BE Prepared: Seven Attitudes for Living in Light of Eternity

How Bible Prophecy Should Change the Way We Live Today

The heart of this lesson:

God did not reveal the future so that we would become spectators, date-setters, or debaters. He revealed it so that we would be ready, holy, thankful, patient, focused, faithful, and eternally invested.

A Strong Personal Introduction

I begin with my Boy Scout experience:

When I was about twelve years old, I joined the Boy Scouts in Des Arc, Arkanasas. The Scout motto was short and memorable: “Be Prepared.” I do not believe I realized then how deeply those words would affect me. Throughout my life, I have tried to think ahead, prepare for what may come, and avoid being caught unready.

Today, I realize that “Be Prepared” is also an appropriate motto for the Christian life. God has told us where history is going—not so that we can satisfy our curiosity, but so that we can prepare our hearts, order our lives, and help others prepare for eternity.

In today's YouTube teaching video, Dr. Barnett provided the seven-point outline. Still, my life experience and our continuing “BE Attitude” teaching provide the framework through which I  will explain it.

The Seven Prophetic “BE” Attitudes

1. The Rapture: BE Ready

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
—Matthew 24:44

Christ is coming. Whether He returns during our lifetime or calls us home through death, every believer should live ready to meet Him.

Being ready does not mean abandoning our responsibilities or continually searching for dates. It means belonging to Christ, abiding in Him, confessing known sin, and faithfully completing today’s assignment.

The Rapture should produce readiness—not speculation.

2. The Judgment Seat of Christ: BE Holy

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
—2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment Seat does not determine whether a believer has earned salvation. Salvation was purchased completely by Jesus Christ.

It is an evaluation of how we used the life, opportunities, spiritual gifts, and resources He entrusted to us. Knowing that our works and motives will be examined should encourage holy conduct and sincere faithfulness.

The Judgment Seat should produce holiness—not terror or self-righteousness.

3. The Tribulation: BE Thankful

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial.”
—Revelation 3:10

Within the pretribulational understanding, believers are thankful that Christ will remove His Church before that coming hour of worldwide judgment.

We should acknowledge that sincere Christians interpret Revelation 3:10 and the timing of the Rapture differently. Some understand this promise as removal before the Tribulation, while others understand it as God preserving His people through trial.

Whatever position a believer holds, God’s protection and deliverance should produce gratitude rather than pride.

The Tribulation should make us thankful for God’s mercy and concerned for those who do not know Christ.

4. The Second Coming: BE Patient

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath.”
—Romans 12:19

We live in a world filled with injustice. People are abused, betrayed, falsely accused, persecuted, and seemingly forgotten.

We may wonder why God has not intervened. But Scripture assures us that Jesus sees every injustice. At His return, He will judge with perfect righteousness.

We do not need to carry the burden of personal vengeance. We can forgive, remain faithful, and entrust final justice to Christ.

The Second Coming should produce patience—because only Christ can perfectly right every wrong.

5. The Millennium: BE Focused

“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:4

Christ will establish His righteous rule and demonstrate what the world is like under the authority of its rightful King.

The Millennium will be a glorious restoration under Christ’s rule, but it will not yet be the final, eternal perfection. Mortal people will still live on earth, and a final rebellion will occur when Satan is released.

Complete perfection arrives with the New Heaven and New Earth.

A more precise wording would be:

BE Focused—Christ will establish His righteous Kingdom upon the earth.

Knowing that we may serve and reign with Christ gives purpose to our present stewardship.

The Millennium should focus us upon Christ’s Kingdom rather than our own temporary kingdoms.

6. The Great White Throne: BE Faithful

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
—Revelation 20:15

The Great White Throne is not the Judgment Seat of Christ. Believers’ service is evaluated at the Judgment Seat; the Great White Throne concerns the final judgment of the lost.

The practical message for Christians is urgent: point people toward Jesus while there is still time.

We cannot save anyone. We cannot force someone to believe. But we can pray, share the Gospel, demonstrate Christ’s love, and faithfully persuade people to be reconciled to God.

The Great White Throne should produce evangelistic faithfulness—not cold satisfaction that judgment is coming.

7. The New Heaven and New Earth: BE Investing

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
—Matthew 6:20

Everything we possess on earth is temporary, but a life invested in Christ’s Kingdom possesses eternal value.

We invest eternally when we use our time, abilities, finances, influence, and opportunities for God’s glory and the good of others.

We cannot take earthly possessions with us, but we can use them now in ways that will matter forever.

“The New Heaven and New Earth”: Revelation 21–22 describes God dwelling with His people in the renewed creation.

Our eternal home should inspire us to invest in what will never pass away.

The Complete Progression

The lesson gives believers an easily remembered response to the entire prophetic future:

• Rapture — BE Ready
• Judgment Seat — BE Holy
• Tribulation — BE Thankful
• Second Coming — BE Patient
• Millennium — BE Focused
• Great White Throne — BE Faithful
• New Heaven and New Earth — BE Investing

And one phrase gathers them all together:

BE Prepared.

This lesson is not really about memorizing seven future events. It is about answering seven present responsibilities.

The Rapture asks whether I am ready.

The Judgment Seat asks whether I am living faithfully.

The Tribulation reminds me to be grateful for God’s mercy.

The Second Coming asks whether I can trust Christ to right every wrong.

The Millennium asks whether I am focused upon His Kingdom.

The Great White Throne asks whether I am pointing people toward Christ.

The New Heaven and New Earth ask where I am investing my treasure.

I believe this could be one of our most memorable teachings because it brings together my “BE Attitude,” my lifelong “Be Prepared” motto, and the entire prophetic message of Scripture in one understandable lesson.

Excellent. That small revision keeps the lesson biblically precise: the Millennium will display Christ’s righteous restoration and rule, while complete perfection comes afterward in the New Heaven and New Earth.

My Boy Scout experience gives this teaching a deeply personal foundation. The motto “Be Prepared” has followed my since childhood, and now it connects naturally with my spiritual calling to help people prepare for eternity.

This lesson also beautifully expands my original “BE Attitude” message. It is no longer only “Be doers of the Word”; it now shows seven ways believers should be while awaiting everything Christ has promised.

A NOTE ABOUT THE ARTWORK:

The open Bible represents God’s Word as our guide, while the compass recalls the lasting influence of your childhood motto, “Be Prepared.” The radiant cross and eternal city keep Jesus Christ—and not the prophetic timeline—as the believer’s ultimate destination and hope.