While some Christians have separated over major theological issues respecting salvation, many others have separated over the smallest of theological issues fragmenting the Church. Not only has this become a blight on the unbelieving world, it has hurt the individual Christian by offering him a smorgasbord of different beliefs where his opinion is just as valid as the next. Even the Bible as the Christian’s supreme authority, has been diluted, reinterpreted, and changed to such a degree that he feels no problem in adopting his own faith and set of values in a confused world. So the key to unity and our strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with other Christians around the world is by returning to our classic faith. Returning to faith is the key. We must return to the heart of our faith. This is a faith that believes beyond the superficial faith of just believing in the historical facts of Christ’s death and resurrection on the Cross of Calvary. Even Satan believes that and shutters. It must move beyond the elementary doctrines of our faith concerning baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, the eternal judgment, and teachings about righteousness.

We must return to an iconic faith, a faith so strong that it can move mountains, still the storms, and raise the dead. We must return to the faith that believes that God is transforming us into a new creation were old things pass away and behold all things are new.  Have we learned to put off the old and put on the new as our behavior is being changed by the almightily God from the inside out? We must return to a faith that believes that God has really given us everything we need for life and godliness. Do we believe that through His great and precious promises we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires? We must return to a faith that believes that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We must return to a faith that believes that no one can snatch us from the Father’s hand and that includes the devil and all of his malicious lies. Do we believe that our citizenship is already in heaven?

Jesus Christ said, “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth (Luke 18:8)?” In fact it is only the faithful remnant that’s able to withstand the coming holocaust. They have learned the key to unity as they stand firmly together in the midst of the greatest trials and tribulation to ever descend upon the earth. But first of all we as Christians must return to the iconic faith and join with others who also have this faith. It’s time to stop apologizing for our faith. It’s time to stop following the world in their quest to solve their multitude of problems apart from Jesus Christ.  I, more than anyone, regret the pain the pagan has in solving their problems and turning to the world for help. But I also know it is futile for them and hope that one day they will come to the truth that God is more than capable of solving all of their problems. He is capable of making them into a beautiful person free from anxiety, depression, and a host of other psychological and emotional problems. By returning to this iconic faith and encouraging other Christians to do the same we will see that blessed revival in the last days.  To a deeply broken church we can live it out afresh: Jesus seeks a bride, not a harem.

As the world comes crashing in on you, you long for the mountain top and the peace that dwells there. Some call it escape, but you know the reality of the mountain and its beckon call for all those who would hear. As you return to the mountain top the glory of God welcomes you and the Spirit offers refreshing nourishment that feeds the soul and strengthens your faith. There is no greater joy than being in the presence of God and the warmth of His embrace. You are not in strange company because many before you have also stood on the mountain and beheld the face of God as life was being snuffed out of their mortal bodies due to every form of horrific persecution. The longer you stay on the mountain the clearer things begin to look. It’s as if scales are falling from your eyes and the vision of reality is taking shape right before your eyes.  Priorities that seemed so important before now appear less important as new priorities take their place. Money, bank accounts, houses, and cars no longer have their same appeal but quickly fade away for a new reality. Feelings of hate and disgust quickly dissipate as if washed away by a river of love.

Then you begin to anguish about returning back to the valley when you hear a strong voice ever so softly whisper in your ear, “take heart for I have overcome the world.” As my cries of anguish are tempered I remember that going back to the valley will be less difficult than first imagined. My heart is exploding with the remembrance that I will not go alone!  I will not go alone. As I think about the gloomy valley below and the horror that awaits me, I take new courage in the fact that Jesus Christ will go with me. A promise that He will never leave me nor forsake me now fills my heart. As I go I go with the same reality of the mountain that priorities must stay the same as if on the mountain. My vision of reality must remain intact. The new reality will take hold of my heart a reality that relationships are more important than gold, love is more important than money, grace is more important than bank accounts, and salvation is more important than any possession. As I make my way back to the valley of everyday living Christ will be my guide.  As I follow Christ I turn a deaf ear to the world and glory in the hearing of His words alone. In the midst of the valley that’s no longer called despair, Christ has become my strength.

But now we see something new, instead of attacking the West the people are attacking their own leaders seeking to throw off their old restraints and find a new path. What is really happening in the Middle East? As stated in my blog last week some believe that there will be a new spiritual leader, the Mahdi that will come in the last days to unite all the Muslim nations and dominate the world. There is a call from some to institute Sharia Law not only in the East, but also in the West. Quite clearly they see Islam as the only true religion that can save humanity from certain calamity as it sinks further into the pit of moral degeneration. There is a real fear that as each country’s dictator is overthrown it creates a void to be filled by radical Islam. And it’s this radical element that longs for their spiritual leader to bring all Muslims together in a Holy war against the West.

From a biblical perspective God deals with the entire world and that includes the Muslims. It is written in our sacred text, the Holy Bible, that in the last days when the revived Roman Empire and its political leader is exercising his authority over the entire world, that God’s angel will “pour out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water is dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.” (Rev. 16:12) Why would God allow this to happen? Are not most of His people living in the West? Before we are too critical of God let’s be clear that the Bible does not say that the kings from the East will defeat the West, nor does it say that West under the leadership of the Antichrist will defeat the kings from the East. What is clear, however, is that he brings them both to the valley of decision – which is also referred to as Armageddon. It is here where the great battle takes place between God and all of fallen humanity. It is very instructive that prior to God destroying all of fallen humanity in this final battle, God issues a final warning to His people. “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev. 16:15)

So here is the point friends, we do not need to fear what is happening in the Middle East, but we do need to fear God who is sitting on His Throne. As the biblical Antichrist begins to exercise his power in the West this country will not become more righteous. On the contrary those in the West will be deceived into thinking that they can build the perfect world without God. They will be deceived into thinking that they can develop their own self righteousness to save the world and defeat their enemies (specifically the hordes from the East). In fact this deception will deepen where the Antichrist will promise to protect Israel, and then break his covenant with her at the last moment. Retrospectively, as the Antichrist tightened his grip on the entire world through miracles signs and wonders the deception will grow. But the truth is man must die to self and trust in God alone for His imputed righteousness. Those who awake to this truth and put on the righteousness of God will “not go naked and be shamefully exposed” at Christ’s magnificent return to earth. Friends, we need to be more concerned about our being ready for the coming of Christ rather than the turmoil in the Middle East.

Not only does Barack Obama deny the exclusiveness of the Christian Bible, but he denies the exclusiveness of Christ as the only Son of God. Obama’s speech to the Muslim world made the other prophets equal to Christ. He does this by quoting from the Muslim story of Isra as if he were quoting the very truth of God. He said, “When Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.” The story of Isra indicates that the archangel Gabriel comes to Mohammed and carries him to the temple mount of Jerusalem. It also indicates that the second part of the journey takes Mohammed to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, and speaks with the earlier prophets such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and then is taken by Gabriel to Allah.

For Barack Hussein Obama to unite every, “tribe, people, language, and nation” together as the new world order he must first of all do away with the exclusiveness of Christianity. Jesus Christ can no longer be seen as the last Prophet and true Son of God. Christ said that, “False Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” (Mt.24:24) So this means if anyone who comes claiming to be equal or more than Jesus Christ is a false prophet and must be rejected on the grounds of Holy Scripture. Furthermore, Jesus Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except trough me.” (John 14:6) We simply cannot allow Christ to be put on the same level as Mohammed or any other prophet. To do so will destroy the very foundations of Christianity and allow the Antichrist to rule the world.

Let’s be clear about one thing we are not talking about terrorists. We are not talking about an alien invasion. We are not talking about organized crime, but we are talking about people who gave us no warning that they would explode causing unbelievable carnage and untold suffering to their fellow citizens. From the best I can tell most of these people looked rather normal to their peers, family members and friends. Although one similar trait among them was that they appeared aloof, distant or a loner. What was going on to cause these people to explode? What kind of pressure were they under?

We all know that a boiler that has too much pressure will eventually explode. Let me suggest that this country has lost its way and are churning out citizens who expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter with little or no work. They expect to be treated with honor and respect when they have never been taught how to give it. They look at all that the world has to offer and if they don’t get it then the pressure begins to build. Or if someone attempts to take away what they do have then the pressure continues to build to unsafe limits. Unfortunately most people in this country would be horrified to lose all of their material possessions, because they cannot separate their life from them.

Add to this the moral decline and the total disregard for the law and you have a recipe for disaster. As our leaders in high places are caught in every manner of sin and the talking heads continue to fan the flames of discontent, then many question their moral authority to pass laws or even their right to enforce them. Then if that were not enough the philosophy of tolerance has led many to reject the truth peddled by the establishment for their own set of values which in many cases are no values at all, but rank lawlessness.  Regrettably with this country’s drift away from Christianity and absolute truth, she has lost her moral anchor.  Set adrift in the sea of immorality she will continue her decline into lawlessness. So where will this all lead? Anarchy!

As the world comes crashing in from all around you it is time for every true Christian to take a deep look within and make sure you have not been captivated by the world of materialism. Can you give up everything for the cause of Christ knowing that He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can handle?  Are you unsettled when you do not receive the honor and respect that you have become accustomed to or are you following the example of Christ who humbled himself to death even death on a Cross? Do you follow the world in their godless counseling and drugs to ease the pain or do you run to Christ who promises to be with us in the midst of our greatest suffering? Friends, it’s only going to get worse as we fast approach His Second Coming so please do not follow the world in these godless acts, but remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to love one another so that the world will know that we are His disciples.

Now immediately the walls start coming up over such a notion because the world has been conditioned to think of things without God’s personal involvement. As the world increases in more global tragedies which appear to be getting larger by the day she is forced to follow her leaders in responding to each of these devastating events. The international news organizations are on top of everything with reporters on the scene with a moment by moment commentary on the unfolding event. International governments begin to swing into action with relief efforts of food, medicine, and a team of secular counselors to help the depressed. Then after things seem to be well in hand everyone begins to congratulate them for a job well done honoring the heroes and glorifying their own efforts.

But where is God in all of this? Has He gone to sleep? Is this not His world and is He not in charge of it? Well most theologians will say they agree on this point. Yes, even Christians of every stripe will sit in their churches every week and say emphatically God is in control of this world and nothing happens by accident. Yet when a tragedy like this one comes on the scene where over 500,000 people have died in one day they are extremely quiet. They somehow believe it is easier to just follow the world in their relief effort and say nothing for the fear of being misunderstood.

So dear friends, if we believe that God is truly in charge of His world and nothing happens by accident then we have only two choices. We either believe that God has allowed the event to take place without divine intervention or He actually caused the event to take place. There is no middle ground here for if you believe otherwise, then you cannot say that you believe that God is in charge of this world. So now as believers we must ask ourselves do we need to ask God for wisdom to understand the difference. And this is not just for one person to ask this question and speak as a prophet unless he feels led to do so, but for each and every person. To do so will help you to respond properly to God’s mercy and or judgment.

I can’t say why this calamity has specifically come upon the Haitian people, but I can tell them to call out to God, the One true God for mercy and if repentance is necessary, do so immediately asking Him for forgiveness. I can say that God is in control! His Word in the Bible indicates that He will and already has poured out his wrath upon a wicked world. God is the one who sends the seven angels forth to blow their trumpets which unleashes the plagues and woes descending upon the earth. He is the one who sends forth the angels with bowls of His wrath to be poured upon the earth in the last days. And if there is any misunderstanding about the last days, the coming of Christ ushered in the last days to come to a conclusion on His mighty return to earth. The Christian Bible clearly indicates that the hour of his judgment has come and it is time for all people from every nation, tribe and people to repent asking God for forgiveness.

Finally, we can help the Haitian people in the relief effort, but if we do not seek to lead them to repentance of their sins and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord then we have really done nothing but given them momentary relief. And if that is all we can do, then are they really any better off when they face the judgment seat of God and eternal damnation? As the world races toward the end of days will the Church remain silent or will she speak in a unified voice proclaiming God’s truth about His involvement in the world. Will the church become a true witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

I am reminded of God’s Word that says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:20) As the world draws closer to the end even the pagan will question what is clearly seen.  Most of the known world is concerned about global warming and climate change.  There is a real fear of the increase in wicked weather and the predictions of massive earthquakes.  Learned men from both camps question the possibility of a new world order and the impending slavery of civilization. Then they have heard the prophets, I being one of them, who have written about God’s Final Warning, because the hour of His judgment has come.  And on top of all that we now have these predictions about 2012 and the end of the world.

Any independent observer may dismiss all of this about 2012 as rubbish; however, what causes me to take notice are the unexplained coincidences between predictions of Nostradamus and Mayan Long Calendar produced by the Maya civilization (August 11, 3114 BC) and scheduled to end on December 21, 2012. The newly discovered book of Nostradamus was found in an Italian public library in Rome, Italy. The book contains many watercolor images that seem to be showing some of his many predictions. The last seven images are the most important in the entire book because they predict how and when the world is going to end.

One thing that must be understood before trying to decode his message is that during that time they used a thirteen sign zodiac as opposed to our modern twelve sign zodiac. The thirteenth sign was Ophiuchus, which is Greek for serpent-holder. The number thirteen is regarded as the unluckiest number and the snake is associated with evil. This sign is located between the signs of Sagittarius and Scorpio.

The reason Ophiuchus is so important is that it crosses the line of the Celestial Equator. The Celestial Equator passes directly through a dark hole in the sky, which is the center of the Milky Way galaxy, also known as the dark rift. The point of Sagittarius’ arrow point directly at the center of the galaxy and when a line is drawn from the tip of the arrow to the end of Scorpio’s tail it passes directly through the center of the galaxy. The line from the arrow to the tail makes a cross with the Celestial Equator and creates the “Divine Cross”. This cross is especially important since it never moves in the sky. On Earth we see another cross, which is made from the intersection of the orbits of the Equinox and the Solstice. This cross is known as the “Terrestrial Cross” and is important because it provides the foundation for the prediction of the end of the world.

One drawing shows the wheel of time and below it three eclipses and then below those one large lunar eclipse. A span of time that includes three solar eclipses and one lunar eclipse is between the years of 1992 and 2012. This is interesting because it predicts that time will end in the year 2012 and the Mayan calendar also ends in 2012 on the date of December 21. The date of December 21, 2012 coincides exactly with the alignment of the crosses in the sky and when the sun rises directly in that alignment. This alignment only happens once every 13,000 years. The last picture in the series shows a wheel with no spokes, which implies the end of time, which is of course, on December 21, 2012.

Can it be a coincidence when different civilizations on different continents in different times came up with the same date?  Then add to this other recent predictions by scientists for the same year (2012) such as Solar Flares will reach their peak, a Volcano Catastrophe in Yellowstone, a Galactic Alignment for the first time in 26,000 years.  And if that’s not enough there is a clear present danger of renegade nations acquiring the nuclear bomb, an economic collapse, and a pandemic.  I keep coming back to Holy Scripture that says, man will have no excuse on the Day of Judgment, for even the pagan is raising his voice along with the Christian community to sound the warning.  Is not God just?  Has He not always sounded the warning through His prophets?  Has He not even spoken through the pagan in dreams and visions when He wanted to warn His people? (See Gen. 41:1ff; Dan. 2:1ff) Has God not also used the pagan to proclaim His will? (See II Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 44:28ff).  Although God will use His holy prophets to properly interpret the signs and what the pagans are trying to proclaim, He will always send the warning.

There is no accident that both pagan and Christian alike are sounding the warning. There is no accident when asked; most people believe that we are living in the last days.

A large part of humanity has rejected God as their Divine Creator. Everywhere you look God’s sovereignty has been exchanged for the fatalism of Mother Nature. The dependence on God has been exchanged for self-help. The sufficiency of God has been exchanged for counseling from the professional psychologist, which is the new world religion in disguise. Faith in God as the Divine Healer has been exchanged for dependence on drugs and the medical practitioner, who sanctions the intervention of psychology. The absolute truth from God has been exchanged for tolerance – a clear agenda for the “Global City of man”. The only way to God has been exchanged for religious pluralism. Dying to self has been exchanged for increasing your self-esteem – a major doctrine of psychology. Obedience to God has been exchanged for lawlessness. A heterosexual relationship has been exchanged for same sex marriage. And God’s structure for the home has been exchanged for social intervention and its perverted teachings of psychology.

When the Church also follows this same path of unchecked rebellion against God she becomes the lukewarm church spoken of in the book of Revelation. Her witness to a dying world will all but cease. No more revivals, no more saw dust trails, and fewer crusades have weakened the church. Watered down preaching and the introduction of secular psychology has lessened the effectiveness of gospel preaching. And as the world slips deeper into the abyss of gross immorality with the church not far behind, the modern day prophets are proclaiming that all is well and the church can expect a secret rapture to deliver them from this evil world.

But what does God say? Will God really deliver the lukewarm church prior to the Great Tribulation or will He allow her to go through the Great Tribulation to strengthen her faith and cleanse her of all unrighteousness? “God uses trials and tribulations in the believer’s life to remove the barnacles of the old sin nature… He uses the powerful storms of life to strengthen your faith and dependence on Him. Only a lukewarm church that has been essentially free from persecution will fabricate the secret rapture to whisk them away in the nick of time to escape the Great Tribulation.” (Final Warning, Daniel W. Blair) Great trials and tribulations have always been the seeds of the church. Why would God expect anything less in the last days? When Christ returns in magnificent glory to punish those who are disturbing you and to rapture His Church at the end of the age, will you be ready?

So what must the church do? She must prepare for the Great Tribulation, but more than that she needs to repent of her unholy exchange. We must believe that God is in control of this world and nothing happens by accident. Mother Nature does not send the storms or the severe weather; God does it with the hope that men would repent and turn back to Him. The church must stop trusting in the world to counsel her people. Let the church return to God’s Word that has given her everything she needs for life and godliness. Let the church return back to trusting in God alone to bring complete healing to man – physical, mental, and spiritual healing. God saves the whole person. Finally, let the church return to the commandments of God and reject the perverted teachings that have been accepted by the modern world. And if she refuses, then true believers must come out of her and form their own fellowships trusting in God to give them godly leaders.