If Jesus said dont be alarmed, I wont be. I have suffered quite a bit physically and mentally, as I think most of us have at one time or another.
This life was meant to end one way or another sooner or later, so whether it be on a peaceful death bed or from an all out war, it WILL come.
THAT’S the thing to be prepared for. So God at least gives me a shot at entering the Kingdom.
While that may be true, dying from a nuclear attack is NOT the way I want to go. Yes, I am a Christian, and we're supposedly not to be afraid of death...but trust me, I am. Well, not so much 'death', but the process.
I live about a mile from the edge a Joint Base. I work on said Joint Base. I went to a little page called NUKEMAP where you can enter targeting data and yield for a nuclear detonation. If even ONE of the sections of the base was targeted with even a 'small' 150 kt weapon, whether I was at work or at home, I am a crispy critter.
The idea of spending the last 15 to 20 minutes of your life in utter terror, KNOWING there was a nuke inbound (through EAS messages that'd be all over the media) and KNOWING there wasn't a thing you could do except wait for the bright flash...let's just say I don't dwell on that scenario.
Yes...I know the war of Gog and Magog IS going to happen, as well as the Ezekiel 38-39 war, AND the return of the King of Kings. It's just that sometimes it's hard to remember what He said..."Don't be afraid."
God is there for our comfort. We must place our assurance in Him.
Bad things happen to all of us. I know of women who have been raped. I know of parents who have lost children in horrible circumstances.
My own life has had its share of pain and sorrow.
I have been reflecting on 2 Timothy chapter 2.
Paul was no stranger to suffering. He wrote 2 Timothy while in a Roman dungeon. He was most likely tortured before he was executed by Nero, who was known to be most cruel to his victims, especially Christians. Paul was well known the leader of early Christian church.
3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2: 3-13
But also remember: Christ told us to watch and be ready.
Did He not chastise the teachers of the law for not observing the signs of the times? Did He not give the parable of the wise vs. foolish virgins? Did He not say to be ready when the Master returns, and to be about our Father's business?
The Bible is clear: we are to be watchman on the wall, and we are to be ready for His coming.