Preparedness

Prep for Crisis

How Can We Prepare for the Big Test?

Is there anything we can do to get ready for the coming exam during the final crisis? Are you willing to stand up and be different? What if your parents or sister or brother makes fun of you? What if all your friends turn against you? This is not a test that takes only a little preparation like a one hour exam. This a test that could last almost 4 years. Are you ready? Does God tell us what to do when Sunday laws are being put into effect? Yes, God has written much on this. There are a few quotations at the end of this section. It has been available for over a hundred years to make sure all get a chance to study. The inspired writings of Ellen White have been in print for nearly a hundred years. The Bible has a wealth of information and it has been made available in most all languages of the world. Study now and God will bring to your remembrance what you need in every emergency.

Like Daniel, depend daily on God for help. This is the secret of passing the test. God has given information. We must study it. It was put there for us at the end of time. It is our study guide and prep coarse for the big test. Then if you are in danger of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing, God will help you.

"When you rise in the morning, do you feel your helplessness, and your need of strength from God? and do you humbly, heartily make known your wants to your heavenly Father? If so, angels mark your prayers, and if these prayers have not gone forth out of feigned lips, when you are in danger of unconsciously doing wrong, and exerting an influence which will lead others to do wrong, your guardian angel will be by your side, prompting you to a better course, choosing your words for you, and influencing your actions. {MYP 90.1} Messages to Young People by E White
If you feel in no danger, and if you offer no prayer for help and strength to resist temptations, you will be sure to go astray; your neglect of duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven, and you will be found wanting in the trying day.--"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 3, pp. 363, 364. {MYP 90.2}

When a student prepares for an exam that will be so long that it takes 2-3 days, they review all the important points that they have learned over their years of study. In medical school when I prepared for my boards, I began by reviewing a year in advance. My life was full of things to do with little toddlers to care for. I also had patients to care for and chiefs on each rotation who assigned areas to study.

I wanted to make sure, I remembered all I had studied for the days sitting to take the national boards. I made flash cards and studied when my car would come to a stop sign or when waiting for someone. Every minute was used for this purpose. I did the same thing while preparing for National Certification Boards in Family Practice. I was thankful that I had done all.

Besides reviewing the materials learned, I followed every health principle which I knew to improve memory. I tried to have regular hours for sleep and eating. I made sure I had a mile of walking, running or swimming daily. The diet that I chose was a completely vegetarian with no animal products to cut risks of infection. Fresh apples, oranges and other fruits were eaten freely as I knew these kept my mind clear. I never drank any alcohol.

I tell you this because we have a bigger exam ahead of us that will take all the strength and health we have. Jesus promises to make up for what we are lacking but that depends on our obeying the information He gave to make us strong.

People will make fun of God's diet but we must be strong like Daniel. He ate what was right no matter even if he risked the king's anger and a potential loss of his life.

This exam will take a different kind of preparation. It does need a good healthy life style but the most important thing is to give your heart to God every day. When you first wake up, thank God and ask Him to help you honor and obey Him. Read your Bible and memorize it. This is what will make your faith strong. Spread the Bible truth to others so they can find joy in knowing Jesus too while there is still time.

Daniel's example is that of praying three times a day on a routine basis. When he needed extra help, he prayed all day. This is what God's people can do during the final events of this earth's history. God will never leave or forsake us. We must follow all His counsel.

Does God Say what to do when the final act in the drama of this world begins? What does He say to do when the Sunday law issues are on us?

What should we do when Sunday laws are enforced? Here is a list of what I have found. It is the FAST VIEW. In the information after the list, are the references for this.

1. Avoid oppression if possible, pay fines to keep from being hurt.

2. Always be truthful.

3. Pray more fervently for God to hold it back and give us more time to share Bible truths.

4. Try to state the truth in a favorable light to the public.

5. Devote Sunday to doing missionary work. Visit people in homes give Bible studies, hold open air meetings on Sunday and write and publish Bible articles. Sing and hold temperance meetings. (9T 233)

6. It is not honorable in God's eyes to bring yourself into dishonor by showing the world you do not believe in Sunday. Follow God's advice, and you can do more for Jesus. Believe what God says. Don't bring trouble on yourself.

God says that the best diet at the end of time is fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. Disease will fill the milk, eggs and meat of the world. It will increase in proportion to the increase of crime. No one argues that there is much crime and scientists are documenting the disease. We must do without these things.

Let us be careful to follow all the suggestions so we can pass the big test.

Ask God to help you begin today for the time is here. Sunday legislation has started and will only continue. Let us pray for more time to share the truth.

1. Name 7 things God has asked us to do when Sunday laws are passed.

2. How do we get ready right now to pass the big test?

3. Is it ever God's plan for us not to be honest? What if we are in danger of death, can we tell a lie like David did?

4. If a fine is demanded for breaking Sunday, should we pay?

5. Are we supposed to stay and take it and try to make peace when persecution starts in one city?

6. If parents or children are against the Seventh Day Sabbath, does God expect us to make trouble in our families by keeping the Sabbath holy?

7. Should we mow the lawn or hand the wash out on the line on Sunday to prove we keep a different day holy?

8. How easy is it to get justice when placed in prison for breaking Sunday laws?

9. Does God want us to suffer all we can even if we are willing?

10. Why should we study now ?

I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

11. Why will God have us testify for our faith anyway, who cares? Will it change anyone else's minds?

12. Can diet have anything to do with passing the test over the Sunday law?

13. Will eggs and milk and meat be safe to eat at the end of time? Why?

14. Do we need to worry about what we will say before kings and judges?

Mathew 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against [their] parents, and cause them to be put to death.
10:22 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:

More Information

Pay fines, flee from oppression.

But let all consider the words of Christ, "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another" (Matt. 10:23). If it can be avoided, do not put yourselves into the power of men who are worked by the spirit of Antichrist. If the payment of a fine will deliver our brethren from the hands of these oppressors, let it be paid, rather than to be pressed and made to work on the Sabbath. Everything that we can do should be done that those who are willing to suffer for the truth's sake may be saved from oppression and cruelty. . . . {3SM 400.2}

If one chooses wife or children, father or mother, before Christ, that choice will stand through eternal ages, with all its weight of responsibility. . . . {3SM 401.3}

Be TRUTHFUL

David knew not where to fly for refuge, except to the servant of God. The high priest looked upon him with astonishment, as he came unattended, with a countenance marked by anxiety, care, and sorrow. He inquired what had brought him to the place without an attendant. The young man was in constant fear of discovery, and was perplexed as to how he should reply. In his extremity he resorted to deception. Here David manifested a want of faith in God, and his sin resulted in causing the high priest to be put to death. Had the facts been plainly stated, Ahimelech would have known what course to pursue to preserve his life. God requires that truthfulness shall mark his people, even in times of peril. {ST, August 31, 1888 par. 5} Signs of the Times by Ellen White

The substitution of the laws of men for the law of God, the exaltation, by merely human authority, of Sunday in place of the Bible Sabbath, is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. He will arise in His majesty to shake terribly the earth. He will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.--Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 141.

By the decree of enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp
hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 451. {ChS 160.4}

Pray fervently for God to hold back the Sunday laws

Try to put the truth out favorably before the people.

Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be more earnest prayer; and then let us work in harmony with our prayers.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 713, 714. {ChS 162.1}
It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience.--Testimonies, vol. 5 p. 452. {ChS 162.2}

Write Articles on Sunday, visit and give Bible Studies, hold Sunday meetings, do not do unnecessary work. Sing, hold temperance meetings.

One does not receive the mark of the beast because he shows that he realizes the wisdom of keeping the peace by refraining from work that gives offense, doing at the same time a work of the highest importance.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 232. {ChS 163.4}
When we devote Sunday to missionary work, the whip will be taken out of the hands of the arbitrary zealots who would be well pleased to humiliate Seventh-day Adventists. When they see that we employ ourselves on Sunday in visiting the people and opening the Scriptures to them, they will know that is useless for them to try to hinder our work by making Sunday laws.--Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 232,233. {ChS 164.1}
Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this day open-air meetings and cottage meetings can be held. House-to-house work can be done. Those who write can devote this day to writing their articles. Whenever it is possible, let religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings intensely interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and speak with power and assurance of the Saviour's love. Speak on temperance and on true religious experience. --Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 233. {ChS 164.2}
Let the teachers in our schools devote Sunday to missionary effort. I was instructed that they would thus be able to defeat the purposes of the enemy. Let the teachers take the students with them to hold meetings for those who know not the truth. Thus they will accomplish much more that they could in any other way.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 233. {ChS 164.3}

It is not honorable in God's eyes to bring yourself into dishonor by showing the world you do not believe in Sunday. Follow God's advice, and you can do more for Jesus. Believe what God says. Don't bring trouble on yourself.

When a man, white or black, is arrested for Sunday breaking, he is placed at a great disadvantage. He is humiliated. And it is well-nigh hopeless for him to obtain a fair trial. Often when Sabbath-keepers in the Southern states are arrested for working on Sunday, they are sent to the chain-gang, where they are forced to work on the Sabbath. The Lord does not command them to place themselves where they are obliged to dishonor his holy rest-day. {RP, December 3, 1907 par. 6}. Reporting Progress by Ellen White

Health is a precious treasure

If the diet of students and teachers is composed largely of meat, their health will suffer in a disastrous way. A gross diet will dull the comprehension and set the animal passions into activity. The animal nature will struggle for victory over the moral and spiritual nature. {16MR 65.2}
Professional men cannot afford to disregard the laws of their own being, for it will not only injure themselves but do injustice to those who are placed in their care. Physicians are guardians of the sick, pledged before God to make the most of their God-given ability to meet the responsibility placed upon them. Every talent entrusted should be guarded as a precious treasure.

Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to heaven. The less feverish the diet, the more easily can the passions be controlled. Gratification of taste should not be consulted irrespective of physical, intellectual, or moral health. {CD 63.3}
Indulgence of the baser passions will lead very many to shut their eyes to the light; for they fear that they will see sins which they are unwilling to forsake. All may see if they will. If they choose darkness rather than light, their criminality will be none the less. Why do not men and women read, and become intelligent upon these things, which so decidedly affect their physical, intellectual, and moral strength? God has given you a habitation to care for, and preserve in the best condition for His service and glory. {CD 64.1} Counsels on Diet and Foods by Ellen White

Let the people be taught how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth. {CD 349.1}
God will give His people ability and tact to prepare wholesome food without these things. Let our people discard all unwholesome recipes. Counsels on Diet and Foods by Ellen White p. 349