PREPARATINS TO FACE THE GREAT SHAKING

A. Preparations to face the Great Shaking

God has declared that in the last days, He will shake the heavens and the earth, the land and the sea (Haggai 2:6-9; Hebrews 12:26-29). And as God has foretold about this, so it will surely and most relentlessly come to pass, no natter what man may to do avoid it.

This is what the LORD Almighty says: In a little while I will once more shake the HEVENS and the EARTH, the SEA and the DRY LAND. I will shake ALL NATIONS, and the desire [wealth, treasures] of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory," says the LORD Almighty. "The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty. "The glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the LORD Almighty. "And in this place I will grant peace," declares the LORD Almighty.
(Haggai 2:6-9)

It is therefore imperative that all believers heed this prophecy of the Lord and prepare themselves to face this Great Shaking.
It will be a time of immense turmoil all over the world, with the collapse of all forms of governments, religious systems and commercial systems. It will also be a time of unprecedented openness to the Good News, with the mightiest harvest of souls ever into the kingdom of God.

For believers who are unprepared to face the hardships and dangers, they will be swept away together with unbelievers.
For believer who are unprepared to seize the opportunity to gather in the spiritual harvest, God's discipline will be severe upon them. Therefore, every believer must prepare himself for the dangers of the Great Shaking and for the opportunities as well.

The Great Shaking will be the most gloriest hour for the Church in the world today, before the coming of the Lord.
God will fill His Church with the greatest glory ever manifested on this earth at the time of shaking. He will bring into the Church the wealth of the nations in order that the Church may fulfill the Great Commissiion (Haggai 2:7). Kings and nations will turn to Lord for salvation at this time (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Therefore, it is not a time to fear, but a time of great joy, wonder and celebration in God's Church.
God will move in extraordinary power and miracles in the Church at that time. However, this is only true for churches which have prepared themselves for this tumultous upheaval of the world's systems.

B. The spiritual, financial and physical preparations needed to face the Great Shaking.
The world's systems that will copplase include its unrighteous political systems, unrighteous commercial systems and idolatous religious systems.

They will collapse because of:
false messiahs and prophets (leading many astray and destroying many).
wars and rumours of wars (physical wars, currency wars, currency manipulation, currency devaluation, etc.).
famine (caused by wars, drought, flood, heart, etc.).
death (Y2K computer death, deaths from diseases, wars, famine, earthquakes, etc.).

To prepare ourselves for the Great Shaking that is coming, all believers must adopt the following basic attitudes:

Make God our refuge.
Study God's word and obey it.
Be committed to world evangelism.
Be committed to family unity.
Be committed to a local church.
Financial preparation.
Physical preparation.

1. Make God our refuge
When God forewarned His people about the Great Shaking, He also declared that there will be peace only in His house (Haggai 2:9). Only in God can we find peace in the midst of the Great Shaking.

"The glory of the present house will be greater than the glory in the former house," says the LORD Almighty, "And in this place I will grant PEACE," declares the LORD Almighty.
(Haggai 2:6-9)

(a) God our only refuge.
Our only source of refuge, protection and eliverance is God and God alone. Do not look to man, not even to your husband or parents. Look to God and He will see you through every trial, danger and snare (Psalm 91). This is the revelation of Psalm 91.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high

will rest in the shadow of the Almight.
2 I will say the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare


and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the petilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousands may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling --

even the LORD, who is my refuge --
10 then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For He will command His angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;


I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation."
(Psalm 91:1-16)

From Pslm 91, we see that God will protect us only when we:
(i) Love Him with all our heart (Psalm 91:14).
In other words, we must obey Him and honor Him in all that we do. We must make Him the Lord of our life and money, serve Him faithfully and pay our tithes out of every sort of income. Otherwise we will come under a curse and lose God's protection (Malachi 3:8-9).

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD. "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."
(Psalm 91:14)

(ii) Acknowledge Him as our refuge and fortress (Psalm 91:2,9,14). We must declare and confess and acknowledge that God alone is our refuge and fortress, a God in whom we trust. We must daily meditate on this psalm and daily confess our total dependence on Him. Only then will faith arise in our heart to totally trust in God. We must not trust in our own strength, our own weapons, our own wisdom, or our gold and silver.

2 I will say of the LORD. "He is my refuge and my fortress.

my God, in whom I trust."

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling --


even the LORD, who is my refuge --

14 "I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."
(Psalm 91:2,9,14)

(iii) Call upon Him whenever we are in need (Psalm 91:15-16).
As we call upon God, He will answer us and save us. He will deliver us and honor us. He will give us long life. He will demostrate His miracle power to save us from every danger at any time.

15 "He will call upon me, and I will answer him

I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation."
(Psalm 91:15-16)

When we make God our refuge. He will keep his word and save us from every danger (Psalm 91:14-16). He will save us from the trap of our enemies (Psalm 91:3).He will save us from highly deadly and contagious diseases (Psalm 91:3,6). He will shield us from the enemy's arrows and bullets and bombs (Psalm 91:5). He will command His angels to guard us always (Psalm 91:11). No disaster will come near our home (Psalm 91:10). We will destroy all the power of the demonic forces of darkness (Psalm 91:13). Only the wicked will be destroyed all around us (Psalm 91:7-8). (b) The blood of Jesus
In the new Testament, with the coming of Jesus, God has given us the greatest weapon of all, namely, the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus will protect us from every attack of the nemy, whether it comes in the form of demonic attacks, bullets, earthquakes or germs, etc.

In the Old Testament, the protection of the blood of Jesus wwas symbolised during the first Passover, when God protected the Israelites from the destroying angel. This was possible only after they applied the blood of a lamb (without defeat) over the top and sides of the doors to their homes (Exodus 12:5-7,30).

The animals you choose must be year-old males WITHOUT DEFECT, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the BLOOD and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.

When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the BLOOD on the top and the sides of the doorframe and will passover that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
(Exodus 12:5-7,23)

In the New Testament, the blood of Jesus is alove, and can be equally applied to our lives and our possessions for our protection and victory over the evil one (Hebrews 12:24; Revelation 12:11). We use the blood of Jesus by first asking God to protect us with the blood of Jesus. Next, we apply the blood of Jesus to our lives, our property, etc., in Jesus' name, to receive God's deliverance and salvation.

They [the saints] overcame him [the devil]

by the BLOOD of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.
(Revelation 12:11)

2. Study God's word and obey it.
God's word brings life. It is Spirit and life (John 6:63). It brins eternal life (John 6:68). The word of God is able to teach, rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness. In this way we will be fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life.
(John 6:63)

Simon Peter answered Him (Jesus), "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
(John 6:68)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

As we walk in righteousness, God will watch over us and protect us (Psalm 1:6). He will always deliver and protect the righteous (Psalm 34:17). If we do not walk righteously before or during the Great Shaking, we will fall into the devil's trap and be destroyed. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we study God's word and walk in God's righteousness, if we want God's help during the Great Shaking.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish
(Psalm 1:6)

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;


He delivers them from all their troubles
(Psalm 34:17)

If we neglect God's word and do not study it, we will not know God's will. We will then be easily destroyed by the devil (Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 5:13).
E.g. Getting into unnecessary debt before and during the Great Shaking.
E.g. Not learning to trust God for His divine protection in times of danger.
E.g. Not being obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit at all times.

My people are destroyed from LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
(Hosea 4:6)

Therefore my people will go into exile


for LACK OF UNDERSTANDING;
their men of rank will die of hunger
and their masses will be parched with thirst.
(Isaiah 5:13)

Besides teaching us righteousness, God's word will inform us of the dangers and opportunities during the Great Shaking, just before Jesus' return. He tells us through His word how we are to prepare ourselves. He will speak to us through His Spirit on specific steps we are to take to prepare ourselves for the Great Shaking.

He wants us to be like wise virgins with extra oil to keep our lamps buring as we await the return of the Bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13). He wants us to be like a faithful and wise servant who does what the master has asked him to do (Matthew 24:45-51). If we do not obey God and act according to His word and His Spirit's leading, we will foolishly endanger our life and ministry (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hear these words of mine and DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
(Matthew 7:24-27)

3. Be committed to world evangelism.
The Great Shaking will be a shaking of the world's system, bring man to repentance. Many will lose their faith in the world and come to an end of themselves, and they will turn to God. The Great Shaking will be a time when the greatest harvest of soul is brought into God's kingdom (= Great Harvest).

God's glory will fill His house as never before, and kings and nations will come into God's kingdom (Haggai 2:6-9; Isaiah 60:1-3). The salvation of men is God's divine purpose in bringing to pass this coming period of great upheaval of the world's political, commercial and religious systems.

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In a little while I will once more shake the HEAVENS and the EARTH, the SEA and the DRY LAND. I will shake ALL NATIONS, and the desire [wealth, treasure] of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with GLORY," says the LORD Almighty. "The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty. "The GLORY of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the LORD Almighty." And in this place I will GRANT PEACE," declares the LORD Almighty.
(Haggai 2:6-9)

Arise shine, for your LIGHT has come,


and the GLORY of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you

and His GLORY appears over you.
NATIONS will come to your light,

and KINGS to the brightness of your dawn.
(Isaiah 60:1-3)

Therefore, since world evangelism is God's main priority at that hour, we must put that as our own priority also. In doing this, we are seeking God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). As we put God's kingdom first, God will add all that we need at that hour into our life (wisdom, protection, shelter, food, etc)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
(Matthew 6:33)

However, if we do not seek FIRST the kingdom of God, but put only our personal comfort and convenience and interest above God's priority, then we are not obeying God. We will be missing the greatest opportunity ever in Church history to participate in the harvest of souls into God's kingdom.

And we will come under God's judgement and discipline for our selfish attitude, because we care only for ourselves and not for the eternal destiny of our neighbors around us. In the end we will endanger ourselves, for God will not be with us. If we seek to save our life during the Great Shaking, we will lose it. But if we lose our life for Christ's sake at that time, seeking first His priority, then we will find it (Luke 9:23-24).

Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save hislife will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
(Luke 9:23-24)

Therefore, every believer must prepare himself to help in the ingathering of the harvest of souls during the Great Shaking. We must each train ourselve to share the Good News. We must each be prepared to look after the new believers, teaching them the word of God. We must each spend time to servein the local church, to build up the body of Christ. We must each give generously of our time, our talents, and our finance for this Great Harvest.

Every believer will be needed to look after the new believers. Every ministry is needed to care for the new believers and bring them to maturity. Everyone must willingly and joyfully seve in his calling, either in the ministry of helps, prayer, mercy, giving, encouragement, teaching, shepherding, evangelism, prophesying or chirch planting.

If we are doing all the above, then we are living right in the middle of the will of God. And the safest place ot be duing the Great Shaking is to be in the will of God, doing what God wants His Church to do. However, if we are not bothered with God's Great Harvest, and seek only our own agenda, we will bring disaster to ourselves, our families and our plans.

At this hour, we must learn to set our priorities correct before the Great Shaking comes. God has placedus here on planet Earth not to give us time to lay up trasures on this earth, but to bring in the harvest from every tongue and tribe and people and nation (Matthew 28:19; Revelation 5:9). This earth and all its kingdoms will pass away. God will create a new heaven and a new earth in the days ahead (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1). And only His kingdom will reign on this earth (Daniel 2:44-45).

Since we are going to inherit this kingdom that can never be shaken, should we not spend our life building this kingdom on this earth, as God has commanded us to do? Every believer must therefore put the Great Commission of Jesus as the first priority in his life, and especially so during the Great Shaking.

Every believer can participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by going, giving, praying and sending. We can start today. Everything we do today must be done in relationship to the Great Commission, whether buying a car, buying a house, using your time, talent and energy, etc.

Any expenditure and energy that we spend on luxuries and pleasures will be wasted if they were not directed towards building the kingdom of God. This will be absolutely true during the Great Shaking. Therefore, from this day onwards, we must no longer live ourlives for luxuries and pleasures anymore, but for the kingdom of God instead. Preapare yourself now.

And when the Good News has been preached to all nation because of your obedience, a final Great Harvest will be brought in, and the Lord Himself will return in power and glory (Matthew 24:14,30-31).

Jesus said: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

"At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
(Matthew 24:14,30-31)

4. Be committed to family unity
In order that the Christian family may not be destroyed during the Great Shaking, it must follow God's divine order for the family. As it follows God's divine order, the family will remain united.

(a) When it is united, all its prayers to God will be answered.
When a family is united, God will move miraculously on its behalf, and will protect and provide for that family (Matthew 18:19). Such a family will trumph before and during the Great Shaking. God will also cause such a family to be a testimony and a blessing to all those in need during the Great Shaking.

(b) However, if a family does not obey God's divine order, it will fall apart.
The pressures due to the financial and social crises during the Great Shaking will test the unity of every family to its limit. Where there is disunity and lack of divine order, the family will collapse. The devil will enter into such a family and destroy both the husband and wife through their own spouses. The destruction of such a family will be tragic indeed, bringing shame to the name of Christ.

(c) First and foremost, everyone in the family must learn today to turn to God for every need, whether financial, material or spiritual.
Every family member must make God His refuge (Psalm 91). When a family faces bancruptcy, financial needs, food shortages, water rationing, problems of shelter, etc., it must turn to God for the supply for every need (Philippians 4:19).

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:19)

Do not expect the husband to supply the need. He is not God. Do not expect the wife to meet the need. She is not God either. Otherwise, if the wife puts pressure on the husband to do a miracle, or vise-versa, the one under pressure will break-down and self-destruct. The husband is not the miracle-worker; God is. The wife is not the miracle-worker; God is. And when we unite our hearts in prayer, God will give us the miracle (Matthew 18:19).

(d) Never blame one another whenever problems arise.
This will only allow the devil to use us to discourage and destroy one another. Mistakes and blunders will be make. (Only God does not make mistakes). Lack of foresight in planning will be exposed. However, it is absolutely useless and futile to apportion blame. Forgive one another and forget the past mistakes. Learn from these mistakes and do not repeat them again.

(e) Always follow God's divine order for the family at all times. In other words:

(i) Wives must submit to the husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22-25)
(ii) Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the Church.
(iii) Children must obey the parents in everything (Colossians 3:18-20).

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church.
Husband, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.
(Ephesians 5:22,25)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as it fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everythin, for this pleases the Lord.
(Colossians 3:18-20)

Wives must absolutely submit to the leadership of their husbands as the Lord guides their husbands through the Holy Spirit. They must not usurp their hasbands' leadership and have their own way through nagging or grumbling or threats or blackmail or ridicule or mockery. A wife must never presume to lead her husband because she feels that she is more spiritually mature or sensitive than her husband. If she does this, she is expressing a form of spiritual pride and rebellion against God that will invite disaster in the turbelent days ahead.

Husbands, on the other hand, must always love and protect their wives and family, sacrificing energy, comfort and time for them. A husband must never put any blame on his wife for mistakes made or ever be harsh with her, cursing, beating or scolding her. As head of family, he must take full responsibility for the family's wellbeing, whether spiritual, material or financial.

All children must also obey their parents at all times, and especially during the Great Shaking. Children who insist on their own ways and want to be part of the world will be deceived and be destroyed. It is the duty of parents to train their children in righteousness today and not spoil them or submit to their every whim and fancy.

5. Be committed to a local church.
Every believer is a member of the body of Christ. His life will only be fruitful and be built up when he remains a part of the local body of Christ. He has giftings that God has given to him to build up others (1 Corinthians 12:12,24-25,27). In return, he needs the ministry of other members of the body of Christ.

The body is a unit, though it is made upof many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lack it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
(1 Corinthians 12:12,24-25,27)

If a believer were to dissociate himself from the Church, he has come out of the life of Christ that flows through the body of Christ. No matter what his excuse is for separation from the body of Christ, such a believer will grow cold spiritually and lose his salvation (Matthew 24:12). If he thinks he can be a testimony of Christ by staying away from the local church, he is suffering from great demonic deception and will in time be destroyed by the evil one.

A believer who turns his back on the Church has cut himself off from the body of Christ voluntarily (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). This will expose the believer to the demonic attacks of the enemy. And if he does not repent, he will be destroyed. And if a believer keeps to himself during the Great Shaking, he will definitely fall. We need one another todya, and more so during the Great Shaking.

Therefore, every believer must fit himself into the body life of a local church today, or he will not survive the coming Great Shaking. We must learn to walk in love and unity with everyone in the church today, forgiving one another, caring for one another, walking in patience and kindness towards one another, etc. If we isolate oursalves from the body of Christ, we will die.

6. Financial preparation
If we are unrighteous in our financial dealings today, we will suffer great loss and hardships during the Great Shaking. Instead of being a light to the world at that time, we will be found begging for foo, if we do not prepare ourselves financially today.
[Read the Parable Of The Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13, concerning financial preparation for the end-times].

To prepare ourselves financially, we must:

(a) Honor God with our tithes and offerings at all times.
In this way, we make God the Lord over our finance. In this way, God can continue to bless us according to the seed we sow.

(b) Get out of debt
The borrower is a servant to a lender (Proverbs 22:7). God wants us to be His servants only, and not be man's servants.

God does not want us to act as security for others (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18). Getting into debt ourselves is acting as security for ourselves, and is equally dangerous for our lives financially. When crisis come, the debtor stands to lose everything he has to the lender, including the very bed he is sleeping on (Proverbs 22:26). He will be declared a bancrupt when he cannot pay up his debts. Therefore, sell your assets and get our of your debts, today, while there is still time. Sell your house, your cars, your jewelry, your luxuries, etc. Be hard with yourself now, and you will come out on top during the Great Shaking.

(c) Do not borrow from others to get out of debt.
Two wrongs do not make a right. It is a foolish thing to throw good money after bad money.

Do not lend to ahother to pay off his debts; otherwise you are encouraging him to live beyond his means. If you lend to another, he has become your servant, and you will be danger of losing a friend. If you want to lend, be prepared never to see the money again. It is best not to lend, but rather to give, if you can afford it.

(d) Manage your assets wisely. Liquidate your assets which are depreciating in value. Move your assets into things which do not devalue, but will conserve and increase your wealth during the Great Shaking.

7. Physical preparation
Physical possessions reflect our inner spiritual values. we must live as God would have us live, for His kingdom only and no lover for ourselves.

(a) Learn to live simple today
In this way, you will prepare yourself for the Great Shaking, when there will be no luxuries, but shortages of all essential things. God will provide for our needs only during the Great Shaking, but not our wants.

(b) Plan to live near other believers.
We will need each others' help during the Great Shaking, in securing the basic necessities of life. If we think only of ourselves, we will not be able to survive.

(c) Plan to care for the new believers that will come into the Church
Bible and teaching materials must be prepared ahead of time. Be prepared to meet in all available homes, and no longer look towards carperted, air-conditioned sanctuaries, with the latest keyboards and PA system. Prepare your homes as meeting places, as in the early church (Acts 2:46). Be prepared to serve God by studying God's word todya (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Your Thought

1. How can we make God our refuge and fortress according to Psalm 91 ?

List out the steps you would take in order to do so.

2. How can you use the blood of Jesus for your own protection and victory over the evil one ?

Give specific examples.

4. How can we reorder our life to fulfill the Great Commission?

In other words, how can we seek God's kingdom first in every area of our life? Consider how you can use your time, money, energy, talent and possessions to fulfill the Great Commission and put God's kingdom first.

5. Are you prepared for the Great Shaking today?

How would you go about preparing yourself to face the Great Shaking?

6. What is the purpose of God in bringing about the Great Shaking?

How can we come out of the world today so that we will not be shaken when God shakes the world's systems?