Building A Tribulation Kit

What's the purpose of a Tribulation Kit?

It's not difficult to picture a time in the near future when the world will experience the fulfillment of biblical prophecy concerning the Tribulation. The purpose of a Tribulation Kit is to have a collection of valuable information set aside to share with family, friends, and others in your community who are unsaved and who will find themselves living through the Tribulation. It's a great evangelizing tool to bring the salvation message and the word of God to those who are not yet born again believers. This is a blog created specifically for those who do not believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Whether you believe in the Rapture or not, these Tribulation Kits are a valuable resource for those who will find themselves living during the time of the Tribulation.

What are some of the things to include?

• BIBLE: The first thing you should include is a bible. You can include the version of your choice. You can include the entire bible or just include the New Testament. It depends on how much money you're able to spend and how many Tribulation Kits you want to put together. You can find paperback bibles and New Testaments.

• TRACTS: The second thing you should include are Tracts. You may not know who is receiving the kit, so try to include several tracts that explain the message of salvation in different ways. There are even some cartoon tracts out there that are written to give an easy to understand explanation of the salvation message. I, personally, have included about 8 different tracts in my kit.

• WRITTEN INFORMATION: Those living through the Tribulation will need to know what's happening and what's to come, so a letter or homemade booklet would be beneficial to whoever is accessing the Tribulation Kit. You can also print off pages from online sources to add to your kit. You can include hard copy information about salvation, the Tribulation, God's salvation plan for mankind, etc... You can even include a tribulation timeline that you can find online, so that they'll know what's coming and in what order.

• DVD/CD: If you're able to download some Christian YouTube videos, then you can burn them to a DVD. The same could be said for Christian music. You can burn a CD of your favorite Christian praise and worship music. Use a marker to write on the DVD/CD or buy some DVD labels and affix them to the DVD's and CD's. 

• FLASH DRIVE: You can use this in addition to the DVD/CD option for video and music and as another option for hardcopy information. You'll not only have physical copies of information on a DVD, CD, or printed on paper, now you'll also have all of that copied to the flash drive. Just figure out how much information you want to save on the flash drive (calculating extra space in case you want to add more information or if the recipient wants to add more information). I've even added free online bibles (various versions) on to flash drives, along with survival information, first aid information, etc... 

• A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA: Add a little something extra to your Tribulation Kit. I've added a small gift... a simple wooden cross necklace with a breakaway cord. The ones I chose are inexpensive and can be purchased through Oriental Trading. 

• ANYTHING YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT: The great thing about a Tribulation Kit is that you can include anything you want, so if you think it's important to include, then add it to your packet. That includes online information, a copy of the book of John, a small med kit with basic first-aid items, etc... Whatever you include is up to you. That's why every Tribulation Kit will be different. 

So how do I put everything together?

• CONTAINERS: Well, that depends on how much physical material you have. It could be as simple as slipping everything into a large manila envelope or zip lock freezer bag. If that's not going to be large enough, you can use small bins or cardboard boxes. You can use manila envelopes and/or cardboard containers as long as you keep them from water and mold damage, but I suggest using large zip lock freezer bags or small storage bins that stack. If you need something larger than a gallon sized zip lock freezer bag, they sell jumbo 2.5 gallon zip lock bags.

• LABELS: You'll need to let people know what's in the kit, so you'll want to label them. You can make a hand written label or print something off and then affix it to the outside of the kit so that it's easily identifiable in case you're not around to share them with others (We're not guaranteed survival through the entire Tribulation). It can be something as simple as, "Tribulation Kit" or you can create a more detailed label that includes the items. It doesn't matter what information you choose to include as long as it's clearly labeled in large letters.

• SPECIAL NOTE: If you believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture or Mid-Tribulation Rapture, you could also leave printed information about the Rapture as well. If you believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, then you can read my article about an After Rapture Kit (ARK) by clicking HERE.

Everything's been packaged and labeled. Now what?

• STORAGE: You'll want to find a safe dry place to store your Tribulation Kits, but try to keep them in plain sight. If they're individual kits in envelopes or zip locked bags, you can place them in a protective covered storage bin or even in a cardboard box, but be sure to place a label on the outside so that everyone knows what it contains. If they're stored in individual bins, then stack them somewhere out of the way, but still in plain sight. They'll all be labeled, so you're good to go (be sure to label the side or end of the bins that will be visible).

• PRAYER: Pray over the kits that you've assembled. Your hope should be that they all get into the hands of those who need them before anyone else finds them and destroys them. Remember, all Christian materials will most likely be outlawed at a certain point during the Tribulation, so it's important for the kits to get into the hands that can benefit from them.

• TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Don't keep these Tribulation Kits a secret. Make sure you share the information with family and friends so that they'll know where to go when the Tribulation begins so that they can be equipped with the tools they'll need. If they're not born again believers, suggest that they take a packet home and leave it in a secure place "just in case" what you say is coming actually happens. If they don't take them, then at least they'll know where to find them when they need them.

Is there anything else I can do?

Other than the Tribulation Kit and evangelizing now, consider leaving behind tracts in/on those things that people will most likely steal during the Tribulation if you're not there (again, it's more than likely that we'll die either from the judgments of God or from the persecution and execution of Christians). Maybe tape a tract on the back of a flat screen television, computer, and other high priced items, so if they're stolen, at least they have another opportunity to hear the salvation message. Leave Christian materials in your emergency food stash and in your first aid/medical supplies and attached to the inside of your medicine cabinet door. Consider placing a Tribulation Kit in your vehicle glove box and/or hanging one in your closet for people looking for clothing. I'm sure you can be imaginative and think of other great places to leave a Tribulation Kit or Christian tract. Bring a kit to work and leave it in a desk drawer or file cabinet. Again, pray that your efforts will be fruitful.

Please take the time to leave a comment below and share your ideas for what you plan to include in your Tribulation Kit as well as any ideas you may have where you could leave kits or tracts in your home. God bless!!!

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 7: Timing Is Everything

As with most things, timing is everything. The same is true for the Rapture. There are conditions in scripture that people overlook when they're talking about anything other than a pre-Tribulation Rapture. Let's look at some of these conditions:

• In Luke 17:26-27, Jesus says, "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man; 27they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all."  So Jesus, Himself, tells us that they were living a normal life, blissfully unaware that the judgment of God was about to be unleashed upon them.

• In Luke 17:28-29, Jesus says, "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed." Again, living a normal life, oblivious to what was to come.

• 1Thessalonians 5:1-3 says, "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3While they are saying "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape."

Just looking at these few scriptures alone, it's difficult to believe that anyone could honestly say that this will be an accurate description of the condition of the world during, or toward the end of, the Tribulation. Destruction has been coming down all around them throughout the Tribulation (Seal Judgments, Trumpet Judgments, Vial/Bowl Judgments), so it's impossible to believe that the words, "While they are saying 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly..." is referring to what occurs during the Tribulation. Just like it was in the days of Noah and Lot, everyone will be living their normal lives before God rains down His judgment upon the earth. That's exactly the scenario that Jesus said would occur at His coming. Just like Noah and Lot, God will exact His judgment when everyone least expects it... when they're lulled into a sense of security, saying, "peace and safety." 

From the first judgment of God when the Tribulation begins, to the last, there will be worldwide suffering and devastation, the likes of which have never been experienced in the history of the world until now, so how can the population of the world be blissfully and blindly declaring "peace and safety" and feel at ease when they'll be in the midst of worldwide earthquakes, drought, poisoned water, famine, economic chaos, disease, war, death in the streets, pestilence, 300 pound hale, locusts from the pit, etc... It just doesn't fit the narrative that Jesus and the Apostles share, does it? There's no way that just these few scripture I've shared can describe life at any time during the Tribulation. So, if scripture doesn't fit the narrative of other Rapture theories, then those other Rapture theories must be incorrect. 

"Peace and safety" are the words spoken BEFORE the Rapture, not after. 

Another timing issue is that the letters to the Corinthians were written before John wrote Revelation, so in 1Corinthians 15:52 Paul couldn't have been referring to the seventh trumpet spoken of in Revelation 11, since he hadn't been given that revelation yet. He was clearly speaking of another trumpet. If you're thinking that this scripture could be referencing the Feast of Trumpets, then that can't be the case, because the day and time can be predicted on a yearly basis, and Jesus said that He will return unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, so not even born again believers will be expecting His return on any particular day. If you wish to hear what I have to say about the "last trump," then click HERE and read about what I believe to be the ultimate trumpet blast that no one will expect!

To conclude, scripture doesn't contradict itself. If people are going to be living as they are today and declaring "peace and safety," then it must be BEFORE the Tribulation, because once the Tribulation begins, God pours out His judgments upon the earth, and the devastating results won't lead anyone to be joyfully living a normal life. The Tribulation is God's "great reset," a reset that the world system will think benefits them, but in the end, will mean their destruction and eternal separation from God's glorious presence.

I encourage discussion in the comment section below. God bless!!! 

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS SERIES

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 1: The 24 Elders

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 2: Noah, Lot, And Rabbit Holes

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 3: The Slow Motion Replay

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 4: The Apostasy or Falling Away

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 5: The First Resurrection

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 6: The Bridegroom

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 6: The Bridegroom

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9)

Jesus calls Himself a "bridegroom" and born again believers His "bride." (Mark 2:18-19) These terms are used more than once in the New Testament, and if there's one thing that we know about God, there's always a deeper meaning to words like these, so let's look at the traditions of a traditional Jewish wedding at the time, and consider whether that has any relevance to the Rapture, when many, like myself, believe that Jesus will come for His bride.

Choosing a bride...

In ancient Jewish tradition, either the father would choose the son's bride. Paul states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Eph. 1:3-5)

Oftentimes, the bride had not seen or met her future husband, but had found out about him through the bridegroom's servant. This reflects our engagement with Jesus. We have not seen Him, but God’s servant, the Holy Spirit, has revealed Him to us. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1Peter 1:8) When He returns to retrieve His bride, we'll see Him face to face! Paul writes to the church body, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2Cor 11:2) The word "espoused" actually means "engaged." So we, as born again believers, are presently engaged to Jesus.

Every bride came with a price...

Brides in early biblical times were purchased through way of the bridal price, or "mohar." The word for wife, be’ulah, means the “owned one.” Husband, or ba’al, means “owner” or “master." Once a couple entered into covenant at betrothal, they were legally married in all aspects except for the physical consummation of the marriage.

Jesus paid our "mohar" through His blood...

• "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1Pet. 1:18-19)
• "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Cor. 6:19-20)
• “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28).

The marriage contract...

At the betrothal ceremony, a marriage contract, or ketubah, was presented to the father of the bride. Although a bride was selected for a bridegroom, the young woman did have some say in responding to a proposed marriage contract. The same occurs in our spiritual betrothal to Jesus because we also have a say in whether or not we'll accept the marriage contract. Paul writes, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9-10) When we believe and make this confession of faith, we're agreeing to this wedding contract, and as such, we become part of the bride of Christ. 

The bridegroom comes bearing gifts...

Betrothal also included the giving of gifts by the bridegroom to his bride. This gift was to remind the bride of what was to come. What is our Bridegroom's gift to us? God's Holy Spirit and all the gifts that come through Him. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7) And again, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-15)

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive additional gifts; "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (1Cor. 12:8-11)

Water immersion...

Brides purified themselves in a mikvah (pool of living water) prior to their wedding. It represented a separation from an old life to a new life – from life as a single woman to life as a married woman and from being under the authority of her father to being under the authority of her husband. Water immersion is the New Testament equivalent of the mikvah. The Bible says "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;" (Mark 16:16a). When we're baptized in water, we're symbolizing our death and resurrection with Christ, going from our old life to a new life, coming out from under the authority of our old father, Satan (sin), and coming under the righteous authority of our Bridegroom, Jesus.

The bridegroom must go to his father's house...

Once the marriage covenant was sealed, the bridegroom left his beloved to go to his father’s house to prepare a wedding chamber for her. During this time, his wife-to-be would prepare herself to leave her parents’ home to live with her husband’s family and become part of their household. When a marriage contract is agreed upon, the engagement begins and the groom goes to his father's house to prepare the marriage chamber. When I think of this, it reminds me of the scripture, "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14: 2-3) The Jewish bride was set apart, consecrated, separated unto her bridegroom while he was away preparing their wedding chamber. 

No one knows the day or hour...

The groom could be gone up to twelve months! Because of this, the bride had no idea what day or hour her bridegroom would return to take her to the wedding chamber. It was the bridegroom's father who inspected the bridal chamber to be sure it was completed and ready for the wedding. Only when it's been completed to the father's satisfaction does the father give his son permission to retrieve his bride. So, neither the bridegroom nor the bride had any idea when the bridegroom would be sent. As it says in scripture, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24:36)

When the bridal chamber is ready and the groom is sent to retrieve his bride, he gathers his friends and they set off together. Now, during this entire time, the bride's responsibility is to remain vigilant and be ready, because the bridegroom could arrive at any time. "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 39:40) In fact, bridegrooms usually came for their brides late at night, near the midnight hour. It reminds me of the  parable of the ten virgins, "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (Matt. 25:6) 

The trumpet is blown...

When the bridegroom approached from afar off, shofars would be blown and the shouting and merriment of those with him could be heard, which could be heard afar through the silence of the night. This reminds me of another portion of scripture, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thes. 4:16-17) Note: It's specifically stated that it will be the "trump of God," so this excludes the last trumpet blown during the seven trumpet judgments, since these will be regular judgment trumpets and not THE trump of God, which seems pretty specific. If you're interested in my reasoning behind this, check out my article, "What If The Trump Isn't What We Think It Is" You can also check out my YouTube video HERE.

The Rapture...

The bridegroom always arrived at the huppah before his bride to welcome her to the place he had prepared for her, where, from that day forward, they would be together. This is where the bride and bridegroom would stand side by side, formalizing their union. Our Bridegroom will meet us at our huppah in the sky, on that day that glorious day when He welcomes us to His Father's house: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord i the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1Thess. 4:17) 

Alone together for seven days...

The Bride and bridegroom would greet the guests gathered at his father’s house and then be escorted to the bridal chamber where they would be alone for seven days, the marriage would be consummated, and the second part of the marriage ceremony would be complete. The best man or “friend of the bridegroom” waited outside the wedding chamber to hear the voice of the bridegroom tell him that the marriage was consummated. Then all the guests began a week long celebration. Jesus said, “He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled” (John 3:29). The seven day period was also called the “week of the bride.”

The marriage feast...

Following the seven days in the bridal chamber, the bride and bridegroom joined their guests for a joyous marriage feast. The first meal that the bride and bridegroom shared with their guests was called a seudat mitzvah, a festive meal, and had religious significance. The purpose of the meal was to instill joy in the hearts of the bride and bridegroom. Again, scripture shows us that this part of the marriage will play out in heaven, "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:6-9)

Jesus fulfills the wedding feast responsibilities of a bridegroom...

• Jesus has chosen us as His bride.
• Jesus paid our bridal price with His blood.
• Jesus has made a bridal contract through His covenant with those who repent and believe.
• Jesus has given us a bridal gift by sending the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus has set up water baptism as our outward expression of our covenant with Him.
• Jesus has gone to the Father's house to prepare a place for us as we wait for His return.
• Jesus will return at a day and hour of our Father's choosing, so neither He nor we know when that day will be.
• Jesus will return at the sound of the trumpet of God and with a shout!
• Jesus will bring us up to meet Him in the clouds and take us to His Father's house.
• Jesus will sequester us in the bridal chamber for a week (seven years) during which we will participate in the wedding feast.

Final thoughts...

This entire article has brought us to this point, and the reason why I took the time to write this. Jesus plans on fulfilling His responsibilities as our Bridegroom, and that means taking us to the bridal chamber for one week (seven years) while the rest of the world is experiencing the Tribulation/Great Tribulation. Some will say, "He didn't take Noah or Lot out of this world." True, He didn't, but that's because it wasn't necessary to do so. He sequestered Noah and his family safely inside of an ark and He safely led Lot and his family away from the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Rapture is different. There is going to be a worldwide judgment of God which will bring about the end of the world system as we know it and usher in His millennial reign. There'll be no flood to float on in this case. It'll be a world on fire! There will be nowhere on earth to find safety, so the Lord needs to take us home before the Tribulation begins. 

What bridegroom says, "I love you, but to show your love for me, you must suffer through the worst judgments God has ever brought upon mankind." No, a true bridegroom would rescue his bride before she is exposed to that type of danger. 

To those who say we need to suffer through the Tribulation so that we can somehow become more worthy to enter Heaven, I'd have to say that our salvation is not based on works, and we can't make ourselves more "worthy" by suffering through the Tribulation. You're using man's limited intellect and it just doesn't jibe with scripture. Our seven days in the bridal chamber with Jesus will be our seven years with Him in Heaven, participating in the Bema seat judgment and participating in the wedding feast He has prepared for us. 

I hope that those who do not believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture will consider what I have to say in this series of articles.  I hope we can interact in the comment section below. God bless!!!

If you wish to read the other parts of this series, please click on a link below:

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 1: The 24 Elders

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 2: Noah, Lot, And Rabbit Holes

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 3: The Slow Motion Replay

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 4: The Apostasy or Falling Away

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 5: The First Resurrection

Why I Believe In A Pre-Tribulation Rapture - Part 7: Timing Is Everything

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET