A recent study points to a major increase in Americans taking 'prepper' steps. This is up from last year, as well as dramatically up from pre-COVID times. Americans do not trust their government to deal with "doomsday' issues? Will the current Democratic Administration or a possible Republic one be able to prevent what is coming, such as sorrows or the Great Tribulation? Do government leaders despise the word of God and trust in perversity as the prophet Isaiah warned? Does the word of God support the idea of physical preparations? Does the Bible warn that many of those who will flee to the mountains all be protected? Does the Bible tell of Philadelphians being promised physical protection by Jesus, but not other Christians in Revelation 3? Might the USA be gone by 2028 or 2030? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these issues.

A written article of related interest is titled 'Poll finds 71.2% of Americans have no faith their government is prepared for ‘doomsday,’ many prepping'

Poll finds 71.2% of Americans have no faith their government is prepared for ‘doomsday,’ many prepping

COGWriter

Those who have read the New Testament realize that Jesus warned of wars, famines, pestilences, and other troubles (Matthew 24:4-8; Mark 13:8) as part of the “beginning of sorrows,” and we have been seeing some of that. Then there will be the doom of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22).

Even those who do not heed the scriptures are seeing problems as well. Many Americans, correctly, realize that their government is not prepared for dealing with what some have called doomsday:

Gimme shelter: Massive number of Americans have no faith in Biden to cope with ‘doomsday’
Prepping activities surge as foraging, first aid and hunting skills popular
June 21, 2023
Americans already have delivered a devastatingly negative verdict of Joe Biden’s presidency as prepping activities are surging and reflect the lack of faith in him to deal with any sort of “doomsday” scenario.
A polling from Bonusfinder showed 71.2% of all respondents have no faith in the government in that event.
Further, 45.1% of respondents are working on foraging skills, 41.5% on first aid, 38.8% on hunting and fishing and 32.6% on purifying water.
One in five is working on the techniques of “building shelters.” https://www.wnd.com/2023/06/gimme-shelter-massive-number-americans-no-faith-biden-cope-doomsday/

Let me add that a Republican president will also not be able to prevent what is coming.

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
“Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity,
And rely on them,
13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you
Like a breach ready to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
14 And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel,
Which is broken in pieces;
He shall not spare.
So there shall not be found among its fragments
A shard to take fire from the hearth,
Or to take water from the cistern.” (Isaiah 30:12-14)

Note that it is the despising of the word of God that leads to perversity and destruction. The same thing is also taught in the New Testament in Romans 1:18-32. We have seen increased promotion of perversity in the USA.

That said, the poll suggests that the number of ‘preppers’ is up a lot since last Fall.

Michael Snyder posted the following back in November 2022:

As Doomsday Approaches, It Is Being Estimated That Approximately 10 Percent Of All Americans Are Now “Preppers”
November 7, 2022
Why is the number of preppers growing so rapidly? Prior to the pandemic, somewhere around 2 or 3 percent of all Americans were preppers, but now that figure has shot up to about 10 percent. Needless to say, the pandemic certainly put a good scare into a lot of people, but now it has largely passed and so you would think that interest in prepping would subside. But instead, the prepping community just continues to grow. … In 2023 and beyond, there will be more war, more economic turmoil, more famines, more pestilences and more historic natural disasters. In such an environment, it will pay to be prepared. …

Not too long ago, the mainstream media openly mocked those that were preparing for the meltdown of society.
They were labeled “doomsday preppers” or “survivalists”, and entire television shows were created to make fun of them.
But now everything has changed. In fact, 60 Minutes just did a story in which they portrayed preppers as just ordinary people from all walks of life …
In the old days, the vast majority of preppers were conservatives.
But these days a lot of liberals are now prepping.
And even a lot of those liberals do not believe that the government will be able to handle the sort of apocalyptic scenarios that are rapidly approaching. The following is one exchange from the 60 Minutes story that illustrates this point…
Jon Wertheim: If there’s some kind of catastrophe, to what extent do you trust the government?
Heidi Keller: I’m not gonna down the government. I mean, they do the best that they can. But pretty much the government’s not gonna take care of you, not because they may not want to, but because there’s too much going on. That’s common sense.
What Heidi Keller said is quite true.
The government is not some all-powerful entity that can shield us from all harm. …
In the future, we could easily see pestilences that kill hundreds of millions of people.
And we are also now closer to nuclear war than we have ever been before.
In addition, the United Nations is publicly warning that “multiple famines” are likely in the coming year.
We live in such troubled times, and more people than ever are getting prepared for apocalyptic scenarios.
If you are not a prepper yet, I would very much encourage you to start doing the same. https://endoftheamericandream.com/as-doomsday-approaches-it-is-being-estimated-that-approximately-10-percent-of-all-americans-are-now-preppers/

While the Bible does not support the idea that preppers will do as well they hope in the coming Great Tribulation, that Jesus warned of in Matthew 24:21-22, the Bible does support the idea of some physical preparations.

But some wonder, “Won’t God provide?” The Bible teaches:

3 “The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish” (Proverbs 10:3).

Yes, He will, but look at the next verses:

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in the summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son of shame” (Proverbs 10:4-5).

So, the Bible speaks well of those who gather in the seasons when they can.

Notice also something from the New Testament:

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)

You are not just to sit around and expect others to take care of you.

Notice the following scriptures as well as a comment from the old WCG:

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22a).
3 A prudent man forsees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished (Proverbs 22:3).
Of course, since gold is regarded as a disaster hedge by many investors, prudence might dictate that perhaps a small fraction of your liquid assets be in gold: (Caulkins J. WHEN MONEY FAILS. Good News, WCG, October-November 1979)

Therefore, some ‘prepping’ is biblically wise.

So, is prepping and/or hording gold the answer for what is coming?

While you should take proper physical steps, no.

Many are promoting a worldly view that without repentance, but through their own physical steps, they will survive what is coming.

That will prove to be overly optimistic for many.

Twice the Bible warns:

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)

The Bible teaches:

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; (Psalm 127:1)

Jesus warned:

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus is warning that we can have the wrong focus and that if our priorities are too much on the physical that we can lose it all.

While doomsday preppers, seem to think that they will survive well during the 3 1/2 years that starts with the Great Tribulation, there are factors that they have not considered–or at least not well enough.

Those without food or shelters will seek out those with both. And there will be many, many times more of those people than people with prepper shelters.

Many, instead of putting their confidence in God, are hoping shelters will work.

Jesus taught rough times would come.

7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:7-8)
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. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

So, Jesus said there will be wars, food shortages, and troubles–we have been seeing these this year.

Let me add that the USA, for one example, will end up much worse than even most preppers think.

Is heading to the mountains the answer?

Although various ones will try that, the answer is no.

The Bible shows that some few that go to the mountains will escape the captivity that will impact the Anglo-American peoples:

16 ‘Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains
Like doves of the valleys,
All of them mourning,
Each for his iniquity.
17 Every hand will be feeble,
And every knee will be as weak as water. (Ezekiel 7:16-17)

Yet, notice also something from the prophets Amos and Jeremiah:

9 ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. 10 For they do not know to do right, ‘Says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’” 11 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered.” 12 Thus says the Lord: “As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria — In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch! 13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”Says the Lord God, the God of hosts, 14 ‘That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. (Amos 3:9-14)
19 They pursued us on the mountains And lay in wait for us in the wilderness (Lamentations 4:19).

The above indicates that some will be hiding in the mountains and other places in the USA while others are will be taken out of the USA (which is the prophetic Samaria–see Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New). Most of the Anglos that are not killed will be made slaves. Hiding in the mountains may protect a few for a time, but it will be relatively few that survive that way for long.

They will be pursued.

But didn’t Jesus teach to flee to the mountains?

Well, yes for the mountains of Judea:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)

But He also did not say one should plan to stay in them. Consider that Jesus then added:

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! (Matthew 24:17-19)

Now this does not mean that Jesus expected one to go to a stocked bunker. Only that those in Judea who have not fled before they see the abomination will not have time to do anything then but flee. In time, any who are Philadelphian Christians will go elsewhere (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra).

Notice something else that Jesus taught:

36 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. (Luke 21:36)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘ (Revelation 3:7-13)

Jesus tells His followers to watch, pray, and change enough to be accounted worthy to escape these things. Physical protection from the coming hour of trial is possible to those who will properly heed the word of God (cf. Zephaniah 2:1-3). Jesus clarifies in Revelation 3 that He is specifically referring to providing protection to the Philadelphian Christians.

Furthermore the Bible is clear that NOT ALL CHRISTIANS are promised this protection:

14 But the woman was 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. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:14-17)

Two types of Christians are discussed above. A group that flees to a place and the rest that do not do so.

While there is a certain escape involved in this, the protected Christians are not going to their personal ‘bolthouses,’ but are going to a place that God has prepared in the wilderness.

For more on who will be protected and where they will be protected, please check out the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra.

A while back, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put a prepper-related video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

18:48
Doomsday Preppers and Preparation
A study came out in August of 2019 showing that so many Americans are so fearful from news reports that more have become doomsday preppers. Meaning that they are storing up food, weapons, and other supplies for an apocalyptic type event to hit the USA. Jesus said sorrows and troubles would come, then a tribulation so bad that unless God intervened, no flesh would be saved alive. Is physical preparation the answer? Should Christians do any type of disaster preparations? Does God have a plan to protect some or all Christians from the coming “hour of trial” that Jesus spoke of? Who is promised protection and who is not? Is keeping the commandments enough? What has Jesus said His people should do? Are you supporting the work that needs to be completed before the end comes? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: Doomsday Preppers and Preparation.

While it is wise not to put your confidence in human governments, we all should put our confidence in God, not prepping.

UPDATE 06/25/23: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:59
More ‘Doomsday’ Preppers
A recent study points to a major increase in Americans taking ‘prepper’ steps. This is up from last year, as well as dramatically up from pre-COVID times. Americans do not trust their government to deal with “doomsday’ issues? Will the current Democratic Administration or a possible Republic one be able to prevent what is coming, such as sorrows or the Great Tribulation? Do government leaders despise the word of God and trust in perversity as the prophet Isaiah warned? Does the word of God support the idea of physical preparations? Does the Bible warn that many of those who will flee to the mountains all be protected? Does the Bible tell of Philadelphians being promised physical protection by Jesus, but not other Christians in Revelation 3? Might the USA be gone by 2028 or 2030? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: More ‘Doomsday’ Preppers.

The USA, itself, might the be gone by 2028 or 2030.

That said, it is wise to make physical preparations for problems and major spiritual ones for God’s protection.

Might Petra be the Place of Safety?

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028?

Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028?

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?

The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?

Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?

Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?

This is PETRA!

Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians