Could the government claim the stored food of preppers?

(Homestead movie poster)

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I saw the movie Homestead. Here is something from the press release about it:

Synopsis:

A nuclear bomb is detonated in Los Angeles, and the nation devolves into unprecedented chaos. Ex-Green Beret Jeff Eriksson and his family escape to The Homestead, an eccentric prepper’s fortress nestled in the mountains. https://www.angel.com/press/homestead accessed 01/06/25

In the movie, sometime after the nuclear bomb blast, a local bureaucrat visits the Homestead ranch and demands a full inventory of what is stored there, but the ranch owner refuses. The bureaucrat basically accuses the rancher of being a criminal because he will not heed the desires of the bureaucrat.

The Homestead movie suggests that there is hunger throughout the nation, but specifically also in the nearby city where the bureaucrat dwells.

A few days after he encountered the rancher, the bureaucrat returns with a SWAT team. He demands that the rancher gives the government all the food in the interest of equity. When the rancher refuses, the bureaucrat pulls out a gun, shoots, and severely wounds the rancher. This uncalled-for violence seems to offend the SWAT team leader and the SWAT team leaves. After the movie ends, something on the screen says that Homestead will be developed into some type of cable television series.

Overall, I told my wife that I thought that the portrayal in the movie was too optimistic related to the prepping situation and the relative safety of preppers in the Homestead compound.

Now, a reader who did not know we saw the Homestead movie sent me a link to the following:

Government Is Currently Trying to Identify And Register All Food Producers to Support Food Confiscation

5 January 2025

Did you know that if you have even a small subsistence farm to grow and or raise food for your family it all could be confiscated. Did you know the government is currently trying to identify and register all food producers to support this goal? Whether you are aware or not, at any time the president deems necessary, the US can now confiscate key resources in the name of national security. In particular, the food you worked hard to grow or raise could be seized. Naturally, it makes no sense to spend your time and money developing a farming capability to insulate your family from hard times only to have it seized. …

In 2011 President Obama also nationalized our nation’s food supply through executive order. This executive order effectively orders the heads of various agencies to include the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify critical resources under their purview and develop policies on how to ensure their production and procurement during national emergencies. As with most government regulation, this order on the surface doesn’t sound too draconian. However, the devil is in the details regarding its implementation. In order for the USDA to “secure” the US food supply, it becomes necessary to identify everyone involved in food production. Once identified, then upon order, the USDA can send nationalized goon squads to confiscate any and all “critical resources” deemed necessary for national security. National security may very soon include declaring “preppers” “extremists and depriving them of their stores of food. In this particular case, it could involve your entire crop.

Doubt this affects you? Consider this, if you live in North Carolina, you must register with the state if you have even one chicken. This is ostensibly being done to rapidly inform, monitor, and protect the state’s poultry farmers from avian flu strains. However, as soon as anyone in government starts talking about “protecting” anything, one should suspect subterfuge. In this case, the government suddenly feels that you must be forced to “register” even if you have one chicken. By the government’s own admission, small isolated flocks have almost no risk to catching or passing the current avian flu strains due to their lack of ability to intermingle with wild waterfowl and then spread the virus to other birds. As such, one must consider alternative reasons the government feels that it is necessary to pry so deeply into private citizens’ lives. I would entertain the government’s arguments if they were focused solely on large commercial poultry farms, but they are not. This North Carolina regulation targets even an owner of a single bird as a pet and as such, is far too broad to be considered justifiable. However, when considering the quiet push behind the scenes by the USDA to identify all food producers, it makes much more sense.

You may be thinking that North Carolina is an isolated incident or that this is only applicable to poultry, but it is not. Let’s look at Wisconsin, which now “mandates” livestock premises registration. Again, as in North Carolina, if the regulation was solely focused on large scale livestock operations, it could be justifiable for the monitoring and tracking of disease. However, just like in North Carolina, this applies to even the smallest of hobby farms and in fact applies to anyone that has even one animal. …

In summary, the USDA working in conjunction with the military and the Department of Homeland Security have set in motion plans to identify and track all critical resources in this country to include food. The impact of this could mean that in a time of crisis, if the government deems it necessary, it will confiscate your food. https://prepper1cense.com/2025/01/05/government-is-currently-trying-to-identify-and-register-all-food-producers-to-support-food-confiscation/

Yes, government officials believe that they should be able to know everything, have access to everything, and when desired, take everything. Constitutions of paper do not stop bullets of the determined.

Organic Prepper had the following statement in an article:

January 6, 2025

In the real world, however, this figure of paralegal judges will be used to spray some resemblance of “legality” to the accusations of “treason”…something we have seen already in communist-ruled countries once and again. https://www.theorganicprepper.com/systemic-repression/

Although the above article was mainly referring to the situation in Venezuela, human governments have a history of taking what they want (mainly through taxes, but sometimes through various forms of confiscation) and those in the USA are not above doing so.

Let me add that governments also are not above taking gold and guns, and not just food. “In times of economic turmoil, governments often confiscate their citizens’ gold” (Calkins J. When Money Fails. Good News, October-November 1979).

Speaking of food and other matters, Jesus taught rough times would come.

7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:7-8)

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

So, Jesus said there will be wars, food shortages, and troubles.

In the USA, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS, often referred to as Mormons), store food.

This is well known as the LDS are advised to store a year’s supply of food by their church.

Whether the government will come for it or not, the reality is that when severe famine one day hits the USA, many will realize that the LDS store food, many of the LDS live in Utah, and perhaps they can get food by taking it from the LDS.

But storing food for that long is not going to save the LDS or the USA.

The Apostle Paul wrote Christians are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

The Bible warns:

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Most people do not realize what will happen to the USA.

It is beyond what most preppers, including those in the LDS, think could happen.

Let’s start with the following prophecy:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39)

The above prophecy is showing that the coming European King of the North beast power will destroy the strongest fortresses. In the 21st century, the strongest fortresses, the strongest military, belongs to the USA and to a lessor degree its British-descended allies.

While having some food and moving to a less populated part of the USA may help some temporarily, people should not count on that getting through the 3 1/2 year period composed of the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord.

Whether or not the governments in the USA will take the supplies of preppers can be debated, but once the USA is conquered, the Beast power will take whatever he wants (cf. Daniel 11:36-37).

Now notice part of Ezekiel 5:

1 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. (Ezekiel 5:1-3)

Those verses are pointing to the descendants of Joseph (the USA and British descended peoples) (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

But what about going to the mountains?

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3 and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: “Indeed I, even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Then your altars shall be desolate, your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 5 And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars. 6 In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, your idols may be broken and made to cease, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 7 The slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

8 “Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. 10 And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.” (Ezekiel 6:1-10)

16 ‘Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains
Like doves of the valleys,
All of them mourning,
Each for his iniquity.
17 Every hand will be feeble,
And every knee will be as weak as water. (Ezekiel 7:16-17)

Yes, various ones will flee to the mountains. Yet, destruction is coming (cf. Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 8:24-25; 11:39). Slavery will hit, but it will not last (see the free online book Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? and the article Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

The mountains are not prophesied to protect. Actually, notice a couple more prophecies warning against relying on mountains from the prophets Amos and Jeremiah:

9 ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. 10 For they do not know to do right, ‘Says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’” 11 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered.” 12 Thus says the Lord: “As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria — In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch! 13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”Says the Lord God, the God of hosts, 14 ‘That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. (Amos 3:9-14)

19 They pursued us on the mountains And lay in wait for us in the wilderness (Lamentations 4:19).

The above indicates that some will be hiding in the mountains and other places in the USA while others are will be taken out of the USA (which is the prophetic Samaria–see Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New). Most of the Anglos that are not killed will be made slaves. Hiding in the mountains may protect a few for a time, but it will be relatively few that survive that way for long.

They will be pursued.

But didn’t Jesus teach to flee to the mountains?

Well, yes for the mountains of Judea:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)

But He also did not say one should plan to stay in them. Consider that Jesus then added:

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! (Matthew 24:17-19)

Now this does not mean that Jesus expected one to go to a stocked bunker. Only that those in Judea who have not fled before they see the abomination will not have time to do anything then but flee. In time, any who are Philadelphian Christians will go elsewhere (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra).

The USA it is not where God has promised to protect Philadelphian Christians. More on that can be found in the article: There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra.

Jesus taught:

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

13″He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘ (Revelation 3:7-13)

Jesus tells His followers to watch, pray, and change enough to be accounted worthy to escape these things. Physical protection from the coming hour of trial is possible to those who will properly heed the word of God (cf. Zephaniah 2:1-3). Jesus clarifies in Revelation 3 that He is specifically referring to providing protection to the Philadelphian Christians.

Furthermore the Bible is clear that NOT ALL CHRISTIANS are promised this protection:

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:14-17)

Two types of Christians are discussed above. A group that flees to a place in the wilderness (which is not heaven) and the rest that do not properly flee.

While there is a certain escape involved in this, the protected Christians are not going to their personal bunkers, but are going to a place that God has prepared in the wilderness.

For more on who will be protected and where they will be protected, please check out the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra.

We also put out the following sermon a while back:

1:19:08

Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation

Will any Christians be protected physically during the Great Tribulation? Yes! Will all real Christians be protected physically during the Great Tribulation? No! There is a physical place of protection promised in scripture–but scriptures are clear that only some Christians will be protected there. Which Christians are promised protection? Which Christians are not promised protection? Are there differences between the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 that matter when it comes to protection from the Great Tribulation? What will happen to those who are not protected? Is the place of safety in heaven? Could it be in Jordan? Could it be Petra? What does the Bible teach? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to the sermon: Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation.

Related to preppers, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

18:48

Doomsday Preppers and Preparation

A study came out in August of 2019 showing that so many Americans are so fearful from news reports that more have become doomsday preppers. Meaning that they are storing up food, weapons, and other supplies for an apocalyptic type event to hit the USA. Jesus said sorrows and troubles would come, then a tribulation so bad that unless God intervened, no flesh would be saved alive. Is physical preparation the answer? Should Christians do any type of disaster preparations? Does God have a plan to protect some or all Christians from the coming “hour of trial” that Jesus spoke of? Who is promised protection and who is not? Is keeping the commandments enough? What has Jesus said His people should do? Are you supporting the work that needs to be completed before the end comes? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.