Discovery to Catastrophe!

By Jerry D. Wood

This book is designed and intended to be the first in a series. It deals with the time leading up to the start of the period of great tribulation. The important thing to catch from this book is the big picture, not the small details, though there are a multitude of details.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477124376

Jerry D. Wood

author did not provide

Book preview

TO CATASTROPHE!

JERRY D. WOOD

Copyright © 2012 by JERRY D. WOOD.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910114

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4771-2436-9

Softcover 978-1-4771-2435-2

Ebook 978-1-4771-2437-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Words Of Thanks

Dedication

01.Discovery

02.The Teacher Becomes A Student

03.Implications

04.A Place Of Refuge

05.Practical Preparations

06.Prepping Becomes The New Normal

07.Winter Planning Time

08.The Love Bug Bites

09.Building Community

10.Places Of Refuge

11.Pointing Toward The End

12.Is It Time?

13.Catastrophe!

INTRODUCTION

Growing up in a theological tradition that believed the rapture of the church would occur prior to Christ’s second coming, I didn’t worry much about the tribulation, the rapture, or his second coming so long as I was living in such a way I was ready to meet God. I would be gone to heaven in the rapture before all the stuff would hit.

I continued in that belief through my years in a premillennial Bible school, which taught that the rapture would occur immediately prior to the great tribulation. After a break from preparing for the ministry, I pursued independent studies and became a pastor in a small-town church. I continued to hold to my belief of a pretribulation rapture and taught it with fervor and passion.

I do remember times in the quiet of the night I would question my beliefs and ask, Okay, but what if we do go through some or all of the tribulation period? What then? I saw the Lord taught (Mt 24, Mk 13, Lk 21) his followers they would still be around after the abomination of desolation was standing where it ought not to be. However, as do many believers in churches who hold to a pretrib rapture of the church, I passed it off as something I just didn’t understand.

I owe a debt of gratitude to a mother who had a passion for the teens of the church and was an indirect cause that awakened me to the truth. Though a small church, we had several teens, and no one seemed to be able to really connect. She took them to heart and lovingly led them. Their youth service was just before the Sunday evening service, but as they became passionate about what they were doing, their Young People’s Service time began to infringe on the evening service. Since she was also the pianist for the evening service, it was decided to flip service times and have the evening service first and the Young People’s Meeting afterward. Those who had no teens could go home, and those who did have would sit around talking. This way, they could run over, and it would be okay.

Since Hal Lindsey’s book Late Great Planet Earth was gaining traction, we adults decided to begin a Bible study on the second coming, while the teens were having their service. We didn’t want to waste our time.

What we learned was not what we expected to learn. We expected to learn good, sound reasons why the rapture would occur before the tribulation, especially since this was the doctrine Lindsey, Kirban, and others espoused. We were in for a shock.

As we began studying the scripture that supported the views of these writers, we discovered that these scriptures would only substantiate their position if it was approached with the preconceived idea of a pretrib rapture. However, if we allowed the scripture to speak on its own, and if we drew our theology out of what the scripture clearly stated, it became quite clear to us that the scripture clearly states that Jesus Christ only comes one time. And when he comes, the dead in Christ shall arise in the resurrection, and we who are alive and remain shall immediately follow them to meet the Lord in the air (rapture) as he returned! (1 Thes 4:16–17).

Whoa! That was not what we had been taught or what we expected to find! With a limited introduction to New Testament Greek and some very good Bible study resources, we found the Greek language helpful in understanding these concepts. We were now discovering what New Testament Christians readily understood by being immersed in the language and culture of that day. These truths had become buried to the twentieth-century mind because of the separation of time and culture and the teachings of John Darby, C. I. Scofield, and others.

To uncover and discover these buried nuggets of truth was not only exciting but also very troubling. Some were unable to receive the knowledge of the truth and rejected it as people do today. We know God still loves them as he does us and is faithful to continue to speak truth into all our hearts as we will accept it. Thank God for his longsuffering. Thankfully, it is not necessary for us to understand his truth to receive his love and grace.

In my quest for truth, I have put off this writing for many years (Lord, forgive me). I may well have been fearful how it would be received, concerned that I would offend those I love, didn’t want to muddy the theological waters, or simply allowed life to get in the way. Most likely, it was a combination of all of these and more. I have become increasingly aware of struggling against the enemy of our soul as I have worked to complete this book. I am sure he used all the means and methods available to him to keep this truth from Christ’s followers.

I have also been keenly aware that, in all my failures, the Holy Spirit has been eminently faithful. He has continued to prod, push, encourage, cajole, urge, promote, persuade, entice, lift, boost, and pull at my heartstrings to get it done. Though I have no idea how these truths of the resurrection/rapture will be received, I have every confidence God will use it to speak to hearts and help people to get ready for the time when the Antichrist ushers in his reign of terror.

It is my deepest heartfelt prayer that the reader will take the truth contained in this book to heart, study its truths, and listen to the Holy Spirit as he uses this book to encourage to action. I pray the reader will do their own research and listen to the Holy Spirit as he leads them into all truth (Jn 16:13).

I encourage you, the reader, to carefully and critically examine everything in this book. I will not be offended if you honestly see it differently if you have solid biblical truth to stand on. You may find truth from the scripture lessons and things learned by these fictional preppers as they attempt to prepare for the future. The important thing to catch from this book is the big picture, not the small details, though there are a multitude of details. I strongly encourage you to research these matters out for yourself.

Also, I am not an expert nutritionist on canning butter or bacon, dehydrating vegetables, building underground shelters, self-defense, or any of the items in which they engage themselves throughout this book. I, like you, am a student. Honestly, our grandparents have most likely forgotten more than we’ll ever know of those things. Thankfully, there is a wealth of information on the Internet. Just make sure what you learn is credible. That said, I have attempted to make this a book that not only tells you to but also tells you how to in the broadest of terms and in general ways.

I have chosen fiction to convey these great truths in an effort to capture your imagination and spark your passion for learning and action. I’m concerned too few would read a religious theology of end-time truth, so this book was designed to appeal to believers and unbelievers alike. I am convinced anyone, regardless of personal beliefs, can get some sound and useful information from this book. If nothing else, I trust it will be an enjoyable read.

I have set the story in Alaska for a couple of reasons. First, because I am convinced Alaska could very well be the place of refuge (Rv 12:14ff) during the period we call the great tribulation, though the lands known as the American Redoubt has some merit if extended into northern Arizona/New Mexico. Also, I have set the story in Alaska because Alaska, the Last Frontier, has a universal appeal to the spirit of adventure in each of us.

This book is designed and intended to be the first in a series. Book one (this book) deals with the time leading up to the start of the period of great tribulation. A future book will deal with the start of the tribulation period until the Antichrist is revealed to be who he really is. Another will deal with living under the Antichrist for three and a half years. That time will not present a pretty picture for multiplied millions of Christians as Christians will suffer for their faith in Christ. I believe we are already beginning to see some of the suffering and persecution faithful believers will face during that time as we take a look at Christian suffering in many Muslim and non-Christian countries today.

I leave future books in the Lord’s hands. If there is sufficient interest in this book to warrant writing the others, the Lord’s will be done. If there is insufficient interest, again, God’s will be done.

WORDS OF THANKS

I am indebted to the many who encouraged me over the years to put my ideas and thoughts to paper and to all those who have made this book a reality.

My first word of gratitude goes out to my loving Lord and Savior and his Holy Spirit who inspired and dogged me to bring this book to completion.

The following words of gratitude are not in any particular order. My thanks go to:

My Daniel/Revelation class who has put up with me in my evolving journey and quest for truth.

Alaska Bible Institute because they provide me an open platform to share the truths I have uncovered—regardless of disagreement with some of my discoveries.

My brother, Dave, in Kentucky for encouraging me to complete this book.

My brother, Bob, in Wisconsin for encouraging me in its writing and for being one of my readers, providing valuable insight and feedback.

My sister, Deanna, in Kentucky for her encouragement to write the book.

My mother in Illinois for her faithful prayers and financial support over the years in my mission work in Alaska so I can devote myself to writing, ministering, and teaching.

Lois, in Alaska, a good friend, for reading the manuscript and providing excellent feedback and literary critique.

Jim Miller, a friend and native villager from Port Graham, Alaska, for reading the book and providing insight and asking insightful questions.

Lois Ramsey and her love for God and teens that helped begin this journey.

Marthy Johnson, whose reading of the manuscript revealed significant changes for a writer more familiar with scholarly writing.

My many friends and ministry supporters who over the years have prayed for me and continue to invest in my ministry. To them, a heartfelt, THANK YOU!

And to you, the reader, for your interest in Christ’s second coming, preparing for what lies ahead, and your willingness to help others in your journey of faith.

DEDICATION

First, I want to dedicate this book to the honor and glory of my wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without him—with or without this book—I would be nothing. As the song says, Without him, I would be nothing . . . To him be the honor and glory forever, world without end.

Second, I wish to dedicate this book to the truth regarding Christ’s second coming. Not my truth, but the truth as found in the imitable standard of God’s Word.

Third, I wish to dedicate this book to you, the reader. May you find God’s Spirit faithful to reveal to you that which he wishes you to learn from these pages and the pages of his holy word. And in learning, may you be eagerly obedient to the truth.

01. DISCOVERY

JONATHAN HANLEY WAS perplexed as he prepared for the Bible study lesson.

How can I teach the official line when I am not sure it is true? Maria, how do I not teach the Bible as I teach the Bible?

Maria looked up from her cookbook. I don’t know, babe. Have you talked to Pastor Biggs about it? He should have some knowledge about these things.

I did, but he became real defensive. He’s pretty dogmatic about the rapture issue. Said he saw it divide a church in the Lower 48, and he’ll not tolerate division here. Besides, ‘it’s the official position of the North American Association of Bible Churches, and we won’t deviate from it,’ he said. He refuses to listen to any other view.

Working to prepare the German chocolate cake for the church bake sale, she absentmindedly answered, I don’t know what to tell you, hon.

Jonathan went back to his Bible, jotted down more notes, and continued to prepare for the Bible study on the second coming of Christ, which he was to lead on Sunday night. He was truly happy that there were such a large group of people who wanted to study this subject. With the current state of events and in talking with other Christian friends, he learned it was an issue of discussion in a number of Homer’s churches. Pastor Biggs had worked through the local ministerial association and organized this cooperative Bible study in conjunction with a number of local churches. Jonathan was chosen to teach it because of his visibility in the community. Besides, he was an articulate speaker, communicated well with others, and was an active member of the Peninsula Bible Church.

Pastor Biggs saw this as a real feather in his cap to have it at Peninsula Bible Church and to have a community leader like Jonathan Hanley teach it. The church was the largest evangelical church in the community, and this would give them additional visibility and status among evangelical churches. It would also make a connection to those in the secular community because of Jonathan’s reputation in the community. Pastor Biggs felt good about this one.

After thinking about how to approach it for a few days, Jonathan decided that what he would do for now would be to continue to teach the official line of a pretribulation rapture of the church but ask questions regarding specific scriptures the class was studying. He hoped this would cause the students to see there are other options other than the official position of a pretribulation or secret rapture of the church. This secret rapture of the church would take all the Christians out of the world before the time of great tribulation would occur. He prayed the study would focus attention on what the scripture actually said without him making dogmatic statements. He tested the waters with Maria.

What do you think of this approach? he asked Maria after briefly explaining his plan. She hurried through the house, getting ready to attend the Homer City Council Meeting.

If you’re doing it to invoke honest inquiry, I can’t think of anything wrong with that, she replied, but if you’re doing it to create dissension, that’s not a good thing.

Jonathan pondered her words for a minute. Thoughtfully, he said, "You’re right. While I believe I’m seeing this right, yet, as I look at it, I just want the truth to be told. I am not as concerned that my position triumphs, but that truth triumphs. I do believe, however, that it will cause some to see things the way I see them. That in itself will cause a problem—as it already has with me and Pastor Biggs. Thoughtfully, he asked, What do I say if someone asks me what I believe about a pretrib rapture, or about the interpretation of a specific verse that flies in the face of a pretrib rapture? What do I do then?"

All I can say is that you must be honest. Both to be intellectually honest with the truth and treat it with integrity for those who truly want to know how you see a scripture passage.

You do realize that may bring Pastor Biggs down on me if that gets out, don’t you? Jonathan responded. Somewhat as an afterthought, he said, Oh well, I’ve got to be faithful, and let the chips fall where they may I guess. I don’t like the ramifications of that prospect, but the truth is more important than what he thinks of me—as difficult as that is. Have a good evening, hon. Is there anything I can do for you while you’re gone?

Just have a hot cup of coffee with me when I get back so I can let off steam, Maria replied. You know how much I love these crazy city council meetings.

Okay, give me a call so I’ll know when to expect you, he said. You’ll do fine. He gave her a kiss and a hug before she hurried out the door.

Though this was only Monday, he continued to study for next Sunday’s lesson. He prayed silently that the Lord would help him to learn the truth, so what he taught would be true. He also decided that he would present various viewpoints because there were even more than the official line and what he had come to call his view. Though he would present the official line, he would let class members decide on their own how the scripture should be interpreted. This way, he could present what he had come to believe to be true—that the resurrection/rapture of the church would come immediately after (Mt 24:29) that seven-year period of human history at the end of the age that Jesus called the great tribulation. The more he thought about it, the better he liked this approach.

Jennifer Hanley came home from basketball practice shortly after Maria left for her meeting, and Mark came home near 10:00 p.m. from studying physics with Andrew, one of his baseball teammates. Each of them gave Dad a hug and chatted briefly about their day. Mark sat down and talked to Dad about the idea of light being both a particle, and a beam of energy. After he and Andrew had studied it for over two hours, they finally got the concepts down—and he just had to tell Dad. They were very much a family on the go, but each loved the Lord and each other, and they were very close.

After an evening of serious personal study, he was glad for Maria to be home. At her phone call, he put away his things and turned on the coffee pot he had readied earlier. He loved Maria, and he wanted the coffee to be steaming hot and fresh. He knew it was the little things that made a marriage work. By the time she arrived home, took off her jacket, put away her laptop and notebooks, and sat down to the table, it was hot and ready to be served. Jonathan poured two mugs of steaming coffee and sat out a small plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies he had baked.

You really know how to get to a woman’s heart, babe. A cup of hot coffee and chocolate, she said and then joked, I’m so glad you caught me.

Me, catch you? If I remember right, it was you who caught me when I was running around with Danny and the guys, Jonathan replied.

Oh well, you can’t have both, a great body and a great memory too, she replied. They both laughed. She spent the next half hour telling him some of the silly things the City Council of Homer was debating. She also noted that some members of the community were at the council meeting to protest the proposed ordinance that would increase city water rates by nearly double. What can the council be thinking? she asked. She noted that a small group of people from the community were there protesting the newly designed city hall that looked like little more than an elongated shoe box. The citizen’s committee to advance downtown Homer took umbrage with the proposed idea, especially since the city council turned down Fred Meyer’s proposal for a new store, calling it a box store with no architectural interest. They protested that the boxy town center was little more, except smaller.

SUNDAY EVENING CAME, AND THERE was an air of excitement in the room as the class gathered for the second lesson in the eighteen-week series. There was a good turnout from other churches as well, and the church women did things up right with coffee and a complete array of decorated cookies. They were thoughtful to provide some sugarless cookies for those who were diabetic, and it was duly noted. These women were good about things like that, always thoughtful of others. The room was decorated with small colorful centerpieces on the tables, and Jonathan had set up the PowerPoint projector to display his presentation on the white board. He loved to project them there so he could highlight some point with a marker, point to it with the laser pointer, or write over it. He was prepared.

The evening went well until Harvey Roundtree asked about the timing of the rapture based upon Mark 13:24. Jonathan explained the verse from the official pretrib view, noting that this would occur near the end of the tribulation period in which there would be those who did come to Christ during the tribulation period that would be gathered to Christ as he returned with his bride whom he had gathered earlier in the secret rapture of the church. It would be a second rapture so to speak, or what was often referred to as gathering the gleanings of the harvest, referring to an Old Testament harvest practice. All the saints together, those who had been taken earlier in the secret rapture and the saints martyred for Christ during the earlier parts of the great tribulation, plus those alive at Christ’s actual second coming, would accompany Christ to the battle of Armageddon as a part of his mighty army. Those who ruled the earth at that time and had not been resurrected/raptured would experience the outpouring of God’s divine wrath and judgment for their wickedness.

Harvey didn’t understand that and pointed out that the description given in Matthew 24:24–27 indicates the rapture accompanying the resurrection would happen after the tribulation. Jesus said nothing about a secret rapture before the great tribulation. The scripture clearly states the rapture would be after the great tribulation (Mk 13:19,24) as the time when Christ would gather together his chosen ones (Christians) from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Sarah piped up, noting there is nothing said about a rapture of the church in Mark 13 until here; and here it describes just one gathering of all Christians from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven (Mk 13:27, NASB). She just couldn’t see a rapture of the church discussed here, then a later gleaning of those who come to Christ during the tribulation.

It just isn’t there as I see it, she said.

Jonathan, attempting to defend the pretribulation rapture position, noted not all details are given in each biblical discussion of end-time events, and (using the pretrib rapture defense) these events recorded are not necessarily in sequence. He further reminded her that an argument from silence is no argument. Therefore, the fact it was not discussed by Christ did not mean it wasn’t in there; it’s just that he chose not to give all the details in his discourse on his second coming.

But this is no argument from silence as you call it. It very clearly states when the resurrection, and consecutively the rapture (1 Thes 4:13–17), takes place, Harvey responded.

Jonathan was taken back. As much as he had been studying this subject, and even with the new things he was seeing in the scripture, this hit him broadside—and it shook him. He let them continue their discussion for a while, both to let this sink in the minds of the other students and to see if he could learn more about it. Regaining control of the class, he concluded his study. After the meeting, he agreed to meet Harvey for coffee at one of the local coffee shops Thursday afternoon to discuss this further.

Jonathan talked to Matt McReyni at work about last Sunday’s Bible study. Matt attended another church in town but was a good Christian man and was a part of the area churches cooperative Bible study. Matt told Jonathan, I have some reservations with the idea of us getting a ticket out of here just because we’re Christians while everyone else goes through the trib. It seems like a lot of Christians want to gloat over the fact they’ll be gone. I think it projects a superior attitude on the part of some. But we’re no different than anyone else we’re just forgiven, quoting a familiar bumper sticker. I feel like the odd man out when I suggested this at our church one day, so I just kept it to myself. After talking about it for a while, they agree to go together to meet Harvey at the Gold Nugget Café Thursday after work.

When he told Maria, Mark, and Jennifer what he was learning in personal study, the brief discussions with Harvey and Matt, and the turn of events in the Bible study, he was surprised to hear Jennifer receptive to his new understanding of Christ’s second coming.

"When I was in the Sudan working with the Christian Relief Agency last summer, this crossed my mind—believe it or not, Jennifer said. I couldn’t understand why some Christians suffer so much. Christians there accept suffering so willingly, believing it’s a normal part of the Christian life. Some even rejoice they are allowed to suffer for the cause of Christ. Yet we in America think if we suffer, there must be something wrong with us or what we’re doing. And when it comes to tribulation, especially the great tribulation, we seem to think because we are so good, we will all be secretly raptured before the bad stuff hits. I just don’t get it."

Mark and Maria chimed in together. I’ll take it, Mark said. I’ll gladly book it out of here before all the tribulation stuff hits. Maria solemnly noted, It is all so depressing, when you stop to think about it. I can’t imagine going through some of that stuff Revelation talks about. War, famine, one-third of all people on earth dying at one time, one-third of all vegetation being burnt off, and Christians can’t buy food, earn a living, feed their kids, hold down a job, sell their stuff—it’s too much for me. I’m like Mark. I’ll be happy to get out of here before it all hits. It’s just too depressing. Let’s change the subject.

THEY BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT Jennifer’s game the following Friday night. It was going to be a big one against Skyview High School. They talked about Mark’s baseball practice, which starts soon. It was too cold to practice outside, and snow was still on the ground; but they would begin conditioning, weight training, and workouts in the gym in two weeks.

Jonathan recognizes that as he is trying to wrap his mind around this thing; this issue is polarizing the family. They love each other too much and are too tight knit for him to allow this to divide them. As the spiritual leader of the home, he realizes he has to rethink this one. After a few days of quiet debate with himself, he quietly made the choice not to make it a major point of family discussion unless someone else brought up the subject, and then he will try to handle it more privately. It is not worth tearing his family apart until he learns more about the issue—and how to handle the issue with his family, particularly with Maria. She is a really good wife and mother, and he doesn’t want to make her life any more complicated than it already is.

02. THE TEACHER BECOMES A STUDENT

JONATHAN SAT AND silently thought about these things. If we are not in the time the Bible talked about as the end-times or the time immediately preceding the second coming of Christ, then his understanding of the scripture regarding the rapture of the church is merely academic—an exercise in learning that means positively nothing to him, his friends or to contemporary society. In that case, all he would be doing is battling wits with Reverend Biggs, Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, Hal Lindsey, and others who take the view that all Christians will be raptured out of the world near the end of the world, but before all the bad stuff of the great tribulation hits. If, on the other hand, we are living in the era of the end-times, as many seem to think we are, then the study of this issue is vital. It becomes critical, because if Christians are to go through the great tribulation and the things the Bible says the followers of Christ must suffer during that time because they are Christians, then those Christians who are expecting to be secretly raptured out of this world before the great tribulation will be thrown into total chaos. In addition to being totally unprepared spiritually, they will be unprepared mentally, emotionally, and physically—whatever that might include.

This may be the most trying to young families as parents will be tempted to surrender to the demands of the Antichrist forces so they can provide for their starving family. Additionally, societal pressure would be tremendous on parents at a moment like this, and they may possibly cave in to the demands of the Antichrist or face the prospects of seeing their children removed from their care for adherence to their antiquated ideas and/or failure to provide for their children. As he thinks about this issue, he remembers the children who were recently removed from the home of a family for their refusal to allow their children to receive blood transfusions. While he has no problem with blood transfusions himself and remembers when Jennifer had blood transfusions during a recent surgery, the precedent is set in the mind of society to allow governmental agencies to override matters of conscience for parents. At a time of strict governmental controls and bureaucracy under the Antichrist, he could imagine that happening regularly.

As he thinks about these things, he is beginning to believe those who see things as he is starting to see them can be somewhat prepared to help save themselves and their family from starvation. It may keep them from renouncing their faith in order to sustain their family or from other horrific consequences.

In a push-comes-to-shove scenario, this issue becomes absolutely important. He sees this study is not an exercise to determine who is right or wrong. It has much larger ramifications than that. This is to help people see the truth about the rapture and prepare for it, whatever it might be, Jonathan thought.

He pondered the events of the past few weeks. It is because that many in area churches were clamoring for a study on the end-times that this Bible study was arranged to begin with. Generally, people were seeing what many believed to be fulfillment of Bible prophecy about Christ’s second coming and were seeking answers. Could this many people be mistaken and the subject of some mass hysteria? Could this many people be duped to believe something that was totally erroneous? If so, who was duping them? How was this happening? Or was this sense of an imminent return of Christ the faithful work of God’s Holy Spirit who, Jesus said, will lead you into all truth? (Jn 14:26b, NASB)

Jonathan thought long and hard about it over the following days. The more he thought on it and prayed about it, the more convinced he became that all the interest in the community was God at work in the minds and hearts of many people. This depth of interest in the end-times was a growing focus in the church world, at least in the past few years. It has become almost an obsession he thought to himself.

He remembered that the subject of the apocalypse is a major subject, not only in the church world but also in science fiction. It has been written about by the likes of Steven King, Carl Sagan, and other well-known secular writers. Major Christian authors like C. S. Lewis, Hal Lindsey, Jerry Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, and a host of others have written about it to speak to the demands of the public at large.

He thought about the great interest throughout America on survival and prepping, much of which he would come to learn resulted from Christian beliefs regarding expected persecution during the time of the great tribulation. Jonathan mentally noted that a handful of survivalists carried it to extremes and were really off the wall. However, there were many more that foresaw great adversity ahead and were quietly trying to prepare for it. As James Coates said in his pejorative book, Armed and Dangerous, this latter group were survivalists with a small s, just trying to survive.

Jonathan noted that even FEMA and Red Cross currently have recently published detailed manuals to encourage and help prepare citizens for both natural and manmade disasters, and that FEMA is feverishly preparing Civilian Emergency Response Teams (CERT) all across America. FEMA, under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is spending multiplied millions of dollars in training and preparation for neighbors to help neighbors. Several studies and other research since Hurricane Katrina documented that the greatest source of help are neighbors, friends, and family. Studies determined that government is good but primarily for infrastructure matters—even the government is finally recognizing that. There seems to be some movement afoot by our federal government to encourage people to be prepared for some big, almost expected, tragedy, he noted mentally.

Hmmm, he mused, I wonder what that implies. Though he was sure it was not for the same reasons that Christians are preparing for the tribulation, it seemed as if there was some larger expectation of pending disaster—even at the highest levels of government.

He suddenly remembered the report that came across his desk at city hall about the city of Huntsville, Alabama, refurbishing their old civil defense shelters in preparation for an unknown disaster of major proportions, including preparations to survive nuclear threats. No, he decided, there is something the entire United States appears readied and poised for, and people everywhere are clamoring to know more about it.

And the reports about the government having underground bunkers built for top governmental and bureaucratic leaders. The contractors unable to build underground shelters fast enough for the private sector and unable to take on more private sector projects because of being overwhelmed by government contracts ought to tell us something, he reflected.

Suddenly, he laughed half aloud, "I forgot the explosive success of the Left Behind series." He recollected that it was such a successful series it even surprised writers LaHaye and Jenkins. Originally, it was going to be a trilogy. What is it now, a dozen or so books in the series? he mused. Popular enough that many of them have been made into movies, and a couple of those did okay. He decided this is an issue of VITAL importance; it is not just mental or theological gymnastics to see who is right regarding this thing about the rapture. No, it is far more substantive than that.

He would continue to pursue it, and pursue it passionately, though with tact. He was glad that was how he was made up. He never seemed to do things halfway.

Ha, whole hog or nothin’. He chuckled aloud.

Quite convinced he is rightly interpreting the Bible on this significant issue, he began his study with new vigor and determination. This is something he MUST know about for himself; besides, he had a meeting with Matt and Harvey Thursday. As his family relied on him for direction, he must be able to best provide for his family during the time when it became impossible for Christians to buy or sell. What would that mean for him, Maria, Jennifer, and Mark? He thought about that for a while. No wonder this would be called a time of great tribulation.

The thought hit him: If the rapture happens during or immediately after the great tribulation, then I need to know enough I can get information to Mom and Dad so they can get ready too, also Bob and Sandi Hanley, and sis Judy and Bill Drury, and their kids. How would he do that? The thought hit him, and he felt a real sense of urgency, yet amazingly he was not panicked. Strange, he thought.

He decided that he needed to be better prepared for his meeting with Harvey at the Gold Nugget if he were going to able to give an adequate representation of what he was coming to believe. Harvey may be just a commercial fisherman, but he was no dummy. A platter of platitudes served up to a man like Harvey would definitely not be enough.

He began studying some of the major scriptures in the NT that dealt with Christ’s second coming, including Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–2, 2:12; 2 Timothy 3:1–9; 2 Peter 1–16; and the entire book of Revelation—among others.

He was glad for the class he took at George Fox University in Inductive Bible Study (IBS). The IBS methodology was a relatively new idea at the time, but he had a professor who studied under Professor Robert Trana of Asbury Seminary who helped write the book on IBS. The students caught his love for the scriptures as well as his love for the Lord. Though Jonathan had to admit he seldom used what he learned since graduation, he sure was glad he knew how to study. He began to refresh himself in the methodology and applied himself earnestly to the task.

He read from a number of Web sites supporting a post-trib rapture of the church but found that many had strong biases. Some demonstrated a self-important pride, as if they had all the answers, or demonstrated arrogance against some enemy, imagined or real. Some were racially motivated, and he wanted nothing of that. There were a few he did find real helpful, however. They weren’t dogmatic about their assertions; they exhibited true Christian love and kindness and provided ideas and suggestions that were insightful and practical.

He also found a limited number of good books and resources on the subject of a post-trib rapture, which he ordered. Though he didn’t have time to read them right now, they would provide valuable information. Writers like George Ladd, Millard Ericson, Alexander Fraser, James Graham, Norman McPherson, Joe Ortiz, Jim McKeever, and others. Between the Bible, which was his primary resource, and a number of short writings by knowledgeable men who further enhanced his understanding of this issue, he spent most of his waking hours poring over the subject in readiness for his meeting with Matt and Harvey. Actually, the number of writers who supported a post-tribulation rapture surprised him, largely because they were often well known in major religious circles (theology, etc.), but their views were rarely referred to when it came to the discussion of end-time events.

Jonathan became increasingly convinced he was on target with his understanding of a mid- or post-trib rapture. He was leaning very heavily toward a post-trib rapture in which Christians are caught up in the air to meet Christ at his physical return—second coming. And he rapidly was coming to the conviction the rapture would occur at the end of the period of great tribulation—not before the tribulation. Though he was beginning to feel confident this was what the Bible taught, he did not like some of the implications he saw; that Christians would go through the period of great tribulation, with all that would mean, bothered him tremendously.

He found an old copy of Jim McKeever’s book in the Salvation Army’s used book section. Following Jennifer’s first round tournament game that evening and a victory pizza with the girls and some other parents, he poured through part 1, the portion that dealt with what the Bible says about the timing of the rapture. He decided he didn’t have time for the rest and would save parts 2–4 for study later. He found this book confirmed much of what he was finding in the scripture and helpful as he contemplated his meeting with Harvey. He stayed up late studying for