Just How Prepared Are the Preppers?

[Chris]

Just How Prepared Are the Preppers?

Just How Prepared Are the Preppers?
By Todd Strandberg

In America today, a large number of people have taken steps to prepare for what they fear is going to happen to America. These "preppers" believe that a complete collapse of the economy is coming, and they are doing everything they can to get ready. The Great Drought of 2012 has only added to the urgency of being ready for future food shortages.

A prepper is: "An individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal circumstances or lifestyle without significant reliance on other persons (i.e., being self-reliant), or without substantial assistance from outside resources (govt., etc.) in order to minimize the effects of that change on their current lifestyle." (Definition from Prepper.org )

This category of people has become so popular it has spawned Doomsday Preppers, a documentary TV show that airs on National Geographic. The preppers featured on the show are seen planning how they expect to survive various doomsday scenarios. After they make their preparations, a panel of experts analyzes and rates their survival skills.

It is hard to tell how many people are part of the preparation movement. Many of these people like to keep their planning a secretso they don't have to fend off their starving neighbors once a famine sets in. One estimate says that around 4 million people would classify themselves as preppers.

The field of Bible prophecy has been profoundly influenced by the prepper movement. I would estimated that 60 percent of the people I know have made some type of preparation for hard times. I know of at least three prophetic ministries that have decided to specialize in promoting end-time survivalism.

I have seen several videos on YouTube of people showing off their silver/gold coins or pantry stocked with canned goods. I am struck by the fact that most of these people lack any meaningful quantity of precious metals or foods.

Clearly, they have not done the math to see how long they can survive a time of economic hardship. If our nation were to suffer an economic meltdown and these people were without work for several months, their supplies would quickly run out, leaving them with only a temporary advantage over people who made no preparations.

In a search of YouTube, I found five videos of people showing off their silver. I didn't see a video showing someone with more than 200 ounces. At today's market price, 200 ounces of silver is only worth around $5,600, which would only last many people about two months. I'm sure these people are dreaming of silver prices that will have soared into the hundred-dollar range. Because inflation will cause the price of goods and services to also increase, silver will only preserve your purchasing power at the current rate.

There is an equal misconception about how long food stocks will last. Over the years, I've met dozens of people who tell me they have purchased extra canned goods for hard times. A case of Uncle Ben's rice is not going to save people from a prolonged famine. Just to meet the daily grain requirements for a family of three people for one year, you would have to store around 300 pounds of rice. This is equal to twelve five-gallon buckets.

Of course, you can't just live on rice. If you wanted to purchase a year's supply of freeze-dried meat, it would cost you around $1,700. An annual supply of canned or freeze-dried vegetables would be another $800. The best option would be to have a garden, but most people don't have enough land to grow their own food.

I have no problem with folks who have decided to make preparations for adversity. If God has blessed you with financial resources, it would be wise to convert some of your wealth into goods that would endure a period of hyperinflation.

I think it's unwise for people to place all their faith in their preparations. I'm sure the people I found posing with their precious metal collections and their pantries stocked with food have total confidence that their little hoard will save them from hard times. Calamity can come by other means. The person with the silver and gold coins may have them stolen by robbers or confiscated by the government. The people who have their house filled with food can easily have it wiped out by a flood or a wildfire.

To be a real prepper, you have to be a believer in Jesus Christ. All the gold, guns, and groceries in the world can't save you from the coming judgment. The only cure for the curse of sin is faith in Son of God. How can you not be an end-time prepper when you have a Lord who has promised to save you from the wrath to come?

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:9).

Todd

[eddie]

To be a real prepper, you have to be a believer in Jesus Christ. All the gold, guns, and groceries in the world can't save you from the coming judgment. The only cure for the curse of sin is faith in Son of God. How can you not be an end-time prepper when you have a Lord who has promised to save you from the wrath to come?

[RandallB]

This stove has prepper written all over it....

Burns sticks -- charges USB

[Chris]

I know of at least three prophetic ministries that have decided to specialize in promoting end-time survivalism.

I know of one ministry that use to be solid and now they have jumped on the weird theology bandwagon and half their homepage is made up of ads for survival goods, foods, etc.

[twerpv]

I have to admit, I looked into what it would take to feed my family (4 of us) for say 2 yrs. with freeze dried food and such. Expensive but I could do it. Also, I live on a lake, so I can pump water, purify it, whatever. However, as I PRAYED about it, I realized that this was not God but fear motivating me. Should I buy some guns and bullets to protect my stash? Anyhow, I came to the realization that I love my neighbors (not all saved) too much not to share. Would I really watch them starve or shoot them to not share my food. No way.
BTW, this is, my own personal decision after much prayer and thought.
This does NOT mean that it applies to everyone else. Each must seek God's direction.

With Christ's love.

[JC1949]

once the Lord literally MULTIPLIED my few spaghetti in the pan.....I mean it...He did it.....
I do not know what to say.....
if people want store food and supplies,well they are free to do so...if not...they are free the same.....I count on being translated in the coming rapture BEFORE the Great Tribulation....as I know many of you in this Forum and worldwide.....
it is ALL BY GRACE.....ALL because of HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD.....I am getting so sick of this nonsensical churchy religionette....
I WANT THE REALITY...and HE IS MY REALITY....if HE cannot provide for the time of dire need,then WHO AM I that I think I can provide???
If this morning I got out of bed,it is by HIS GRACE.....I do not deserve ANYTHING,but it is HIS GIFT...if I live another hour is by HIS GRACE....
HE DIED and ROSE AGAIN,ASCENDED and HE IS at THE RIGHT HAND of THE FATHER...NOW,for me,for you and any other believer in HIM,wherever they are,HE KNOWS,we don't....
Obama,Romney,Usa,Europe,Islam ...WHO CARES,they count like a zero,the nations are like DUST on HIS scales......
JESUS,HE IS THE KING and HE IS COMING BACK,for HIS QUEEN,HIS BRIDE...that is all I want to say...
MARANATHA!

[Carl]

The episodes that I have seen the prepers had a place to go where they could also raise food. That would take care of the long term food problem.

Silver coins: it is true that today's price of silver is not that high, but the prepers are betting on a total economic collapse of the current monetary system. With that they are betting on hyper inflation. Which would push op the value of a silver coin. But the value of silver and gold is also tied to the productivity of a person's productivity. So while a dollar would be worth one cent and a person making $10 per hour would then be making $1,000 per hour he would be making the equivalent of $2.7 +/- per hour in silver.

[UCT]

While I do not consider myself a "prepper", I guess some would call me that. I use an old chest of drawers to hold extra can goods (approximately a 6 month supply right now, but I would like to increase that to a year), have several weapons with ammunition for said weapons, bottled water enough to last my wife and I nearly a year if we conserve (water is the most important thing and I see a lot of so-called preppers overlook this fact) and a ton of camping equipment / survivalist gear in case we have to make a run for the woods at some point.

Now, this can all sound like we're nuts and hoping/preparing for something bad to happen, or we don't have faith God will carry us through. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have MANY Christian friends who have been "called" to prepare. None of us know what for, but some, like me, believe we may be being called to prepare for those left behind and may need these things. Remember, the Lord will take care of them somehow and I believe he is "prepping" for that now. Imagine how blessed a Tribulation Saint will be when he is being hunted by the masses and stumbles into a home filled with survival gear, food, water and everything he needs (including Bibles and prophecy books!)!!

It has become fashionable for Christians to poke fun at the preppers based on what they've seen on tv. Those are not "real" people preparing. Those are typically very well off individuals with various conspiracy theories. I don't have a theory. I have a fact. The Lord said hard times will be coming. He never said the Rapture would preceed them. If it does, great. We will be leaving a LOT of awesome stuff for the Trib Saints to use in their journey and I firmly believe the Lord will guide them right to it. If the Rapture is still a ways off, we will be better prepared than some and hopefully in a position to help others around us, although our general plan is to get out of the city immediately and head for the hills.

So, please don't judge the so called preppers. Many are true God fearing Christians who have been called to do something not everyone has been called for. If you lived through Katrina, Andrew or some of the tornadoes we've had in the Midwest, you know that preparation is key to survivial. Just because I store away extra things does not mean I'm looking forward to the Rapture any less than anyone else. In fact, I would consider it a HUGE honor to find out one day what I am doing right now helped assist the Trib Saints in some way. How awesome would that be?

[mattfivefour]

I have to admit, I looked into what it would take to feed my family (4 of us) for say 2 yrs. with freeze dried food and such. Expensive but I could do it. Also, I live on a lake, so I can pump water, purify it, whatever. However, as I PRAYED about it, I realized that this was not God but fear motivating me. Should I buy some guns and bullets to protect my stash? Anyhow, I came to the realization that I love my neighbors (not all saved) too much not to share. Would I really watch them starve or shoot them to not share my food. No way.
BTW, this is, my own personal decision after much prayer and thought.
This does NOT mean that it applies to everyone else. Each must seek God's direction.

With Christ's love.

Brother, Christ's love shines from your words. May He richly bless you and your family.

[daygo]

While I do not consider myself a "prepper", I guess some would call me that. I use an old chest of drawers to hold extra can goods (approximately a 6 month supply right now, but I would like to increase that to a year), have several weapons with ammunition for said weapons, bottled water enough to last my wife and I nearly a year if we conserve (water is the most important thing and I see a lot of so-called preppers overlook this fact) and a ton of camping equipment / survivalist gear in case we have to make a run for the woods at some point.

Now, this can all sound like we're nuts and hoping/preparing for something bad to happen, or we don't have faith God will carry us through. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have MANY Christian friends who have been "called" to prepare. None of us know what for, but some, like me, believe we may be being called to prepare for those left behind and may need these things. Remember, the Lord will take care of them somehow and I believe he is "prepping" for that now. Imagine how blessed a Tribulation Saint will be when he is being hunted by the masses and stumbles into a home filled with survival gear, food, water and everything he needs (including Bibles and prophecy books!)!!

It has become fashionable for Christians to poke fun at the preppers based on what they've seen on tv. Those are not "real" people preparing. Those are typically very well off individuals with various conspiracy theories. I don't have a theory. I have a fact. The Lord said hard times will be coming. He never said the Rapture would preceed them. If it does, great. We will be leaving a LOT of awesome stuff for the Trib Saints to use in their journey and I firmly believe the Lord will guide them right to it. If the Rapture is still a ways off, we will be better prepared than some and hopefully in a position to help others around us, although our general plan is to get out of the city immediately and head for the hills.

So, please don't judge the so called preppers. Many are true God fearing Christians who have been called to do something not everyone has been called for. If you lived through Katrina, Andrew or some of the tornadoes we've had in the Midwest, you know that preparation is key to survivial. Just because I store away extra things does not mean I'm looking forward to the Rapture any less than anyone else. In fact, I would consider it a HUGE honor to find out one day what I am doing right now helped assist the Trib Saints in some way. How awesome would that be?

I echo that, nice one.