Do Not Fear the End Times Part 4: After Pestilence: Looking Ahead to what’s next

The events going on in the world are frightening, but they’re nothing in comparison to what comes later. So heed these warnings that we’re being given!

Hello readers. Hoping once again that all is well with you, as well as possible during these painful End Times.

Many people are anxious (some even panicked) about the serious threat of the Coronavirus. Over 10,000 people have now died worldwide as a result of this—Rest in Peace. Meanwhile, lockdowns and quarantines are starting up in an increasing number of cities around the world.

In the background to this are the financial headlines and the stock market crash, adding to the frightening headlines and the general feeling of chaos.

Warnings, Wake-up Calls, and Practice Runs

In some ways it seems that Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is here. Of course that isn’t actually the case—it can seem that way because of the way this virus spreads and the number of people getting infected (a number which is going to increase a lot as time goes on). But as I said in my previous End Times post, despite the sheer numbers of people getting infected, there’s no way that this virus is related to Pestilence the Horseman.

I hate to be insensitive, but to put it bluntly the mortality rate is far too low for that to be the case. Although no one wants to get sick with this serious virus that has claimed over 10,000 lives, and no one wants to spread it around, the vast majority (above 80%) of cases have mild symptoms and recover.

So there’s no way this is a true End Times plague. The true End Times plagues inflicted by God’s authority will kill nearly everyone they infect, wiping out entire states! So what I think we’re getting now is a kind of wake-up call. A warning. A preview of the real pain of the End Times, which is coming soon.

These “previews” are even more confirmation to me that we are at the end of the End Times though, and the events are now beginning. I believe they’ll start hitting faster and faster as we get closer to the Second Coming. Jesus told us in Matthew 24 that when we see these signs, we know the End is coming. I know in my heart that Jesus is coming soon, very soon.

In January there were rumors of war (with Iran), although since there’s a war going on somewhere in this fallen world at all times, I say that the First Horseman of the Apocalypse (War) has always been active throughout human history. Anyway, in February and March we’ve had Pestilence which seems bound to continue for some time. Looking ahead, what comes next? Famine.

Coming up next: Famine?

If I’m even somewhat correct that by the grace of God we’re getting End Times warnings, wake-up calls, practice runs, or whatever you prefer to call them, it means that Famine will come next. I have no idea when, where, or how, but I believe it’s coming soon enough. Of course, Famine has always been with us and is always present on Earth like I mentioned with War, but what could come next will be much more widespread. So how can we prepare for that?

First, when it comes to preparing for any of the End Times disasters, let’s all be clear about one thing: If God doesn’t will for me, you, or whoever to survive, then we will not. God’s will cannot be delayed, stopped, altered, and so on. No one is described in Revelation as surviving these cataclysms except for those who are called upwards to Jesus Christ when He returns. When it comes to Famine, Revelation 16 describes all the waters of the Earth being contaminated and rivers drying up on God’s authority. The entire human race wouldn’t have a chance of surviving the Famine resulting from that!

But if it’s God’s will that you or me should survive these various End Times “previews,” then we can and will, though it might require some measures on our part.

Empty grocery store shelves is not Famine, that’s panic-buying. There’s still food available to restock all those shelves with. But what if there wasn’t? What if the empty shelves would stay that way and no one knew when there would be food again? What would you do then?

Imagine being in that situation, and contemplate the horror of Famine. Millions of people in this world are tragically familiar with that pain already, but how about you? I’ve experienced hunger, but I always knew I’d have a meal in the future. I don’t want to experience Famine, but if God wills it then I will accept it and I hope I’ll be able to suffer it patiently (I don’t have it in me to suffer it gladly, which we are called to do).

If we don’t want to experience that, we have to take steps to mitigate it if possible.

A few Ideas for Preparation

The key to mitigating Famine in our own lives as I see it is to grow our own food. Being dependent on any system or industry for our food isn’t good, but it is modern life. An intermediate step to take along the way is building up a supply of foods that will last (such as rice) along with canned foods. Every time you go shopping, get some rice and beans and some canned foods and save it. Before you know it, you’ll have a nice stockpile.

Growing enough food to outlast a major Famine is a community effort. You can’t grow enough on your own, but if you combine everyone’s resources and labor into a team effort, it can be done on a local level.

I’m going to list some ideas I think are doable and helpful. This list doesn’t include every possible action, and assumes the crisis will improve; in other words, it’s the Famine “preview” or wake-up call that we will be living through, rather than the true End Times Famine. Taking these steps now could help lessen the pain later.

• Grow a vegetable garden anywhere you can, use every available space. Grow beans (easy), spinach (fast), tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, potatoes, and anything else you can viably plant.
• Team up on a community level to grow enough vegetables with enough land.
• Build up a stockpile of foods that will last for a long time and don’t need to be eaten right away—particularly rice and beans.
• Build up a stockpile of canned foods while they’re still available.
• Stockpile on a community level for better results.
• Build rain-catchers to collect water.
• Practice self-discipline and build up the habit of rationing now so it’s easier to do later.
• PRAY. Through God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26),

So let’s be honest. To grow food on the scale it would take to survive a long crisis is beyond the means and resources of most people. What you can do largely depends on how well your community can come together and what you have to work with. But this list has some ideas that should help to lessen the pain; you do what you can. No one can do any more than that. If it’s a Biblical Famine and our food system collapses then none of us have decent chances of surviving it.

For collecting water, try making an inexpensive DIY rain catcher using large trash cans. Here are two links with instructions: ONE, TWO. And here is a YouTube video.

Pallet gardens are an excellent way to grow some leafy greens (like spinach) using cheap materials and little space. This is the easiest way to make a raised gardening bed, and you can place them in areas where you can’t grow anything (like concrete or rocks), so you can use these to make the most of what space you have.

Watch this YouTube video which has excellent instructions for making one.

To ensure that what you have lasts the duration of a Famine, you’ll need to ration. This requires strong discipline; the discipline to only eat your rationed amount and nothing more, even if you’re hungry and more is available to you. Whatever you have, you’ve got to make it last. It’ll be easier to build this habit when things are normal than to build it during a crisis. The consequences for letting your discipline slip when things are normal will be much softer. But make no mistake that discipline will be a virtue we’ll all need to survive any level of Famine crisis.

Finally, pray. Only God can deliver us from a real Famine. But if we pray to Him, God will rescue us. He turns our weeping to joy (Psalms 30:11). The LORD will provide what we need (Matthew 6). It may be His will that we undergo hardship first, but after the adversity comes relief.

Don’t Be Afraid to Leave this Fallen World

As I’ve said, it’ll only be possible to survive the Famine “preview” or wake-up call if/when it comes. Something like a major supply chain disruption, for example, and we won’t be able to buy food for some time. That’s about it though; none of us will survive the true End Times Famines.

So now I will once again, as I’ve always done in my End Times posts so far, remind you that death isn’t something we have to fear as Christians. That’s a freedom we can only enjoy in Christ. Of course our physical bodies will one day die, we’ve always known that, but we will not be harmed by the second death (Revelation 2:11) if we put all our faith in Jesus Christ, REPENT, and reform our lives before the End.

It’s tragic that our deaths during the End Times could involve so much suffering, such as Famine, but we have to accept what God gives us. Any suffering we endure here on Earth is temporary! What comes afterward is eternal! That’s what we should always stay focused on.

Because we’re going to have it rough during the End Times, and it’ll only get worse. Jesus promised us plenty of trouble here on Earth during the End Times. In Matthew 24:9 (CEB) He said: “They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name.” And again in Revelation 2:10, He said:

Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10 (CEB)

On top of all the disasters and destruction which we’re already seeing, Christians will have even more to worry about—persecution. But Jesus calls us to be faithful to the point of death, and if we do then we’ll receive our eternal reward. The ten days or more of suffering will seem like nothing once we physically die and receive eternal life with Jesus Christ.

This is why we must fear only God. Don’t worry about dying or how much dying is going to hurt. Worry about being strong in your faith and changing your heart and ways, so you can live your real life in heaven.

Because the life we have here on Earth isn’t real, everything is temporary. Our life here is like a test. Remember what it says in 1 John 2.

(15) Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. (16) Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. (17) And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.

1 John 2:15-17 (CEB)

Our real life awaits us after we leave this Earth. That’s why we must think about the things above and not things on earth (Colossians 3:2). This is a fallen world full of sin, evil, and painful suffering. It’s been this way since the fall, ever since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. Our physical bodies decay and die. We suffer the temptation to sin all the time. The pleasures we consider ‘good’ are quick to trap us in attachment to this world, taking our eyes off of Christ and the things of heaven (*NOTE: It’s no problem to enjoy this life, but don’t be attached to it).

Even if it’s painful, dying is not something a Christian should fear. Dying here means leaving this fallen world. After we die we get judged and account for ourselves. If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, REPENTED of our sins, and tried to reform our ways during our life here on Earth … then we have nothing to worry about! Then all our problems are over at that point. Our true eternal life in heaven begins, and we have none of the worries, pains, or problems that we had here on Earth. Jesus Christ will give us the rest we’ve been so desperately wanting.

I don’t want to die from Famine, I’m sure no one does. But dying is ultimately no concern of mine. This world is ending, and all I’ve got to say to that is “Amen.” If God shows me mercy maybe I’ll go quick, before the worst of the tribulations start. Yes there are things I enjoy in this world, and I’m grateful for the life I have here. But when I leave I’ll be rejoicing. As Christians we should all be focused on the things above; we should all be happy to leave this fallen world and go to God (when it’s our time and God takes us; we must submit to His will and wait for His timing, we must not force our own will).

That’s why I titled my End Times series Do Not Fear the End Times. Whatever is going to happen will happen—God is in control, and we’re not, so that means relax because there’s nothing we can do to change God’s plans. God will work everything out for good in the end. After adversity and hardship comes rest; after death, new life. Focus on all that’s important by renewing your faith in Jesus and REPENTING.

The events going on in the world are frightening, but they’re nothing in comparison to what comes later. So heed these warnings that we’re being given! Hear these wake-up calls! REPENT! Put all your faith in Jesus and change your heart and ways. Time is running out to do so. But if you do you’ll be safe forever, and the pain of physical death will be nothing compared to what you’ll enjoy after.

But to me it seems like preparing for the Famine wake-up call isn’t a bad idea. I hope some of the ideas I’ve presented are useful and doable for you. Feel free to leave a comment if you’ve got something good to share!

Until next time, be strong and do good!

Your new best friend in Christ,

99:9

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