If you agree with me that the start of the tribulation is imminent, what are you doing to prepare for it? Most Catholics who believe that the end times will begin soon are actually doing nothing to prepare. My thoughts on this subject are in my book, Apocalypse Survival Guide for Christians, which I am now offering (for a limited time) at a greatly reduced price in Kindle format ($3.50 rather than the usual $9.99). Here is the chapter list from the book:

1. General Considerations
2. Events of the Apocalypse
3. Food
4. Water
5. Land and Shelter
6. Communication and Electronics
7. Heat, Utilities, Transportation
8. Money and Valuables
9. Defense of Self and Others
10. Family, Friends, Neighbors
11. First Aid and Medicine
12. Body and Soul

Don’t let the mass media convince you to refrain from making preparations for the end times. They mis-characterize people who prepare by calling them “doomsday preppers” and similar terms. In fact, Jesus spoke about preparation for the end times, by using the time of His Passion and Crucifixion as an analogy for this time of future suffering for the Church and the world.

[Luke]
{22:35} “When I sent you without money or provisions or shoes, did you lack anything?”
{22:36} And they said, “Nothing.” Then he said to them: “But now, let whoever has money take it, and likewise with provisions. And whoever does not have these, let him sell his coat and buy a sword.
{22:37} For I say to you, that what has been written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was esteemed with the wicked.’ Yet even these things about me have an end.”

The end times is a period of greatly increased suffering for the whole world. It is a type of Passion and Crucifixion for the Church. And so Jesus tells us to prepare even with temporal things, such as money and provisions (food, water, supplies). He even suggests that some persons should buy a weapon (for self-defense) during these difficult times. For there will be war, civil unrest, famine, and death:

[Revelation 6]
{6:1} And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals. And I heard one of the four living creatures saying, in a voice like thunder: “Draw near and see.”
{6:2} And I saw, and behold, a white horse. And he who was sitting upon it was holding a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering, so that he might prevail.
{6:3} And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying: “Draw near and see.”
{6:4} And another horse went forth, which was red. And it was granted to him who was sitting upon it that he would take peace from the earth, and that they would kill one another. And a great sword was given to him.
{6:5} And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying: “Draw near and see.” And behold, a black horse. And he who was sitting upon it was holding a balance in his hand.
{6:6} And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A double measure of wheat for a denarius, and three double measures of barley for a denarius, but do no harm to wine and oil.”
{6:7} And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying: “Draw near and see.”
{6:8} And behold, a pale horse. And he who was sitting upon it, his name was Death, and Hell was following him. And authority was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to destroy by the sword, by famine, and by death, and by the creatures of the earth.

The “great sword” given to the second horseman (second seal) signifies severe civil unrest. Peace will be taken from civil society; many persons will be killed. And these deaths are in addition to those caused by the first horseman (first seal), which is World War 3.

If you want to read more on how to prepare (without buying my book), you might try searching for “survival blogs” and “prepping blogs”. This type of website often has good information on preparing. But avoid the “doom and gloom” type sites that offer exaggerated warnings and extremes of preparation.

Read Fr. Z.’s comment on being prepared.

by
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
Roman Catholic theologian and
translator of the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible.