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There is a lot of controversy in the Christian Church about whether or not God’s people should physically prepare for the global meltdown that is coming upon the world system. Some say that we should just trust God and not worry about preparing in the natural, while others say that making physical preparations in the face of certain crisis is just Godly common sense.

Many of those who say there is no need to physically prepare are of the opinion that the rapture will take us out before anything really bad happens. Many of them also believe that, even if the rapture is delayed, God will just supernaturally supply food from heaven like He did the children of Israel (Exodus 16:13-36) or send ravens to feed us like He did Elijah during the famine (1 Kings 17:4-6).

On the other side of the fence, there are those who believe that the biblical response is to physically prepare when there is obvious trouble ahead. They say that, when unmistakable crisis is at hand or if God warns us of impending danger, physical preparedness is one of the highest acts of faith and trust in God that we can offer.

So the question is this: “Can New Covenant believers in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah trust in God and prepare for crises at the same time?”

Faith to Prepare

At GoldStone, we believe that biblical faith almost always demands a physical response to a revealed truth, because “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Accordingly, when obvious crises such as war, famine, pestilence, financial crisis, political upheaval, etc. are at hand, faith dictates that we should physically prepare for it to the best of our ability.

In fact, preparing for obvious and foreseen tragedy is a rational, faith-filled response that is clearly established in Scripture:

“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
(Proverbs 27:12 NLT)

In this passage of Scripture, God uses the wisdom of King Solomon to explain how practical faith just naturally prepares when danger is foreseen. However, in the same passage, He also points out that those lacking understanding of His ways just schlep along into the crisis and suffer the penalty of their naivety.

Making physical preparations, when it is clear that difficult times are coming, is a principal that God also confirms through the life of the ant:

“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest.”
(Proverbs 6:6-8 NASB)

Applying this principal to the coming crisis means that, since it is reasonable to assume winter (a crisis without harvest) is coming, we should prepare now while the harvest is still available. It is also important to note how God implies that anyone who sees a time of famine (crisis) coming and refuses to prepare for it is considered lazy to the point of being called a “sluggard.”

The Watchmen’s Call to Prepare

It is also clear that physical preparedness is the desired response when God sends watchmen to warn the people that disaster is coming:

“Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.’”
(Ezekiel 33:2-5 NASB)

Through the Prophet Ezekiel, God makes it very clear that the watchmen’s job is to warn His people of impending disaster, so that they might “take warning.” The primary context of what it means to “take warning” is to make physical preparations that will deliver (save and preserve) our physical lives. In essence, God is saying that faith in Him and His word will lead us to prepare in the natural when His watchmen warn us that undeniable turmoil is coming.

God’s Supernatural Call to Prepare

Along this same line, whenever God uses prophetic words, dreams, or visions to supernaturally warn us that crisis is coming, the standard biblical response is to prepare for that crisis in the natural. The best example of this is when God gave Pharaoh two supernatural dreams that Joseph was chosen to interpret. Joseph’s interpretation was that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph understood that the dreams were a warning sent from God so that the nation could physically prepare for the famine, which is what Joseph counseled Pharaoh to do:

“Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority and let them guard it. And let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish during the famine.”
(Genesis 41:34-36 NASB)

Even Pharaoh and his leaders, who were unbelievers, understood that the dreams were warnings to prepare. Consequently, Pharaoh appointed Joseph second in command of all Egypt with orders to get the nation ready for the seven years of famine. Here, we see that even nonbelievers responded in faith to Yahweh’s advanced warning by physically preparing for the coming crisis of a famine.

God’s model of supernaturally warning His people so they can physically prepare continues in the Book of Acts, when the Prophet Agabus prophesied that a great famine was coming upon the whole world. This body of New Testament believers responded in faith by taking up an offering for famine relief and sending it to Jerusalem:

“Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.”
(Acts 11:27-29 NASB)

In other words, whenever God supernaturally warns that a crisis is coming, it is understood that He sends a warning so that His people can physically prepare for whatever crisis is at hand. I cannot find anywhere in Scripture where God provided supernaturally for the people at large after He warned that a crisis was on its way. It is not that He can’t provide supernaturally, but it appears that God’s way is to warn His people of the approaching crisis, so that we can respond in faith by preparing in the natural.

Simply put, our heavenly Father (Abba) warns us of impending danger, because He loves us and wants us to survive what is coming. This is the heart of any godly parent for their children, and, as obedient children, we should hear His voice and respond in faith by getting ready in the natural.

Dare to Prepare

Considering the political and financial climate of the nations, I think it is safe to say that the collapse of the world system as we know it is foreseeable in the relatively near future. Therefore, if you have not already begun, I want to encourage you to respond in faith and start making physical preparations for yourself and your family.

I realize that not everyone is in the same place as far as resources are concerned, so some can prepare better and faster than others. However, everyone in your family should aspire to be like the sons of Issachar who understood the times and knew what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). Just remember that our faith is not in our physical provision, but our faith is in God who told us to prepare physical provisions. That is why I believe as you offer this up in prayer and step out in faith and begin preparing, our heavenly Father will guide and provide you with the resources to meet your needs.

Listed below are some of the things we recommend people do in preparation for the coming crises. They are prioritized from top to bottom:

1. Start building a supply of food and water storage (recommended six months). God’s word says that there will be widespread famines in the last days, and we believe that those famines are currently knocking at the door of the entire world.
   The best example of what can happen during a famine took place during Egypt’s seven years of famine mentioned earlier. During that time, food actually became a currency that was used to buy everything and everyone in Egypt (Genesis 47:13-21). Needless to say, food and water will be the most important assets we can own as we head into this season of end time food shortages.

    

   Consequently, building a systematic food storage program is the first area of concern when it comes to physical preparedness. Even if there are no food shortages in the immediate future, buying food now, before prices go up (and they will go up), is a wise move (Rev. 6:6-5).

   Water shortages and/or contamination will vary depending on your area’s water supply. Having a good micron water purifier is imperative for screening out micro-organisms that can contaminate water in numerous ways.

2. Prepare for power and utility outages. Put together a supply of candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, and even an electric generator with fuel to keep the refrigerator/freezer going so the food doesn’t spoil. A propane or natural gas emergency home generator and/or a solar power system are also good to have. They are expensive but worth it if you can afford them.
3. Prepare alternative heat sources for winter climates. Extended periods of exposure to cold not only increase your food intake to stay warm, but it also affects your mental state (i.e. perception, judgment, attention, memory, and personality). Consequently it is important to have alternative heat sources (wood burning stoves, pellet stoves, kerosene heaters, etc.) during power outages in the winter climates.
4. Have a good supply of miscellaneous necessities. This includes an adequate supply of essential medications, a first aid kit, toiletries, a tool kit (pliers, screwdriver, scissor, duct tape, etc.) and a portable emergency crank or solar radio.
5. Have some extra cash and precious metals. It is important to do some serious overall financial planning in preparation for the coming global crisis because it will affect all of your monetary and investment assets. Part of this planning includes having some extra cash on hand in preparation for any kind of crisis.
   If there is a financial crisis, terrorist attack, or war that causes the financial system to close down or the paper currency to suddenly devalue or go digital, then it would also be wise to have some precious metals (gold and silver coins) on hand. Remember, precious metals are the only monetary assets that have always survived financial collapse. (See GoldStone Precious Metals for more information.)
6. Emergency mobile supplies. In case you are forced out of your house and away from your permanent emergency supplies, it is good to have several days of supplies in your car or bug-out pack.
7. One gas mask per person. This may sound extreme, but bio/chemical terrorism can occur anywhere in the world and at any time. A good example to follow is that of Israel, where bio/chemical terrorism is a very real threat. Consequently, virtually everyone has a government issued gas mask. Since the U.S. is also a target for bio/chemical terrorism, we believe it is only prudent to be prepared.

Don’t Be Scared – Be Prepared

If you find yourself growing fearful about the turmoil that lies ahead, just remember that those who do not prepare will have more reason to be fearful than those who do prepare. Also remember that Yeshua (Jesus) warned us about these tumultuous days and told us not to fear:

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”
(Matthew 24:6-8 NASB)

If God normally warns His people before a crisis hits so they can prepare, then Yeshua’s warning in this passage of Scripture is also a heavenly call to physically prepare as we see these things happening. I believe the primary reason for this is that the Gospel of the kingdom has to be preached to every nation before the end can come (Matthew 24:14). Unfortunately, believers, who are physically destitute and full of fear about how they are going to survive the day, will not have the wherewithal to take the Gospel across the street let alone to the nations.

That is why we believe the standard biblical act of faith in the face of certain disaster is to take measures that will physically preserve us and our families. The ultimate goal of physical preparedness is to safeguard our lives so that we can carry out the great commission to the end, because “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).