Can the Great Tribulation start in 2013?

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Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2013?

Do any believe that it will or might? Some seem to think so.

One would seem to be James Malm (a blogger who claims COG ties, but who makes a lot inaccurate statements, improper accusations, and biblically- impossible speculations). Here is something he posted a couple of months ago:

Scripture tells us that no agreement can be concluded and ratified until a miracle working final false prophet called “A Desolating Abomination” is set up in the Papacy, Rev 13, 2 Thess; and calls for the new European Order; which will amount to a revival of the unHoly Roman Empire.

Once this false prophet is set up in the Vatican [Due to the advancing age and health problems of Benedict this is now highly likely to be a NEW pope], and he uses his influence to set up the New Europe, he will go to the Holy Place within 75 days of the date he is set up and the tribulation will begin as he visits the Holy Mount and Peace and Safety is proclaimed to be achieved.

It is an interesting note that IF this abomination were to be set up around 6 Oct 2013, then he would go to the Holy Place around Dec 25 2013 to declare peace in the Middle East.

For the past several years, James Malm has had a tendency to have the Great Tribulation start within 1-2 years of some date (which is consistent with the above inaccurate speculation of his above). I have denounced his dates pretty much every time I have noticed them and of course, have been right every time and his dates have proven to be repeatedly wrong. His last proven wrong date was August 29, 2012 as he posted:

August 29, 2012: News is fast coming that strongly indicates that Pope Benedict will be empowered to become the abomination in mid Sep!!!…I have speculated that the tribulation could begin this year saying that there was as much as an 80% possibility.

So, James Malm 80% chance proven to be completely wrong and had also proposed the same date in the Summer of 2011–the fact that he stuck to it until a couple of weeks before it was shown to be wrong should show others on how he relies more on his own understanding than watching events like Jesus said (cf. Luke 21:29-36). James Malm seems to have a trend of speculating on dates in the very near future which biblically have no hope of being fulfilled. When will his “followers” realize this?

Anyway, there is no possible chance that Pope Benedict will set up the abomination that James Malm is talking about in 2013 either. This will not happen for at least 3 1/2 years, and much likely longer than that, and it is unlikely that Pope Benedict would be the one for many reasons (including his age and his apparent actual beliefs).

There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2013 or 2014 and those who rely on the Bible have realized this for at least the past three years. It is only those who overlook scripture and rely on their own views who make the mistake of thinking that the Great Tribulation can, or could, happen in 2013.

Why do I state this?

One reason that the Great Tribulation will not begin yet is that one known as the final King of the North needs to rise up.

The Bible shows that the coming “the 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, Herman Van Rompuy, likely be the final King of the North as he does not seem to fit that description. However, if he raises taxes, he may fulfill the role of the person listed in Daniel 11:20 (Herman Van Rompuy: Might He Fulfill Daniel 11:20?).

Since the Great Tribulation will not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual final King of the North)–and while the “prince” will apparently confirm a peace deal with Israel (probably somewhat including the United States and some Arab lands as part of the “many” in Daniel 9:27), Daniel 11:27 requires two kings, which suggests that the future “prince” will gain more and more importance after the deal in Daniel 9:27 (for more information on the sequence of Daniel 11, please see the article the King of the North). It may take a regional or other war in the Middle East to trigger a peace deal. And if Isaiah 17:1 concerning the destruction of Damascus is to be fulfilled prior to the start of the Great Tribulation, the destruction of Damascus in Syria should be a clear sign to those who discount biblical prophecy that Bible prophecy will come to pass. Damascus has claimed to the longest continuously inhabited city on the earth and its destruction would be unprecedented.

As far as the King of the South goes, there simply is not a confederation of Islamic nations that work close enough together yet in order to be led by the King of the South. While it is true that there are two groups that ultimately may ultimately allow this (see Iraq & the King of the South and Mediterranean Union Makes Deal With Israel and Arab States), the Islamic Mahdi/Caliph has not yet been recognized. And while this is possible to occur in 2013, the King of the South also will not be ready militarily to fulfill prophecies such as those in Daniel 11:40.

As alluded to earlier, the Bible shows that prior to being referred to as “the King of the North”, there is an individual who initially appears to be referred to as a “prince” in Daniel 9:26-27 (one is normally a “prince”, or rising leader, before one becomes a “king”).

Since this deal has still not been made, this would suggest that contrary to claims of various false prophets (Ronald Weinland of CGPFK and Harold Camping comes to mind) the great tribulation has not already began. There is NO likelihood that the abomination will be set up in 2013. Nor will the Great Tribulation start prior to 2016. The reality is that his blog has repeatedly provided incorrect dates and still does so.

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 December 2012, or at least was not publicly confirmed by the “prince” then.

The Great Tribulation is coming, but it will not begin in 2013.

Articles of related interest may include:

Error-Ridden James Malm Not Doing an Elijah Work James Malm is an ‘independent’ who misunderstands and improperly maligns.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or ? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the “peace deal” of Daniel 9? 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?
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.
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?