SUBJECT: Great Tribulation

QUESTION: Am I to be storing food and water in anticipation of the Great Tribulation?

ANSWER:

The following is posted in the Minister's Notebook piece, "Quirky Ideas Exposed."

I often receive e-mail asking for procedures and recommendations for preparing for the Great Tribulation.  Most of the questions focus on laying in a supply of food and water.  I have contemplated this issue for some time.  My conclusion is there is absolutely no physical thing one can do to prepare for the Great Tribulation.  I have many reasons for this belief.  I will offer these reasons in the form of questions:

1] How does one procure and store and protect 3.5 years of food for a family of four [the national average]?
2] If you are compelled to flee, how could you take the food with you?
3] How does one prepare for war and our country being invaded?
4] How does one prepare for massive nuclear attack?
5] How does one prepare for types of pestilence such as the world has never seen?
6] How does one prepare for massive earthquakes?
7] How does one prepare for the seven last plagues?

I have no opposition to someone storing food and water as a normal exercise in stewardship and being prepared for natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances.  The Great Tribulation, however, is not a natural disaster or unforeseen event.  It is three-and-one-half-years of war, famine, pestilence, earthquakes and destruction such as has never been seen in the history of mankind.

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

How does one prepare for an event such as this?  How does one prepare for pestilence, famine, earthquakes and atomic bombs all at the same time?  The Great Tribulation will be a time of absolute faith in God for each and every day that passes.  He will provide the food, the water and the protection we need according to His will.  At the same time, certain of us will be selected for special service, that of being a martyr for Jesus Christ.  God will provide for them too.  Notice what God says to these martyrs:

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. –Matt 10:19-22

If there is no preparation needed for the martyr, why should there be some for the one that endures the three-and-one-half years of tribulation?

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. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. –Matt 10:23-24

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. –Matt 6:31-33

We have one biblical mandate for the Great Tribulation and that is to endure in the Salvation Process and to keep our eyes and heart on the Kingdom of God.  We do this and God will take care of the physical.
  
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