A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3 NLT
Think About It: For many, the concepts of God, Jesus, heaven, hell, Satan and Armageddon may be difficult to grasp, unimportant or irrelevant and, therefore, not taken seriously. But, if we can imagine that they are "possible", wouldn't it be prudent to prepare on the side of caution to end up in the best situation (heaven instead of hell) if they are real and do happen? With no disrespect intended toward God and Jesus, it's a bit like insurance; we buy insurance just in case it DOES happen with the hope that it DOES NOT happen. Preparing our minds, hearts and souls for God and heaven is our insurance in case Satan and hell are real and Armageddon does happen.
The Ultimate Preparation - Read, Believe, Obey, Fast, Plan, Stand Firm, Rejoice
. . . that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, died on the cross, was buried and rose from the grave as the replacement for the sacrifice for sin for all people, including you.
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (in the fires of hell) but have eternal life (in God's Kingdom).
John 3:16 (New International Version)
18 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all - was put to death and then made alive (rose from the dead) - to bring us to God.
1 Peter 3:18 (The Message)
9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (from hell).
Romans 10:9 (New Living Translation)
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases Him.
1 John 3:21-22 (New International Version)
3 The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.
1 John 5:3 (The Message)
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?" 17 "Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments."
Matthew 19:16-17 (New Living Translation)
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" 27 So he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Luke 10:25-28 (New King James Version)
Do you fast as part of your training regiment? If you are healthy enough, consider doing this to help prepare the soul, mind and body for the days ahead.
While fasting (ingesting water or tea only) can be beneficial for non-spiritual reasons, it is, usually, a means by which we seek spiritual benefits such as drawing closer to our Maker through improved spiritual insight and creative abilities. However, our motive(s) for fasting must be questionned; to use "good" things to our own [selfish] end is a sure sign of self-centeredness and a false religion.
For those seeking to improve their physical survivability as well as their spiritual growth, fasting helps detoxify the body, speeds up healing, due to the inactivity of digestion, and has other health benefits. Additionally, it helps the body and mind train for the possibility of having no access to food due to some kind of emergency situation, giving us the confidence to know that survival is possible through our fasting experience (view the video The Benefits of Fasting for Survival).
. . . for the appearance of the Anti-Christ and return of Jesus.
1 "God's kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. 2 Five were silly and five were smart. 3 The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. 4 The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. 5 The bridegroom didn't show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. 6 "In the middle of the night someone yelled out, 'He's here! The bridegroom's here! Go out and greet him!' 7 "The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. 8 The silly virgins said to the smart ones, 'Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.' 9 "They answered, 'There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.' 10 "They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked. 11 "Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, 'Master, we're here. Let us in.' 12 "He answered, 'Do I know you? I don't think I know you.' 13 "So stay alert. You have no idea when He might arrive.
[Matthew 25:1-13]
But stay awake (aware) at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
[Luke 21:36]
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
[Proverbs 22:3]
[Proverbs 27:12]
So be ready: for the Son of man (Jesus) is coming at a time when you are not looking for (expecting) Him.
[Luke 12:40]
[Matthew 24:44]
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
[1 Thessalonians 5:1-6]
47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. . . . 53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
[Genesis 41:47-54]
9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. 10 Then he said to them: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
[Luke 21:9-19]
. . . against Satan, the anti-christ, who will come as the ultimate con artist, deceiving those who are not true Christians into believing that he is Jesus by performing "miracles" (tricks, magic) and bringing a false peace to the world. True Christians (those who do not have the "mark of the beast") will experience persecution and death during this time because they will not be tricked into believing that this deceiver is Jesus. (Revelation 13:15-17).
Revelation 13
We will be waiting a very long time if we expect a human to save us from the tyranny. Trust God, Not "Man"!
You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world.
[Philippians 2:15]
If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
[Proverbs 3:5-6]
In fact, evil men and false teachers will become worse and worse, deceiving many, they themselves having been deceived by Satan.
[2 Timothy 3:13-17]
It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men. It is better to take refuge in Him than in the mightiest king!
[Psalms 118:8-9]
The Lord says: Cursed is the man who puts his trust in mortal man and turns his heart away from God.
[Jeremiah 17:5]
Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety.
[Proverbs 29:25]
. . . Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. . . Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion.
[Psalm 62]
REJOICE
. . . at Jesus' return to Earth to cast satan and his followers into the lake of fire (hell) and bring true and lasting peace to the world.
Revelation 19
Prepared by: Prepare4Tomorrow: because we'll never know when 'the day before' is the day before.