How To Prepare
We can get ready for Jesus' coming by faithfully working until he comes (Luke 19:13) in that work which he has given each of us to do for him (Mark 13:34), so that we might not be the wicked, lazy servant that he will reject at his coming (Matthew 25:26-30). All believers will be judged by their works (2 Corinthians 5:10) at the 2nd coming (Psalms 50:4-5, Mark 13:27).
We can get ready for the tribulation that must come before Jesus comes by knowing beforehand everything that must happen, so that our faith will not be blindsided by anything that happens: "Take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things" (Mark 13:23), and we can prepare by remaining repentant from every sin and in daily service to Christ, so that our faith will not be on the sand when the storm hits: "Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:26-27).
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Physical Preparations
I personally expect the tribulation to possibly begin near the fall of 2006 and then possibly last for 10 years before Jesus comes. Unless we die in Jesus before that time (Philippians 1:21-23, compare Isaiah 57:1), I believe this gives those of us in the church time to get prepared spiritually and physically for what must come. But if we aren't right with Jesus now, we shouldn't think we have years left to get right with him, for any one of us could die at any time (Luke 12:20, 2 Corinthians 6:2).
I believe we should prepare physically only if the Lord shows us personally that this is what he wants us to do, for our families and any others. One of the worst traps we can fall into is the spirit of survivalism, which is based on fear. I believe we all must begin now, in these days, to face and get free of any fear of the tribulation and death (Revelation 2:10, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Hebrews 2:15, Luke 12:4, Philippians 1:21-23), so that if the Lord doesn't call us to make any physical preparations and doesn't call anyone we know to make them for us, we can face the suffering he has called us to with "patience and faith" (Revelation 13:10, 14:12-13).
While it says faithful Christians will suffer and die under the Antichrist (Revelation 13:7-10, 14:12-13), it also says some Christians will be protected on the earth during the final period of the great tribulation by fleeing to a place prepared (Revelation 12:14, compare Matthew 24:15-16), for some must be "alive and remain" at Jesus' coming (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
Regarding physical preparations, we know that the sea will be struck by a huge meteor (Revelation 8:8) so if we are so called we should have a place to go that is inland and at a high elevation to avoid the resulting tsunami (compare Luke 21:25). We know there will be multiple meteoritic events which will strike the land and freshwater sources (Revelation 8:10), so we should have an underground shelter with a good supply of water. This shelter should also be equipped to shield us from the nuclear fallout I expect will come from the horrific wars which will be waged (Revelation 6:4-8, 9:18). We would also need a dehydrated food supply that could last for almost 4 years, as we will be unable to buy anything during the 42 month reign of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:5, 17; compare the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12). Finally, we must find a place that is least likely to be found by those persecutors and their technologies who will be hunting down to kill those unwilling to worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:15). But if we do any of these things out of a spirit of survivalism and love for our lives (John 12:25) instead of in obedience to a personal command from the Lord so that some might be "alive and remain" unto his coming (1 Thessalonians 4:15, compare Isaiah 26:20-21), I believe the Lord himself will make sure we are rooted out and destroyed by the enemy no matter how remote our hiding place (Lamentations 4:19; Amos 9:2-3; Ezekiel 33:27).
Regarding the storing of weapons and ammunition, I personally don't believe Christians should have or use physical weapons of any kind, for "we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Corinthians 10:4), and "all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew 26:52), and "I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:39-45).
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Take No Thought?
Some believe it's wrong for Christians to make any physical preparations for the tribulation, pointing out where Jesus says "take no thought for the morrow" (Matthew 6:31-34). But how many of us go to the grocery store every day in order to avoid buying any food "for the morrow"? If we go grocery shopping once a week, doesn't God "supply all our need" (Philippians 4:19) for food for the rest of that week by what we bought on that day of shopping? Why should we expect the tribulation to be any different?
Note that in Matthew 6:31-34 the Greek word for "thought" means to be anxious. We aren't to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6), but I believe we are to take heed to Christ's warnings about what is coming (Mark 13:5-23), just as we would if we heard a hurricane was coming our way. In Genesis, Joseph understood that a great famine was coming upon Egypt and that he was to horde 7 years� worth of food: "And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine" (Genesis 41:36).
Some believe that storing up food would go against Christ's command not to "store up treasures on earth." But I believe Matthew 6:19 is referring to the storing up of "treasures," that is, money and jewelry and expensive but useless possessions, not water, basic foods, and fuels that we will all need for ourselves and our helpless children to survive in times of famine, natural disaster, and social chaos, when these things will not be available.
Some believe there's no need to prepare because we can just "live off the land" during the tribulation. But can they give some examples how all the millions of us in the cities will "live off the land" when the tribulation strikes?
I believe we should all be ready to flee to "a place prepared" in the mountains or "the wilderness" (Revelation 12:6, 14) when we see the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-20). Because Jesus said we must flee without returning to our homes or taking anything out of them (Matthew 24:17-18), the place we flee to must be completely prepared before the abomination of desolation.
While God is the source of every provision, this doesn't mean we can pray "give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) and then not lift a finger toward this; indeed, we can be held to account if we are able to and do not (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; 1 Timothy 5:8).
Some believe "God will do everything. He'll prepare the place, publish the schedule, and drive the bus to take us there." I believe indeed he will, but through those Christians whom he'll call to do these things for those who couldn't, for any good thing they do, God does (Philippians 2:13, Isaiah 26:12).
"She hath a place prepared of God, that THEY should feed her there" (Revelation 12:6). Who's they?
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Famine In The Cities
Some believe God would never let a Christian suffer in a famine. But Jesus warns us specifically that in the end times "there shall be famines" (Matthew 24:7); the day is coming on the earth when we will buy "a quart of wheat for a day's wages" (Revelation 6:6, NIV), which is like saying a loaf of bread will cost a day's wages.
It's difficult for us to imagine famines in our cities today. Our supermarkets are filled with every kind of food. But in the coming tribulation, when trucks stop arriving at our supermarkets, and the aisles become empty, where will the millions of us in the cities get our food?
"They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets" (Lamentations 4:5); "I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another" (Zechariah 11:9); "the hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children" (Lamentations 4:10); "the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers" (Ezekiel 5:10).
We're repulsed by these Biblical images of cannibalism because we'd "never" do such things. But can we be so sure? When was the last time we went even one day without food? Or three days. Or eight? Do we really know how we'd react? And what will happen in the cities when there are no more dead people to eat? Will the cities be filled with roving mobs with clubs and knives hunting for helpless victims to slay and barbecue in the empty intersections?
"They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied" (Psalm 59:14-15, NIV).
I believe those of us now in the cities whom the Lord may specifically lead not to leave the cities and not to make any preparations for the coming famines, can face the coming horrors without terror because the Lord will never make us face more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Suicide won't be an option for us, as it is murder, but when the only alternative would be cannibalism, I don't believe letting ourselves starve to death during that time will be counted as suicide before the Lord.
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Starving To Death
Some believe God would never let a Christian starve to death. But in the coming famines (Matthew 24:7, Revelation 6:6), I believe many of us will starve to death alongside unbelievers, just as Christians have always died in famines throughout history. Note that no scripture promises us that manna will fall from heaven in the coming tribulation. For anyone to teach that God would never allow his people to starve to death is to set them up for great confusion, disillusionment, and even denial of their faith in the coming tribulation:
"They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness" (Isaiah 8:21-22).
None of us need to be filled with terror by the thought of starvation and death, for they can in no way affect our eternal life in Christ:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:35-37).
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18); "having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).
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Tribulation On The Farms
Some believe that as long as they get out of the city and go live on a farm they'll be fine. But I believe the famines of Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:6 will include farmers because famines arise from droughts, wars, and natural disasters which destroy farms and kill farmers.
The 2 witnesses will cause it not to rain for the 1,260 days of their prophecy (Revelation 11:3, 6).
I believe nuclear and biological warfare and its aftermath of famine will possibly kill 1/4 of mankind (Revelation 6:4-8), followed by another great war that will kill 1/3 of the survivors (Revelation 9:18), which means 1/2 of mankind could die in the tribulation just from warfare and its aftermath of famine.
I believe there will be literal comet and meteorite strikes (Revelation 8:7-11), and a gigantic volcanic eruption (Revelation 6:12-14).
Because of such events, there will many millions of very hungry people streaming out from the cities and they will sweep across any farms like locust-swarms leaving nothing behind. Roving, desperate mobs with guns will move from farmhouse to farmhouse killing and taking what they want. If mob rule is put down by the army and national guard, all farms will be taken over by the government and soldiers with machine guns will control who gets to eat what.
There will be a world-wide persecution of Christians in every nation unto death (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 6:10-11), and a man called the Antichrist will ultimately be given power over all nations and make everyone worship him and his image or be killed (Revelation 13:7-8, 15).
So we shouldn't think that those living on farms will be able to continue living as they do now in the coming tribulation.
Should we begin praying today that the Lord would show us if, when, where, and how he would have us prepare to survive the coming drought, famines, wars, natural disasters, mob rule, persecutions, and the rule of the Antichrist?
Should we begin praying today for direction in case the Lord wants us to begin preparing now, while there is still time?