Humanity collectively has felt helpless to do anything about it. We can sound the warning most times, but not always. We have our first responders and many others who line up to provide help after the disaster. We can only dream of having a global weather net to control the weather and lessen the earthquakes and volcanoes, but no such technology exists and mankind is really helpless to do anything about it. It appears that our world is coming apart and to use biblical language it is “wearing out” and about ready to be “rolled up like an old robe.” We know that the prophets have been speaking about the end of days now for over three millennium and almost everyone now agrees that day is fast approaching.  So what should be our response?

The simple answer to this question is we must stand on the rock! It’s time we laid a firm foundation in Jesus Christ by knowing what we believe and believing what we know. As the foundations begin to crumble we must hang on to the truth that our gospel is without beginning or end; that it’s exclusive being only one way to heaven; that there is a literal hell and non-believers will be banished there by a merciful and just God; and to follow Christ we must pick up our cross, die to self, and live for Him. This is only the first step toward the solid rock as we learn to trust in God exclusively to make us into a new creation; by rejecting any systems of philosophy to modify our behavior or solve our multitude of emotional and psychological problems. We take our place upon the rock by learning from Jesus Christ all of His beautiful commands and putting them into practice as He continues the process of growing us from one degree of glory to another. We never lose hope that He will make us into the perfect image of His Son Jesus Christ.

Now when the great and mighty powers are unleashed upon the planet in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, firestorms, and floods we take our stand firmly upon the solid rock. As the medal enters the furnace of affliction we must not falter through disbelief. We must not waiver in our commitment to Christ. We must not allow our foundation to crumble through the integration of worldliness. So with our face toward the wind we fear God and not anything else. We glorify God in all things and worship Him as the Creator of the universe. We may lose our home. We may lose our business. We may lose our loved ones. We may even lose our life, but our hope must remain strong as we think of all that awaits us in heaven above. Dear children, as the world falls apart we must grow stronger in Christ. And it’s through that great strength that we’re able to encourage others to stand firm.

Others will suffer because of the wickedness of others, not because they are necessarily a Christian, but because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a world filled with evil predators, being street wise, and taking all the extra precautions will not always protect you from an onslaught of tragedy. Again, these unfortunate people cannot claim they have suffered for the cause of Christ. However, in the later case God can and will use such suffering (trials and tribulations) for your eternal good for the good of others depending on how well you stand up under it.

Another type of suffering which will greatly increase in the last days is through famine, disease, plagues, and all manner of so called natural disasters. Again we cannot claim that this suffering is for the cause of Christ. I cannot stress how important it is to allow these trials and tribulations have their full effect. I know at this point many will be tempted to ask, “Why is God allowing this to happen to me or to my family!” Many of us have already experienced the horrific outcome of an earthquake, flooding, hurricane, tornado, or a raging forest fire. We may have already experienced the extreme pain of a debilitating disease or one of the many plagues descending upon the planet. And as they increase in number and severity it is essential that we understand God’s role in it and our Christian response.

The best starting place is to look at it from God’s vantage point, to look at it from an eternal perspective. Almost always we tend to look at things from a very limited perception. We are so caught up in the immediate pain and the trauma of the moment it is very difficult to see or grasp what is happening. If we look at our suffering from God’s eternal perspective then our tragic circumstance is only a millisecond in comparison to eternity. Moreover, God will use our experience to strengthen our character and total dependence on Him. If we approach our suffering with the right attitude knowing that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and if we allow our perseverance to finish its work then we will be made mature and complete lacking nothing. (See James 1:2-4) As the metal passes through the furnace to remove the dross and strengthen the alloy so we too must pass through the furnace of affliction to be made perfect in Christ Jesus.

On the other hand, very few in the Untied States actually suffer for the cause of Christ. Why is that? Simply put it is because they are so similar to others; their sameness will not allow them to suffer, but if they were truly different from the world then they would suffer. This is another reason why tolerance is so popular in today’s world because they can appear to be the same and not take a course of being different which would always bring about swift rebuke from the world. As we near the end there will be two kinds of Christian, one that will look and act just like the world, while the other will grow further apart from the world looking more like Jesus Christ. This later group, which we will refer to as true believers in Christ will suffer persecution as polarization increases between good and evil.  However we view suffering we must view it as a benefit given to us by God for our spiritual growth in Christ, so that we may truly participate in the fellowship of His sufferings. To stand firm in the last days we must seek total transformation in Christ Jesus praising His name to be counted worthy to suffer for Him.

Let’s be honest, rumors can alarm and even frighten us if we perceive that death and destruction is imminent. At what point does a rumor become reality? Or at what point do we accept the rumor as reality?  These are very important questions because as we fast approach the end of days we will hear about many rumors from a possible pandemic to all out war with nuclear foe. We have already heard from the scientists that massive earthquakes along with many other disasters are long overdue. Hollywood has caught on and we have already seen a series of movies on that very subject. I forecast that 2012 will see even more of the same.  Now back to our question If we accept the rumor as reality then we are forced to act upon it through some form of preparation, if time permits, or even panic because events are completely out of our control, but for the Christian things should be different!

Why should they be different? To start with, Christians do not listen to rumors alone without putting them into the prophetic. Let me explain.  To put a future event into the prophetic we allow God to be in control. On the other hand when we listen to a rumor about a future event then it’s disconnected from a source. We may claim a scientific explanation as the source of the event but we are still no better off, because we are still controlled by fate.  We are unable to explain the purpose of the event and feel helpless to control it. To put the rumor into the prophetic then we know if the event happens as rumored then God is in control of the event. Let’s not get bogged down in trying to determine if God caused the event or simply allowed it to happen. Either way God is in control. Now for the Christian this should give us great comfort in any and all rumors that will come our way in 2012.

For many who simply listen to rumors about future events without putting them into the prophetic that is, not believing that God is really in control allows panic to set in which will control their actions. At this writing I have just read where some people in India listened to rumors amidst mild tremors that some people were being turned into stone, which caused a great panic. On the other hand, the Christian who is convinced that God is really in control has no reason to panic, but rather stays calm through prayer asking God for wisdom to understand the event he is facing. Moreover, he becomes the voice of calm encouraging those around him by proclaiming God’s love and providence in the midst of Great Trials and Tribulations. So dear friend, as we face 2012 together let us not follow the ways of the world by listening to their rumors and falling into panic, but let’s remain calm listening to God.

The world leaders look at the economy and think if we fix that then all is well; or they look at the other problems individually and think if we can solve each problem then all is well, but the truth is if all the problems were fixed they would still be left with an encroaching catastrophe. The political leaders go to great length to convince the population that their plan of socialism, capitalism, or communism will solve the problems facing mankind, that all will be greatly improved if they only adopt it as their new form of government. But if the world chooses either of these choices it still faces insurmountable troubles continuing to plague the greater part of humanity. The planet is on a conclusion course with destiny and mankind will be left in the balance of its inevitable consequences.

So what can mankind do to save himself?  How can he fix the problems facing him and his world? As seemingly natural disasters increase in number and severity around the world he cannot even get a consensus as to what is causing the problem nor does he see it as being relevant.  Yet it’s these very things that are causing a drain on the world economy, loss of life, and property. It is causing global unrest and great anxiety among the world’s population. It is bringing out the best in some but the worse in most. Riots and mass demonstrations have become the norm as the world marches relentlessly to its pending doom. Even if mankind cures all of his problems the planet will continue to convulse – with an increase in volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and deadly hurricanes.

The powers unleashed against the planet are beyond man’s ability to stop. The powers unleashed against humanity causes an increase in mental stress and a myriad of unsolvable psychological problems. It is time for humanity to realize that there is a bigger picture to be seen, a new perspective to be realized on the problems facing this world and humanity in particular.  The forces at work are greater than the world has ever known and quite simply man is incapable to do anything about it. He can fix his economy; establish peace between the nation states; offer health care to its people; and offer a new form of government to please all the people, but it will not solve the bigger problem facing this planet and its people. So again what can we do?

As a religious man I would like to believe if the world population repented of its many sins then things might get better. I would like to believe if man learned how to truly love one another then we might begin to see the makings of an earthly paradise. I would like to believe if people saw the light of God’s truth and decided to follow Jesus Christ as their only Lord and Savior then we could see many more delightful years upon the planet. But as a realist I know that they will not! They will continue to allow Satan to dictate their destiny by controlling their behavior and blinding them to God’s holy truth.

No matter how you interpret the end time scenario we will all agree that time is running out for humanity as the planet groans under the weight of God’s judgment and humanity suffers the consequences of its own sins. We are facing the inevitable. So the only thing mankind can do is to choose whom He will serve and if He chooses to follow Christ then he must prepare for what lies ahead. He must learn how to stand firm against the powerful forces arrayed against him and he must do it now while he still has a chance to make a choice. Weak and wobbly Christians will be no match for the satanic forces unleashed upon the world and unprepared for global disasters and unfeigned persecutions.

Before it’s too late we must ensure that we have a firm foundation in Jesus Christ and dressed in the full armor of God. The true believer in Christ learns how to die to self and follow Christ by picking up his Cross. He learns how to fear God, to give Him the glory, and worship Him as the Creator and Sustainer. He learns how to come out of the world, resist the apostasy, and endure patiently. He learns how to harness the power of God by standing in His strength. Let me invite you to visit my Facebook page: Stand Firm to learn about my upcoming book that offers godly counsel on how to stand firm in the last days.

This Part II 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