Beware of the Billionaire Preppers

 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mar 8:36

I have read a number of articles recently of a new trend among the super-rich of the world. Apparently, they are caught up in a wave of building “super bunkers” so as to survive the coming Apocalypse. Some are buying island-retreats, while others are preparing custom-built, massive bunkers capable of holding dozens and even hundreds of their family and friends, to live out the coming collapse of world order in safety and luxury. Do a Google search, and you will find these and similar headlines:

There is a growing sense of unease among the wealthiest one-percenters of this world that all is not well on Planet Earth. Many are now openly talking about a coming Apocalypse, soon to end life as we know it. No doubt, the rising anti-globalist movements, and the guilty consciences of those few who hold most of the wealth of this world, are fueling this growing dread.

I can’t help but picture in my mind a coming, world-wide economic collapse (which is inevitable at some point), triggering a rush of these “super-preppers” to their safe havens. This may, in fact, be at the beginning of what Jesus called the “great tribulation” (Mat 24:21), the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation Period. Once inside, they watch on their closed-circuit TVs the carnage being unleashed above them.

While they dine on the most sumptuous of meals, they watch the growing cascade of violence and famine spreading across the face of the globe. Gathered in massive dining rooms—all their friends and family surrounding them—how they will congratulate themselves for their wise foresight in using their fabulous wealth to provide for their safety and well-being. While they take advantage of their fully equipped exercise rooms, and finish off their work-out with a nice sauna, they will no doubt scoff at the “dregs of humanity” who scrabble for scraps to survive.

But even in the richest of settings (perhaps even more so), human nature remains the same. Soon boredom, inactivity, envy, and self-centeredness (the inner plagues of the all mankind) will begin to take a toll. Perhaps even pangs of a not-yet-dead conscience will begin to trouble them. There will be arguments, turning to hatreds, which eventually turn to blood-shed.

And in the end, for those who are left, the most horrifying event imaginable. They will miraculously and suddenly be overwhelmed by the glorious light of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having fled to their safe havens to escape the growing anger of the poor of this Earth, they are now confronted by the wrath of Him who first came, poor in spirit, to give His life for their souls.

Suddenly, they see Him who came as “the Lamb of God” (Joh 1:36) revealed as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5). The time for repentance from self-reliance to humbled faith is over, and now the eternal recompense for a life of arrogance and self-indulgence is at hand. Then, their “laughter [will] be turned into mourning and [their] joy to gloom” (Jam 4:9), as they begin to cry out, with souls seared beyond the point of no return …

“And [they] said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face

of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb …’” (Rev 6:16)

Meanwhile, among the common people, those considered “the unwashed masses” or “the deplorables” of the earth, there will be a shout of rejoicing. Millions upon millions—having responded to the waves of evangelism that will take place during the Tribulation, and having turned to Christ in faith—will break out in singing and unbounded rejoicing. These who have come out of “great tribulation,” finding faith through their sufferings, will then sing, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Rev 7:10).

After reading about the preparations of the super wealthy yesterday, I was awakened early this morning (I do not say I woke up), with these thoughts in mind. In the early morning hours, I rose to write down these reflections, lest they be lost in sleep and forgetfulness.

I pondered on what a vast gulf separates those two companies at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. One group crying out to the mountains they saw as their refuge, “Fall on us and hide us,” and the other ragged company, of whom it will be said, “These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14).

And then I thought of those who believe now, in this present Church Age, and of our “Blessed hope [of the] … glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Tit 2:13–14).

I could not help but marvel at the accuracy of God’s Word, for truly “the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few [are] chosen” (Mat 20:16). In the perfect timing of God, who knows all things, the scales of infinite justice will balance out time with eternity and the passing of this world (and all it contains), with the coming of His Eternal Kingdom. The wealth of the rich will not save them, neither will the poverty of the masses hinder them. The Christ who died for all, rich or poor, will then welcome all who trusted in Him.

I pray that these reflections of mine, as “My heart instruct[ed] me in the night seasons” (Psa 16:7), may be of value to each of you who read this. May our souls be moved to songs of joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving for our so-great salvation. But even beyond this, may we recognize that “the time is short” (1Co 7:29), and we who have been given so much are so much the more “debtor[s]” to the grace of God (Rom 1:14), to use what we have in time to reach souls for eternity, for “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Co 6:2). Let us not fail in doing those good works, in laboring for the harvest for which we have been purified.

Be comforted in knowing that “… now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom 13:11b), but also, on behalf of the lost, remember that “When you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Mar 13:29).

Let us live expectantly, but also labor faithfully!

With His coming in view,

Gene