Practical Preparation for the Small Time of Trouble

The Bible warns of a coming time when God’s faithful people will face severe economic restrictions for refusing the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16–17). This will unfold in two phases.

First comes the small time of trouble, when buying and selling becomes increasingly difficult under universal legal pressure, yet some personal trade, barter, and local transactions will still be possible. This is the stage for practical, physical preparation—arrangements made in advance so that daily needs can be met without depending on Babylon’s centralised systems.

Later will come the great time of trouble, marked by the death decree and direct persecution. At that stage, God’s people will no longer rely on stored goods or physical preparations, but entirely on His miraculous provision and protection. This is when they will flee to the mountains and wilderness, just as prophecy and the example of God’s people in past crises reveal.

Preparing for the Small Time of Trouble
In the earlier phase, physical preparation is both wise and biblically consistent. Just as Joseph stored grain in Egypt ahead of the famine, God’s people today can use this time to establish independence from systems soon to be closed to them. Key areas of preparation include:

- Food security – Establish vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and store durable food grains with oxygen absorbers for long-term use.
- Energy independence – Install solar panels, batteries, and backup generators to reduce reliance on public utilities.
- Heating and cooking – Stockpile firewood, gas bottles, and other fuel sources.
- Water – Secure a clean water source and consider rainwater storage systems.
- Transportation – Electric vehicles charged by home solar systems can provide mobility even if fuel access is restricted.
- Trade and barter tools – While barter of goods and services will be essential, decentralised currency such as cryptocurrency can be a useful temporary tool for transactions when traditional banking systems close their doors to God’s people. As long as it remains legal and operational, it can serve as part of a broader strategy—never the only plan.

The Shift in the Great Time of Trouble
When the final crisis escalates into the great time of trouble, prophecy makes clear that physical resources will no longer be our safeguard. God’s people will be hunted, not merely restricted, and at that time reliance on God alone will be the only security. Just as He fed Elijah in the wilderness by ravens, sent manna to Israel in the desert, and preserved His faithful in times of peril, He will sustain His children entirely by His miraculous hand.

Balancing Preparation and Faith
Physical preparation is not a lack of faith—it is part of the wisdom God calls His people to exercise before the crisis is complete. However, these measures are temporary and transitional. The ultimate preparation is a surrendered heart, deep faith, and an unshakable trust in God’s promises.

The small time of trouble is our training ground: a time to break free from Babylon’s grip, build self-reliance, and strengthen spiritual endurance. The great time of trouble will be the proving ground—where every dependency except Christ is stripped away, and His power alone keeps His people.