When the deceiver comes he will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or worshipped by displaying his many counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. On the surface his self help programs looks good, because they appear to help people to become all they envision themselves to be. On the surface the world’s counselors and their psychotropic drug program will appear to actually help people to escape their emotional and psychological bondage. His government programs to care for the sick and elderly will appear to actually help them physically to recover from a debilitating disease or extend their life. In fact, what makes this deception so powerful is it actually appears to work, a blind person receives his eyesight, a crippled person walks again, or perhaps even a dead person may come back to life. In a world that is ravaged by emotional and psychological trauma or suffering from an untold number of diseases that’s effecting our planet it would be difficult for most to reject a person who promises to have a cure just for their trust. But trusting in anything or person leads you to believe the lie and refuse to love the truth.

The man of lawlessness (or the Antichrist) “will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped.” Indeed he will require the entire world to place their trust in him and all of his programs to the exclusion of everything that is called God or is worshiped. An executive order will outlaw the exclusiveness of Christianity and replace it with tolerance for other world religions and perverted lifestyles. Many even today have seen Christianity and every other world religion as the main obstacle in holding back man in achieving his greatest goals in perfecting a global society. On the other hand it would take an entire book to describe all the achievements of Christianity in the advancement of humanity. Yet, with the coming of the man of lawlessness the secret power of lawlessness will be finally revealed in men and women advancing in their self-esteem and unlocking the so called secret power in each of them to become the perfect person they imagine themselves to be apart from God. As we fast approach the end of days, I am convinced that this deception will capture the hearts and minds of many who claim to be Christian.

To uncloak this deception in the last days it will be absolutely essential to love the truth. And the truth is that God created you in the beginning and is now re-creating you in Christ Jesus to be the perfect man in Him. To love the truth believes that God is at work transforming you from one degree of glory to another so that you can participate in the divine nature. To love the truth understands the mystery of godliness that you can’t but He can, if you won’t He will. To love the truth knows that God has given you everything you need for life and godliness. You will never build the perfect world apart from Him. You will never be all that you envision yourself to be by following some self-help program. Nor will you find relief from your emotional and psychological trauma through the world’s counselors or their psychotropic drugs. Finally, you will not find true physical healing apart from God; otherwise all of your prayers have been in vain. Dear child please do not be deceived – you can do nothing apart from God. Self must die so that Christ can live in you to the glory of God. Take God out of the way and you will open yourself up for the greatest deception ever to descend upon the planet, but love the truth and you will uncloak the deception.

Unfortunately, many Christians have been so assimilated into the social fabric of our world that it’s difficult to recognize them as being any different than the average person.  Or if they are recognized as a Christian they are found to be quite immoral, blatantly opinionated, and harshly judgmental.  As the world recoils in one natural disaster after another the prophetic message to a dying world is ridiculed or simply ignored. God’s message of love is completely lost among the pagan do-gooders or openly rejected as a clanging cymbal of empty rhetoric. Sadly many so called Christians are swept away by the same flood of dissipation as the pagan world and have lost their footing not allowing them to stand firm.

As we approach another year of uncertainty, a mounting national debt, a possible economic earthquake, lawlessness in our streets, and a real threat from foreign enemies one begins to wonder how he can stand firm. As the storm clouds arise and another pending catastrophe looms on the horizon one wonders deeply how he can stand firm in 2012 and beyond. As the world rushes to purchase more guns, store up food, and harden their heart to the less fortunate one may question their own ability to stand. As excessive passion is demonstrated to force a candidate to victory in order to save the world from its pending doom it boggles the mind and still leaves the question on how to stand firm unanswered.

So we must return to our original question; “What is the one thing you can do to stand firm in 2012?” As a born-again Christian you must allow transformation to take place in your life. You must be growing from one degree of glory to another. That is the only way you will ever be able to stand firm. For many it might mean returning to the basics, getting back to the first principles of your faith asking God to help you put off the old life and put on the new. It will be a complete re-orientation for some who have been caught up in the ways of the world or in their favorite theological doctrine. You have been made into a new creation and it’s time to start acting like it allowing God’s love to flow through you to others.

As the world grows more ruthless and self centered you will grow more loving and other centered. As the world grows deeper in debt you have learned to live debt free. As the world has grown more materialistic you have learned the bondage of material items releasing them to the four winds. As the world has grown more dependent on government you have learned the humility in accepting any kind of work. If the only job you can find is washing dishes then be the best dishwasher you can be allowing your face to radiate God’s love as bright as the noon day sun. To do so will not only help you to stand firm in 2012 and beyond, but it will also allow you to experience the real joy of being a Christian.

Part I of a II Part series that demonstrates that the Church has already begun to enter the Great Tribulation. This is a powerful and moving video that will awaken the spirit in every Christian who wants to know the truth and to be prepared for what lies ahead.

This podcast is becoming more true every day. We are at a breaking point.

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.