of Israel was the first sign to start counting the fulfillment of much of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 could not be biblically possible.

Getting back to Jesus’ statements about the parable of the fig tree, in the gospel account He specifically says that you need to look at the signs He listed earlier.

So, 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 24:4-15)

Some have apparently concluded that the State of Israel needed to form for the event in verse 15 to occur. And while that may well be, that was not the first of the items to be fulfilled in “this generation.” The generation either starts with the start of the “beginning of sorrows” referred to in verse 8 or “being killed”, as referred to in verse 9. And because Jesus said, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34), and those things included the sorrows, this really does not point to the formation of the nation of Israel as the starting point.

As I wrote years ago, I have suspected that the beginning of sorrows may have begun on September 19, 2009 or shortly thereafter. There was a meeting of certain leaders in the Eastern Orthodox church around then that seemed to embrace the ecumenical agenda of the white horseman of Revelation 6:1-2, which is consistent with the first sorrow Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:4-5. I perhaps should mention that I also told the presiding evangelist of my former church in November of 2009, that the beginning of sorrows may have started on September 19, 2009 or the next month, and not too long thereafter that church put out several writings stating that the beginning of sorrows had began.

If the beginning of sorrows began in 2009, then there is time in “this generation” to see the signs further fulfilled. The ecumenical agenda has really been pushed since that time, which is a sign that many Protestants have difficulty seeing. Certain Protestants have sadly also accepted that agenda themselves (e.g. Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, etc.).

Notice the following from Daniel that may have necessitated having an Israeli nation in the Palestine/Judea region:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

This is something that Jesus did refer to in Matthew 24:15. Of course, that prophecy about the sacrifices stopping will not be fulfilled until after the sacrifices are resumed, which having a Jewish nation could (and at some point in time will) do (see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).

So, while the formation of the State of Israel was needed for the fulfillment of some aspects of prophecy, the 1948 formation itself did NOT trigger the time of “this generation.”  However, it may well be that the events for the “this generation will by no means pass away” that Jesus spoke of, started to formally occur around six or so years ago.

But to claim that a ‘generation’ needs to be over 70 years is a stretch that I do not believe should be looked at related to Israel in 1948. The start of the nation of Israel, because of its allusion in Matthew 24:15, was not the start of “beginning of sorrows”.  The prophecies in Jeremiah and Ezekiel do not possibly point to what happened when Israel was formed in 1948.

Jesus is coming and Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.  But do not rely on ‘traditions’ that are not in full accordance with the Bible.

A video of related interest is titled Israel, 1948, and Prophecy.

Notice another who has speculatively pointed to 2018, etc.:

The 2,500 year old prophetic Book of Daniel chapter 12 speaks of the end days or the days we are now living and may point to Passover 2018 as a significant Feast Day. The 3 sets of days- the 1260, 1290 and 1335 days fit amazingly well between the Feasts of Yom Teruah (YT), Yom Kippur (YK) and Shavuot, which leads me to believe that those days are appointed for YHVH’S Feasts and can’t be explained rationally apart from them. …

Might it be that from the period of time from March 7th to April 6th, 2018 (9/24/14 +1260 or +1290) (Passover 2018 -March 31st) might usher in the two witnesses or a possible beginning of Tribulation?  After close analysis, I believe that there is a possibility that this final 1,260 day cycle (3.5 years) could be the final cycle that may usher in the return of the Messiah or possibly the Harpazo of his Bride depending on what prophetic events take place on Earth.  We need to pay attention to the details that unfold in the coming months ahead.  The Bible seems to point to either a 1,260 day or 7 year period of time that is considered a time of tribulation while the “Great Distress” or Time of Jacob’s Trouble seems to cover a three year period of time.  Might the gap between September 2021 to September 2024 be the prophetic time of Jacob’s Trouble? http://september2021.com/passover-2018-begins-new-1260-day-cycle/ accessed 11/29/17

The fact that Holy Days are mentioned does not fix the flaws in the above. The time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) is 3 1/2 years, so that calculation above is flawed. Also, the work of the Two Witnesses cannot possibly begin before 2021, as they begin their 1260 day mission just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (see Who Are The Two Witnesses?). Furthermore, necessary events that Jesus and Daniel mentioned have not happened.

But it is not just those claiming to be Protestants that are wrong.

Here are some statements from one claiming to be part of the Church of God:

The 2,300 Day Prophecy

According to the 2,300 Day Prophecy which reveals that exactly 2,300 years after Alexander’s empire is divided into four parts; IF the starting date is correct for the count: Messiah the Christ will come in 2021 and will set up the Kingdom of God on Pentecost; meaning that the tribulation will begin in the winter of 2017-2018.

I am proclaiming a warning of high probabilities; I am not setting any date in stone and I emphasize again that this may be out by a year or two, due to difficulties in dating the original event for the countdown; but it is definitely an excellent Bible based; ball park date. …

Now counting forward 2,300 years and adding 1 for the year zero; we end up with Christ coming in early 2021 and the tribulation beginning in Dec 2017 – Jan 2018. …

These events are right in line with a date of late 2017 for the start of the tribulation; followed by the coming of Messiah 42 months later; in 2021 AD!

Brethren, the writing is on the wall! (Malm, James. Shining Light. July 30, 2016)

The 2300 Day Prophecy [see the 2300 Day Prophecy] indicates that the great hour of trial could begin as early as late 2018 or within a few years after that.  Presently the trends indicate that late 2018 is possible.

Then WITHIN 75 days of being set up doing miracles, this roman pope will go to the holy mount and the radical Jewish Settler Movement will sabotage the peace deal and bring the nations of Psalm 83 down on the Jewish State.

The New Europe will intervene, perhaps answering calls of Jewish and other leaders to stop the slaughter.  They will secure the massive Israeli weapons caches and the surviving Jews will be crowded into ghettos awaiting deportation.

1. As for America, the Arabs will join with Europe and abandon the Petrodollar while hiring European countries to do the unimaginably massive rebuilding throughout the region.
2. During the first winter America will lose economic traction and conditions will begin to decline,  …

This 42 months of famine, riots and economic collapse will be accompanied by other natural disasters, one of the chief being great earthquakes which will be so great as to  change the surface topography of the earth.  (Malm, James. Shining Light. The State of the Work, 3 Sept 2017)

The Protestant theorists and James Malm are 100% wrong. Those who understand Bible prophecy realize that there is NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THE GREAT TRIBULATION CAN BEGIN PRIOR TO 2021 NOR JESUS RETURN PRIOR TO 2024. And unless certain events occur by the end of this Spring (which I do not believe is possible), those dates are too early–2022 appears to be the earliest possible date now.

There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2018 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 2018.

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 he 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)–it is not yet.

Now the Bible shows that a “prince” will apparently confirm a peace deal with Israel:

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)

This prince, as Daniel 9:26 and other parts of the Bible show, is European. The one prophetic week is 7 years.  Thus, the middle of the week is 3 1/2 years after this deal is confirmed.

The prince that is confirming this will be the King of the North of Daniel 11. And Daniel 11:31, ties in with Daniel 9:27, and hence happens 3 1/2 years after this deal is confirmed.

The Great Tribulation itself does not begin until verse 39 of Daniel 11. Therefore, since this deal of Daniel 9:27 has not yet occurred and been confirmed, the Great Tribulation cannot begin until at least 3 1/2 years from now.

That deal will probably include the United States and some Arab lands as part of the “many” in Daniel 9:27.

Since this deal has still not been made, there is NO possibility that the Great Tribulation can start prior to 2021–and even that seems too early.

Notice that in the book of Daniel there is a prophecy related to the end times that states:

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 2016, 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).

Therefore, while the Great Tribulation is coming, it will not begin in 2018. Here is a link to the video: Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?

Christians, Philadelphian ones, are to understand Jesus said tribulation related events tie in with Daniel. Yet, most who profess Christ do not fully get it. Anyway, after Daniel 11:31 and the fleeing (Matthew 24:15; Revelation 12:14-17), the Great Tribulation begins:

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 24:21-22)

This cannot possibly happen before 2021 and I do not believe the Great Tribulation can start before 2022.

But make no mistake about it–the end is coming and fairly soon–and most probably, sometime in the next ten or so years. But the Great Tribulation will not start in 2018 nor 2019 nor 2020 (if there is a major war in the Middle East that is resolved by the Fall of 2018, then maybe 2022).

Anyway, if you are willing to believe the Bible, you can understand that the Great Tribulation cannot start in 2018.

Some may also wish to watch the video: Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 1st, 2018 at 12:01 am and is filed under COG News, Prophecy.

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