Are You Ready (Part 5)?: The Storm
Practical preparations required for the days of testing predicted by Scripture
In February 2005 I went to Lundy Island, a remote largely treeless rock in the middle of the Bristol Channel, on retreat. On the first afternoon as I was walking the cliff path near the old lighthouse, the Lord suddenly placed in my spirit a sense that a great storm was coming on the whole world – not just the British Isles – and that there were significant preparations that the people of God needed to set in place beforehand.
This was not only a spiritual storm or a single tempest, but a whole series of catastrophic seemingly natural and political events and outcomes that would increase in intensity and frequency over a period of years, until every aspect of modern society had been severely shaken. The result would be the gradual but systematic removal of the many and various ‘pillars’ or ‘props’ society has relied on rather than on God for a number of generations.
I am convinced the ‘wind’ began to change with the events of 9/11, then the first signs of the ‘storm’s’ approach to land were felt from the financial collapse of September 2008; it has been strengthening and increasing gradually ever since.
Being prepared
How do you react when you hear the prediction of a great storm? What we do will differ depending on who we are, what kind of personality we have, where we live, and our personal circumstances. We might batten down the hatches, lock ourselves inside and sit it out. We might take ourselves away on holiday and leave our property to the mercy of the elements; or we might make some practical preparations, such as putting sandbags out if we live close to the sea or a river that has recently flooded, or rushing to the shops to get enough milk and bread that will hopefully see us through.
The result would be the gradual but systematic removal of the many and various ‘pillars’ or ‘props’ society has relied on rather than on God for a number of generations.
In the past these responses and last-minute preparations have been adequate, but the type of figurative ‘storm’ that our nation and the world has moved into is of an entirely different magnitude and requires a more considered, mature response that must involve listening to God and putting into practice what He says. The vast majority of those around us are not listening to Him – including even some within the Church - and are therefore unable to discern what is really happening or where events are leading.
How can we prepare for something we cannot perceive? Paul writes to the Corinthians: ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Therefore, it behoves those of us who are watchmen and have a measure of discernment and understanding to take the warning seriously and to prepare a spiritual ‘lifeboat’ whilst there is still time and opportunity. Be certain everything we hold dear – our homes, families, churches, finances, pension funds, health care, education, police and justice systems - everything that comprises our society as we know it, will be shaken by this ‘storm’ – and it is already beginning to happen.
The storm in Scripture
There are a great many references in the Old Testament prophets to something referred to as the ‘great and dreadful Day of the Lord’. Isaiah 13 summarizes the magnitude and severity of a time when God Himself will act sovereignly to judge the sins of nations who have not honoured or served Him and who have repeatedly flouted His laws and mistreated His people.
Jesus outlined a most turbulent time - a tribulation (ordeal, distress, suffering) - that would come over the whole world in the years immediately preceding His return.
In His end-time discourse in Matthew 24, Jesus outlined a most turbulent time - a tribulation (ordeal, distress, suffering) - that would come over the whole world in the years immediately preceding His return.
Please read the whole of Matthew 24.
Jesus outlines the following:
False Messiahs (verses 4-5); |
Wars and rumours of wars (verse 6); |
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Nations and kingdoms vying for power and domination (verse 7); |
Famines and earthquakes (verse 7);
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Persecution and death for Jews and Christians; real hatred because of the gospel (verse 9); |
Mass rejection and turning away from the faith (verse 10);
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Betrayal of the true believers by false or fearful brethren (verse 10); |
False prophets/teachings (verse 11);
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Increase of wickedness i.e. what the majority consider is acceptable behaviour (verse 12); |
The love of MOST will grow cold (verse 12);
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The one who stands firm will be saved (verse 13); |
The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world (verse 15); |
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The Temple will be rebuilt (verse 15); |
The abomination that causes desolation will be set up there (verse 15); |
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A mass flight of Jews and Christians to places of refuge (verse 16); |
Great distress throughout the whole world (verses 21-22); |
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False signs and wonders (verse 25); |
Supernatural darkness and activity (darkness means no growth for food commodities = famine and death) (verse 29); |
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All nations will mourn; unprecedented levels of death (verse 30); |
THEN Jesus will return for His people (verses 30-31).
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Why?
What Jesus outlined is dreadful; a relatively short but fiercely intense time of testing and sifting in the nations. It is reasonable to ask; ‘Why would a loving heavenly Father allow such a severe judgement and time of testing on the world and especially for those believers who comprise His bride?’
The Bible is full of illustrations showing how it is necessary for a turning back to God to always be preceded by a humbling.
The answer is simple: in order to turn the hearts of a rebellious and disobedient people back to Him. The Bible is full of illustrations showing how it is necessary for a turning back to God to always be preceded by a humbling. Invariably, this comes through difficult and challenging events. What is different now is the context; this has never before happened on the world-wide scale that is ahead. Yet it is prophesied in scripture:
“At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken - that is, created things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:26-29)
It is sobering to consider that our loving Father God is also a destructive, all-consuming fire whose holiness, righteousness and justice are not to be taken lightly or whose word is not to be messed with or disregarded. In the light of this it is reassuring to read: “Mercy [always] triumphs over judgment”! (James 2:13)
God’s mercy
God’s nature is always to love first, which means that although He will definitely allow the storm to increase in severity until it has accomplished all that it must, His mercy is already at work in preparing His rescue plan. He does this ahead of time, releasing it to those who have ears to hear, hearts to discern, as well as eyes to read and understand the signs, times, and seasons. In Matthew 24: 37-39 Jesus said:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
The change that is needed is more than just spiritual; it is extremely practical as well.
Whilst a change in mind-set certainly needs to happen concerning the nature and ministry of the end-time Body of Christ, the change that is needed is more than just spiritual; it is extremely practical as well.
Noah
Please read the story of Noah in Genesis chapters 6-8.
Noah was alert when God warned Him of the coming storm. In view of the mocking and indignity he must have faced, it would surely have been far easier for him to simply ignore the warning or try to place it to the back of his mind as he got on with normal life.
Noah did not do that. The Bible says Noah did everything just as God commanded him and his obedience appears to have been unquestioning. His preparation was not a last-minute thing; rather, it was carefully considered and thought through, and God’s instructions were followed to the letter. Noah fulfilled the very detailed and costly practical preparations needed to save his family, those who became the foundation for a whole new society at the time.
(Image by Greg Bierer from Pixabay)
Sarah Winbow, 29/01/2026