Tribulation

How Prepared Are You?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment
New Madrid Fault Line

Have you asked yourself that question? Or do you push the thought to the back of your mind, hoping it’ll all work out? Lest you think I’m a doomsdayist, I live on the east side of the New Madrid fault line. In 1811-1812, there were a series of earthquakes along the fault so severe the Mississippi River flowed backwards for days, creating what we now know as Reelfoot Lake.

There is a better than average chance of a similar instance occurring again. This time in much more populated areas.

I also live in what we fondly call “Tornado Alley.” Our home which we built seventeen years ago, has been nicked by tornados twice, and narrowly missed on multiple occasions. 

Only a few years ago, a neighboring town was all but destroyed by a local flood. Many people lost their lives. Some never recovered financially, physically, emotionally or spiritually.

These facts, and a looming snow/ice event in the weather forecast, cause me to spend a bit of time thinking about the next natural disaster. I don’t live in fear, and that’s absolutely NOT what this post is intended for. I do, however, think we should be some level of prepared.

With all of that having been said, Here a some things to think about.

1. Make certain you are right with God. This means being born again according to Acts 2:38, and living a lifestyle that aligns with His Word. If you are genuinely born again, whatever else happens out of your control is secondary of importance.

”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)

2. Make sure you are where you are suppose to be. By this I mean pray sincerely, and ask the Lord if you are living, working, raising your family and attending church where He desires you to be. In a natural disaster, or other traumatic event, location matters. Your basic needs will be the same, but access to meeting those needs will be very different depending on where you live. 

3. Cultivate strong relationships with your family and church family. Get to know your neighbors. You’re going to need them. You might be considering holding up in your basement with tons of ammo, peanut butter & crackers and bottled water. I advise against that. In traumatic circumstances, people will come, and as Christians, we are called to help one another. If you haven’t watched the Angel Studio film, Homestead, I suggest you do so.

4. Learn To Pray & Fast. Teach your children and grandchildren to pray & fast.

5. Community is important. One family can’t realistically save enough food and supplies for years. Neighbors can bind together, form a co-op system, and help one another.

Two Upcoming Events

If you have read this far, then you’ve probably realized I’m not only referring to the threat of natural disasters. There are two future events prophecied in the Bible that we should prepare for.

1. The 6th Trumpet War or what we refer to as World War III. This war is coming, and it will be nuclear. There will be a catastrophic loss of life. Scripture says one third of mankind will be killed. No matter how much America is involved, or not involved, in this war, lifestyles will change overnight. Basic necessities that we take for granted now (even though expensive), may be completely out of reach.

“Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” (Revelation 9:14-15)

2. The Tribulation. This period will last three and one half years. At some point in the near future, the antichrist will confirm a seven year covenant. This will allow for a “peace” agreement between the Israelis and the Palestians, and create a two state sharing agreement for the Temple Mount. Construction on the Jews 3rd Temple will begin, and animal sacrifices will resume. At the hallway point of the seven year period, the antichrist will step into the Temple, stop the sacrifices, and proclaim himself to be God (Messiah). This event is known as the Abomination of Desolation, and will trigger the three and one half years tribulation period.

”For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

Practical Preparations

After either of these events happen, life will be changed. We will go from frivolous pastimes to focusing on basic life necessities. What will your family need to have those basic needs met? Here a a few to think about:

-Water. Many people would think about food first. However, the body can go many days without food, but only a few days without water. Everyone should have a flat of bottled water on hand, but let’s face it, that will only last a few days to a week at best. Do you have a well? Do you live near a stream, river, pond or lake? Remember to boil water to kill bacteria. In a pinch, you can use 8-10 drops of unscented bleach per 1 gallon of water.

-Shelter, Blankets, Flashlights, First Aid Kit, Solar-powered radio, Generator, Extra gasoline, Propane for Grills, Soap, Disinfectants, Bleach, Lighters, Matches, Candles

-Bibles, Books, Paper, Pens & Pencils (Think old school)

-Ground Coffee & Percolator, Toilet Paper (Okay, so not essential, but as long as we’re preparing…)

-Food. I want to be very clear here. I AM NOT PROMOTING HOARDING IN ANY FORM OR FASHION! I am suggesting that you collect enough food to get your family through at least a week, up to three months. If you experience a local natural disaster, you might need a week’s worth of food. If you experience a national disaster, you might need enough food to last through a winter season.

Canned Food is great if you have room to store it. Military MREs are also an option, but take up a lot of space, and can get quite expensive. Here is what I have chosen to do.

I store dried beans and rice in gallon size Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. This is a relatively inexpensive system compared to canned food or MREs. When done properly, the food lasts up to 25 years. The process is easy. (Trust me; if I can do it, you can do it.)

Mylar Bag & Oxygen Absorbers System

You Will Need

-Dried Beans/Rice (Economical & Healthy) You can store any dried foods.

-Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. (Amazon Link for Mylar Bags)

-Hot Iron to seal bags (I use an electric hair straightener. It works perfectly.)

-Tub with tight fitting lid (This keeps mice from chewing bags.)

The Process

-Purchase Dried Beans, Rice, Pasta, etc.

-Pour Into Bags

-Label Bags With Contents & Date

-Seal Bags With Hot Iron

-Store In Tub With Lid

Packed. Sealed. Labeled.

*I had all of the bags of dried beans poured up, sealed, labeled and put in the tub in about 20 minutes. Easy Peasy.

In Summary

I want to reiterate that I am not promoting hoarding. First, there is really no way to save enough food & water for three and a half years, much less all of the other supplies and essentials. Second, as I said, people will come. Are you going to deny food and basic essentials to people who are hungry? Or will you be a true Christian, showing compassion? Hard times are coming, but with them will also come great opportunities to BE THE CHURCH. Third, let’s not forget having faith in God. He will meet us at the point of our need.

”God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Warm Regards In Jesus’ Name,

-Pat

PS: If you have ideas or tips for food storage or practical supplies to add to my list, drop it in the comments.

PSS: I am not a prepper, hoarder, isolationist, panic-provoker or fear-monger. I simply think a bit of preparedness can’t hurt.

What Is The Great Tribulation?

~ Pat Vick ~ 1 Comment
Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Many Christians avoid the topic of the Great Tribulation either because they don’t understand it, or because they think they won’t be here for it. Their thinking is that if they aren’t going to have to endure it, there’s no reason to concern themselves with it. FIRST, you CAN understand it, and God described it in His Word, so He wants you to understand it. SECOND, the Church WILL be here for it. (I’ll just leave this right here for an upcoming post.)

WHAT IS IT?

The Tribulation is a time period which will lead up to the Battle of Armageddon, and the return of Jesus Christ to gather His Saints/Elect/Church. It will be a time of severe persecution of the Jewish people, and yes, even the Church. To get an idea of the scope of persecution, research the Holocaust, and know that Jesus said it would be worse.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?

In Daniel chapter 9, the prophet is given revelation concerning 70 weeks of years (a 490 year period whereby God determined to accomplish some things. He tells us what those things are in verse 24:

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.“ (Daniel 9:24)

  1. To finish the transgression
  2. To make an end of sins
  3. To make reconciliation for iniquity
  4. To bring in everlasting righteousness
  5. To seal up the vision and prophecy
  6. To anoint the most Holy

One week of the seventy has yet to be fulfilled. That is a week of years, or a seven year period. The Church is waiting for this seven year period to begin. It is during this last seven years that the above things will be accomplished. This time period is going to wrap everything up that needs to be completed before Jesus is anointed King of kings and Lord of lords, and sets up His earthly 1,000 year millennial kingdom.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

If asked, most people would say that the Great Tribulation will last for seven years. This, however, is not backed by scripture. While there will be a seven year period of time that leads up to the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus to gather His Church, the Tribulation will only be during the second half of the “week of years,” or the final 3 and 1/2 years.

It is in the middle of the week (of years) that the antichrist will cause the daily sacrifices to stop, and will commit the abomination of desolation by standing in the newly built Jewish Temple, and claiming to be God. (their long-awaited Messiah) This incident is what will trigger the Great Tribulation. Up until this point there will have been pseudo peace for the first 3 and 1/2 years.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.“ (Daniel 9:27)

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.“ (Matthew 24: 15-21)

 

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

As we have seen, the Tribulation begins in the middle of the final seven years. We can verify the length of the Tribulation by comparing the variations of wording to describe the last half of the week.

Time, and Times, and Half a Time

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:14)

Time is one year. Times is two years, and half a time is half a year. We see the same description of a 3 and 1/2 year Tribulation period. *NOTE* The woman in this scripture is the collective Jewish West Bank settlers who are mentioned as “them which be in Judaea” above in Matthew 24:15-21.

42 Months

”But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.“ (Revelation 11:2)

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.“ (Revelation 13:5)

1,260 Days

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)


IN CONCLUSION

Whether the Tribulation is described as Time, and Times, and Half a Time, or Forty-Two Months, or 1,260 days, it is obvious that it is referring to a three and one-half year period of time. As we also saw, this period of time begins in the middle of the week when the antichrist  steps into the newly built Jewish Temple, declaring himself to be God, or their Messiah.

At this point, the seven year Jewish/Muslim peace agreement that was instituted by the world government, will be broken, and terrible persecution will break out upon the Jewish people.

This three and one-half year Tribulation period is just ahead. If you are reading this, there is every reason to believe that you will live to see it. Still, you might be thinking that you’re not Jewish, so why should you be concerned? I will cover this question in detail in an upcoming post, but I’ll leave you with this one scripture:

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“ (Revelation 12:17)

After the antichrist, possessed by satan, sends his initial onslaught against the Jewish people, in his rage, he will then send tribulation out into the rest of the world to persecute Christians in whatever nations he can. It remains to be seen how much authority he will have over the United States of America. (And that is for a future post;) One thing is for certain. It is time to trust God, more than we ever have before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I welcome you to leave comments. When talking about endtime prophecy and events, there is a lot to unpack, and I realize we won’t all agree. Don’t let that hinder you from leaving feedback.

Warm Regards,

-Pat