September is National Preparedness Month

Published 4:19 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2020

To the Editor:

September is National Preparedness Month and the 2020 theme is, “Disasters don’t wait. Make your plan today.” National Preparedness Month is used to encourage Americans to take steps to plan and prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, communities and schools.

According to www.ready.gov/september “National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved than this September.” Thank God, COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations nation-wide have been going down. However, greater disasters are coming. Experts say every family should keep a full tank of gas, have a preplanned meeting place, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, duct tape and plastic sheeting. Experts say have a month’s supply of water, canned or non-perishable food and non-electric can opener. Vitamin C and zinc is also great for cold and flu relief and helps your immune system.

Proverbs 30 praises ants as “extremely wise” for storing up many months of food. The book of Proverbs twice says, “A wise man forseeth evil and hides himself; but the simple pass on and are punished.” It would be wise to have a year’s supply of food!

In these end days the Bible teaches disaster will increase. The year 2020 has taught us things can change quickly and our government can’t protect us from everything and we should plan ahead and value preparedness. People need to prepare spiritually for death by trusting and having a saving relationship with Jesus. Call 1-888-need him. The most important preparedness or the ultimate preparedness is found only in Jesus. Disasters strike at anytime without notice. The Bible says in the future a disaster will happen when people are saying, “peace and safety.”

The United Nations (U.N.) established The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) and it’s observed around the world each year on September 21. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape.” Christians need to store up extra food to help others when disasters happen. The Bible says help first your families and churches. Most of all Christians need to share the gospel of how Jesus died for our sins was buried and rose and is coming again. Christians don’t agree on when the rapture is but all agree it’s close. Some Christians believe the rapture is possible on the Feast of Trumpets this month. Some like Pastor Steve Sewell believe the rapture is May 2021. David W. Lowe and www.skywatchtv.com believe the sixth seal the “great earthquake” of Revelation 6:13 will be the result of the resurrection of the dead in Jesus and rapture of the living as described in 1 Corinthians 15:12-55.

In the Bible earthquakes are connected to the act of resurrection. Examples in Matthew 27:52 and 28:2 and when the two witnesses are taken up to heaven in Revelation 11:13. There are 7000 killed by an earthquake when the two witnesses are resurrected.

The sixth seal will probably destroy all dams such as our dam in Carter County. So we really want to see revival in Carter County. If the sixth seal is the rapture most Christians could face starvation and persecution before the rapture. Sadly, 2 Peter 3 says, “that there shall come in the last day scoffers, walking after their own lust and saying where is the promise of his (Jesus) coming?” Are you ready and watching for Jesus return or are you a scoffer? Watchers get a crown and get a trip to heaven and scoffers get to try to survive the seven year tribulation. If Jesus comes this month it will be a September to remember! One thing’s for sure. “It won’t be as long as it has been.” Even so come Lord Jesus!

D.D. Nave

Elizabethton