The COG prophets and apostles are on a roll today! They know so much more than all the stupid little sheeple out there in COGdom.
Although inaccurate “prophets” such as Ronald Weinland and Harold Camping have declared that the biblical period known as the “great tribulation” began some time ago, the reality is that this biblically prophesied event cannot begin prior to 2015.
Why?
Mainly because Jesus taught that the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) would begin shortly after “you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Matthew 24:15).
Notice that the Daniel the prophet wrote:
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)
Without going into all the details, the above is understood by many (including the Living Church of God and the Arroyo Grande, California book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect) to mean that a seven year (one prophetic week) Middle East peace deal is confirmed. Of course, the sacrifices must start before they stop, and they have not started yet (and may not start until after the peace deal is in place).
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One other reason that now is not quite the time, is that I have traveled to Europe many times in the past few years (my last trip was just a few weeks ago), and can state that the Europeans are simply not unified enough to be ready to fulfill their role as the supporters of the King of the North – the Final Beast power, yet. But they are looking at proposing peace deals in the Middle East (http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-13-voa26.cfm).
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Great Tribulation Cannot Begin in 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014
Now I have been criticized in the past for pointing out that the “great tribulation” could not begin in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, etc.
But I was correct then, and am now.
Why?
Well in addition to the fact that there is no Middle East peace deal that fulfills Daniel 9:27, there still is not yet in place the final leader known as the King of the North. Nor is there a leader yet in place who is the final King of the South (and both of those leaders need to make their own deceitful deal per Daniel 11:27). And while these leaders could be in those positions relatively soon, several of the events that Jesus also said would occur first (Matthew 24:4-14) have not yet been completely fulfilled.
Additionally, the Europeans are not yet ready militarily nor economically to fulfill their role as the final Beast power. It is likely that Europe will need to see “signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) to get fully ready and unified amongst themselves–but that is expected.
That is not to say that world events leading up to the “great tribulation” are not occurring (they are as I report about them frequently, notice Might Kurt Koch become or support the coming “antipope” antichrist? to cite just one example), but without the peace deal being made yet, the final 3 1/2 year countdown has not yet began, hence the great tribulation will not possibly start prior to 2014.
The end is coming. It is coming soon. But the end, meaning the “great tribulation” in this case, cannot possibly begin prior to the year 2015.