Should Christians become Doomsday Preppers?

On January 26, 2017, scientists pushed the Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to midnight. Symbolically, when Doomsday Clock hits 12 o’clock midnight, it signifies the moment when mankind is on the brink of total self-annihilation.

As we look around us, there are valid reasons for many to get worried, concerned, and even panic. No day passes by without us hearing of terrorist attacks, violence, wars, conflicts, and death. Not only that, but fake news disseminated through social media make things even worse.

Should Christians become Doomsday Preppers-

The rise of Doomsday Preppers

As a result, we have seen a lot of people preparing for the day when life as we know it will change. Many of these people are called the “Doomsday Preppers” or survivalists. They are the individuals who are committing most of their money, energy, and time preparing for the day when everything is just chaos and death.

In the past, doomsday preppers are seen as weird people. They are usually people who hide in the woods, live in a bunker, and wait for the world to end. But now, there’s a rise of Doomsday Preppers that make them more and more popular.

According to one statistic, in America alone, there are more than 3-5 million Americans who are classified as doomsday preppers. This figure significantly rose since the 9/11 incident. With the significant increase of bad news happening and natural calamities occurring, more and more Americans are increasingly getting worried, which leads to even more people becoming doomsday preppers.

If that’s not enough, there are a lot of websites on the Internet that are now catering to Doomsday preppers. They share tips, products, and the best ways to prepare for the end of the world. Moreover, millions of dollars are now being spent by individuals, families, groups of people, and world government just to increase their chance of survival when civilization breaks down.

Mainstream TV shows have also made doomsday preppers more popular. The National Geographic Channel has a show entitled “Doomsday Preppers” where they showcase the lifestyle of survivalists. Discovery Channel also has their program “Doomsday Bunkers” where they document how companies build bunkers for doomsday preppers.

How survivalists prepare for doomsday?

So how exactly does these Doomsday Preppers prepare for the big one? Some people build their own bunkers and fill it with water, food, first-aid supplies, batteries, matches, charcoals, and toiletries. Some people join martial arts classes to learn how to defend themselves. Others have been busy renovating their homes and adding security cameras and installing bullet-proof glass windows, solar panels, indoor self-sustaining gardens, and electric fences around their perimeters. Others buy pistols and rifles and regularly go to firing ranges to improve their shooting skills.

Doomsday preppers can be just people who prepare for natural calamities while others go the extreme and concentrate all their energies just to look for apocalyptic signs and be ready in their bunkers.

Preparing in vain for the Great Tribulation

As we move closer and closer to the great tribulation, what should be our focus? Should we be like the Doomsday Preppers who exhaust their wealth, energy, and life to prepare for the worst case scenario?

The Bible tells us that preparing for the future and possible calamities is wise. We read twice in the book of Proverbs that “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12).

However, the kind of preparation that we see in the lives of these doomsday preppers isn’t wise anymore. Why? We read in Matthew 24:21:

“For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has NOT been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). We see that the great tribulation will be something that comes with an unprecedented and unparalleled proportion of destruction – something that this world has never seen before.

Remember World War I? It brought so much pain, suffering, and death to the point it was called “The War to End All Wars.” It was so bad that an estimated 38 million people died during that period.

However, that death toll pales in comparison when you consider the next World War. People thought that World War I will be the last, but lo and behold, World War II came and took an estimated 80 million lives, not including those people who died due to famine and disease!

Can you imagine 80 million bodies laid before you? It will truly be catastrophic, beyond our wildest imagination. But Christ said that’s nothing compared to what will befall this earth. He was saying that the great tribulation would even take not just millions, but BILLIONS OF LIVES. Now, that figure is nothing if you compare it to the great tribulation that is yet to come.

A quick study of different verses shows us that it is possible that about 2/3 of the world population will be destroyed (Revelation 6:8, 9:15 and Zechariah 13:8-9)!

What is 2/3 of 7 billion? That’s more than 4 billion people! No wonder Jesus Christ went on to say in verse 22 that “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved alive.” Sounds impossible? Well, think about the massive amount of nuclear warfare the many countries of this world possess. One estimates that these nukes can destroy the world 300 times over!

A way of escape!

With this mind, should we be like the doomsday preppers, brethren? Should we all build bunkers and stock up supplies and provisions? The answer is no, because no amount of physical preparation can save you when the great tribulation comes upon the earth. It will be a total destruction.

But wait, is there a way of escape or survival? Thankfully there is, and Christ told us. Let’s continue reading verse 22, “but for the ELECT’S SAKE those days will be shortened.” Who are the elect brethren? They are the chosen people of God. They are the ones who were called by God, repented of their sins, lived a life committed to God’s way of life, followed God’s commandments, and endured until the end.

Now, where will the elect during the tribulation? We read in Revelation 12:14 that the Elect, symbolized by the woman, will be “given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”

How to survive the Great Tribulation?

So there’s a way of escape, a place of safety for God’s people. But how can you be qualified to be part of that place of safety? Jesus Christ revealed the answer in Luke 21:34-36.

BUT TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. WATCH therefore, and PRAY always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

These verses show us the importance of being alert and not letting our guard down. This world can easily distract us and tempt us with so many sinful pleasures. If we are not careful, we will be consumed with the cares of this life to the point that we lose our focus and be caught unprepared for the coming of the Messiah.

Moreover, Jesus Christ clearly tells us that all our preparation will come to nothing if we don’t include God in the picture. If we don’t include God in our lives and our preparation for the dark days to come, our focus is only limited to the physical aspects.

From Doomsday Preppers to Spiritual Preppers

Doomsday preppers rely on themselves to survive. SPIRITUAL PREPPERS RELY ON GOD TO SURVIVE.So rather than we become Doomsday preppers, we need to be SPIRITUAL PREPPERS. What is the main difference between the two? Doomsday preppers rely on themselves to survive. SPIRITUAL PREPPERS RELY ON GOD TO SURVIVE. Doomsday preppers made it clear that no one could save them and if they are to survive, they have to do it by themselves.

There’s no doubt that we should proactively take steps to be ready for calamities and stay safe. However, our preparation will be in vain without God’s protection and blessing. We need to consistently look to God for divine intervention and not just during calamities, but every day of our lives.

Living life with hope and faith

Worrying and panicking should be the least of all the things that come to our mind. We need not to fear. Isaiah 54:17 confidently tells us, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” The Bible is full of God’s promises of protection. One chapter that comes in mind is Psalms 91. I don’t have time to read that whole chapter for you, but I highly recommend that you read Psalms 91. By doing so, you obtain the peace of mind because we know that God is in charge. We can just surrender everything in God’s hand and live a life filled with hope that He will ultimately fulfill His promises.

As we look all around us, we see all the deaths and destructions caused by evil people. We should sigh and cry for the evils of this world. But most importantly, let us all be spiritually prepared. I believe that is the most important thing that we must all focus on rather than be consumed with the dread of the coming “doomsday.”

We need to be spiritually prepared so that when the great tribulation come, we can be counted worthy to escape all these things. The negative things that are happening right now should not be a source of discouragement, but a source of hope. Why? Because as you see all these things happening, Jesus commanded us to “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).


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One thought on “Should Christians become Doomsday Preppers?

  1. No. We should not become doomsday preppers because we can never prepare enough? Really? Says who? The bible tells us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. If we unite as one people, anything we plan, we will succeed in it. God told me that we DO need to prepare for the things to come. He wants us to survive all these things that are about to happen. He told us (the household of faith- let the reader understand- to flee to the mountains when the anti-Christ steps in to the holy temple and not to go back to the city to get ANYTHING. He will take care of those in Edom, Moab, and the leaders of Ammon, but He expects US TODAY to feed (love and take care of) the others. Do it, and you will be rewarded. Don’t, and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (I ain’t lying). Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21).

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