Solemn warnings in church on Sunday

I believe that in many of the churches that believe in it that God has prophetic people sort of stuck away amidst the congregation and they are not hindrances or burrs but from time to time the Lord will propmpt them to share a word. Sunday a brother shared such a word. I'm pretty new to this church but it's my understanding that for two years prior to the Twin Towers falling that he kept seeing the numbers 9/11. He kept seeing it and shared it wth the pastors and elders and asked what they thought it meant. They said they had no idea but just keep praying about it. Then 9/11 came. But he shared a acceptable word on Sunday that he thinks we need to consider preparation more than we ever have for the times that are ahead. He thinks that in the not too distant future, maybe within a year, drastic changers may be coming to this country and the better prepared the church is the better off they will be. I know many of us have likely heard such words before but they seemed to have a fresh urgency about them this time around. The pastor said afterward that we all have been preparing to a degree but he feels by the Spirit we need to step it up a notch. Sometimes I can almost feel in my bones that a change is coming much less paying attention to words of warnings coming from others. Yet I just thought I would share this for what it's worth. I don't have a prophetic office or anything and don't quite know altogether what preparation would necessarily entail except keeping one's spiritual garments clean and perhaps some type of practical preparation. Maybe paying of all debt as soon as possible. But what does preparation for the days ahead necessarily entail? I'm curious as to what others feel. Whatever comes we will have to overcome it TOGETHER and not disjointed, divided and out of unity. I'm also thinking that the revival long prayed for, if it comes and is part of God's plan, will be preceded by divine chastisement and judgementy first. A lot will have to fall part before God will heal it. But what do you think we should do from here?

Thank you.

I certainly subjectively sense these kinds of catastrophic or very difficult troubles to come for the church in America. I don't know if that makes it prophetic. Frankly, outside of -- as you said -- seeking God, purifying ourselves with the hope of redemption, etc., things we are commanded to do, I do not know what to do to prepare. One reason is we do not know exactly what will occur or when. Another reason is even if we did know, what is it we are preparing? For how long should we expect our preparations to carry us? The questions themselves seem overwhelming, a reflection of the possibility that whatever may come will require something other than preparation. For example, hypothetically, how do you prepare for a magnitude 9 earthquake? Well, you cannot really. Likewise, whatever the forms the troubles of our future may be, preparation seems elusive if not deceptive.

The kind of preparation that we see in Scripture is spiritual. I do fully believe we can be ready for everything in this sense. If God truly is warning us to prepare (and, again, Scripture tells us to) I am confident that He will provide, supply, equip and lead His people as He has always done.

I do, today, ask God to help us see Him clearly and to understand Him. If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound who will prepare to battle? Let us not be uncertain. If there is an uncertainty, we can take comfort that the signal is not genuine. Wisdom counsels us to keep oil in our lamps, to pray in the Spirit to build our most holy faith, to seek Him with diligence, and to move when He says to move. It also counsels that we wait until He clearly speaks. He does not deal with His children in uncertainty. We can take comfort in His clarity.

I pray that the God of mystery will help all of us who truly believe, that He will speak to us plainly, and that we will wait patiently for His clear word when He has not yet told us everything.

Personally, I have no doubts that the church in America is in the beginning stages of persecution with all the pressure from our gov to silence the church's voice on moral issues. Believing things will get worse we do wonder how we can prepare ourselves for serious persecution: how can we protect ourselves from physical deprivation becomes an all consuming passion.

It may be helpful - I find it so - to read accounts of people who lived through such severe deprivations. How did they endure? Did material wealth protect them, ease or limit their physical suffering? Yet, this is what most males are primarily concerned about.

As I read historical accounts of the persecuted - past and present - I can not find anywhere where the acquisition and stockpiling of necessities alleviated any of their suffering. You may stockpile food, e.g., but if others who do not have learn of your supply, they will rob. Or, they will run you out of your home with nothing but the clothes on your back. You are leaving it all behind through no fault of your own. It is a tad bit like dying - you came in the world without anything and you leave it with nothing except you are still alive.

I am concerned, too. I have lots of food stockpiled, not because of possible persecution but because this is our lifestyle. What will happen once people can no longer get gov assistance? I feel certain my freezers will be raided in short order and I will be left with little.

I remain convinced that while times are still easy we do well to learn to depend on the LORD for guidance, our physical well-being - we need to walk with Him knowing this is what He wants and not wait until we are in severe straits and then call upon Him.

There is one area I believe one can learn to depend on him and that involves our health. Many folks are insured up to the hilt and when any little bit of sickness hits, off to the doctor they go - got insurance after all...What will it take to wean Americans from their dependency on medicine? Are we going to wait until it is forced upon us by persecution or will we voluntarily wean ourselves from it?

Many years ago I read a book "The Black Rose" by Thomas B. Costain, I think it was. It is a work of fiction but he had the main character protecting herself from deprivation while on the run from persecutors. She sewed gemstones in the seams of her garments. When she was fleeing, on the run and needed money to buy necessities she would dig out a gem, sell it so she can buy her food...never forgot this. Might be a lesson for us.

Still, in my opinion the only sure thing one can do to prepare for persecution is walking close to the LORD everyday.

My thoughts on this issue.

ginnyrose, your story reminds me of Richard Wurmbrand's testimony about preparing for persecution. He coached to do as he did -- reverse shop. Go into a grocery store or other store with things you enjoy and find things you like but do not buy them. Lay a hand on them or look at them intently and pray, "Lord, I don't have to have that. I don't have to have that, either." Leave empty handed but more fully equipped to do without the things that are unnecessary.

QUOTE:
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Lay a hand on them or look at them intently and pray, "Lord, I don't have to have that. I don't have to have that, either." Leave empty handed but more fully equipped to do without the things that are unnecessary.
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Fine starting point, dolfan.