How Are We To Live?
Dr. Allen M. Barber
August 11, 2008
From the feedback I receive, several have asked me what should Christians do in times like these when the global community is being shaken to the core. All nations of the world are presently undergoing some type of adjustment brought about by the financial crisis and high energy prices. The threat of WWIII always seems to loom on the horizon. There is hardly a day passes without some report of war. Over the weekend Russia invaded Georgia and is ignoring the UN call for a ceasefire. Instead, Russian troops have seized the town of Gori while Georgian troops have fallen back to defend the capital city of Tbilisi.
The conflict began after Georgia moved against the breakaway province of Ossetia and allegedly shot down two Soviet jets sent to defend Russian citizens in Ossetia; at least this is the excuse Russian Premier, Putin, gave for the Russian excursion into Georgia; you know, the guy who formerly was president, then put his puppet in office, Medveded, and then appointed himself as Premier. Putin has beefed up the Russian military, and in the past year has made aggressive comments toward the West sounding a lot like the old Soviet Union. His comments include boasting that Russia's weapons are superior to the United States; if not, they are certainly on a equal footing.
Some of our Pentagon Brass have stated publicly that Russia has new and dangerous weapons for which we have no defense; an example is the Russian "Sunfire" hypersonic missile, which acts as a cruise torpedo missile that can fly at super-sonic speed a few feet above the surface of the water. One nuclear-tipped Sunfire missile can knock out an entire U.S. carrier battle group. In addition, according to retired U.S. Army Colonel, Thomas Bearden, Russia has a highly developed Scalar Technology, which makes nuclear weapons obsolete. Using scalar technology, the Russians can fire a Scalar Cone over a battlefield or a naval group and destroy anything entering the cone. The United States did not have this technology in the mid 1990's; however, the scuttle-butt (military talk for gossip) is that the U.S. is working with Israel to catch-up to the Russians (Israel stole the technology from the Russians and perfected their own version as they do everything they steal from the U.S.; Israeli spies have been active in the U.S. since they became a nation in 1948).
A close examination of Russian and Chinese aircraft and naval vessels strikingly resembles their U.S. counterparts. China's space program includes a look-alike space shuttle. The United States military, space program, and computer industry have been fertile ground for Russian and Chinese spies. Our ship seems to have more leaks than the Titanic. Part of the problem has been allowing to many foreign nationals access to our highly secretive areas evidenced by recent arrest and deportations of Chinese spies. In addition, several of our own engineers and scientists have been all to eager to spy for the Russians and Chinese. Money talks!
With the threat of WWIII; a real possibility combined with a world economic recession (a war would bring on a global depression); how are Christians to live? That depends on how you interpret the last days. If you are of the pretribulation camp and believe before all the really bad stuff occurs, the secret rapture will remove you from the earth to heaven to wait in limbo for seven years, the end of which time you will come back to the earth, while the rest of the human race endures the seven-year tribulation period, then I suppose you can rest easy; however, if you are of the posttribulation position and believe Christians will remain on the earth and go through the entire tribulation as I do, then you have need to be concerned about what you may face. When I say concerned, I am not speaking of getting into paralyzing fear or doubt for as Paul told us, "The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). In addition, Jesus said, "In the world, we will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world." (John 16:33). Note: pretribbers believe after the Church is raptured to heaven, it will undergo the Bema Judgment; however, the Bema Judgment takes place on the earth after the Lord returns. I deal with this in my new book on prophecy.
Both Old and New Testaments are filled with accounts of how God's people have suffered at the hands of Satan and evil people. In ancient Israel, they suffered three major captivities - Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman plus many minor persecutions (not that suffering was any less intense, but not considered a major calamity). A careful study of both biblical and secular history of the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel reveal how the leaders of Israel and many of the people became stubborn, rebellious and wicked, turning their backs upon the Lord and serving false gods. Because of this, God sent judgment upon the two kingdoms until they were totally destroyed along with their temples and the city of Jerusalem. In each judgment, the faithful suffered along with the malefactors, for God held the whole nation responsible for its wicked deeds. This is something that Christians do not understand today, that is, that when God judges America for its many national sins, the whole nation suffers - the righteous along with the wicked.
During the period of the Roman persecution of Christians under Nero and Diocletian, the Church suffered tremendously with whole families fed to the lions as the blood-thirsty Romans looked on in glee! One cannot read the 11th Chapter of Hebrews and fail to understand the truth that believers have suffered serious persecution for their steadfast faith in the God of Israel. Did God love them any less than he does us? Absolutely not! Acts 14:22 says, "Through much tribulation, we enter the kingdom." Where did we get this idea that Christians are not to suffer persecution, even intense persecution? I tell you where it originates - from the soft pleasure loving non-persecuted Church in America. We have had it so good for so long in this nation that it is beyond our thinking to believe Christians should ever suffer the kind of persecution the Bible and history attests has taken place the world over since the inception of the Church Age. Fox's Book of Martyrs proves that more Christians have been put to death in third world countries in the 20th Century than at any time during the Christian era and it continues in the 21st century. In His mercy and grace, God has spared the Christian Church in America from the persecutions other Christians face every day in Muslim and Communists countries; however, our day is coming for God has lifted His protection from this nation and we are beginning to experience much more difficult times.
I know it is not popular with many Christians, but the economic peril we now face in this nation is due to the Church's failure to take a stand for the truths of Scripture in regard to holiness and righteousness. We are too busy chasing after material gods and hiding in the closet every time the Muslims and the Anti-Christian pundits in this nation threaten our peace and security. As the saying goes, "If we do not stand for something, we will fall for anything!"
Jesus told us in His Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21) that wars and rumors of wars were only the beginning of sorrows, as bad as some of them have been. Paul told us in 2 Timothy 3:1 that in the last days perilous times shall come. Jesus also told us when the last days would officially begin - at the time when a generation would experience false Christ's, false prophets, wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences converging on a global scale. It is my studied opinion this period began in 1897 and may end in about 2017 (See my article in the Biblical Prophecy Studies Section on the "120-Year Generation"). More importantly, He gave us three more signs that will take place within one generation - the sign of the Fig Tree; the sign of Noah, and the sign of Lot. The sign of the Fig Tree is national secular unspiritual Israel appearing once again in the Middle East (1948); the sign of Noah is violence filling the earth and a revolt against the Christian Church and faith; and the sign of Lot is global acceptance of homosexuality. Between 1897 and 1948, there were two World Wars, and since then many regional wars. After becoming a nation in 1948, Israel has fought 5 major wars with her Arab neighbors. There is increasing talk in the media of Israel attacking Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year. Russia and China have vowed to defend Iran, while the U.S. is committed to defending Israel. Therefore, the scenario is ripe for the inception of WWIII.
What if a major global recession occurs leading to war and a world-wide depression and famine? What if the United States is hit by a nuclear or EMP attack in which our infrastructure is completely devastated resulting in a scarcity of everything we have grown accustomed such as abundant food, water, material goods of every kind, nice homes, schools, good jobs, and the freedom to do most of everything we desire including the freedom of worship? How will we live? Should we go into the survival mode and began to store basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, medicines, etc.? What about transportation; how will we move from one place to another if martial law is declared? Will Christians be rounded-up and placed in the many secret internment camps constructed in this nation?
Jesus implied what our attitude and actions as Christians should be in the last days. After giving a plethora of signs to look for in the last generation and the one that will end in His return, He said that we should not be caught unawares when all these things come upon the earth for He told us in advance what we could expect:
Matthew 24:15-28 ESV
15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of
by the
prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader
understand),
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17
Let the
one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his
house, 18
and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his
cloak. 19
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are
nursing
infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in
winter or
on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation,
such as has
not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and
never will
be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human
being would
be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut
short.
23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or
'There he
is!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false
prophets will
arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead
astray, if
possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you
beforehand.
26 So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do
not go
out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not
believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far
as the
west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the
corpse
is, there the vultures will gather.
If the Church was going to be raptured before the signs Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24 take place, He would not have given us such a long list of signs, then warned us to be prepared for them! In addition, Verses 15 - 28 imply both a preparation and reaction to the Great Tribulation beginning with the Abomination of Desolation. Pretribbers wrongly interpret the Olivet Discourse as being a Jewish only text. That is nonsense since Jesus gave the discourse to His disciples, not the unsaved nation of Israel. These disciples would later become the leaders in the Church. The Olivet Discourse is a Christological passage not a sermon to the Jews. The warning in the above verses are for Christians living in the land of Israel when the Great Tribulation begins, particularly Jews who have converted to Christianity. They will be hatred by the Kabbalistic Masonic Antichrist and the secular Jews. The following passages prove this to be true:
Matthew 24:9-10 ESV
9 "Then they [secular Jews and Gentiles of the New World
Order]
will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to
death,
and you will be hated by all nations for my name's
sake.
10 And then many will fall away and betray one another
and hate
one another.
Luke 21:10-19 ESV
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom
against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in
various
places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and
great
signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they
[secular Jews
and Gentile converts to Judaism and Kabbalism] will lay
their hands on
you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues
and prisons,
and you will be brought before kings and governors for my
name's sake.
13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it
therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to
answer, 15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your
adversaries
will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will
be
delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and
friends,
and some of you they will put to death. 17 You
will
be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your
head will
perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain
your lives.
Both passages warn us that some of us will be put to death, while all of us, that is, genuine Christians, will be hated by the unsaved Jews and Gentiles of the New World Order. Luke 21: 18 seems confusing when Verse 16 says some of us will be put to death. How do you reconcile both verses? The Greek word for perish implies a full and complete judgment and punishment. Therefore, what the Lord actually said was that though the world hates us and puts some of us to death, its judgment and punishment is not final. Even if we face death, we shall be raised in the day of resurrection to live with the Lord forever, the meaning of not a hair of our head shall perish as in a final punishment. Satan will persecute and punish the saints, but his judgment is not the final word.
The point is the Church is not promised escape from persecution and even death, but we are promised tribulation and encouraged to persevere until the end, not the end of the tribulation, though some will be alive when Jesus returns otherwise they could be no rapture, but to the end of our lives if we are in the group of faithful martyrs. The tribulation period is not the wrath of God - the posttribulation Day of the Lord is the wrath of God (I Thessalonians 5:9; must be read in the context of I Thessalonians 4:13 - II Thessalonians 2: 10).
So, what should be our attitude as we see the present time moving toward the final seven years? Jesus told us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13). The Greek meaning of "occupy" is "to busy oneself with trade or one's vocation." It cannot be any clearer that we are to be involved in our vocations or getting on with our lives as much as possible using the wisdom and common sense God gives us. We will also be given spiritual discernment, that is, those who are daily walking in the Spirit (God is not obligated to tell a lazy compromising worldly Christian anything and you need to understand that).
Because the tribulation days are going to be difficult for Christians, common sense tells us that business is not going to be as usual. We will have to make adjustments to our daily lives and vocations. Christians are going to need each other for life support and that includes food, clothing, and shelter. Those who are fortunate to have a job or who are wealthy will become like the Church of Acts and give their possessions to help the whole body of Christ. Christian leaders will be the most severely persecuted; many will be put in prison and killed. Christian families will be separated and loved ones not seen or heard of again until the Resurrection and Rapture.
What about the interim before the tribulation begins? Should believers store the basic necessities? Should they invest in hard currencies such as gold and silver? Given what we seeing taking place in our own nation and in the world, it would be wise to keep a supply of food, water, clothing, medical supplies, etc. on hand in case of a major disaster and/or martial law is declared. I am not sure how storing extra gasoline will help. If martial law is declared, the military will restrict our mobility. The Interstate highway system was built for that very purpose and not for our convenience.
Tribulation America will be similar to Nazi Germany and movement restricted. Instead of "Your papers please," it will be, show your "Real ID." The government can track us via our autos with GPS systems and our cellphones. The Lord will guard us and supernaturally protect us from taking the Mark of the Beast, but He will have His martyrs - those who die for the Lord during the tribulation. The trial that is going to try or test the whole earth is not the seven-year tribulation per se, but the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 3:10 with Rev. 13).
Now what about investing in gold and silver? Probably not a bad idea given the dollars decline and the fact the world monetary system will eventually become a digitalized currency - bank accounts only. Gold and silver may be useful in the first half of the tribulation, but James tells us in his letter that when the Great Tribulation begins, gold and silver will be worthless, that is, to the sheeple. By the end of the tribulation, money will not help even the wealthy. The global elite will confiscate all the gold by the time the Antichrist gains control of the New World Order, which the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Sion state.
During FDR's first term, he issued an executive order requiring Americans to turn in all their gold, which he transferred to the Federal Reserve. This will happen again. Gold has an inverse relationship to stocks and bonds and the value of the dollar. When stocks and bonds are high and the dollar healthy, gold tends to be lower in value, but when the economy tanks and the dollar loses value, the value of gold increases. As long as the United States and the Western nations were on a gold standard, inflation was kept in check, but when the Federal Reserve was created with their fiat printing presses, inflation rose due to an excess of bogus money in circulation. Then the Central Banks loaned their worthless paper money to the nation states as the medium of currency exchange, and charged usury on the debt resulting in a no-win situation for the debtor nations. The more money the Central Banks loaned the nation states, the more in hoc they became to the international banking cartel and the Central banks, where today the total national debt (principal and interest) is more than the United States can ever pay back. The only solution is what I mentioned previously - to either forgive the debt or devalue the currency and start over. The only problem with that is the Central Banks will own the assets of the federal government, private corporations and individuals. In that case, the debtor nations become officially bankrupt and a servant of the banking cartel. Again, the Protocols state that is the long-term goal of the global elite (that was in 1754 when the Protocols were written, meaning that the time has now arrived for a global financial crisis like we are presently seeing, but will be even more severe).
Let me say, that if the global elite cannot achieve their goal through a financial crisis, they will do it by global war. This is also succinctly stated in the Protocols.
So, what is our position as Christians in a world falling apart at the seams? Do we run for the mountains; join a survivalists group; begin to stockpile food, water, etc; invest in gold and dump dollars? What we do is what I have described in this article. We trust the Lord with our lives to the very end whatever that may be. In the interim, we occupy to Jesus returns, that is, continue in our vocations working as diligently and honestly as we can, but knowing that as the tribulation begins and over the course of the seven-years, times will be difficult and we may not know from one day to the next how our lives will end - whether we survive or become a martyr. Some nations will fare better than others - the sheep nations. We must use spiritual discernment and good old fashioned horse sense. More importantly, we must walk in the Spirit 24/7 hiding the Word of God in our hearts and pray without ceasing. Furthermore, we must find a true New Testament fellowship and be faithful to the assembling of ourselves together (our personal presence, not so-called online Church).
Last, it does not hurt to store extra basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, first-aid materials, and whatever needed to survive a major economic adjustment such as a nuke attack on our major cities and the declaration of martial law. This is not doubting the Lord's provision for our lives, but using wisdom and God-given horse sense.
One other thing; if you are waiting to become "spiritual" after the bad stuff hits the fan and realize there is no pretrib secret rapture, you may want to read Matthew 25 about the "foolish virgins." Matthew 25 is the continuation of Matthew 24 (the Olivet Discourse) and the wise virgins are those who walk in the Spirit daily and are expecting the Lord to return after the days of tribulation have ended. When the Day of the Lord came, they were ready and went to meet Him, but the foolish virgins wasted their spiritual lives on worldly things and were not ready when the bridegroom came and took His bride to the wedding.
May the Holy Spirit give you wise discernment in these last days.
Dr. Allen M. Barber, the Lord's Servant