The topics that I bring weekly are usually developed from the title that the Lord drops into my heart. A few weeks back the term “Tribulation Wealth” just popped up in my mind and I immediately understood what it was to be about—it is this: The world, our country, and our households are sliding more swiftly by the week toward what the Bible calls “great tribulation.”
It will be a time of civil chaos, the collapse of our financial systems (to include both our income sources and nearly all commerce in our land), an extreme scarcity of the needed things of life, (sadly) the physical destruction and the death of multiplied millions by natural calamities and by wars, and eventually the imposition of the antichrist system of buying, selling, and the demanded worship of false gods.
These things should not be news to you as many have talked about them for years. In this write-up I earnestly coach you to prepare your household for such things. I do not doubt that we are in the preceding time of growing “sorrows”, which means what is ahead at some point are 42 months of the greatest trouble that has ever been for all people on the earth.
The good news is that at the end of these 1260-1335 days-the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth to put an end to it all.
[Referenced: Matthew 24:15-22, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Revelation 7:13-17]
You may be wondering that with all this trouble and hardships and dangers how the concept of wealth for the common person (especially the hated Christian) can be planned for and prepared for [for] use during the tribulation! With believers in Jesus Christ being shut-out of whatever buying and selling that might be going on—what good is wealth? Well, the answer is that we must first redefine what wealth is during that time of great trouble. Tribulation wealth will not be in the traditional dollars or diamonds, or huge estates, or even a vault containing envious amounts of precious metals, although gold and silver will be useful, if one has any in the smaller denominations. Consider this as to how tribulation wealth will be defined during the near-future years of the dearth of nearly all things—everything except the air that we breathe:
Wealth: ... anything that has utility and is capable of being appropriated or exchanged. Anything owned that has value to its owner or to others that are in need of that thing. Having accumulated something in terms of real goods or skills that are of value. Something possessed by one person that is needed for sustenance during hard times and that is also useful to others.
Barter: To trade by exchange of commodities or services rather than by the use of traditional money. The act or practice of trading goods or services for other goods or services.
[Referenced: 2 Corinthians 8:7 & 11-15, Philippians 2:3-4]
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Let me go over some examples of things that will be of value to you and to others during great trouble when there is no money and or we as Christians are expelled from society. Of things that are skills:
•Medical training and experience and having the basic supplies and equipment to help others (nursing, doctors, dentists, therapists)
•Skills and supplies to make or repair clothes, and other sewing needs
•Building skills—the ability and experience to build, expand, or repair basic shelters and having the tools and materials to do so
•Domestic farm animal and household pet-care experience
•How to dress a meat-animal for food (chickens, goats, cattle, foul, etc.)
•Security force and defense services; knowing how to use firearms, other defensive techniques, useful military training and experience
•Gas or diesel engine mechanic skills with the tools to do simple repairs
•Having the means to grow and prescribe herbs for health reasons
•Large-group food preparation experience (prepping, cooking, clean-up)
•Camping skills and experience instruction (campfire, cold-weather, security)
•Barbers, gardeners, wood choppers, knife sharpeners, gunsmiths, butchers, numismatic specialist, K-12 teachers, experienced child care, mid-wives, canning/jerkying/dehydrating food, etc.
For people that can do these kinds of things (and others not mentioned) [they] are parts of one’s wealth in a broken society. Whether trading for other things of value or provided with a charitable heart to the poor, if you have such skills prepare as much as you can right now to offer them when the time comes.
Of things that are possessions or tradable assets of value in a barter system:
•Small denominated gold and silver coinage, other hard and needed assets
•Laying chickens, portable incubator to hatch more chickens
•Cows and goats for milk, excess stock for meat
•Farm equipment for services to others
•Having the means to provide modest electric power by existing solar, wind, or man-powered generator equipment
•Having access to potable water via a well or other water purification means
•Ground coffee, large supplies of salt and sugar, large supply of aspirin, allergy or sleep aids, access to lots of firewood, a well-stocked seed vault
By now you should have a good idea about what I am speaking to under the caption “tribulation wealth” and might have already done a quick survey of your life. If you’ve recognized skills, possessions or assets that you now have that can help you and others in times of great need, I urge you to further develop those things (check your tools and equipment, upgrade some things, add more to your supplies, etc.). If you do not have anything to offer then think about a significant need that will arise that you can fill and do what you can do now to be ready to serve in that way.
How does one use his or her tribulation wealth—things heretofore described?
Three suggestions:
1.) Trade it for something else that one needs but cannot otherwise get
2.) Exchange a physical possession for someone’s service or work (bring firewood or water, dig a hole, fix a shelter, deliver a meal, plow for a garden) or vice versa
3.) Give it away as you would a cup of water in Jesus’ name
[Referenced: Luke 6:38, Mark 9:41, Proverbs 3:27-28, Ja. 2:15-16, 1 Cor 13:1 & 3]
With tribulation wealth in mind—recommendations and what to do quickly:
If you have the professional training or a specialty skill, acquire the tools and equipment needed to do that work or service (barber, seamstress, cook, wood-cutter, builder, etc.); perhaps pickup up-to-date manuals
Add to your needed things a back-up of all critical tools, equipment or supplies (Prepper’s motto: 2=1, 1=0) and refresh or upgrade your training
In the case of needing to evacuate your home, have your tools, equipment and other supplies assembled in a BOT (bug-out-tub or suitcase or crate).
Now I’ve said a lot today that I know was hard to keep up with. But all you need to remember and act on are these questions to ask yourself: What skills do I have or what can I do that will be useful when serious trouble or especially when great tribulation begins—what do I have to offer? What 1 or 2 things can I provide that will help others and perhaps be a source of return-provision for me and my loved ones? Without money, what can I do or have that will be tradable for other things that I might need for me and mine?
After answering these questions then prepare now for what you can do; have things ready for that day when money fails, stores close, chaos and danger reigns in our land, and might even you end up in a small refugee camp somewhere in the mountains where the things that you are prepared to do will provide a blessing to others and maybe even some form of useful payback for you. And do keep this in mind:
As followers of Jesus, our first intention should be to help where we can with what we have—no matter if we are compensated by trade or barter or not. Your trusting the Lord, Jehovahjireh (the Lord will see to it), during the worst of all times to be alive is the absolute key to having what you truly need day-by-day.
1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich (have wealth) in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate (share); 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
With "The Right Word" ...
Brother Scott
