Preparing for the End Times:

"So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."
--- 1 Peter 1:13 NLT

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
--- 1 Thessalonians 5:6

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
--- 1 Peter 4:7

Read, meditate, and memorize scripture daily to build your faith and discern the will of God. Make sure you have a physical Bible, as online Bibles will probably become corrupted or unavailable. Buy a pocket-sized Bible that you can easily carry with you. Begin accumulating physical Bibles for new converts, as they may become scarce in the end times.
Make a list of Bible verses to memorize. Memorizing Romans 12:12 is a good starting point.
--- Joshua 1:8, Psalms 19:14, Proverbs 7:2-3, Deuteronomy 11:18

Every day, Read:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-28
Psalm 37:1-40
1 Peter 4:1-19
Romans 12:1-21

These chapters explain the day of the Lord and detail what our conduct and attitudes should be during the end times.

Build your faith and strengthen your resolve by reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Their persecution and martyrdom are sobering, yet their testimony is encouraging, just like our testimony will be to those who witness our persecution. Foxe's book is available as an audiobook on YouTube. --Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4

Prepare your heart and mind for likely persecution and possible suffering or even death. --Matthew 5:10, Romans 14:8, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Romans 12:14, 1 John 3:13

Decide not to let your heart grow cold. --Matthew 24:12, John 15:12, Romans 13:10, Matthew 5:44, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 4:18

Become salt and light to the world around you. Do not hide the light of Christ.

Keep your "testimony" lit, making sure you have enough oil like the five wise virgins. (Matthew 25:1-4)

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
--- Matthew 5:13-16

--Colossians 4:6, Matthew 5:13-16

Purpose in your heart to "not be overcome by evil, but (to) overcome evil with good. --Romans 12:20-21, Psalm 37:27

Make a plan for worshiping in small groups. --Hebrews 10:25

Recognize that it is OK to flee or stay according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but speak truth in love to those around you, not hiding your testimony of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Going into hiding for the duration of the tribulation is NOT the solution. Flee persecution, yes. But not hide in a cave or mountains until the end. We have a testimony to give to overcome Satan. (Revelation 12:11)
We have to depend on the LORD for protection while understanding that, according to scripture, some will be taken captive and some will die.(Revelation 13:10)

The Bible says, "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." --- Matthew 10:23

--Ephesians 4:15, Matthew 10:28

Choose to be courageous each day; choose today whom you will serve. Remember, Jesus exhorts us not to be afraid or cowardly. Courage is a choice. Choose to live for the LORD with reckless abandon, completely surrendering to the will of God.
--- Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 27:14, Mark 5:36, Revelation 21:8, Psalms 56:11, Psalms 118:5-7, Isaiah 41:10

Find a witnessing buddy in Christ. --Ecclesiastes 4:9, Luke 10:1

Encourage others in Christ. --1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24-25

Conduct yourself with wisdom toward outsiders. Always looking for doors of opportunity to speak the truth of Christ and give your testimony of the LORD while understanding, many will be betrayed. Do not let the fear of betrayal affect your testimony.

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
--- Colossians 4:5-6 NASB

--Colossians 4:5-6, Matthew 7:12, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 2:3-4, Galatians 5:14, 1 Peter 3:8-9, Proverbs 25:21-22, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, James 2:8

Keep your testimony, no matter the cost. --2 Timothy 1:8, Revelation 12:11

Pray and Fast
Pray without ceasing. Pray for wisdom, discernment, strength, endurance, and to be an overcomer. --1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, Matthew 26:41

Fasting is important when seeking God's guidance or making important decisions. Fasting humbles us before God, acknowledging dependence while seeking divine directions.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps believers develop self-control and mastery over the desires of the flesh.

The desires of the flesh are temptations that Satan uses in the end times, just like he did in the Garden of Eden:
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The physical world around us is corrupt. Satan corrupted it. Anything that disconnects us from the physical world and connects us to God is good. When we meditate on God's word with our eyes closed and in a quiet place, seeking God's presence without distractions, it is good.
(Psalms 46:10, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 4:4, Ecclesiastes 3:7, Exodus 14:14, Proverbs 17:28, Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 13:3, 1 Chronicles 16:11)

When we fast, it is good.
(Matthew 6:16, Acts 13:3, Exodus 34:28, Esther 4:16, Nehemiah 1:4, Luke 2:37, Matthew 4:4, Joel 2:12, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 9:15)
These activities help us disconnect from the corrupt world and connect to a Holy, righteous God. Fasting and meditating on the word of God are important.

Fasting teaches discipline by denying our physical needs. It is important when interceding for others. Fasting strengthens us in our spiritual battles to overcome areas of temptation.
Fasting is very important for believers if they are to overcome the Antichrist.
-- Matthew 6:16-18, Ezra 8:21, Ezra 8:23, Acts 13:2, Acts 14:23, Acts 13:3, Luke 2:37, Matthew 4:4, Joel 2:12-13, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 17:21 NASB

Begin each day THANKING and PRAISING the LORD our God.
Something happens within us when we begin thanking and praising God; we enter into His presence. We leave the world behind and become God focused. --Psalm 146:1-2, Psalm 150:1,6, Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 34:1, Psalm 69:30, Daniel 2:23, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 92:1, Psalm 109:30, Psalm 100:4

Practice standing firm for Jesus. Yes! Practice. The day is likely coming when your faith in Jesus Christ will be challenged. Do not compromise with the world, but rather obey God rather than men. The Bible says, "do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths." --- Psalm 119:3, NLT

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." --- Philippians 1:27 NIV

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
--- 1 Corinthians 2:2

Practice acknowledging Jesus as LORD of your life.
Do not deny the Lord.
Be immovable!
This alone is a testimony.
Set your "face like flint." -- Isaiah 50:7

The Bible says that if you are challenged about your faith in Jesus Christ, do not worry about what to say. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
"And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." --- Mark 13:11

If pressured to take the mark of the beast, I have often thought an appropriate response would be to paraphrase the answer Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego gave King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:16-18 and say:

"I don't even need to give you an answer, for the LORD my God is able to deliver me. But even if He doesn't, I will not serve or worship your gods or the image you have set up."

-- 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 1:27, 1 Peter 5:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew 10:33, Matthew 16:24, 2 Timothy 2:12, Psalm 62:2, Revelation 2:10, Joshua 24:15

Let go of the world and the things in the world. Cling to Jesus not worldly things. Make your focus the LORD Jesus Christ. Be firm in the faith, steadfast, and immovable.

The things of the world, from our money to our entertainment, from our cars and houses, from comfort to our "need" for a cup of coffee, have more of a hold on us than most will admit. Possessions have become gods to many in the world today.

Those who cannot let go of the world and the things in the world will take the mark of the beast.
We need to embrace the reality of the end times and place our eternal lives in the hands of the LORD.

In the second seal of Revelation (the letter to Smyrna), Jesus talks about the poverty of the saints.
If you follow the Lord Jesus Christ, by the end of the second year of tribulation, you will be very poor.
Mystery Babylon will have taken all your "things." Begin to let go of them now and cling to Jesus.

--- 1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5, Romans 12:2, Deuteronomy 13:4 NASB

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. --- John 14:15, James 1:22, Luke 6:46, John 14:23, Matthew 7:21,

Decide to be anxious for nothing! --- Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:25, 1 Peter 5:7
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Purpose in your heart not to defile yourself. Be a Daniel!
Do NOT eat food sacrificed to idols or take the mark of the beast.

Jesus chastised the fourth-year tribulation church for eating "food sacrificed to idols" (Revelation 2:20 NASB). I believe this is food obtained from taking the mark of the beast.

--- Daniel 1:8-12, Revelation 14:9-10, Revelation 2:20, Ezekiel 5:11

Stockpile some food and supplies for family and others. Not as a hide-in-a-cave-prepper, looking out only for oneself, but as outreach to those in need during the famines that Jesus foretold in Matthew 24. Food and supplies will also be needed when the mark of the beast (an unforgivable sin) is introduced.
--- Proverbs 21:20 NIV, Revelation 13:17, Revelation 14:9-10

Become a type of Joseph, as Jesus alluded to in the Olivet Discourse when He was explaining the last days:

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?"
--- Matthew 24:45

It is noteworthy that this riddle is part of Jesus explanation of the end times.

But also remember that in the last days, the LORD promises to give "hidden manna" to "him who overcomes." (Revelation 2:17)

Be an OVERCOMER in the last days.
---1 John 5:4-5, Romans 12:21, Revelation 2:7 NASB, Revelation 2:11 NASB

To learn more about the importance of becoming an OVERCOMER in the end times, Click here

Believe God! The word of God is perfectly fitted together and perfectly true! --- Isaiah 40:8, Proverbs 30:5, John 14:6, Isaiah 55:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 16:13, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 119:130, Psalm 33:4, John 17:17, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4, Psalm 119:105, John 1:14, Matthew 24:35,

Psalm 119:160

And like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, the day may come where we will have to stand firm and say,
"...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.... and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)