Prepare for the End of Days By Getting Out of Debt and Off the Public Dole, and By Pulling Together Resources to Form Christian Communities in the 'Wilderness,' Where the Lord Will Guide Us Like a Flock

"And I [John] saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to Him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And He opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle... they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter." - THE 5th TRUMPET: 'Satan Shall Be Loosed Out of His Prison to Reign Over His Earthly Kingdom, His One-World Government and Religion;' 'Locusts' Torment Men Without the Seal of God for Five Months [a 'Little Season']

For 'a little season,' [the 'five months' that Satan will reign over his one-world government and religion from the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, claiming to be God], "no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:17)."

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." - Matthew 24:22

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." - Revelation 3:10

"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." - Revelation 12:6

How to Prepare for the Coming Depression

By Kenneth Uptegrove, ArkHaven.org
Originally Published in July 2007

Satan is the "mother" of all conspiracies. Since he does not have a heaven or hell or hope or happiness to offer us, he also has no religion or truth to offer. So over the millennia he has spawned — or mothered — hundreds of counterfeit, conspiratorial religions and philosophical systems. He is a cunning tyrant whose whole existence is given over to hating, deceiving, and destroying us.

The sole purpose of spawning these lies is to set in place his powerful one-world antichrist system.

The best way to hide the source and intent of the mother conspiracy (conspirator) is to spawn a dozen daughter conspiracies that (unwittingly and unknowingly) front for, or create a diversion for, the mother conspiracy. The mother conspiracy can stay in the background, never showing her hand, but forever manipulating all her daughters. Even speaking of them as a mother and her daughters is deceptive.

The truth is, these conspiracies are of their father — Satan (John 8:44).

These conspiracies are actually diverse groups that disagree with each other over many issues, but they have one thing in common. They have more unity and more oneness in the antichrist spirit than the Church presently does in the Spirit of Christ; and they have had it for a long time.

They are united in one common purpose, one powerful force against Christ and the Kingdom of God.

The Scripture Reading for This Article

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. (2 Peter 3:1-5)

Satan's Ultimate Goal

Satan's ultimate goal is to disrupt and destroy Christendom and all social, political, and economic systems on Earth by putting into place dozens of competing systems. Out of the resulting chaos, fear, and mistrust, he plans to set in place a one-world social, economic, and political system that collectively will become his one-world system.

This antichrist system will be brilliant! It will work wonders! And a vast majority of the world’s people will welcome it — for a while.

It will not prevail!

What I am about to show you comes out of my 2.5 years of training in church history, and as a computer professional since 1965.

Though there may exist different streams within the Church, as long as each stream leads to the same River, we are joined in purpose. However, the antichrist system has also infiltrated some areas of Christian thought. (The word "Antichrist" means "in place of Christ" more so than "against Christ.") Even though I am a social and fiscal conservative and of the "religious right," I have observed that some "radical right" thought, especially amongst some "conspiracy theory" proponents, have crossed that line.

What Will the One-World Religion Be?

Now, let’s go another direction for a minute.

The Bible speaks of a one-world religion that will deceive people of every religion on earth in the latter part of the last days. But I think this religion has ALWAYS been the world religion. What can that religion be?

It is highly improbable, and seemingly inconceivable, that any existing religion (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jewish or Christianity, etc.) could convert the whole world to its doctrine, but religions such as Islam would like to force all living humans into submission to their religion.

That will be the goal of this false religion, not to convert, but force us to need them in order to survive. How can that be done?

Most people's religion is a traditional heritage, a religious veneer that covers their underlying love of money and the power it brings (to dominate and survive): The love of money, and the power it brings (to dominate and survive). In a word: Self, the most primal of instincts.

Christians whose subliminal God is money shows that they can be seduced and drawn from God. Since the love of money is the world religion, God will cast down this false God, this idol of worship. Therefore it should not surprise us that a worldwide depression is imminent.

I think that Bill Clinton (when running for president) was a prophet to the antichrist system/religion when he said, "It is the economy, stupid!" My study of world history shows me that the antichrist system is so subtle, so subversive, so wise, but so powerful — all at the same time — that very few are aware of its existence. This religion originated in the Garden of Eden when Satan originally sold this lie to Adam and Eve.

A religion is anything you love, admire, and devote most of your attention to. Self-preservation — the survival instinct — is so basic to human nature that we don't think about it, or write about it, or preach sermons on it. That is why the one-world religion can be described as the perfect conspiracy, because it is a subliminal, subconscious religion. We treasure, and are driven, by the gratuitous instinct to survive; and that can be defined as a subliminal, invisible religion.

Way too many Christians vote their pocketbook and for the power to dominate. Look at what is generally called Bible believing Christians. They appear to be zealous in their faith, yet way too many vote in diametric contradiction to the Word of God when they vote their pocketbook and forget that they are also voting for abortion, the homosexual agenda, anti-Americanism, and socialism (i.e., the most antichrist and liberal of political candidates).

"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence." - Franklin Delanor Roosevelt

In other words, when we lose our economic security, we also lose our freedom, and are forced to survive any way we can.

I called Bill Clinton a prophet because his, "It’s the economy, stupid" prophecy was fulfilled. The nation believed him... and his subliminal, one-world religion message of self-preservation.

The Bible shows me a coming world leader who will exploit this self-preservation instinct and will bring this religion to its logical conclusion. And if possible, even some of the very elect will be deceived by this appeal to their pocketbook and personal security.

On the one hand this is a gloom and doom message, but on the other hand this is the age (the days just prior to the Second Coming) when the Church will come forth in her greatest power, glory, and victory.

The cruel, demented leadership of Adolph Hitler probably directly resulted in more death and destruction than any other single individual in history. The name Hitler will forever be one of the most ugly scars on human history. However, even Churchill acknowledged that if Hitler had died in 1938, he would have been considered one of the greatest leaders of all time.

The Adolph Hitler Model

When Hitler came to power, Germany was suffering under some of the worst economic and political conditions a nation has suffered during modern times. There was between fifty and seventy-five percent unemployment. The government was bankrupt, and the German Mark actually became worthless. Mobs ruled the streets, perversion was rampant, and the whole nation tottered on the brink of becoming a Soviet state.

In just four years, Hitler not only balanced the budget, he paid off the national debt while building the most powerful economy in the world. His social engineering almost eliminated unemployment. He restored Germany’s national dignity, and built the most powerful army in the world. He also drove pornography from the land and greatly reduced the crime rate. There has never been such a transformation of a country in the history of the world.

Most of the Church in Germany was so fooled by Hitler that they helped establish his power base, with some church leaders actually calling him "a messiah."

Are we doomed to keep repeating history because we fail to learn from history? Will we prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually?

Why the World Will Accept the Antichrist System

"They feared the Lord, but served their own gods." (2 Kings 17:33)

We have a nation where the overwhelming majority of the people declare the name of the Lord. Many even claim to be born again, and they actually may be, but the same ones give themselves to serving many other gods.

When it comes down to choosing between death and survival, the survival instinct in all of us will compel many to overrule our social, economic, political, and religious belief system. Most people will choose to survive at any cost. If possible, even professing believers may choose survival over death, perhaps for the sake of their children.

Look at the Joseph scenario. By the time the seven years of famine were over, ALL the people chose to sell themselves as slaves of Pharaoh for wheat to survive on. But fortunately, Joseph was benevolent.

The coming world dictator will seem to be a benevolent messiah, but will ultimately show himself to be a malevolent dictator. The book of Revelation describes him as a credible and charismatic leader when he first comes on the world scene. He will most likely be the head of a major religion and/or nation that has a long history of violence and intrigue…an almost forgotten history.

How might Satan accomplish this seemingly impossible goal of world domination?

A Massive World-Wide Depression Is Coming (i.e., The Mother of All Depressions)

If you had asked an Amish man during the last depression how he and the Amish community was fairing, he would have asked, “What depression?”

Many people lost everything during the last depression and some committed suicide, but others made a fortune. There is a way to not only survive and live well, but in past depressions you could actually make a fortune if you planned ahead properly.

During the last depression a lot of people who lived off the land (farmers), and had no debt, came through with very little loss. But the federal government and some banks were able to file foreclosure on millions of houses and acres of land. After the depression was over they were then able to rent, lease, or sell all these holdings and made a vast fortune off of them.

In recent years David Wilkerson has been warning us about this coming depression, and wrote two excellent books on the subject. They are titled:

• America's Last Call — On the Brink of a Financial Holocaust


• God’s Plan To Protect His People In The Coming Depression

Long before Wilkerson wrote those books I was teaching that a massive worldwide depression is coming. It could be so severe that there will be no paycheck for anyone, not even the military, police, or government officials.

In my lifetime, America has gone through a depression and several wars. Three of those wars were on this continent. And even as you read this message, millions of Christians in China and other nations are under terrible tribulation, persecution, and martyrdom this very day. In my lifetime around one million Christians have been martyred. To say another war or depression can't happen in America is not being realistic. But to say we should prepare for such an eventuality ... as best we can ... is realistic.

Consider this scenario. Let’s say that the foolishness of the world system causes a major depression that the Antichrist can take advantage of. But let’s say God complicates Satan’s plans and makes the depression much worse by bringing on several “natural disasters.” Look at the damage Katrina and Mt. St. Helen did to our economy.

Deadly flu epidemics, hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, droughts, floods, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, and wars can cause an economic disaster. National debt and unemployment due to manufacturing going to other countries, or a combination of all the above, could cause an economic collapse. Put the domino effect into play with enough dominos falling — tink-tink-tink — and we have the potential to bring down the world economy…the worst depression in history.

Under such conditions there would be little to no money for food or gas. Total anarchy can potentially reign in many areas for a few months until local (National Guard, Para-military groups?) leaders can bring order to their areas, and then begin to rebuild the nation. Millions could possibly die pitiful deaths in the USA and the world because they were not ready for such a disaster, and felt like they had no warning whatsoever. The warning signs were ignored.

How could a worldwide economic depression further Satan’s plans for planet Earth? Consider these possibilities:

• Foreclosure on property loans to gain ownership to millions of homes and millions of acres of land.


• Police state, bringing in martial law, (i.e., outlawing and imprisoning the religious right?)


• Ecology purge...closing factories, stopping cars and trucks, and decreasing the population. Some environmental groups have been working hard towards such goals.


• Bring in the One World Anti-Christ system.

If God complicates their plans (Psalms 33:10-20) and makes the depression much worse by bringing on several “natural disasters,” that could thwart the Antichrist's ability to:

• Initiate martial law and a police state. After the initial supply of gas and food that is in stock is used up there would be no way to replenish the supply for a long time.


• Postpone the ability of lending institutions to foreclose on loans.


• The anarchy that could rain in such conditions would be terrible for awhile, but not as terrible as the planned police state would have been.


• This would force the conspirators to come up with "plan B," a new monetary system. Just a thought.

This is all speculation, and a lot of writers will disagree with me. The point I hope to make is, we need to know how to pray, how to vote, and how to prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for the age we are coming into.

In short, Americans needs to turn to God.

A New Monetary System

I believe this is the time a false savior will come on the scene to restore the economy with a new monetary system. I predict that this monetary system will be digital money in individual bank accounts that can be accessed on the world-wide-web. Since this digital money is not backed up with anything but faith in the system (much like our paper money today), a huge amount of credits in these personal accounts can be provided to every household on earth. For a while we can all buy, sell, and trade using this miraculous monetary system…until the world economy is stable again. As with any Internet provider, a contract and password will be needed. And after the economy is restored, the password can evolve into "the mark of the beast" (spoken of in the book of Revelation). So, what can we do to prepare ourselves (physically, mentally, and spiritually) for such a time?

I Say It Is Time to Prepare for Hard Times Prior to “The Great Tribulation” with a Totally Self Sufficient Christian Community of Intentional Neighbors

I borrowed this quote from Rick Joyner. He said,

"Just as true warriors run to the sound of battle, not away from it, there are Kingdom messengers who will not run from disaster and problems, but to them. They will not shrink back from any level of chaos, but rather bring order and peace to it. As the world continues to fall apart, they will stand on solid ground, and in due time begin to draw the attention of the world because of it. These will not lose their peace in the midst of any threat or problem because they will have built their lives on the Kingdom that cannot be shaken by anything happening on the earth. Their peace will calm many storms.

"One of the basic characteristics of those whose lives have been established on the Kingdom of God, is that they will have peace and come alive, even thriving during times of trouble. This is because they have been prepared to live in the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known. They prepared by building their lives on the Kingdom, not on the things of this world that are so easily shaken."

Many Christians are being called to prepare for such a time by way of a self-sufficient Christian community that does not need to buy, sell, or trade to live comfortably. And most importantly, such communities can serve as a refugee camp. The Amish have lived a self-sufficient (outside the system) lifestyle for centuries, and we can expand upon their model (even though we are not Amish) to receive hurting people.

WHY: The Lord disciplines those whom He loves, and great discipline will come upon the United States because of God's love for our nation.

The ArkHaven Christian community anticipates the coming of troubled times happening BEFORE the official "Great Tribulation" comes. As I said earlier, millions of Christians in China and other nations are under terrible tribulation and persecution and martyrdom on this very day. To say it can't happen in America is not being realistic. But to say we should prepare for such an eventuality as best we can is realistic.

It will take a lot of Godly wisdom to know what to prepare for, and how to prepare for it. Understanding how to prepare will take Christians like you receiving a revelatory word from God, and then being obedient to move on the direction God has given you.

I (Kenneth Uptegrove) am reporting on what my wife (Lora) and I feel God has shown us, and many others.

HOW: Providing our own food, water, power and septic system, such as:

• Truck farming: Hydroponics, greenhouses, gardens, berry bushes, fruit trees, grains and soy beans, all done by the natural and organic method (the only method available at that time).


• Animal husbandry: Chickens, fish farm, milking goats, draft horses, etc.


• Either an artesian well or a large spring with our own water tower and pipelines.


• Either a large wooded area or a natural gas well on the land for an energy source.


• Several 500 gal. propane gas tanks are an option.


• Solar panels, and will consider 50 ft. wind generators.


• The kind of septic system that purifies waste water so well that it can be used to water a lawn.


• We will always be dependant upon God as our source and our hope, utilizing what He makes available for us to use to survive and to serve all who come to us.


• Churches, ministries, and investors are welcome to help construct our vision.
  

WHERE: In the North West corner of Arkansas, preferably in either Washington or Benton county. To read more about this concept and plan for Christian Community go to www.arkhaven.org/arkhaven_christian_community.htm. This website shows a map that locates other ideal areas in the continental USA to establish a community like ours, and to find a lot more information than this article contains.

PROTECTION: The first question that always comes up is, how do we intend to protect our campus from marauders. We will depend upon the Lord for His divine protection and provision as He promised Moses, Joseph, Noah, and many others. There will be no barbwire fences, and gun towers, or armed guards in uniform. No David Koresh compound stuff. And since we are solidly main stream Evangelical, there will be no Jim Jones stuff. We will welcome all who come needing help, therefore there will be no need for anyone to feel like they need to kill us and take over the campus.

BIBLE PRECEDENT: These precedents need little introduction.

• Moses showed us that we must accept the possibility that we may eventually and ultimately be living by miracles alone as his people did in the wilderness. God provided them with physical protection, provision, and promise.


• Joseph is another model for us. He had seven good years to prepare Egypt and his family for seven bad years. Whatever time we have left we need to be preparing for the eventuality of the coming bad years, however many years that may be in the future.


• Noah was instructed by God to prepare a place (Ark) that was totally self-sufficient, so he and his family could survive the flood. The Ark was God's place of promise, provision and protection. ArkHaven was named after the Ark model, but incorporates the insight these three models give us.

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” (2 Timothy 3:1)

IN CONCLUSION: No matter what your or my eschatology is, the scenario I have presented to you today will prove to be accurate — but not exact. As always, we will need to hear from God, and be obedient to His instructions on a daily basis, rather than depending on an eschatological teaching or some leader we look up to.

Not all Christians will be called to join a Christian community. David Wilkerson talks about other callings in the two books I mentioned earlier. But we all must ask God if what was said in this article is from Him or not. And if you sense that God is telling you, “Yes, it is,” then you need to ask Him what He would have you do to prepare for this coming time.



CLICK HERE to hear Kenneth Uptegrove being interviewed by Frank Whalen on The Frankly Speaking Show. This is the first hour of a three-hour segment on the subject of Ken's article, "The Mother Of All Conspiracies."

CLICK HERE to hear the 2nd hour.

CLICK HERE to hear the 3rd hour.

For Ken's most current message on total self sufficiency, 'Acts Model Christian Community,' CLICK HERE.
According to Ken: "It is no coincidence that the Acts model lifestyle we see in the first century Church is also the best preparation a Christian can make to sustain life and continue in ministry even in the hardest of times as well as in the best of times. By 'Acts model' I am referring to the entire book of Acts. A Christian does not have to practice this concept of Christian community to be saved or to continue in ministry, but we argue that it is a good gift from God to us. Jesus taught this brotherhood concept of giving to His Apostles, and they continued in these teachings. The ultimate and future goal of ArkHaven is to form a totally self sufficient, 'Acts model, Christian community of intentional neighbors' who live off the grid and farm the natural and organic way so we can provide food for ourselves and for the poor and needy. We call this 'getting off the grid before the grid goes off.' And we will also sell our food products (for as long as conditions allow) so we can buy and maintain our equipment, etc."

Other audio and video for Ken Uptegrove

You’re Not the Only One Preparing for Collapse

By Off the Grid News
January 4, 2010

As we prepare our families and loved ones for the deterioration of our culture and lifestyle, it bears watching how the government is responding to the warning signals that are now obvious to anyone who is paying attention.

We already know that even though tax revenues are falling, the government is spending record amounts of money, a situation which is unsustainable and which organizations like Moody’s (that track and value the safety of government debt) are warning that social unrest is a growing possibility.

What you may not have heard before is that the US military is planning to deal with a violent, strategic dislocation within the borders of the US, which it believes could include domestic resistance, economic collapse, pervasive public health emergencies and/or the loss of a functioning political and legal system. The previously secret documents were prepared by the US Army War College in 2008 and contemplate the situation if there is widespread civil disobedience or a multi-state civil conflict or disturbance.

The report makes clear what I think we all know, that the government is not going to go quietly into the night as things start to break down. In fact, the report makes clear that the Army will abandon overseas commitments to restore order at home. Presumably people like you and I — those preparing for just such an event — will be the new enemy.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a complete collapse is now being discussed in more ‘mainstream’ circles. In the last few months there have been allusions to the possibility of crash-induced unrest from the head of the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Congressmen and Senators, Britain’s MI5, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leading economists.

When the US Director of National Intelligence commented on the situation recently, he reminded listeners of the chaos which reigned in much of the world after the market collapse in 1929. Others have pointed out that much of the world lived a more rural, rugged and individual lifestyle then than today, where much more of the world’s population is urban and dependent on fragile systems to deliver food, water and comforts from distant areas.

Part of your emergency plans should include not just food, water and shelter, but an evaluation of your physical security within the community, and whether long-term survival will require relocation.

Get off the public dole. If you are dependent on the government for your livelihood, you will have no choice but to take "the mark of the beast." This means you will have to participate in biometric identification to receive government services or funds.

How to Prepare for Economic Collapse

By wikiHow

If your country's economy is sinking and there are many signs that might point to a full blown monetary collapse, how would you then prepare to survive the inevitable problems that accompany an economic disaster? Always remember: as one thing leads to another, an economic downturn could possibly lead to anarchy (confusion, chaos), a government in disarray.

1. Read everything you can about survival. Survivalblog.com and prepyourfamily.blogger.com are good places to start.


2. Start storing food. Begin with at least a 1 month extra supply and then increase it to 3 months. Don't forget water, and glass storage bottles are best (since plastic absorbs, don't store water in plastic containers that were used for anything potentially toxic).


3. Buy a premium water filter.


4. Get a long-term food supply. Wheat, rice, grains, and more that can last up to 30 years when properly stored.


5. Plant a garden. Learn how to grow food that stores well, needs minimal maintenance with high nutritional value. Buy heirloom seeds (non-hybrid). Safely store fertilizer.


6. Obtain guns and plenty of ammo. Guns for protection/hunting.


7. Buy silver/gold and take possession. It will preserve your wealth better than cash. Keep some cash on hand.


8. Move to a small farming community. Cities without power/water will burn down and be a hotbed for riots.


9. Get out of debt.


10. Buy tangibles. Tools, ammunition (make your own bullets), grain mills, fish hooks/line...


11. Learn valuable skills. Medical, animal/plant farming, sewing, cooking, auto repair, shooting/hunting/fishing, curing meat, defensive skills, power generation (solar...)...


12. If you are on medication, learn about natural alternatives that you can obtain on your own, if possible. If your illness is one that can improve with better self-care and possibly get you off medications, do it.

12 Ways to Prepare for the Next Great Depression

By Charlie Jane Anders
Originally Published on April 13, 2008

Our economic future could be even bleaker than you expect — and last year was the moment to unleash your inner survivalist. If the financial system suffers any more crises of confidence, credit gets even tighter, and the fed falls into a liquidity trap, we could be in for several hardscrabbling dystopian years. Forget maintaining your current shiny standard of living — how will you feed and clothe yourself, in the worst case scenario? We’ve compiled a few suggestions for things you can do now to brace yourself.

Avoid debt at all costs. If anything, you’ll want to save up as much money as you can, in case you have to live off your savings. Thanks to recent changes in bankruptcy law, it’s much harder than before for an individual to declare bankruptcy. So if you’re stuck in debt with little or no income, you’ll still be working for the banks. And as this guy points out, the banks will be hurting, so the moment you miss a payment, they’ll be quick to try and liquidate your collateral for whatever they can get.

Get out of your mortgage before the housing market collapses any further. As this site says, if you paid $300,000 for your house and it sells for $200,000, you could end up not owning your house and owing the bank $100,000.

Buy some cheap land in a rural area. Build a house, or just get a used RV. Either way, make sure you own your home free and clear, so you can live rent-free and mortgage-free for as long as you need to.

Go off the grid. Get your own power generator — or, better yet, some of those solar helium balloons. Or some wind turbines. Don’t be dependent on the power company to keep all your necessities running.

Cultivate some skills that will always be in demand. Become a decent electrician, handy-person, carpenter or cook. There may not be much need for someone who understands content management systems during a total economic shutdown, but someone who can build a house will always have a place to crash.

Offshore yourself. As the dollar gets weaker and weaker, U.S. white-collar service workers will be the cheap overseas employees for Europeans and Asians, predicts Robert Scoble in his roundup of how to recession-proof yourself. So as long as someone, somewhere, is still making use of those white-collar service skills (like programming or customer support) you may be able to offer yourself to overseas companies as a cheaper alternative.

Invest in the ultimate counter-cyclicals. Some industries will always be in growth mode — like any business that caters to the rapidly growing senior population. Also, “sin and comfort” industries, like cigarettes, gambling and booze, do well during downturns and will probably make bank this time around as well. (Too bad booze and cigs are generally part of huge diversified conglomerates these days.) Also, movie companies are quietly bragging that the movie industry had one of its biggest growth spurts ever in the 1930s, as people craved escapism.

Invest in some Euros, or some other currency that’s not the dollar. Chances are the U.S. dollar will keep getting weaker, so you’ll be better off holding a more stable currency. You could also try investing in gold or silver, but those commodities are already skyrocketing in value.

Have some liquid funds on hand. MSN Money suggests reducing your contributions to your retirement plan or 401(k) (if you have one) so you can put more money into your savings instead. And remember, the banks are still FDIC insured, so your savings are probably safe — but other investments have no such guarantee.

Learn to garden or take part in a community garden in your neighborhood. Try to position yourself so you can get as much of your diet as possible from food you’ve grown yourself, instead of being hooked on sushi.

Learn to hunt. These fine people claim that hungry people are already hunting small animals in the parks of San Francisco, and during the 1930s deer and squirrels were hunted almost to extinction. Learn how to trap, kill, prepare and eat a squirrel now, so you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Stockpile medications. Your biggest problem, in an economic meltdown, could be getting health care. If you’re dependent on prescription meds, try to get some extra pills now so you’ll have some on hand later. Just make sure you’re always taking the oldest meds you have, to minimize the risk of taking expired pills, these folks advise.

Preparation for the Coming Days: What Should I Prepare For?

By Duncan Conner, The Omega Report
Originally Published on September 27, 2009

In this article I plan to lay out for you the exact steps that my family has taken over the last couple of years to get ready for what is more and more looking like the beginning stages of the very last of the final days.

A Little Background

When I write those words it feels almost surreal — and yet we as believers should not be surprised. The Lord told us numerous times in the scriptures that one day he would return, and he gave us clear signs to look for that will precede his second coming. Couple these statements with all the prophecies in the Old Testament, and you have quite a detailed roadmap as to what the final days will look like.

In 2007 I felt very convicted in my Spirit to begin a web site, with the aim of proving my and others’ insights into Bible prophecy, as well as provide resources for people to prepare for what will most certainly be dire pre-rapture conditions. As I have stated numerous times, we don’t know what life prior to the rapture will look like.

Most Christians who believe in the rapture have classically assumed that they would see no trial, hardship, persecution, or difficult times, before the catching away mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:17. 2 Timothy 3:1 says that in the last days “difficult” times will come.

A very intriguing passage is the one in 2 Peter 3:3-4, 3

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with [their] mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? for [ever] since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

I have personally always taken this passage to mean that in the last days, as we begin to see Bible prophecy start to be fulfilled, and as we begin to see the pieces of the puzzle line up, Christian will no doubt begin to get excited more and more about their faith and the soon return of the Lord. However, the Bible says that there will be the naysayers, the mockers, the one who will challenge us and call us crazy and “Christian fundamentalists.” We’ve all heard it before right? “Every generation thinks there is the one where Jesus will come back,” “People have been setting dates for years,” etc.

The Bible teaches us clearly what the attitude of Christians will be toward the end of the age. Again, Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”

Are we not heading down this path? Anyone who sees what is going on in the world knows clearly that we are. And in terms of persecution, Jesus guarantees that those who stand up for their faith will be persecuted. Jesus says in John 15:20:

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…’

Jesus also mentioned the signs that would immediately precede the time of the tribulation. He said in Matthew 24:6-8:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

As many of my readers have e-mailed me recently, I am becoming aware that more and more people are starting to read the handwriting on the wall. Things have really ratcheted up over the last couple of years. I have always been someone to read the news headlines. I think and see in associations. When I see a list of news headlines, I can easily see lines of connection running throughout them, and lines of connection that connect with other stories in the previous months or years. I also see the lines of connections from these stories and the many prophesies in the Bible that relate to the end times and the things that must be in place before the end-times scenario can occur.

I can tell you, never in my life have I seen so many pieces of the prophetic puzzle coming together all at once. I remember the time when it would literally take months before I would see a news story that was relevant to Bible prophecy. And now I can’t hardly keep up!

Think about it. Look at what has occurred in human history just over the last hundred years:

• Knowledge has increased exponentially


• The world is moving at an ever more rapid pace toward regionalization and globalization


• America for the first time ever is moving toward Socialism


• We are on the verge of having our entire financial system collapse


• The decline of the U.S. has already begun


• The world is clamoring and calling for One World Government


• Israel is becoming more and more isolated, especially now under the Obama administration — which has shown itself to not be an ally for Israel


• Iran is allying with Russia, and everyone believes that Iran and Israel will go to war soon

Everything is moving toward the final goal that God has for mankind — the second coming of Jesus Christ! These are indeed exciting times.

Preparation 101

Now before we get into the basics of preparation, let me just say, the very first thing you have to do is determine the type of event you are preparing to survive and how each disaster threatens you and your safety. That will give you the parameters necessary for the following steps.

This initial exercise isn’t hard, as it only takes a few minutes of thought. I suggest you jot down some notes or switch to your word processor while you work.

But first, it’s important to realize that you cannot prepare for everything. There are a lot of preparedness resources out there with lists as long as the eye can see for things you should buy, get, etc. It’s important when you first start off to only prepare for those things that you think you personally will potentially face, and prepare ahead for things you could be facing within the next five years.

As yourself this question: What do you think is likely to happen in my town, around my area, etc. within the next five years? You will have to do your best on this one. I suggest you spend some time in prayer over it. But you will need to extrapolate, evaluate trends, read the news, and conduct your own research. At the very least, take a few minutes and consider your location. Pull out a map and look at what’s within a 2-mile, 5-mile 10-mile and 25-mile radius of your home and place of work. Put on your pessimist hat and consider what might go wrong that could directly impact you; and decide if that’s something you want to prepare for.

For example, if you live a “safe” distance outside of a flood plain, your house might still gets flooded in the 100-year flood, so should you prepare for it? I would, but it’s your call. That nuclear plant 20 miles away has an excellent safety record. Should a nuclear disaster be on your list? Again, you make the call. Are you worried about a meteorite crashing into your house? Well, it has happened, but it’s probably not worth preparing for.

Finally, if you’ve been afraid of something since you were a child — whether it’s a raging fire or nuclear war — prepare for it. At the very least, you’ll sleep better at nights knowing you have done all you can.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What natural disasters or extreme conditions (taking into account the times we are living in, taking into account all that is going on in the world, my country, my state, my city, my neighborhood) am I (we) likely to face in the next five years?
   
   Make a list and rank them in order of most to least likely to impact you. You can review my list of possible natural disasters below if you need to.
   If you are quite optimistic and you are not too concerned with the economy, your list might look like this:
   a. Heavy Thunder Storms
   b. Severe Winter Weather
   c. Nearby Flash Flooding
   If you are like me, the top three on my list are:
   a. Collapse of the Dollar
   b. Civil Unrest
   c. Martial Law
   Obviously there is a big difference between the two lists, and how you prepare will be contingent on the kinds of things you put on your list.

2. What other disasters or emergency situations might I face?
   
   Add to your list the man-made or other disasters that you might face in the next five years (again, you can refer to our list, if necessary). Let’s say you have added these categories:
   a. Toxic Material Emission/Spill (from a Train Derailment)
   b. Riot or Other Civil Disorder
   c. Nuclear Plant Problems
   d. Terrorism

3. What are the ramifications of each item on my list?

   Now, take your list and create a second column. Put the ramifications of each disaster in the second column. What do we mean by ramification? How the disaster or emergency situation could affect you. Think this one through very carefully, as everyone’s situation is different. For example, families with children have different concerns than those without children or single people.

   Once you are done with that, finally, note if the ramifications could require evacuation.
   To keep using our example, results in a table might look like this:

   Potential Disaster	Ramifications
   Collapse of the dollar	Food shortages Gas shortages Massive unemployment Possible civil unrest Possible Martial Law
   Thunder storm with electrical outage for 2 (average) to 48 hours (severe)	Food spoilage possible Lack of air conditioning/furnace Damage to house or car from nearby trees Possible local flooding (see below) Local transportation impaired by fallen trees, wires Lightning damage/fire potential
   Severe winter weather	Electrical outage for 4 (average) to 72 hours (severe) would affect furnace operation Exposure problems Frozen pipes Disruption of travel, transportation Self or family members possibly stranded away from home Possible food shortages and empty shelves at local markets
   Nearby flash flooding	Local transportation disrupted Danger while traveling in car or by foot Possible loss of some utilities
   Nearby train derailment	Possible leak or spill of chemicals Short-term exposure problem Long-term cancer concerns Evacuation may be necessary
   Riot or other civil disorder	Disruption of commute (ala Los Angeles) Stranded in car or office while family is at home and/or school Danger of riot spreading to my neighborhood Danger of local kids/low lives taking advantage of situation Attack or threat to personal safety Looting and rampaging by otherwise lawful citizens Fire with potentially no response by authorities Police are overwhelmed, cannot protect law-abiding citizens
   Nuclear plant problems	Reactor vessel damage could result in release of radioactive chemicals to atmosphere Evacuation necessary
   Terrorism	Threat to safety at work and during business travel Disruption of commerce, travel Less personal freedom, privacy as a result of government reaction to terrorism

Once you’ve created a chart like the one above, you know what situations you are most likely to face and can prepare your survival plan.

How to Prepare for a Power Outage – Without a Generator

By Matt Jabs, FiveCentNickel.com
Originally Published on April 30, 2009

Since most power outages occur during the spring and summers months, this article will focus on power outages in warmer weather. If you experience an outage in cold weather, make sure you have an alternative heat source such as a propane-powered heater and lots of fuel! Either that, or you’ll need a generator.

This past weekend we had some beautifully terrible thunderstorms that knocked out power for the better part of two days. Though the outage was a pain in the butt, the experience provided us the rare opportunity of being “unplugged” and turned out to be a real blessing in disguise.

Like so many other unexpected situations, involuntarily living without power caused us to think outside the box and to brainstorm ways to prepare in the event that something similar happens again. We were slapped in the face by the reality of our sheer dependence on grid living, and quickly began to revert to products and techniques employed by our ancestors in the pre-electricity era.

We thought about renting a generator but decided against it and chose to “tough it out” instead. Over the last 2 years, we’ve had to rent a generator three times, costing us around $50 each time. We considered purchasing a generator but due to the high debt repayment plan we’re following, we haven’t been able to delegate the $700 needed to purchase one. Instead, we’ve put a few great fundamental precautions in place to prepare ourselves for situations like these.

How to deal with a power outage

• Stay informed. Know your power company’s phone number and call them immediately to report the outage. They will also be able to give you an estimate of how long the outage will last. Another thing you’ll need to stay informed is a crank operated radio.


• Maintain a good first aid kit. Be sure to include a few days supply of any prescription medications.


• Ensure you have a good water source. If you have an electric well pump, you’ll lose water pressure, so be sure you have enough drinking water ready.


• Create an old time refrigerator. Keep ten or more two liter bottles or half gallon milk containers filled with water in your freezer. When the power goes out, place five or six of the frozen bottles in your refrigerator to keep things cool. This is actually how the original refrigerators worked.


• Pack a cooler of food. Take a few essential food items out of your fridge and place them in a camping cooler with two or three more frozen containers, or with some of the ice cubes from your freezer.


• Tape off your fridge and freezer. Put painters or masking tape over your fridge and freezer doors so you don’t absent-mindedly open them. This will help keep all the precious cool air inside where it belongs. You can also put heavy blankets over them for added insulation.


• Candles, lighters, flashlights, and batteries. Stockpile twenty or more large, cheap candles for use as light sources. Keep several candles in each room and give each person (but not your kids!) a lighter. When anyone enters or leaves a room they can light or blow out the candle accordingly. You’ll also want to stockpile batteries and give each person in your house a personal flashlight. I suggest investing in a good flashlight such as a Surefire. There’s a high initial cost, but these lights are virtually indestructible and will last forever as long as you don’t lose them.


• Have a camp stove ready. If you have an electric stove, invest in a propane powered camp stove and a few portable propane bottles so you’ll have a way to cook if needed. Just be sure to read the instructions for your stove and cook outside if necessary.


• Prepare your pantry with a few quick emergency meals. An example of a meal that you can whip up quickly and with minimal effort is black bean spaghetti. Mix together a can of black beans & a can of spaghetti sauce, boil up some noodles and voíla, you have yourself a healthy and cheap emergency meal. Some other quick & easy options are soup, crackers, beans, and peanut butter & honey sandwiches (my wife’s favorite).


• Have a collection of non-electric games. These will give you something fun while the power is it. Consider things such as Yahtzee, playing cards, dice, trivia, charades, Monopoly, etc. My wife and I played Yahtzee by candlelight. Very fun and actually quite romantic.


• Make sure you have “car chargers” for cell phones. This will ensure that you can keep your battery charged even when the power is out. Just be sure to plug your phone in during any car trips during the power outage, no matter how short they might be.


• Disconnect garage door opener. Make sure you know how to disconnect your garage door opener so you can get the car out of the garage.


• Go outside. If it is still light and the weather is nice, go for a walk or a bike ride, or any other activity to get you out of the house. Sometimes my wife and I go for a nice relaxing drive in the country. Just be careful with gas usage if your local gas stations are also affected by the outage.


• Internet access. If you need internet access and have a laptop, take it to your local coffee shop. If you don’t have a laptop, go to your local library. Of course, if the outage is widespread, you might be out of luck.


• Maintain a positive attitude. This is crucial for keeping spirits high… Especially if you’re the head of the house.

These tips, when employed as directed above, will help you wait out a two or three day power outage without losing all the food in your fridge to spoilage. If you are out of power much longer than this, you will likely need a generator.

Life without power

During our recent outage, my wife and I realized that we actually enjoyed our “time in the dark.” The time we spent without electricity was some of the best we have spent together in months. We talked for hours, went for a long bike ride in the rain, and played Yahtzee by candlelight. We had so much fun together, and were able to truly pay our full attention to one another, that we enjoyed each other’s company on a deep and unusual level without all the interruptions of modern life.

Because of this, and as an additional way to lower our monthly expenses, we’re considering going “Off The Grid” one day a week. We’re actually going to turn off all the breakers in our electric panel and live as though we have no electricity (with the exception of our refrigerator and freezer of course). But that’s another post for another time!

The Keys to Surviving Off the Grid

By Nancy Castleman, The Pocket Change Investor
Originally Published in 2001

It's a pretty safe bet that in the near future, for one reason or another, some of us are going to lose power for a week or more. How would you handle a massive power failure?

Marc and I live a pretty simple life, but even for us, no power gets old pretty quickly, especially in the winter. A few years back, Marc researched generators, picked one out for us, and installed it. It cost $479, which is a lot for us to spend on anything, but it makes me feel a million times more secure.

If you're open to making a similar investment or giving a pricey present to a loved one, I urge you to consider a generator — plus a check to cover the electrician's bill. Unless you're fortunate enough to have a Marc in your life, someone who has a strong background in all matters electrical and a willingness to learn how to safely install and use mechanical devices, you'll need to bring in a pro. When installed wrong or misused, generators can be very dangerous, as well as expensive.

Once, when the lights went out, we couldn't get the generator started. We learned that you can't plop it in the garage and forget about it until you need it. If you haven't maintained yours and kept it filled with fresh gas, it probably won't act like one on ER, automatically coming on at the first sign of a blackout.

But once your generator's safely installed, if you're willing to maintain it, you'll be able to weather major power outages. For us that means we can have heat, cold and hot water, lights, refrigeration, the greenhouse, and Good Advice Press all up and running in no time, for a long time.

High and Dry

The average person needs a gallon or two of water a day, at least 2 quarts for drinking and 2 for food preparation and sanitation. Assuming you'd like to be prepared for at least one week off the grid, and yours is a four-person family, that's 28 to 56 gallons.

In theory, between our deep well and our generator, Marc and I don't need a separate water supply. Still, I always feel better about having some extra drinking water on hand, and when a power failure looms, we fill the tub. (Being able to flush makes off-the-grid living a lot more tolerable!)

Even if you have city water, something could happen that would leave you high and dry. So build up a water reserve and/or consider other water sources. For example, we can get water directly from our water tank. Maybe you can, too.

Important: Experts say that when you store tap water for drinking in a container, you should purify it. For detailed instructions, go to: www.fema.gov/library/emfdwtr.htm.

A Simple Way to Cook

Since our stove is electric, if the lights go out, we can't cook. But since we can boil water with a handy little one-burner, propane stove that I've had for decades, we can quite comfortably weather any short-term blackout without even bothering to fire up the generator. Don't have a camping stove? I highly recommend one, for yourself and as a gift.

How Long Could You Live Off Your Larder?

The pantry's always pretty full around here, and we could certainly survive quite nicely for a few weeks if the supermarket was closed, its shelves bare, and/or the road to town impassable. But we're always happy to stock up when the items we regularly use are on sale.

Do it too, and take advantage of an unbelievably powerful investment opportunity, while you prepare for emergencies. For example, if you buy extra cans of tuna on sale at 50 cents apiece, and the price goes up to $1.00, you've netted a 100% yield on these "supermarket stocks." Buy bottled water at 3 gallons for a buck, instead of $1.00 each, and get an immediate, guaranteed, incredibly high return of 200%.

Focus on canned goods and dried fruit that can be stored without refrigeration and eaten without cooking. Don't go for warehouse-sized cans, unless your family can eat the contents in one sitting. Without refrigeration, food can go bad quickly. And if you don't have a hand-crank can opener, pick one up.

These days, Marc and I make sure we've got a generous supply of the medicines that we take, and we've asked our doctor for back-up prescriptions, in case the info stored in the pharmacy's computer is lost or unavailable when we need it.

Don't forget to keep a supply of the items you buy at the health food store, any paper goods that you regularly use, and include some comfort foods, too. You'll all be happier campers if you've got some special treats squirreled away.

Don't Forget Fido! Consider what your pets will need, and put that amount of food aside, with additional water for each dog and cat. In case you're wondering, the rule of thumb is 30 ml of water per pound of pet, which translates to 2 1/2 cups for a 20 pound pooch.

Where to Store It All

Before you start spending for your emergency stash, think through where you're going to store it all. That may help you more than anything else to find the right balance between your anxieties, your space, and your purchases. Ideally, you want a cool, dry, dark spot for storage, say in your basement, away from old paint cans and other hazardous chemicals.

Live in an apartment? Think about empty corners and spots under tables and beds. You could always cover stacked boxes with tablecloths and use them as end tables. If it'll make you feel more secure, why not?

Get Smart

So here are three books you'll be glad to own. We've recommended two in previous issues, but thought they deserved another mention, given the events of recent months.


1. Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook, by James Talmage Stevens ($22.95), is the bible on self-sufficiency. It contains very reasonable, down-to-earth advice to keep you watered, fed, and healthy during tough times.

2. Back to Basics: How to Learn & Enjoy Traditional American Skills, edited by Norman Mack ($30.00), is truly a treasure trove of useful and fun information for family projects, whether you want to garden, fish, raise chickens, make your own cheese, yogurt, beer or hand-cranked ice cream, build a sauna, or make your home more energy efficient. We really love this book, which makes a great gift.

3. The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook ($17.95), covers all the basics (treating burns, bites, and sprains) and much, much more. There are clear, easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations, so you'll be able to quickly learn to cope with virtually any emergency, even delivering a baby! It's an excellent guide.

Watching for the Lord

By Steve Dittmar, Jubilee Church
April 3, 2008

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." - Luke 12:35-36

Dear Beloved of the Lord,

Prayers around the throne continue as we introduce the Prayer Watch. In the prayer watch we are primarily watching for Jesus, His movement, His comings and goings. We are actively looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Jesus Is Coming

"Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." - Luke 12:37-40

Jesus spent much time preparing His disciples for His departure, and for His return, using the example of the watchman whose job it was to "watch for his master." Jesus exhorted His disciples to "watch and pray." Jesus said that His coming will be as a servant to those found watching and as a thief to those not.

There is a reward for watching in prayer, seeking to peer into the heaven and discern the Lord's working. Not just His second coming but all of His comings and goings. Jesus asked His disciples to watch with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said, "Tarry ye here, and watch with me" (Matthew 26:38). When He returned, finding them sleeping, He rebuked them and told them that temptation was going to overtake them unless they watched with Him.

"And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, 'What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'." - Matthew 26:40-41

Years ago I heard the Lord say to me, "Unless you can watch with me, you will not be able to transition with me." We are in a season of transition in the body of Christ; where we are entering into our inheritance by a way we have not gone before. Everything is changing and we must watch with the Lord if we are to change with the Lord. Otherwise we can be undiscerning of His movement.

Keep Your Eyes on the Ark

"And they commanded the people, saying, 'When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore'." - Joshua 3:3, 4

Two thousand cubits is the distance of about one half of a mile. It is close enough to see where the ark was being carried but far enough away that the person in front of you didn't block the view! That's what watching for the Lord is. It's getting the "big picture" and "seeing where the Lord is going" so we can follow Him, receive Him, and co-operate with Him, as we are led by the Spirit.

You haven't been this way before, so you'll need to be able to see Jesus in order to follow Him. Watching prayer does just that. It is seeing prayer, listening prayer, responding prayer toward the Lord's revelation and movement. It is also a time to fill up your oil so your lamp will be burning when the cry goes out, "Behold, the bridegroom coming."

Watching Increases Your Oil

"And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves'." - Matthew 25:6-9

Preparation is faith in action. It is the combination of faith and hope enduring for the sure coming of a promise. The oil of the Spirit is found in watching prayer, because here you discern His voice and His ways. Here you are given the indicators of what is coming, and preparations are made. You then are able to light your lamp and arise at the announcement of His appearing. Jesus exhorted His disciples at the end of this parable with the charge to watch; so we see that watching was the way we "buy our oil."

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." - Matthew 25:13

Establishing a Watch for the Lord

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, 'Watch'." - Mark 13:33-37

We don't know how the next move of God will unfold or when it will happen or where. We can only be diligent in our watch. Setting a time to watch weekly will move you into agreement with the Lord and strengthen you in your service. In all the exhortations to watch, they include other duties as well.

"Give authority to his servants, and to every man his work" (Mark 13:34).

You have a life to live, family commitments, work and personal time needed. The watch is including the Lord into our lives with a view to see His appearing and a response to His coming. It's not to replace out jobs, our family lives, and our personal walk; it is to position us for the bigger picture and the greater reward.

Ask the Lord when and where He would like you to watch for Him. I suggest a two-hour time frame and someone else to watch with. This helps energize faith and activates the "there I am in the midst of you" principle. Once you have set the time and place and found a fellow watcher, begin and don't stop. Expect the Lord to meet you and speak with you about the things of His kingdom and coming. Hold your place even when tempted to quit, "for He delays His coming."

Worship and pray and move as He directs. You will learn so much about the ways of the Spirit in this type of prayer. If you can't find someone to watch with you, of course you can do this alone. The important thing is to add this into your prayer practice so that the strategies of the Lord can be seen, entered into, and enjoyed at His coming.