DO WE PREPARE FOR TRIBULATION, TRUE OR FALSE?
The world as we know it is changing daily before our very eyes. We are in the midst of terrorist attacks, national and global disasters, wars, and rumors of wars. We are the generation who will see, and some survive, the Great Tribulation. Yeshua and the prophets have warned us about all of this and described many horrors that are coming upon this earth with God’s wrath and His righteous judgment on it’s heels. Yeshua tells us to flee.
Mt 24:20-22
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. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Yeshua tells us to flee, but to where? When God’s judgment comes on this earth, and it will surely come, are we to blindly flee here and there without any forethought at all of prior preparation? No.
Ps 91:1-3
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Waiting till it happens to act, then blindly fleeing here and there without any preparation is a perfect example of “faith without works is dead.” That type of thinking is illustrated by a similar situation in the days of Noah, and more precisely those who were drowning in the Flood Judgment. They may have said, “We don’t need to prepare. If rain does come, we have our own boat! It may not be as big as Noah’s but ours will float just the same.” Well, that might have worked for a little while until the boat filled up with rain water, or panic set in and neighbors forced their way in the boat and sank it, or until one of their own neighbors killed them to take the boat for himself. Even the beasts of the field were used to keep people away from Noah’s boat.
How do we prepare for such events? Most haven’t prepared and worse, many will even say, “We shouldn't’t prepare at all because preparing shows a lack of faith.” Anyone who thinks that is spiritually crippled in his or her understanding. Maybe they haven’t read or don’t understand the parable of the ten virgins. Those caught unaware in the Great Tribulation will be like the five unwise-unprepared foolish virgins, devastated and wondering what happened and what to do. They will be in great need with nowhere to turn just like the foolish virgins in the parable and the drowning multitudes in Noah’s day. Did the five wise give of their oil to the five foolish? NO they didn’t and Yeshua (Jesus) called them wise.
Mt 25:1-2
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Or others might say, “The greatest need of preparation is spiritual and God will take care of all the physical.” Yes, we must be spiritually prepared to survive, but at the same time, we must also exercise our faith by a display of work. It is written, "show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." It was Noah only who showed his faith by building an ark, being prepared ahead of time. It was by Noah’s faith, and by his works, that Noah condemned the world, and God saved only Noah and his family. Think about it, who was taken and who was left? Noah was left and it was the wicked that were taken.
Heb 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark [the works] to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Now we, being warned of God through the mouths of His holy prophets, must prepare also. If any man, without spiritual faith, thinks he can prepare his supply of food, water and such while seeking only to save himself, is a walking dead man. But the one who is prepared both spiritually and physically while seeking to save others will save his own family.
Ps 41:1-2
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
If you hear the spirit of God deep inside warning you to prepare, you should listen to that voice and listen to the watchman who is sounding the warning trumpet on your behalf.
Eze 33:3-5
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
If you follow some one who tells you not to prepare or tells to stay in your place declaring peace or your safety, your blood will be required on that man’s head who has misled you, no matter if it was from a stranger, your best friend, the preacher on T. V., or whoever.
Jer14:13-14
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Eze 33:8
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
There are many verses telling us to prepare before it is too late. Like the manna gathering, we are living in the sixth day (the 6th 1000 year set / a day is as 1000yr to the Lord).
Ex 16:5
And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
The servant who knew and did nothing is beaten and thrown into outer darkness and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Lu 12:47-48
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
The woman went to a place already prepared before the Great Tribulation began, to feed her there 1260 days.
Re 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Of course, there are those who will say, “It was God who prepared the place for the woman, so it doesn’t pertain to you and me doing any preparing.” This again is the remark of a person who doesn’t understand that God works through His creation. There would have been no need for Noah to build an ark. God could have caused them just hover in the air for a year instead! But that is NOT the way God works. Israel wouldn’t have needed to show faith and works to fight for the Promised Land, Abraham wouldn’t have needed to show faith and works of separating from his father’s land a becoming circumcised. And for that matter, Yeshua wouldn’t have been beaten and crucified.
If we are hungry and ask God for food, we show our faith that God will feed us by sewing crops (work), but it is God who gives the increase. If we don’t sew then there is nothing to reap. Some might say, “What about the manna? Israel didn’t sew and God fed them.” Anyone using the manna as an excuse is a huge error. God said that He would cause it to rain bread not the feed them for lack of their works, but rather to prove them and to see if they would walk in His Law or no. In doing so he was proving Israel to follow His laws while giving them the Sabbath.
It's plain and simple, the need to be prepared is critical. Yeshua warns, “Don’t go back into your house.” If we are not to go back into our homes even to gather belongings to flee, then it is obvious we should have a place already prepared.
Mt 24:15
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. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
We need to hear and obey the voice God sends.
Ex 23:20-21
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
Don’t stay in high-populated areas.
Isa 5:8-9
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
The foolish, and the non-believers will seduce away many.
Isa 5:11-14
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
There will be those who will speak of peace and safety and tell you, “Stay where you are,” but the scripture is very clear we are not to remain where we were; we are to physically escape and flee, but to where?…… Where you have prepared…
1th 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Lu 21: 34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
How will we be counted worthy to escape? It is by our Faith and the outward display of our faith, which is our Works. Make no mistake about it; faith without the works is dead.
Eze 14: 21-22
For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
Mt 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Re 3: 10-11
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Mt 10: 22-23
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
In times like this the city areas will be dangerous, treacherous, and deadly. Things will become chaotic with riots, looting, and people killing other people as their automatic survival mode kicks in. This has been proven by the evil that has gone on during national disasters we have witnessed on our own soil in the recent years. People will stay in the cities, at first, till they run out of food, fuel, goods, or until martial law has control of the situation. We should already be in our prepared place as God has instructed because it will then be too late to flee. Those people will be taken captive just as the scriptures say. They will be herded into holding camps or until the powers that be decide what to do with them. The best method of population control is extermination.
We must be ready and prepared by the leading of God showing us the “where,” the “how,” and the “when” to act. The “where” is in the secret place; the “how” is by faith and works; the “when” is now, before it happens; the “why” is obvious… He said so. He said, “Obey my voice. ”
Jer 11:7
For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
Salvation cometh by faith, but our reward cometh according to our works; obeying His voice.
Mt 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Re 22: 11-12
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Let us be counted worthy to escape and be numbered among those of who it is said:
Re 7: 13-14
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Re 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
So, do we prepare? Let no man deceive you; according to the Scripture of Truth, yes we do.
Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
