Hi Arion, I see your point of being a prepper, having a well stocked pantry is a good idea, especially as I live in a coastal area and it's Hurricane season. I understand that and how we need insurance and savings to get us through unexpected, but normal life circumstances.
I guess where my thinking has changed is in thinking that every major natural catastrophe, or major social upheaval is leading to worldwide economic disaster... I think a lot of people still believe there will be a great tribulation at the end of this age, worse than anything before. Can we not see that this age has been filled with disasters and will be right up to it's end.
There have been plenty of times in history for people to think they were in the worst of it, whole civilizations have been wiped out before. The Black death estimated to have killed as much as 60% of Europe’s population. World War I was over 37 million: over 17 million deaths and 20 million wounded... World War II was even worse in absolute terms of total dead, Over 60 million people were killed, which was about 3% of the 1940 world population (est. 2.3 billion). Those were the major wars there have been countless lesser, but still horrific wars with huge death toils, where nations were decimated.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are the same, they have reaped destruction in the past as much as now. So why is everybody looking for a 'great tribulation' to come at the end of the age? I think it's because that is what the church taught and we have not let go of that. What did Christ say things would be like just before He returns?
Matt 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
v. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
v. 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
v. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
v. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,
v. 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—
v. 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The people of Noah's and Lot's day were living their normal lives and 'suddenly,' without warning or build up, they were sweep away and that's what Christ said it will be like at His return. I think Christ could return any day, nothing happening in the world will indicate it is approaching.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
v. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
v. 35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
v. 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
v. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
v. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
v. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
v. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
mercy, peace and love
Kat