Church of God News

‘Apocalyptic War’ (Pixabay)

COGwriter

Each year, various ones point to their predictions and/or calculations as to when they believe the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) will begin.

Consider, for example, that some claimed that the blood moons in 2014 and 2015 may have marked the beginning of it, and 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). I also denounced the view that because of the formation of the tiny nation of Israel in 1948, that the Great Tribulation needed to start 70 years later, like in 2018 (see Odds are greater than ‘1 quad trillion to one’ that the Great Tribulation begins in less than 8 weeks! and/or watch Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?). Some wrongly claimed that something from the “Sabbatical Code” as well as a shemita-decree calculation or a message from Fatima predicted 2019 (see False ‘Great Tribulation’ predictions/calculations for 2019).

Why?

Because according to the Bible, other events needed to occur, that had not yet occurred.

We must base the timing of the Great Tribulation upon what the Bible teaches.

A website called Tribulation Now has a chart which it claims supports 2018, 2019, or 2020 as the start of the Great Tribulation and/or a claimed rapture “2018 – 2020 possible (Rapture) Timeline”(https://tribulation-now.org/2015-2016-rapture-timeline/ accessed 10/27/19). No, real proof was given for the assertion. It looks like the same chart has been used for many years and the dates of a heading simply changed.

Notice something from ReligiousTolerance.org:

Predictions of TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it):

• 2020: Vincent Carthane predicts that some form of heavenly encounter will occur during the year 2020. He links this date with the Bible and other Christian symbols:
  • America started in the Jamestown VA settlement, named after King James. He became king over much of the world in the year 1603 CE. If one goes to Matthew 16:03, one sees a reference to discerning the signs of the times.
  • A five pointed star — the symbol of Satanism — fits neatly into the design of the Pentagon — America’s military headquarters. The central space defined by a pentagram forms the shape of the Pentagon.
  • The cross is in the shape of the letter “T” which is the 20th character in the alphabet. A configuration of two cross symbols worn on opposite lapels by some clergy therefore can be interpreted as the number 2020.
  • John 20:20 refers to disciples seeing the Lord.
  • The pilgrims landed in 1620 CE, exactly 400 years from 2020. The Bible refers to an unfulfilled 400 year prophecy.

Vince has written a book: “Aimed at America: Bible codes that shoot down deceivers.” Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store

It contains more links between the Bible and the year 2020 …

• 2022: According to the Christian Post, Rabbi Yosef Berger of King David’s Tomb in Mount Zion, Jerusalem, predicts that Jesus Christ might return in 2022. He bases this belief on two factors:

• Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, known by the acronym Rambam, predicted in the 12th century that a bright star would appear in the sky just before his return.
• Some astronomers have predicted that two stars in the Northern Cross will collide in 2022. This will cause an explosion so powerful that it will be visible on Earth without a telescope. http://www.religioustolerance.org/end_wrl21.htm accessed 10/27/19

No, John 20:20 does not predict a 2020 Great Tribulation. Let’s look at it in context:

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:19-21)

Nor should symbols associated with crosses be a factor, despite Vince Carthane’s feelings.

Two stars colliding in 2020 are also not a signal for the Great Tribulation to begin.

A Protestant posted:

For the past few days I’ve been wondering if we will be raptured out of here before or after the winner of the 2020 presidential election gets sworn in. If there even is an election. Posted July 4, 2019 at https://www.raptureintheairnow.com/topic/2020-presidential-election/

No, Jesus will not take His saints into the air re: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 in 2020. Jesus returns to fulfill that AFTER the Great Tribulation is over per Matthew 24:29-30.

Astrologer Jeane Dixon predicted that Armageddon would take place in 2020. She previously predicted the world would end on February 4, 1962 (List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events. Wikipedia, accessed 10/27/19). Since Armageddon takes place about 3 1/2 years after the start of the Great Tribulation, obviously she is in error.

This American pastor F. Kenton Beshore predicted 2021 and bases his prediction on the prior suggestion that Jesus would return in 1988, i.e., within one biblical generation (40 years) of the founding of Israel in 1948. Beshore argues that the prediction was correct, but that the definition of a biblical generation was incorrect and was actually 70–80 years, placing the second coming of Jesus between 2018 and 2028 and the rapture by 2021 at the latest (List of dates predicted for apocalyptic events. Wikipedia, accessed 10/27/19)–which he believes precedes the Great Tribulation.

One who claimed to be COG (Church of God), the late James Malm, has pointed to pretty much every year starting with 2008 (for some details, check out the article: Error-Ridden James Malm Not Doing an Elijah Work).

In 2008, he posted:

The only possible years for the 1335 days to begin in the forseeable future are 2008 or 2009…

In short the last day of the 1335 days may occur on the day before Pentecost, making the Feast of Pentecost representative of a NEW BEGINNING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. If this is true, and I shall study it further; the final False Prophet will be set up on 3 Oct 2009! (Malm. J. 2008 and Prophecy, 30 SEP 08).

Here is what he wrote in late 2014:

There is an extremely high probability [at least 90%] that Christ will come in early  2020 and that the abomination will be set up in the Vatican in early Oct 2016 with the tribulation beginning by the end of 2016.  (October 30, 2014)

Here is what James Malm wrote in late 2018:

Jerusalem has announced that Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko would soon come for a visit and this week the Israeli air force was reported to be taking part in the US-led Clear Sky exercise in Ukraine, practicing attacks against Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense missile systems.

The probability of the great tribulation beginning at the end of 2019 or 2020 is now extremely high and will increase as these matters progress. (Malm J. TheShiningLight Update, October 31, 2018. https://godourlight.info/theshininglight-update/)

At this time all events are lining up for the 42 month great tribulation to begin at the end of 2019, or if things go slowly at the end of 2020.  (Malm J. TheShiningLight Update, November 25, 2018. https://godourlight.info/theshininglight-update/)

Related to late 2020 or into 2021, James Malm wrote the following in 2019:

Very soon now, highly likely in just over a year or soon after that, God will reveal his two witnesses. They will be very newsworthy and will preach the Gospel of sincere repentance and warn the nations of approaching events, which warnings will reach a very wide audience through news coverage.  (Malm J. Preparing the Bride and the Tribulation. 20/10/2019 https://godourlight.info/preparing-the-bride-and-the-tribulation/)

The Two Witnesses are given power just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 11:1-15; see also Who Are The Two Witnesses?).

Here is something Jame Malm posted in 2020:

Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 

Brethren, that time has come!

… Daniel was told by the angel Gabriel in the 2300 Day prophecy of Daniel 8 that Messiah would come to cleanse the temple mount and build the Ezekiel temple 2,300 years after the empire of Alexander was divided into four parts.  If the starting date to the count is accurate this clearly sets the coming of Christ in 2024 A.D. which means that the tribulation would begin in the winter of 2020-2021.

Of course the date would depend on an accurate starting date and God has now provided a way to confirm that date with the double prophecy of Ezekiel 4.

James Malm (who died in the Spring of 2020), and others, who claim prior to 2024 are in error. There is NO possibility that the Great Tribulation will begin in 2020, 2021, 2021, or 2023. (To see more of James Malm’s specific predictions, check out the article: Error-Ridden James Malm Not Doing an Elijah Work).

Necessary events that Jesus and Daniel mentioned have not happened that will allow for that.

The reality is that 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 2020?

No, yet various ones have said so.

Necessary events that Jesus and Daniel mentioned have not happened.

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)

There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2020 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 2020.

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 2024–and even that could be 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 2020.

Now notice that in the April 2019 issue of the Philadelphia Trumpet, PCG’s Gerald Flurry had the following:

Christ’s Coming Is ‘At the Very Door’!

hat are the signs of the Second Coming and of the end of the world?

Jesus Christ’s disciples asked this question of Christ Himself, and He gave a detailed answer—many specific signs to watch for that would show when He was about to return to Earth in glory!

You can read His answer in Matthew 24. He explained that “all these things must come to pass” just before His Second Coming.

“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” (Matthew 24:32-33).

You won’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return (verse 36), but you can know based on the signs when it is, as Moffatt translates it, “at the very door.”

This is the single most important prophetic message Christ ever delivered. It takes study to understand it. But it is one of the most exciting studies of the Bible you will ever have! Pay close attention to this truth, and you will be stunned!

I want to point you to six signs Christ gave that prove His return is at the very door—right now.

Two Commissions

Here is the context of this prophecy: “And as he [Christ] sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [age]?” (Matthew 24:3). Christ’s disciples heard His prophecies and believed them, but they were curious about when these prophecies would be fulfilled.

Look closely at that verse, and you notice two questions. These correspond with the last two eras of God’s Church before Christ’s return. (I explain this in my booklet Nuclear Armageddon Is ‘At the Door’; request a free copy or read it online.) “The sign of your coming” refers to Herbert W. Armstrong’s work of preaching the true gospel of God around the world—as I will show you. And the sign “of the end of the age” refers to the work of God’s Church today, which has been commissioned to prophesy again (Revelation 10:11) in this last era of the Church, the Laodicean era.

Mr. Armstrong’s work was a sign to this world of Christ’s imminent return. It fulfilled Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” That work was “the sign of thy coming.” It showed that Christ’s return is near. But it is not a sign that this epic event is “at the door”!

Compare verse 3 with verse 14. Both refer to “the end,” but the Greek words are different. Verse 3 relates to the end of the age of man’s rule over man and Christ establishing God’s government over the Earth. Commentaries tell us that the context must reveal which “end” is being discussed in verse 14. The context shows it is the “end” of the period during which the gospel of the Kingdom of God was preached around the world as the Church’s primary commission. This “end” took place when Mr. Armstrong died in 1986.

Christians, real 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 2024 and unless we see certain signs, it will begin later.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:36

Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?

When is the end coming? Could Jesus return in 2020? Could the Great Tribulation begin in 2020? What have those who said so written as to why? Are their reasons biblical? What about Vincent Carthane’s predictions using Matthew 16:03 and John 20:20? What about certain stars? What about the Armageddon prediction by famed astrologer Jeane Dixon? How about what Protestant minister F. Kenton Behsore and Jesus’ return in 2021? What about predictions from one who claims to be in the Church of God? What about the timing of the two witnesses? Is there a king of the north or king of the South yet? Does Daniel 9 or 11 have something to say about the end? Will the end come before the scheduled 2020 US election? What about Jesus’ words in Matthew 24? When is the earliest year that the Great Tribulation can begin? Dr. Thiel quotes scriptures and provides answers.

Here is a link to the video: Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?

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 2020 (if there is a major war in the Middle East that is resolved by the Fall of 2020, then maybe 2024).

Anyway, if you are willing to believe the Bible, you can understand that the Great Tribulation cannot start in 2020 or 2021.

Some may also wish to watch the video: Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?

Here is a link to the Spanish version of that video: ¿Podría la Gran Tribulación comenzar en 2020?

Tweet

This entry was posted on Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Prophecy.

• Noticias de Profecía de la Biblia: ¿Comenzará la Gran Tribulación en 2015?
• False ‘Great Tribulation’ predictions/calculations for 2019
• Universal Offer of Salvation: Oferta universal de salvación: Hay cientos de versículos en la Biblia que apoyan la verdadera doctrina de la Apocatastasis.
• False Tribulation/Rapture predictions for 2021 and 2022
• The Great Tribulation Cannot Begin Before 2019
• No James Malm, the Great Tribulation Cannot Begin on November 30, 2012
• The Great Tribulation Cannot Begin in 2010
• James Malm’s 70% Great Tribulation Chance in 2012 is 100% Wrong
• Sermon: Mark 13: Temple, Four Horsemen, Troubles, Great Tribulation, and Gospel Proclamation
• Richard Ames: Nations Need to Repent or Face the Great Tribulation