A friend asked my opinion on a “FEMA is in league with Anti-Christ” conspiracy post. My friend is no “Wilting Lily”. Nevertheless, he writes, “I can honestly say I’ve never been as scared as I am right now. I’m definitely trying to be right with God, but truly don’t like the idea of my family being put in a concentration camp.” My friend is not alone in his concerns.
Personally, I never worry about that “FEMA boogeyman” stuff. (1) They HAVE to prepare for mass casualties. (2) All US weapons are NATO-compliant. (3) Jesus said that a one-world anti-Christ government is an inevitability.
Just as it was with the Crucifixion, we are forewarned in order that we are not dismayed when they come to pass. Fighting it is not just useless, but it puts us where Peter was when Christ rebuked him (Mark 8; Matthew 16) , saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
FEMA camps may likely resemble the concentration camps of WWII, when that time comes. Shakespeare’s Antonio is absolutely correct: “Past is prologue.” But as Christians, we must look at such things DIFFERENTLY.
GOD is in control. All things work together for good for those who love HIM. Kingdoms come and go. {Daniel 2:21} THE LORD endures forever. {Psalm 136; 1Chronicles 16:34; 1Peter 1:25}
Global means global. Personally, I expect the major cities to fall (most likely surrender or collaborate) rather quickly. Eventually, the oppression will get around to those of us who live in the boonies. No doubt it will be scary. I take great solace in the fact that Jesus Christ forewarned us!
“Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, �?Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.’ As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, �?Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ And Jesus answered and said to them, �?See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is, ‘ do not believe him. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” {Matthew 24:1-31}
Some will die in catastrophe, some in conflicts, others in various intrigues. The key is to BE RIGHT WITH GOD when it all goes wrong, and to STAY RIGHT during the tribulations.
I know it’s hard. Especially when we worry about our loved ones. But if trusting God was easy…everybody’d do it!
This is from one of my books: Today I Meditate Upon… Fear is Lack of Faith!
365 TIMES! Three hundred sixty-five times, Scripture tells us “Fear not.”, “Be not afraid”, “Do not worry”, etc. Most of these are accompanied by admonitions to “Trust in The Lord”, or “Have faith”. Once for each day of the year, we are reminded, again and again, that FEAR IS LACK OF FAITH!
“Stress is a disease of the soul and does not depend on material defects. Can a healthy person [who] has millions in the bank [have] a life spent in anxiety? Stress should be solved with trust in God’s providence and the good deeds.” ~Saint Porphyry Kafsokalivitis~
Scripture References on this subject are too numerous to list. For today, let’s look at Paul’s formula for a stress-free life:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” {Philippians 4:4-9}
It’s counterintuitive, but historically speaking The Church GROWS during periods of persecution. If we focus our attention on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute; if we choose to dwell on whatever is praise-worthy & excellent; if we devote ourselves to the doctrines prayer, fasting, and service to God & our fellowmen; we will live lives of infectious positivity that will lift up our Spirits as we lift up The Lord before a world that desperately needs Him!