The Christian's Anchor in the Last Days

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." — Philippians 1:21

In the shadow of approaching tribulation, as the fourth seal matures and the pale horse completes its circuit, the Apostle Paul's triumphant declaration rings out across the centuries with renewed urgency. These are not merely words of comfort for a distant generation—they are the battle cry of the final generation of believers who will witness the culmination of all things.

The Present Hour: Understanding Our Position

We stand at a unique juncture in redemptive history. The seals of Revelation are no longer mysterious symbols but unfolding realities. The pale horse of death systems encompasses our world through pandemic, war, famine, and ecological disaster. Soon, the fifth seal will break, ushering in a period of unprecedented martyrdom and the great falling away. Then comes the sixth seal—cosmic disturbances and, for those who belong to Christ, the blessed hope of the rapture.

But what of those days between now and then? What of those who may endure the great apostasy? What of those who, should they be left behind, must navigate the horror of the tribulation with faith intact? For all of us, Paul's words become not merely theology but survival strategy: "To live is Christ."

To Live Is Christ: The Daily Reality

In Seal 4's Shadow

As death systems proliferate around us, "to live is Christ" means:

Christ as our peace when anxiety threatens to overwhelm. The news cycle brings fresh horrors daily—wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, economic collapse. Yet Christ remains our Prince of Peace. We do not merely endure these realities; we transcend them through union with Him who has overcome the world.

Christ as our provision when scarcity looms. As the black horse's economic devastation continues and the pale horse brings famine, we remember that our Lord is Jehovah Jireh—the God who provides. Whether we have abundance or want, Christ Himself is our portion.

Christ as our healer in the age of plague. While death systems ravage the earth, we serve the Great Physician. This does not guarantee immunity from physical suffering, but it assures us that whether we live or die, we are held in His hands.

Facing Seal 5's Test

The fifth seal brings the great apostasy—a falling away that will shock us with its scope. Friends, family members, even pastors and teachers we trusted will abandon the faith. In these days, "to live is Christ" takes on new dimensions:

Christ as our anchor when all around are shipwrecked. When those we loved and trusted deny the faith, we must cling ever more tightly to Him who cannot deny Himself. Our faith cannot rest on the faithfulness of others but on Christ alone.

Christ as our truth when deception abounds. The great apostasy will come with convincing arguments, emotional manipulation, and even signs and wonders. Only those who know Christ intimately—who have His word hidden in their hearts—will stand.

Christ as our family when earthly ties are severed. Jesus warned that family members would betray one another. When biological and spiritual families fracture, we find in Christ a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

To Die Is Gain: The Eternal Perspective

For Those Who Face Martyrdom

The fifth seal reveals "the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" (Revelation 6:9). For these precious saints, death becomes the ultimate gain:

Immediate presence with Christ. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). The martyr's death is but a doorway to glory.

The victor's crown. "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). What seems like defeat to the world is victory in heaven's economy.

Perfect vindication. The martyrs cry out, "How long, O Lord?" and receive white robes and the promise of justice. Their seeming loss becomes eternal gain.

For Those Who Are Raptured

When the sixth seal breaks and Christ calls His church home, "to die is gain" takes on its most glorious meaning. Though we may not experience physical death, we experience the ultimate transformation:

Changed in a moment. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Our corruptible bodies put on incorruption.

Caught up to meet Him. The reunion we have longed for becomes reality as we meet our Savior in the air, never to be separated again.

Delivered from the wrath to come. While the earth endures the trumpet and bowl judgments, we are safe in our Father's house.

Patient Endurance: The Call of the Hour

For the Present Tribulation

Jesus promised, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Patient endurance means:

Daily taking up our cross. Each day brings new opportunities to die to self and live for Christ. This is our training ground for whatever lies ahead.

Cultivating eternal perspective. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Strengthening our brothers and sisters. We do not endure alone but as members of one body, encouraging one another daily while it is called "Today."

For Those Who May Be Left Behind

If any find themselves on earth after the rapture, the call to patient endurance becomes even more critical:

Refuse the mark at all costs. Better to die physically than to lose one's soul eternally. "To die is gain" becomes the most practical truth imaginable.

Maintain testimony despite terror. The tribulation saints overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11).

Look for Christ's return. Even in earth's darkest hour, the promise remains: He is coming again, this time in power and great glory.

The Technology of Deception

As we witness the convergence of artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and global control systems, we see how the enemy will seek to corrupt what it means "to live." The promise of enhanced humanity, of merger with digital systems, of transcending our limitations—these are the serpent's ancient lies in modern dress.

But we declare: To live is Christ, not enhancement. To live is Christ, not augmentation. To live is Christ, not assimilation into a collective consciousness. We choose the weakness of the cross over the power of technology, knowing that God's strength is perfected in weakness.

Our Blessed Hope

Whether we face martyrdom or rapture, whether we endure the great apostasy or are spared from the hour of trial, our hope remains unchanged: Christ Himself. He who began a good work in us will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Let the world rage. Let the seals break. Let the apostasy come. Let the antichrist arise. We know in whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep what we have committed to Him until that day.

To live is Christ—whether in plenty or in want, in peace or in persecution, in health or in plague.

To die is gain—whether by martyrdom's crown or rapture's transformation, whether today or at the appointed hour.

This is our confession. This is our hope. This is our patient endurance.

A Final Word: Practical Preparation

As we await our Lord's return, let us:

1. Deepen our relationship with Christ through prayer and the Word. In the coming deception, only those who know His voice will follow Him.
2. Memorize Scripture. The day may come when Bibles are banned or digitally altered. Hide God's word in your heart now.
3. Build authentic community. We will need one another in the days ahead. Superficial relationships will not endure the coming pressure.
4. Practice costly obedience. Small acts of faithfulness prepare us for greater tests. If we cannot stand for Christ in minor matters, how will we stand when it costs everything?
5. Set our affections on things above. The more we love this world, the harder it will be to let it go. But if our treasure is in heaven, our hearts will be there also.

Beloved, the night is far spent, and the day is at hand. Whether we have days or years remaining, let us live them for Christ. And when our final hour comes—whether through natural death, martyrdom, or glorious rapture—may we meet it with Paul's triumphant cry:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!"

Even so, come Lord Jesus. And until You do, grant us grace for patient endurance, that we might finish our course with joy and hear those blessed words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Maranatha!

Post-Script: a wise man sees trouble and hides himself

"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." — Proverbs 22:3

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." — Proverbs 9:10

The Hour of Decision

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we stand at the threshold of prophetic fulfillment. The Kingdom Birth Model, with its extraordinary mathematical precision and converging lines of evidence, points to an imminent timeline that demands our urgent attention and wise action.

As the Fourth Seal continues its deadly march (2020-2026), we see the pale horse bringing death through multiple means—pandemic, famine, conflict, and ecological disasters. The prophetic warning is clear: one-fourth of the earth's population will perish during this period (Revelation 6:8). This is not speculation; it is the revealed Word of God now unfolding before our eyes.

The Call to Wisdom

Wisdom is not merely knowledge—it is acting upon what we know. Noah didn't just believe the flood was coming; he built the ark. Lot didn't just recognize Sodom's judgment; he fled to the mountains. Joseph didn't just interpret Pharaoh's dream; he prepared Egypt for seven years of famine.

Today, the Lord calls His people to similar wisdom and action.

Practical Steps for the Prudent

1. Leave the Cities

Urban centers will become death traps during the coming tribulations. The concentration of population, dependence on fragile supply chains, and potential for social chaos make cities the most dangerous places to be. If you can relocate to rural or remote areas, do so now—while there is still time and relative peace.

2. Gather Your Household

Like Noah, your first responsibility is to your family. Make preparations quietly but decisively. Stock essential supplies, develop sustainable food sources, secure clean water access, and establish defensible shelter in remote locations.

3. Form Communities of Faith

Isolated individuals will struggle to survive what's coming. Form or join communities of like-minded believers who understand the times and are preparing accordingly. Pool resources, share skills, and strengthen one another in faith and practical preparation.

4. Exercise Biblical Discretion

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." — Matthew 7:6

Share this understanding with fellow believers and those whose hearts are open, but exercise wisdom. Many will mock, as they mocked Noah. Don't waste precious time trying to convince those who refuse to see. Your energy is better spent on preparation and helping those who will listen.

The Wilderness Refuge

Throughout Scripture, God has used the wilderness as a place of protection and provision for His people:

• Israel was preserved in the wilderness for 40 years
• Elijah was fed by ravens in the wilderness
• David found refuge from Saul in the wilderness
• The woman in Revelation 12 flees to the wilderness for protection

Remote wilderness areas offer:

• Distance from population centers
• Natural resources (water, game, timber)
• Defensive advantages
• Community isolation from coming chaos
• Opportunity for self-sufficient living

An Invitation to Join Us

My friends, brethren, and I have been preparing a wilderness refuge for believers who understand the times. We are establishing a community built on:

• Faith in Jesus Christ as our foundation
• Biblical wisdom in our preparations
• Practical skills for self-sufficient living
• Mutual support in the body of Christ
• Strategic location in remote wilderness

If you are confused about how to proceed, lack the resources to prepare alone, or simply desire to join a community of prepared believers, we invite you to connect with us.

How to Connect

If the Lord is stirring your heart to take action, and you would like to learn more about joining our wilderness community, please comment below and we'll send you a secure way to communicate with us.

We will review all sincere inquiries and send detailed instructions on next steps to those we believe the Lord is calling to join us.

Time Is Short

The convergence of prophetic signs—from the Four Horsemen actively riding, to the approaching generational boundary (March 2027), to the celestial signs of August 2026—all point to the imminent fulfillment of Seal 6 and the Rapture.

We likely have less than 18 months to position ourselves wisely.

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into." — Matthew 24:42-43

Final Words

This is not about fear—it is about wisdom. This is not about doubt—it is about faith in action. This is not about abandoning our mission—it is about positioning ourselves to endure, help others, and glorify God through the coming storm.

The wise man sees trouble and hides himself. The time for hiding is now. The trouble is at the door.

May the Lord grant you wisdom, courage, and swift action in these final hours.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." — Proverbs 27:12

Come, Lord Jesus. Until that day, may we be found faithful, wise, and prepared.

If we should die--it is our gain; in the meantime, we can prepare for both eventualities. To remain alive waiting for our Lord's return, which is near--even at the door; or to die--which ever the case it is our gain.

To join our wilderness community or learn more about preparation, comment below. Time is of the essence.

In Christ's Service,
Your Brothers in Preparation