This is part 12 in a 14 part series entitled Don’t Panic – Survival Guide to the Apocalypse.  Full PDF Download available free here: Don’t Panic – Survival Guide

You Will Need More Than A Towel

The Bible tells us that this time of trouble will come suddenly and unexpectedly, “like a trap“, “birth pains“, “a thief in the night“.  Depending on how much has occurred already, it may be difficult for you to find materials for survival.  Water will be contaminated.  Electricity will be unreliable.  Based on the Covid-19 Pandemic model, I suspect people will hoard essential supplies and that supply chains will be disrupted.   I anticipate that people will become increasingly violent and fight, even to the death, over essential supplies at some point.

From beginning to end, the Bible tells us that a period of approximately seven (to maybe ten) YEARS will ensue.  

You will need food, water, shelter, medicine, and clothing.  Each item will become more and more difficult to find as time goes on.  Most of us are unable to stockpile seven years’ worth of materials, even if we wanted to!  I hope that you are able to access the stashes of things left behind for you from someone who suspected this would occur.  However, as I have mentioned earlier, your chance of physical survival is very slim.  As you struggle to survive, keep in mind the spiritual reality of what is playing out.  The part you play from an eternal perspective is *FAR MORE IMPORTANT* than your physical survival.  Remember, anything you do (or do not do) for others – particularly followers of Christ – you are doing (or not doing) for Jesus Christ Himself.  Think in terms of surviving long enough to:

• come to saving faith in Jesus Christ
• lead others into the truth found only in Jesus and the Bible

This is the primary purpose of your life.  With that said, here are my suggestions of what you might try to locate and buy while it is still available.

Water:

• Clean water will be scarce.  Locate as much water as possible and keep it in a secure location.  If you have access to bottled water, even better.
• Fill freshly washed water storage containers with clean tap water and store these securely.  You may want to fill bathtubs and basins.  Add bleach as per the chart below.
• Purchase a bottle of plain, unscented bleach that they can use to purify water.  Print this chart and tape it to the bottle: 
• Ideally you want at least 1L of water per person per day, but water will likely have to be rationed.
• Consider buying a water sterilization pen/system.
• Consider buying a standalone water filtration system (I chose a Brita jug with filters).  This won’t take out bacteria, but it can remove ash and larger particles from rainwater, snow, etc.
• Consider buying rain collecting barrels.
• Ensure there are clean cloths (this can even be torn up old cotton shirts) to filter water through.

Food:

• Squirrel away high nutritional value foods that store well and don’t need cooking.
• protein powders
• Protein:
  • protein bars
  • canned beans
  • canned meats
  • nuts
  • seeds
  • dried meats (beef jerky etc)
  • peanut butter
  • nut and seed butters (almond butter, tahini etc)
• Grains:
  • boxed cereals
  • crackers
  • granola bars
• Fruit:
  • canned fruit (no sugar added)
  • canned vegetables
  • dried 100% fruit, fruit bars
• Dairy:
  • shelf milks (almond, coconut, etc)
  • this is not a critical food group
  • consider calcium gummies for children
• Multivitamins
• Baby formula if needed
• Store in sealed plastic storage containers

Shelter:

• Locate a shelter source that will shield you from the elements.
• Consider that electricity may be unreliable.
• Consider finding:
  • blankets, sleeping bags
  • mosquito/bug netting
  • fans (the old-fashioned non-electric ones may prove useful!)

Clothing:

• Locate clothing for all seasons, taking into account growth for kids, and weight loss for everyone.
• Shoes (such as runners) and boots (rain and/or snow)
• Ensure there is clothing available that would be useful in the event of colder weather (ash in the atmosphere can drop temperature considerably).  Boots, coats, mitts, hats, etc.
• Towels, wash cloths
• Wash and dry laundry as able

Medical Supplies:

• toilet paper!
• medications refilled
• emergency medications as needed
• a plan for essential medications (i.e. thyroid medication – natural remedy includes dessicated animal thyroid; check online or with your natural health food store)
• hand sanitizer
• face masks (for germs as well as ash)
• medical gloves in appropriate sizing
• goggles (for ash)
• bleach (for germs, can also be used in water)
• dish soap
• clean cloths, rags
• bandaids
• hydrogen peroxide
• antibiotic cream (Polysporin)
• bug spray
• sunscreen
• tylenol / advil
• antihistamine medication
• anti-nausea medication
• anti-diarrhea medication
• emergency kit
• tensor bandage
• disinfecting wipes
• baby wipes (these are so useful for cleaning hands!)
• doggie poo bags – it’s entirely possible that toilets won’t work
• garbage bags – sanitation services may be discontinued, but garbage will have to be bagged to prevent illness
• diapers if needed

Emergency Supplies:

• matches, lighters, flint
• firewood, fire pit
• tinfoil (for cooking on fire)
• flashlights
• lots of batteries
• candles, candle warmers
• hand crank radio
• hand crank flashlight
• shovel (for dirt, ash, snow etc)
• compass
• non-electric cooking source with extra fuel
• backpacks to store and transport things in

Practical Points:

• Please, get a Bible and read it…  Find a New Testament at the very minimum!  Easier to read versions include The Living Translation (TLB), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), Christian Standard Bible (CSB), and New International Version (NIV).  I prefer the English Standard Version (ESV) or the Berean Study Bible (BSB).
• I’m not sure if you will have access to the internet or books.  If you do, I would suggest:
  • The Fullness of Times, hardcopy book, by Douglas Berner
  • This free downloadable ebook, Understanding Revelation by Jack Kelley, at http://www.gracethrufaith.com
  • These websites: http://www.redmoonrapture.org; http://www.unsealed.org
  • No one currently understands these things perfectly, but these are good resources to have on hand to help interpret events as they occur.
• Stay away from fault lines, mountains, and sea shores as much as possible.
• Think about humane plans for your pets.  They are unlikely to survive.
• Consider living/survival arrangements with others.
• Consider learning how to survive in the wilderness.  This might include:
  • How to trap or hunt animals/fish
  • How to humanely kill animals/fish and prepare them for consumption
  • How to make a fire from scratch
  • How to build a shelter
  • Safe plants and vegetation to eat in your area

 

I’m sure you can find other survival lists on emergency prepping websites.  Many of these things are good to have on hand all the time anyways, as you should be prepared to survive 72 hours completely self-sufficiently in the event of power outages, severe storms, etc.  I would try to prepare for at least a month of supplies.

Basically you want to think about a worst case scenario and basic survival.  Anticipate having no electricity and no way to contact anyone or obtain anything.  Then throw in a bunch of crazy people and unpredictable weather.  There will be natural disasters but also dead bodies, infectious disease, and lack of sanitation.

Elijah Box

I feel like God laid on my heart something I call the “Elijah Box”.  In a time of severe famine and drought, God provided for Elijah supernaturally through a jar of flour and jug of oil that miraculously refilled day by day.  He provided in this way after all hope was gone.  I am sharing it here in case God will relent and spare you through supernatural means, for the sake of His glory and His kingdom.  We know that some people will survive and make it through the time of tribulation to enter and repopulate the Millennial Kingdom.  Perhaps YOU have been elected for this purpose – and what a great purpose that would be!!!

There is nothing special about the contents of the box specifically.  I was thinking of what might best meet basic nutritional needs.  Substitute as you see fit/have available.  For each person, make one box.  In it, place:

• 2 liters of water, bottled
• One small jar of peanut or other nut butter (or a jar of nuts/seeds) – for protein & fat
• Dried fruit bars or cans/jars of fruit – for vitamin C especially
• One jar filled with cereal (or any grain product like crackers etc) – for carbohydrates
• Ensure only enough food and water for ONE day is placed in the box.
• A printout of 1 Kings 17:7-16 as below

Replace all contents every night and close box.

1 Kings 17:7-16

And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

Then the word of the Lord came to him,  “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”  And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”  And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

When all hope is gone, all supplies have run out, and you have no other means of survival, open the box.  Consume the contents throughout the day, then put all the empty packaging and bottles back in the box and close it for the night.  Pray over the box, asking God to provide for you for the next day.

“Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.”  (Exodus 16:4)

Your prayer might go something like this:

“Jesus, you are my only hope.  I am trusting in You to provide for me, however You will.  Without access to food and water, I will die.  I am putting my life in Your hands.  Please give me my daily bread for tomorrow – refill this box as per Your will.  Sustain my life, that I might be able to tell others about You.  Keep me alive to fulfil Your plans and Your purposes for me.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen”

 

Proceed to Chapter 12 – You Are Loved