Strange Winds of Deception Indeed!
Jesus’ first words of warning about the end of the age and the birth pangs He called the “beginning of sorrows” were about deception and deceivers.
Nothing has been more on my mind lately than the deception going on. Of course, this last-days symptom the Lord warned about has been going on throughout human history. Satan began this end-times plague in the Garden of Eden with the seduction of Eve and the fall of Adam.
Every society since that point has been deeply immersed in this luciferic evil. But recently the deception has taken on new levels, in my thinking. Perhaps it’s superfluous to even interject it here, but the deception involved has significantly heightened my irritation as I see things unfolding within the area in which I’ve invested a certain amount of trust.
I shouldn’t be surprised at the deception because it emanates from the arena of human government. And it isn’t so much the deception but the people who seem to be perpetrating the deception—the deceivers involved—that increase my irritation.
Promises made by those who said, if elected, they would root out and expose to the American people all the wickedness involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s Lolita Express child-sex trafficking activities were broken—at least they seem to have been so at this point.
When President Donald J. Trump answered a reporter’s question about why the list of those involved hasn’t been released, I knew the heinous matter was to be dismissed. The matter was done. There was no list. No penalty would be paid by the child rapists—who, before the election, were said to be high-profile public figures in many cases.
The president said in a tone of consternation something like, “Are you still talking about that?” He then added that there were so many important things going on—like the Israeli-Iran and Middle East peace efforts—and the administration’s accomplishments have been so many that to continue to dwell on the Epstein matter was no longer something to be concerned about.
That was totally unlike any Trump answer, so I knew we were being deceived. I, being a Trump supporter because I believe he is God’s man for this late hour of the age, was disappointed and highly irritated. I feel betrayed in this matter because it touches the most innocent among us—the children, whom Jesus Himself held so close, saying that Heaven belongs to those who are like children (Matthew 18:3-5 and Matthew 19:14).
Even through my disappointment and irritation, I continue to hold out hope that there are legitimate reasons—ones I’m not privy to—for this apparent betrayal. Maybe there is information that must be withheld for the moment but that will be made clear in due course.
Regardless, this is a most important concern, Mr. President. Heaven will not simply dismiss it as secondary to other governmental pursuits, no matter their level of priority within human-government consideration. The abominable things committed must be dealt with; we cannot and will not simply look away and begin concentrating on things even like world peace and ignore this satanically driven wickedness.
Deception is something Christians must be ever more aware of in this darkening time as history’s most terrible era approaches. We are to be light in this moment, no matter who, in their corruption, must be unveiled in God’s revealing light.
The deception and deceivers are beginning to be unleashed by Satan and his hellish forces, just as we take account of all I mentioned just above. Doctrines of devils are on the cusp of invading even the Christian heart of America. And the following evidence found in the excerpt below should alert those who “watch,” as Jesus commanded (Mark 13:37), to guard against the demonic winds that are blowing.
Technology that Antichrist will no doubt use to delude and control people during the Tribulation–AI, for example—is nearing its full potential.
Should pastors be using AI to write their sermons? I recently saw a website for a company that advertises itself as “Your AI-Powered Sermon Assistant” designed to help pastors “create better sermons in less time” using artificial intelligence.
A video on the website claims you can just type a word (like “forgiveness”) into the sermon builder tool and “instantly have a sermon ready to preach,” and if you like the sermon, “copy it, paste it, you’re ready to preach.” In other words, as a pastor, you don’t even need to go to the Bible yourself to prep for your sermon—AI will do it all for you.
There are many good uses for AI—this is certainly not one of them! Yes, perhaps AI could be useful in pulling some cross-references, finding related passages, or pulling quotes to consider from church fathers (although resources to do all of these things already exist). But using AI to write sermons strips away a pastor’s wrestling with and studying of God’s Word. When a member of such a pastor’s flock comes to him for wisdom, counsel, and shepherding, he won’t know God’s Word to apply it properly!
And pastors surely should be praying (as any teaching pastor should do) for God’s guidance and wisdom as they build sermons. Be assured, AI doesn’t pray for any wisdom from God! (“‘Copy, Paste, Preach’: Should Pastors Be Using Artificial Intelligence To Write Sermons?” By Ken Ham, July 8, 2025)
Wicked, corruptive winds of evil that divert from God’s wisdom and truth are beginning to blow in increasing volume and strength. Let us stand against such by putting on the whole armor of God as instructed in Ephesians 6:12. We must “be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace” [Hebrews 13:9] “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14).
Too many pastors, as we’ve examined many times, won’t look into the issues, events, and immorality that saturate society and culture. They are afraid that addressing such matters will adversely affect church attendance and other aspects of ministry. We’ve charged that many won’t put in the time to truly explore what God’s Word has to say about these times that are growing dark under the quickly spreading shadows of the coming Tribulation.
This lack of attentiveness to where this generation stands on God’s prophetic timeline perhaps adds to the ease with which such abominable activity as child-sex trafficking can thrive and destroy. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and His controlling hand on this fallen world, let us oppose the strange winds of evil as He directs. We can then look forward to hearing the words, “Well done, good, faithful servant.”
—Terry
Don’t Get Up in the Morning Without It
Bible prophecy matters; it’s the key to understanding the day in which we live. We need a true Scripture-based perspective of what lies beyond this life in order to make sense of our journey through it.
Without it, we would struggle to understand how a sound biblical worldview intersects with the tragedies, senseless violence, corruption, and lawlessness that are so rampant in our day. How do we piece together the chaos of a fast-changing world apart from what God’s Word reveals about the end times?
I can’t imagine stepping out of bed each morning apart from the assurances of Scripture concerning the day in which we live. For me, it’s the essence of a sound biblical worldview because…
Bible Prophecy Reveals that the Lord Will Surely Punish the Wickedness We See
Perhaps the biggest frustration of our day is that evil, vile people not only escape justice for their crimes but continue to prosper. We know that many influential people of our day visited Epstein’s island, which is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the vast network of sex trafficking in the U.S.
The horrors of abortion grieve our hearts; we wonder if the perpetrators of this great evil will face the consequences for their mass killing of the innocent.
The Bible reveals that a day is coming when God’s wrath will spread across the entire planet. Of course, those behind the great wickedness of our day will face the Lord’s judgment after this life. However, those who understand Bible prophecy know that many of them will also experience His wrath in this life.
The Old Testament depicts the horrors of the day of the Lord in which the entire earth will feel the impact of God’s judgments (Isaiah 13:9-13, 24:123; Zephaniah 1:14-19). The book of Revelation adds details to this coming time of judgment upon the earth in chapters 6-18. The world has never experienced the cataclysmic events described in these passages; all these prophecies remain unfulfilled.
“If hell is real,” one might ask, “why is it necessary for the Lord to also deal with the ungodly in this life? A key reason for this future time of God’s visible judgment is that it will give sinners one last chance to call upon the Lord (Revelation 9:20-21). Though most people will continue in their rejection of the Savior, the Bible tells us that a great multitude will turn to the Lord Jesus during this time of God’s frightful wrath upon the earth (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17).
Bible Prophecy Focuses Our Hope Solely on Jesus’ Appearing
Regardless of how soon it happens, the Rapture adds a biblically sound context to our entire lives. Our hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing continually reminds us that as New Testament saints, this life is not all there is. Regardless of what cones our way each day, we know that a glorious future awaits us, one that could begin at any moment.
Paul summed up our eager anticipation in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” The word for “await” depicts a heightened eagerness and attentiveness for a future event.
Also consider the Lord’s comforting promise to us in 1 Corinthians 15:52-53:
“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
When the Rapture happens, even those who now enjoy perfect health will experience a physical wholeness they never thought possible. Our hope stretches our imaginations to the limit. When Jesus appears, He will not only take us to the place He’s preparing for us, but He will also radically transform us with an outward and inward wholeness beyond anything we can imagine. How can we not long for this day?
Bible Prophecy Provides a Context for Our Sufferings
Can you imagine what Joseph felt as he journeyed to Egypt bound in chains? Once there, the Midianites sold him as a slave. Even so, he prospered in the house of Potiphar until his wife falsely accused Joseph and Potipher sent him to prison. Thirteen years after his brothers sold him, he went from a dungeon jail cell to second in command over all of Egypt.
Consider Joseph’s story in light of the promises that we will someday reign with Jesus in His earthly kingdom. Though he suffered greatly, his time managing Potiphar’s household affairs and even his leadership skills honed while in prison prepared him to later give wise advice to Pharoah and succeed in preparing Egypt for the famine that was coming. The Lord used his thirteen years of suffering to prepare him for his meteoric rise to power.
We sometimes struggle to explain the wide variety of experiences that come our way, as well as throughout the body of Christ. Some face death because of their faith, while others experience no physical persecution. The degree of suffering from ill health and other matters varies widely among the saints.
What if the Lord is using all these things to prepare us for our future role in His glorious kingdom? What if we will never fully understand our experiences in this life, both the good and the bad, until we see what the Lord has for us in His kingdom? I believe we will someday see how all these things fit together when the Lord reveals the place He has for us in His Millennial reign.
For Joseph, his earlier dreams likely gave him hope of a better day as he languished in prison. For us, the Bible says we are “joint heirs with Christ” to a kingdom (Romans 8:17) and that we will someday reign with Him (1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 5:9-10). These promises provide the context for all that we experience in this life.
Most mornings when my feet first reach the floor, I’m not consciously thinking about the assurances of Scripture regarding my future. But deep inside, I have a calmness that comes from knowing that the Lord remains sovereignly in charge of my life and the affairs of the entire world. Someday His just and righteous rule will encompass the entire planet. The nations can rage all they want in the meantime, but Jesus is coming soon. Violent and lawless people may continue to succeed in our day, but the Lord sees and will surely intervene (see Psalm 37:1-20).
-Jonathan
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