Wow, what an unbelievable week, eh? The stock market has plummeted severely, and people are panicking. Some might be completely obsessed with it, and others are relatively oblivious to it. But for the most part, everyone has questions. In lieu of the events of the past several days, what are we to do? What do we do with our money? What does it mean when the Dow is down so many points? What's going to happen to the global economy? How will we survive this crisis?

I received an email not too long ago from a new blog reader. She writes:

"How much of this economic collapse do you think we as Christians, will be around for? I know I should keep my faith in these times, but I just worry about my children. I guess I am wondering if it gets so bad and we lose our homes and jobs, what will we do? In what way will the Lord work to supply our needs? Will we have to live like homeless people? I guess I want to be Raptured before our economy gets to that point. What is your opinion on this?"

Before I answer that, allow me to direct your attention to the photo above. This is an actual 7,000 pound statue made of bronze that sits in Bowling Green Park near Wall Street. It's Wall Street's icon. What does it represent to those who work on Wall Street (and to the rest of America)? This sculpture of a bull is the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity. This statue leans back on its haunches and with its head lowered as if ready to charge. It's the strength and power of the American people.

Do you know what else it is? It's the golden calf from the time of Moses all grown up into a bull. You remember that story from the Bible, right? The golden calf was an idol made by Aaron while Moses was absent (when Moses went up to Mount Sinai). The people were desperate for something to worship other than God, so Aaron created this to appease them. And if you know your Bible, you know that this greatly angered God. His people, after receiving His word and promising to follow Moses and worship no one but the LORD, disobeyed and demanded a "new" God to worship.

Yes, God is loving and forgiving to those who worship Him, trust in Him, believe in Him and stand by Him. But He is a just God as well. And He is an angry God to those that ignore Him, belittle Him, defy Him and deny Him. Let's read what happens when the Israelites worship the statue of the golden calf:

So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes.

Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and so provoking him to anger. I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me. And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too. Also I took that sinful thing of yours, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust and threw the dust into a stream that flowed down the mountain.

You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Massah and at Kibroth Hattaavah.

And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him. You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you.

I lay prostrate before the LORD those forty days and forty nights because the LORD had said he would destroy you. I prayed to the LORD and said, "O Sovereign LORD, do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Overlook the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness and their sin. Otherwise, the country from which you brought us will say, 'Because the LORD was not able to take them into the land he had promised them, and because he hated them, he brought them out to put them to death in the desert.' But they are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm."

Here it is the year 2008. Yes, there are many Christians around the world who love and worship God. But there are millions more who love and worship another God: money. That golden calf has grown up into a golden bull -- one that represents wealth and prosperity. And the LORD had distinctly told us that we absolutely cannot worship and love both:

Both Matthew and Luke state the same message from Jesus: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)

So what's going on with the economy, you ask? Besides the fact that all of the events of the current day are positioning themselves to fulfill Biblical prophecy and result in a One World Currency (with a One World Government arising from that) -- God is also mad. He's angry. People of this world have gone crazy materialistic. It's about the big house, the fancy cars, the boats, the designer clothes, the investment portfolio, the cruise trips around the world. People talk about money. They think about money. They love money, they want money, they live for money. Think for a second how many times a day you hear, read or talk about money versus how many times a day you hear, read or talk about God. It's over, my friends. I guarantee you that the economy will not go back to what it once was. There never again will be prosperity and wealth in the way that it was from 1988 to 2008. Those golden "Bull" days are over.

What does that mean for everyone? Well, for one thing, it does not mean that everyone will suffer. Who will suffer the most? Well, for sure the ones who had the most money to begin with, and who are losing much of it in the stock market crash. The same ones who are used to jet-setting all over the country, eating $300 meals in ritzy Manhattan restaurants and taking "spa" weeks in Colorado.

Now granted, there are some simple, middle-class people who are suffering as well. Many have lost their jobs. Some are facing higher mortgage rates. We're all dealing with higher food prices and panicked banks.

But there is one thing that some of us have as a shield in our pocket that will protect us when chaos unleashes its ugly reign on our world:

God.

Those of us who have a relationship with Christ can take comfort and peace in our place with him. We know that we've stored up our riches in Heaven, and we have a home there with love, grace and righteousness. We seek solace in His word, which immediately reminds me of the most famous Psalm:


The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.


So with regard to that reader's question, I give this for an answer: Yes, I do absolutely believe that we'll be Raptured before the judgments begin -- meaning those things which are talked about in the Book of Revelation (the beginning of the Tribulation). The first four of the seven seals (judgments) are known as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first seal introduces the Antichrist (Revelation 6:1-2). The second seal causes great warfare (Revelation 6:3-4). The third of the seven seals causes famine (Revelation 6:5-6). The fourth seal brings about plague, further famine, and further warfare (Revelation 6:7-8). I do believe without a shadow of a doubt that we Christians will be gone before the first judgment reveals the Anti-Christ.

BUT...

We don't know exactly what all will happen up until that first judgment. We're getting close. The Bible suggests that the Anti-Christ will be one who steps up in a time of turmoil to help calm things down. Yes, the biggest part of that turmoil will be the Rapture. But also this person will be refining a One-World government and banking system as well as enforcing peace treaties. Why would the Anti-Christ be able to do that (and do it successfully) if there weren't problems in the prominent world economies? In fact, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been talking about a "New World" regulation for the past couple of weeks. (I'm not saying he's the Anti-Christ -- I'm just saying that there is more real talk now about a One World Order than ever before.) It's imminent. Please know, though, that the Bible doesn't tell us that we Christians will never have to face hardship. In fact, it says the opposite. It tells us that we will be rewarded for our faith during trials and tribulations. There were a lot of Christians who fell hard in the Great Depression. There were a lot of Christians in the heartland of America who ate dirt during the Dustbowl. My friends... it's without a doubt that our country will fall on extremely tumultuous times -- perhaps the worst ever -- as God's timeline leads up to the Tribulation. In a nutshell, I would venture to say that we will have to face some tough times a head of us. But I honestly believe that if we have faith in the LORD, He will protect us. He will be with us. We can never falter or fall with Jesus by our side. And that is the honest truth.

Very simply, my advice to you and your families is this: Be prepared both physically and mentally. If you can, take enough cash out of the bank to last a month or so. Also stock up on groceries, toiletries, etc. Spend an extra couple hundred bucks to buy canned/boxed food. Whether we're close to the Rapture or not... whether there's a banking collapse in our future or not... keeping a month's worth of emergency supplies is just a really good idea. Leave the rest up to God.

Also, I encourage you to read these two posts: In These Times, We Must Prepare (Part 1) and In These Times, We Must Prepare (Part 2). I see WAY more signs to the End Times now than I did then, but the advice is still extremely sound.

What do I mean when I say "it's over" and "it will never be the same?" Well, what I mean is that this economic crisis will force Americans -- and others around the world -- to analyze what is important in life. It will force us to look around and recognize the blessings we do have. It will force us to live simpler, enjoy the little things, and not to depend on money for fulfillment. Those who can't do this will fail and be miserable. The ones that trust God and immerse ourselves in our walk with Jesus will find life.

And remember, one of my favorite verses in the Bible is: "And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" (Matthew 6:30)

God bless! And thanks again for reading...