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END-TIME PROPHECY E-NEWSLETTER ... an extension of www.prophecyfulfillment.com ....
ISSUE NUMBER 15 Preparation for Perilous Times A few thoughts to consider…
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2 Timothy 3:1
Go to the ant... consider her ways and be wise, |...| [she] provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6, 8
[Jeremiah said, quoting the LORD] “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”’” Jeremiah 12:11
Upon the wicked [the LORD] will rain coals, fire and brimstone and a burning wind; this shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11:6
INTRODUCTION: I was prepared to send an e-newsletter on a different topic (which you will receive next week), but I feel led to send this newsletter first.
This newsletter combines Bible prophecy, current events, and common sense. It is not a complete discussion of preparation for all emergencies. Consider these ideas, using or modifying any that seem prudent for your geographical and family situations.
Local or regional emergencies may occur during your lifetime, and typically are short-lived with governmental agencies available to assist your recovery. If you live in an area at risk for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters, you probably know how to protect your home and access evacuation routes and life-saving information.
I write primarily of even greater dangers, dangers which may reflect an assault on the nation and may render governments impotent. Think about and plan for the manner in which you and your family could best survive.
The season in which we live: I believe we are living in the last days. Paul warned of "perilous times" that will come in these days (2 Timothy 3:1). Last-day perilous times may usher the world into the Tribulation (which will spare Christians). All of the signs of these times prophesied in the Bible have been or are being fulfilled. The War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39) may come soon. The Resurrection/ Rapture may occur either immediately before or after this war.
My American perspective: This newsletter reaches subscribers in many countries. I write from an American’s perspective, because I live in America. Since conditions may be better or worse in your country, adapt my comments accordingly.
Personal note: My wife and I are among the most relaxed, easiest-going, and least anxious people imaginable. We have never been concerned about the future– until this year. We now anticipate "perilous times," not so much for ourselves (our lives have been full and good) but more so that we may help our children, grandchildren, and others.
Visions: I have heard several people describe their visions and dreams, all with a similar theme. One well-publicized vision was published by David Wilkerson, a respected New York City minister. For six weeks prior to September 11, 2001 (9/11), he sensed intense foreboding about his city and nation. He led his congregation in intense prayer, not knowing the nature of the danger until Muslim terrorists attacked the Twin Towers (a few miles from his church) and the Pentagon. Read his latest (March, 2009) vision in: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/03/urgent-message.html . In this vision, which he attributes to a message from the Holy Spirit, he saw the New York City megaplex, America, and the world engulfed in multiple fires and riots, similar to those experienced in the Los Angeles riots a few years ago.
Is God communicating through His servants that the day of judgment– at least for America– is at hand? Since God punished Israel when she disobeyed Him, should we not also expect America to be punished for her many sins and disobedience?
Forecasts: Several forecasters study trends in the economy and news to predict future events (not Bible prophecy-based). I omit a list of such forecasters I had prepared, because this newsletter is overly long. I will mention one forecaster– Gerald Celente of The Trends Research Institute. Celente’s forecasts have been remarkably accurate over a span of many years. Studying past and present trends, Celente predicts the following will occur in America by 2012 (much of which will spill over to other nations): ■ America will cease to be a developed nation. ■ A financial crisis, which he calls the Greatest Depression, will be worse than the Great Depression of 1929 and following years. ■ Revolution will occur in America, marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts, and job marches. Americans will be driven to revolution, when they cannot afford the heavy and growing tax burdens placed upon them by local, state, and federal governments. ■ Holiday celebrations will involve food giving, rather than gift giving (food will be more appreciated than gifts). Commercial Christmas will end. ■ The dollar may be devalued by as much as 90 per cent.
Celente believes all of America is in a state of denial. [I interrupt Celente’s thoughts with an example: America has spent far more time obsessing over Michael Jackson’s death than in paying attention to our future.] In a recent interview, Celente said: “America’s going to go through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for.”
Go to Celente’s Website: Trends Research Institute, www.trendsresearch.com . Spend time reading different pages and watching the video interviews in this site. It is well worth your time to do so.
WHY PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE? You may disregard Wilkerson’s vision and have no desire to prepare for future emergencies. Experts tell us, though, that the question is not IF America will be attacked again by terrorists, but WHEN. America and nations throughout the world have an enemy of Islamic extremists, and these terrorists do not embrace Judeo-Christian concepts of love and reverence for innocent life.
Future terrorism will likely be more sophisticated than the clumsy, although effective terrorism of 9/11– steering jetliners into buildings. Future terrorism may include weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biologic), destruction of electrical power and communication grids, cyber warfare (abolishment of financial centers), and so forth.
Emergencies other than terrorist attacks may occur. Depending on where you live, you may experience severe storms (hurricanes, tornados, snow, ice, etc.), floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. All of us may suffer from pandemics (avian or swine influenza, for example).
I am reluctant to mention this scenario, but we need to keep another possibility in mind. I disagree with much of Obama’s policies, but I join most Americans in wanting to protect the president’s life. We must change objectionable leadership at the ballot box, not by an assassin’s bullet. Since World War II, however, America has experienced one presidential assassination (Kennedy) and two attempted assassinations (Ford, Reagan). Obama is the first black president and a president who evokes strong feelings because of his policies viewed by many as radical. Recall the Los Angeles riots (1992) occasioned by the non-lethal maltreatment of Rodney King, a black man. Would rioting be far more intense, if Obama, a black president, is assassinated? Could the thousands of fires and rioting in the visions of Wilkerson and others reflect this possibility?
Give some thought to perilous times (worst case scenario): Before you can plan, think about what might happen in a severe national attack. Some or all of the following may occur: ■ You may be without the ability to purchase food. Store shelves may be emptied shortly after an emergency, and may not be replenished because of disruption of supply lines (lack of transportation). ■ You may lose public utilities– water, sewer, electricity, and natural gas– drastically altering the lifestyle you now know. ■ Civil order may disappear. Rioting and looting may be rampant. Law enforcement agencies may be overwhelmed and of no practical help for you. ■ Medical help may not be available. Medical facilities may be overburdened, and supplies exhausted without capability of being replenished. Just a few severe burns would overwhelm hospital care capabilities. Triage decisions may force denial of care for many injured or ill patients. ■ And so forth.
Now, think how you can prepare to minimize the impact of these disasters on your family.
America is ripe to experience the judgment of God: I have Scriptures to back my statements, but this overly long newsletter has required me to cut its length by more than half and to delete most Scriptures.
Recall this: God judges persons, and He judges nations. America has been blessed more than just about any other nation in the history of the world.
At one time, Americans feared God, and America could be called a Christian nation. Now, Americans no longer fear God, and America can no longer truthfully be called a Christian nation. Our apathy and cowardice– both from pulpits and congregants sitting in pews– have let Satan steal from most of us the joy and responsibilities of being members of the Body of Christ, the Christian church.
Our government, through all three of its branches, defies God’s Word. America is ignorantly, arrogantly leading the charge to force Israel to divide itself into two nations (Israel and Palestine) and to divide Jerusalem into two capitols– the Two-State Solution. God has clearly warned that He will not be permit such division, after the return of Jews to Israel (which happened in May, 1948), and that He will destroy any nation which tries.
In an excellent Manna-fest television program, Perry Stone (Voice of Evangelism) recently outlined four reasons God’s favor for America is in jeopardy. In the past, Christian America faithfully followed God in four areas: ■ The Gospel was spread throughout the world. ■ Poor and needy persons were helped. ■ Israel was supported and defended. ■ Moral absolutes were promoted and practiced.
As we abolish or weaken our opportunities to serve God in these areas, we risk losing God’s blessings and the hedge of protection placed around our nation.
God punished Israel, when she defied Him. Why should we believe that He will not punish America or any other nation, when that nation disobeys? Our leaders and most citizens operate in a post-Christian world and have no regard for God, even mocking and blaspheming God and Jesus.
Prophecy scholars have long wondered about the absence of America in end-time prophecy. It seems obvious why America is missing. An end-time America is either effectively destroyed or has become irrelevant in God’s eyes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR EMERGENCY PREPARATION: Is it not prudent to prepare for future emergencies? In following sections I present a few suggestions you may wish to consider. Some emergencies are short-lived, and local, state, and national governmental assistance may be available. Other emergencies could be protracted and even involve governmental collapse.
In a true national emergency, many supply lines and services we now take for granted will disappear. Trucking, communication, civil order, public utilities, public safety officers, and other services we depend upon daily might not exist. Each family could be left to its own efforts to survive.
Food: You may wish to stockpile non-perishable, staple food items. Nutritious food items with long expiration dates are ideal. Canned and dried foods are preferable to frozen items. In an emergency, you may lose electrical power, and frozen food would spoil. In my county which is over-supplied with supermarkets, this seems to be a good time to buy food, although prices have suddenly started rising.
In addition to preparing for emergencies, buying food might provide a bonus of hedging against future inflation. Pressures to increase food price include droughts, floods, and late spring freezes in the United States; use of corn and soybeans for alternative fuels, instead of food and animal feed; an expanding global economy, with more mouths to feed and more demand for meat; and volatile fuel prices (higher transportation and production costs).
Inflation likely will occur, when re-payments are required to provide lenders (China, for example) a return on the loans they made to cover the giddy over-spending of an out-of-control federal government. The debt may be monetized– more money is printed to pay the debt, leading to inflation because money becomes less valuable. Well-regarded Warren Buffet, among others, warns that America is already monetizing its debt. See: www.businessinsider.com/buffett-yes-were-monetizing-the-debt-2009-6 . Some nations which have undergone massive inflation in the past, because debt far exceeded revenue, include: Germany (1923), Greece (1944), Hungary (1946), China (1949), Yugoslavia (1994), and Zimbabwe (2008). California is now issuing IOUs, instead of money, to pay its debts. The federal stimulus package that was supposed to fix the economy with all those “shovel ready” projects has increased our national debt by trillions of dollars, but the unemployment rate increases monthly. The federal government now warns that a second stimulus package may be needed.
America’s lenders are understandably nervous and may refuse to lend more money. (Personally, I would not loan Washington any of my money. I believe the federal government is a bad credit risk.) Nations are openly discussing how to replace the American dollar as the international reserve currency. If you are not concerned about the financial disaster looming in America’s immediate future, you have not been paying attention! Do not feel guilty, though. All national news networks, except Fox News, deliberately hide this information from the public to make the president they elected look good. To find the truth, you must dig through news sources other than the usual American networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS) and most newspapers.
Buy food cans and boxes with long expiration dates. Code every container by year, using colored peel-off labels or pen, and store by year of expiration. Since wasting food would be sinful when much of the world is hungry, plan on eating every stockpiled item. No food is wasted by rotation and use of stockpiled food. Does this "hoarding" deprive others of food? No, if you purchase groceries when supermarket shelves are filled and you do not compete with hungry persons for limited food supplies. If you buy a dozen cans of tomatoes now, this does not mean that a dozen families must do without tomatoes. If no emergency occurs, consider your purchase as a mini- investment, if food prices increase in the future. Check Internet resources to get a sense of what “Sell by” or “Use by” dates for various items actually mean.
Although it is getting late in the season in the northern hemisphere, a garden may be invaluable.
Do not forget to have an old-fashioned can opener (one that does not operate on electricity). A supply of cheap paper plates and cups and plastic cutlery will be useful, as your dishwasher may not be operable and you may not wish to use valuable water for dishwashing. A dollar store, if available in your community, is a good place to purchase inexpensive, disposable items. You will also need kitchen matches and similar items.
Freeze dried food and MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) offer long shelf life and other advantages, but are expensive.
Communication: In an emergency, your telephone may be inoperable. In a terrorist attack, the government may close down all mobile (cellular) telephone service because terrorists often use cell ‘phones to detonate bombs from a remote site. You will desire access to any available news or public service information on radio. Radios with AM, FM, and shortwave capabilities are ideal. If electrical power is lost, you will need a receiver which operates with battery power (remember: relatively short battery life) or a built-in, hand-cranked generator.
Medications, medical supplies: Your physician’s office, hospital, pharmacy, and other medical facilities may be closed or have limited supplies. Purchase a first aid kit and/or stockpile first aid items– BandAids®, analgesics of your choice, antacids, anti-diarrheal agents, clean cloths (old bed sheets), and so forth. Women should stockpile feminine hygiene products.
Prescription medications could be problematic. Stockpiling medications is not possible, because most insurance plans limit prescriptions to 30- to 90-day limits. In a severe emergency, your pharmacy may be closed or unable to refill your prescriptions (inability to obtain drugs from warehouses and manufacturers). Discuss medication use during a protracted emergency with your physician during your next visit.
Learn first aid (CPR, stopping hemorrhage, Heimlich [choking rescue] maneuver, and other potentially life-saving techniques).
Lighting: If you lose electrical power, you will need to be able to see at night. Have flashlights and batteries available, but use sparingly to preserve battery life.
Cooking: If electrical power or natural gas supply is disrupted, stove or oven cooking will be impossible. It would be possible to cook outside in a fire pit or grill, if such is available. NEVER try to cook on a charcoal grill inside the house. I performed many forensic autopsies in my career, and I have sadly autopsied entire families who died from carbon monoxide intoxication by cooking on a charcoal grill inside the home. Whenever any supplemental heating, cooking, or lighting device with an open flame is used, be aware that carbon monoxide is released. If this gas is released into a room, it may be lethal. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. Any carbon monoxide accumulation in your home may cause your family to doze off into sleep and, then, die.
Money: You may need to buy items, after the initial emergency phase subsides a little. Credit or debit cards and ATM stations may be useless, if the financial system is disrupted. Cash, then, would be needed. Who knows how much you would need? Understand that opportunistic merchants may charge exorbitant prices for needed items (if such items are available). Also, understand that change-making may be nearly impossible. If you decide to set aside, say, 300 dollars, it would be preferable to set aside 300 one-dollar bills than three one-hundred dollar bills. You may also need some coins for any still operational machines.
Automobile preparation: Consider the following for your automobile: ■ An automobile could be a liability in an emergency. If you drive an automobile during conditions of rioting, you may be a target for carjacking. It may be safer to “hunker down” at home, but some trips outside the home could be essential. Use wisdom and caution. ■ You may wish to top off your fuel tank frequently, trying to keep your tank at least half full. If you do need to travel during an emergency, gasoline supply lines may be cut and gasoline may not be available. Remember: you will not be the only motorist searching for fuel. ■ Even if you are able to purchase fuel, credit/ debit cards may not be accepted. Keep cash on hand for an emergency. ■ Develop the habit of keeping ignition keys where you can find them quickly. ■ Keep your automobile in good working order, which may be optimized by periodic care by a mechanic. Vulnerable parts include (alphabetical order): antifreeze; battery; belts; brakes; defroster; exhaust system; fluids; heater; ignition system; lights (head, brake, and flasher lights); spare tire, with jack and tire-changing tool; thermostat; tires (tread and pressure); and windshield wipers. ■ Think of your automobile trunk as a lockable steel cabinet. Keep the trunk emptied in order that emergency equipment, supplies, and necessary clothing may be rapidly packed and secured.
Evacuation plans/ meeting places: Every family should have plans to escape danger. These plans may include: ■ Fire evacuation: In case of a home fire, family members should know the routes of escape. Any room used for sleeping should have at least two points of egress (such as, door and window). A nearby area free from flames or falling debris and lightning (if during an electrical storm) should be chosen as a rendezvous point so that it can be determined rapidly whether all family members have escaped from the home. Conduct fire drills with all family members. ■ Meeting place outside of your neighborhood: In certain emergencies, your family may not be able to enter your neighborhood. You should have a meeting place (home of a friend or relative?) to determine whether all family members are safe and to consider the next plan of action. ■ Contact persons: If your family becomes separated, you may need contact persons. If each separated person calls a contact person, personal safety can be assured and re-unification arrangements can be made. Choose at least one local person and one person in another locale (out of state, preferably, who will accept collect long-distance calls). Long-distance calls may be made more successfully than local calls in a regional or local emergency. ■ Evacuation plans: If you live in certain areas, the government may advise you to evacuate the area for your safety.
Emergency lists: Prepare a list to be possessed by at least every adult and older child. Record certain items of information on this list, such as: ■ Medications (name and dosage) used by every member of the family; ■ Allergy (hypersensitivity) for any member of the family; ■ Record of immunizations, especially for children; ■ Contact information for relatives and friends not living in your household; and ■ Other information– decide what is relevant for your family (too much information is better than too little).
Children: Special considerations may be necessary for children: ■ Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency, and when to call this number. ■ Devise a plan of persons who may pick up young children in a daycare facility, if you are unable to do so. Coordinate this plan with your daycare facility staff, the adults you trust to safeguard your children, and your children. ■ Emergency planning could frighten children. Discuss your plans with your children in a way that will not cause undue emotional distress. They need to be informed and share in preparation, but today’s children are increasingly being robbed of their innocence and sense of security. It is difficult being a child today, and emergency preparation should not be yet another reason for undue anxiety. ■ If you have a young child, your preparations will be more complicated. You will need to plan for diapers, formula/ infant food, and other requirements for an infant or toddler.
“Go to” shelf or cabinet: Prepare a shelf or cabinet as your “go to” space in case of emergency. Teach every person in the household where this shelf or cabinet is located. In an emergency, necessary items can be quickly and efficiently assembled. You may have only a flashlight, and this is no time to fumble in the dark for items you need to cope with an emergency. Some items may include: ■ An extra set of car keys to avoid hunting misplaced keys (use judgment, if you have a child who may want to test his driving skills at a young age); ■ Winter protection (blankets, coats, etc.) for prompt egress from the home in winter; ■ Rain gear; ■ Camping equipment (including sleeping bags) that may have accumulated over time; ■ Extra emergency lists; ■ Flashlights, with batteries; ■ Fire extinguisher; and ■ Other items you consider necessary or desirable for your family. Items in your “go to” space may be different than your neighbor’s.
Personal protection: With widespread rioting, civil order will crumble rapidly. Looting (and possibly even rape and murder) could be widespread. Whether to own a handgun or shotgun for protection of your family against home intruders is a personal decision only you can make. Some Christians may have difficulty in shooting an intruder. You must make this decision in advance, even before you purchase a weapon and ammunition. A decision to fire a weapon at another person in an emergency situation must be made in a split second. You will not have time to mull over Scriptures and various moral arguments about the use of deadly force. Gun ownership is possibly complicated by existing state or local laws, which may abridge Second Amendment rights. State laws define when the use of deadly force is lawful. You may also need a gun carry permit to protect yourself outside of your home. The presence of small children and emotionally unstable persons in the home must also be considered, and safe storage of weapons and ammunition is always of paramount importance. If you decide to own a weapon in the home, go to a gun dealer which offers private instruction for the weapon you purchase. After spending a couple of hours with an instructor who will explain the safe and legal use of your weapon and who will stand by you as you fire your weapon on a firing range, you will feel more comfortable handling a gun and will use it effectively and safely.
Other items: I wrote a much lengthier newsletter, but I necessarily cut it extensively to the size of the present newsletter. The preceding checklist items are incomplete. Use this newsletter to begin thinking: ■ Should you prepare for perilous times? ■ If so, what preparations are appropriate for you and your family?
With your thought, planning, and prayer, you should develop a plan best suited for your circumstances.
AM I AN ALARMIST? I certainly hope so! I hope none of us experiences significant disasters or terrorist attacks. However, I am afraid I am not an alarmist, but a realist. If you make these preparations and they are never needed, have your efforts been in vain? No. I have for many years buckled myself with a seat belt and shoulder harness in any automobile I drive or ride. In many thousands of miles of automobile riding, I have not been involved in a serious accident, and these restraints have never saved me from death or injury. I do not consider use of the restraints as a waste of my time, though, and I will continue to buckle myself into any automobile in which I ride. Some things (automobile safety restraints, homeowner insurance policies, etc.) are useful and desirable, even if never used. Preparation for an emergency is important, even if never used!
WHAT ELSE? If you think of something important I have omitted (and I probably have omitted many things), please contact me. I may add your suggestions to future newsletters as an update. I will not use your name, if you specifically request anonymity.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PREPARATION OF ALL: Remember two things:
(1) An ancient name for God is Jehovah-jireh– “God will provide.” As bad as things may get, God will ultimately provide for you, His son or daughter, whether in this life or the next. A Christian, who ultimately overcomes sin and obstacles, wins!
(2) Earth is not your home. You only live here for a brief moment of time. Your real, eternal home is New Jerusalem (Heaven).
Prepare for your eternity. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and the salvation He earned for you.
Prepare yourself and your family in at least four ways:
Serve others: ■ Spread the Gospel to as many persons as circumstances permit.
■ Become a “watchman on the wall” to warn others of impending danger, that they may not die lost in their sins and suffer the Second Death (eternal separation from God in Hell).
Serve self: ■ Become as pure in heart as possible that you may present yourself to Jesus as a bride free of spot, stain, and wrinkle (realizing that your final cleansing will occur after the Resurrection/ Rapture, probably at the Bema Judgment just before the Marriage to the Lamb).
■ Prepare for eternal rewards to be given at your Bema Judgment by doing good works for others in Jesus’ name.
CONTACT ME: raymondfinney@ymail.com or (865) 984.1424. If you have questions, comments, or especially if you need to know how to become a Christian, please contact me. I will be honored to try to help you in any way possible.
May God bless and protect you and your family. Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20b)
Raymond Finney Maryville, Tennessee U.S.A.
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