On March 25, a Los Angeles jury found that Instagram and YouTube contributed to a young woman’s addiction and caused emotional harm, holding both platforms negligent for failing to protect minors. The plaintiff, a now 20-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., cited features like infinite scroll and algorithmic recommendations as the cause of her addictions, claiming they led to anxiety and depression. The jury awarded her $4.2 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages from Meta, and $1.8 million from YouTube.

The day before, a New Mexico jury concluded that Meta had violated state law by harming children’s mental health and failing to adequately address known risks on its platforms. In the nearly seven-week trial, state prosecutors argued that “Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — prioritized profits over safety, and violated parts of the state’s Unfair Practices Act.” Meta will pay a $375 million penalty.

The cases are just two of thousands filed against the social media giants. They reflect a growing willingness among parents, schools, and lawmakers to examine how social media platforms are designed and the role they play in shaping users’ experiences, especially those of children and teens. These decisions are part of a broader shift—legal, political, and cultural—unfolding across the United States and around the world. It is one that, as followers of Christ, we are glad to see happening!

A Global Movement Gains Momentum

The movement to protect young people is gaining traction in the United States. Lawmakers from both parties have proposed measures to limit how platforms interact with minors, including restrictions on algorithm-driven content and stronger age protections. The U.S. Surgeon General has also called for warning labels on social media, reflecting growing concern about mental health risks for young users.

Countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America are also exploring ways to limit children’s access to social media or reshape how platforms operate. Governments are increasingly taking a more active role in guiding how young people engage with digital environments.

Australia has taken one of the most decisive steps so far, passing legislation that sets a minimum age (16) for social media use and requiring platforms to enforce it. Indonesia is implementing design-based regulations this week that restrict children under 16 from accessing social media, gaming, and AI chatbots.

What’s at Stake for the Next Generation

If you’ve spent any time around young people recently, you know the irresistible draw that smartphones and social media have on them (and on adults, for that matter). The results are concerning, to say the least. Many young people experience high levels of anxiety, disrupted sleep, shortened attention spans, and a growing reliance on digital interaction. Rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and suicide have skyrocketed since smartphones and social media were introduced around 2010.

Social media platforms are designed to capture attention and encourage ongoing engagement. Continuous scrolling, algorithm-driven feeds, and frequent notifications keep young people—and many adults—constantly returning to the platforms. Addictive behavior is common.

Researchers such as Jonathan Haidt have drawn attention to how smartphone-based childhoods are shaping social and emotional development. He points to the role of constant connectivity, algorithm-driven content, and social feedback loops in shaping how young people form their identities and relationships.

A Spiritual Crisis

These trends are especially concerning from a biblical perspective.

As Christians, our thoughts and identities are to be shaped by truth and holiness—not worldly entertainment or inputs. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Yet, according to a Gallup poll, teens spend nearly five hours a day on social media. The amount of time they spend on Bible reading can be counted in minutes, if at all. Adults don’t do much better—most spend over two hours a day on social media. The devil has clearly skewed our priorities!

The apostle Paul’s words to the young man Timothy fit us all too well. We are “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4).

So what can we do about this spiritual crisis? Are there ways to keep social media from taking over our lives or the lives of the young people we care about? Yes!

What Can Parents and Caring Adults Do?

Start by surrendering your own electronics and social media usage to God. Every day, ask God to be Lord of your life. Commit to using your devices only for God’s glory. With David, determine, “I will behave wisely in a perfect way. … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. … I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (Psalm 101:2, 3). When you fail, ask for forgiveness, and commit to putting God first.

For the young people in your life, begin with Jonathan Haidt’s recommendations:

• Delay smartphones: No smartphones before high school

• Delay social media: No social media before age 16
• Create phone-free spaces: Create device-free times at home or school
• Encourage real-world independence: Prioritize face-to-face friendships and real-world responsibility.

But don’t stop there. Build relationships of trust with the young people in your life. Be interested in them. Listen to them. Pray with and for them. Do things together. Model healthy digital habits.

Most importantly, let them see you devoting time to reading your Bible, attending church, and serving others. “Teach [God’s ways and laws] diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Here Am I, Send Me!

One of the best things you can do to help the young people in your life get off social media is to help them discover their purpose. Give them opportunities to lead, to grow, and to serve others. Let them see that their life matters. When they discover the joy of walking with God and working for the salvation of others, social media will lose much of its pull on their lives.

Amazing Facts is committed to helping young people discover their God-given purpose. That’s why we are dedicating our sixth annual youth conference to motivating and equipping young people to become active workers for God.

Do the young people in your life need some godly encouragement and real-life purpose? Then make plans now to attend “Send Me: Here I Am, Lord!” June 17–20, 2026. It may be the best thing you ever do for them.

For decades, colorectal cancer was considered an older person’s disease. Routine screenings began at 50, and younger adults were rarely on anyone’s radar. But the data tells a different story today.

The Cancer Research Institute reports that while rates of CRC are declining among older generations, they’re rising by nearly three percent a year in those under 50.

What Is Happening in the Body?

Colon cancer typically begins as small polyps growing on the inner lining of the large intestine. Over time, these polyps can become malignant, invade surrounding tissue, and spread through the bloodstream to other organs. What makes this crisis especially devastating is that three out of four young adults diagnosed are already at a late stage, because nobody thinks to look sooner.

While genetics, environment, and other factors all play a role in CRC, research consistently points to modern lifestyle patterns as major contributors. Highly processed diets, low fiber intake, sedentary living, and chronic stress all significantly increase one’s risk.

No single choice guarantees immunity, but as Proverbs 26:2 reminds us, “Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.” Scripture has something to say about colorectal cancer, and it isn’t new. It actually started in Eden.

The Garden and the Microbiome

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them a specific diet. “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:29). Later, after sin entered the world, God expanded that provision to include “the herb of the field” (Genesis 3:18).

From the beginning, God’s dietary blueprint was entirely plant-based. And plants contain one essential dietary component that animal products fundamentally lack: fiber. Its impact on the human body is profound.

When we consume fiber from whole plants, beneficial gut bacteria ferment it and produce short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, which actively protect the lining of the colon from cancerous changes. Without adequate fiber, those protective bacteria starve, the gut microbiome deteriorates, and the colon becomes vulnerable.

Research today confirms that populations eating high-fiber, plant-rich diets show dramatically lower rates of colorectal cancer, and that for every additional 10 grams of fiber consumed daily, colorectal cancer risk drops by seven percent. But what we steer clear of matters just as much as what we add to our plates.

A Lesson From Babylon

When King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, he selected the brightest young men of Israel—among them Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—to be trained in the ways of Babylon. As part of their preparation, they were assigned the king’s food: rich meats, wine, and the delicacies of the royal table; a diet strikingly similar to the standard American one today.

By any cultural standard, it was a privilege to dine on the king’s food. But Daniel, led by his faith in God, understood no good could come from disregarding the Lord’s dietary counsel. So he requested vegetables to eat and water to drink instead (Daniel 1:12).

After ten days, Daniel and his companions appeared healthier and better nourished than all the young men who had eaten from the king’s table (Daniel 1:15). What they avoided eating mattered just as much as what they chose to eat.

Recent studies show that individuals with the highest intake of red meat had a 30 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer, while those consuming the most processed meat had a 40 percent increased risk. Ultra-processed foods compound the damage further by triggering chronic inflammation in the colon and progressively suppressing the body’s ability to heal. The king’s table, it turns out, was never safe.

The good news is that the gut microbiome is remarkably responsive to dietary change. Research shows that switching to a plant-based diet can begin to improve the microbiome’s composition within days, with beneficial microbes becoming more influential relatively quickly. While individual responses vary, the evidence is clear: It is never too late to start tending the garden within.

Steps You Can Take Today

• Prioritize plants. Pack your meals with vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Aim for 30 different plant foods per week. Research shows that people who consume 30 or more different plant varieties weekly have significantly greater gut microbiome diversity than those who eat fewer than 10. Avoid processed meats and cut ultra-processed foods as aggressively as you can.

• When in doubt, get screened! While screening guidelines now recommend beginning at age 45 for average-risk adults, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should speak with your doctor about starting earlier. A colonoscopy can both find and remove pre-cancerous polyps in a single procedure. Do not wait for symptoms.

• Move your body. Regular physical activity reduces colorectal cancer risk by approximately 24 percent in men and 23 percent in women, with exercise reducing chronic inflammation, boosting immune function, and positively affecting the gut microbiome. Obesity raises colorectal cancer risk and compounds every other factor.

• Know the warning signs. Blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, unexplained abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, or constant fatigue are all reasons to schedule a check-up.

There Is Still Hope

The good news is that this cancer is largely preventable. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The choices we make at the table are daily acts of faithfulness to the body God has entrusted to us.

The Creator designed us to thrive on the foods He made. Science confirms it. Return to whole foods. Return to the original design and trust the One who said, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).

Learn more about God’s health care plan.

President Trump said Iran posed an immediate danger to the United States, its troops, and allies through nuclear ambitions, missile programs, and its support of militant groups. He is also promoting regime change and “freedom” for Iranians, framing the mission as an opportunity for Iranians to “take over your government.”

The United States hopes to destroy Iranian nuclear and missile capabilities and disrupt Iran’s support to armed proxies. Nevertheless, Iran’s allies across the Middle East could make achieving these goals difficult. The Iranian-backed group Hezbollah launched missiles into northern Israel in response to Khamenei’s death. We could be facing a multi-year conflict with global economic consequences if things continue to escalate.

How will it all play out? No one knows.

Yet, whatever happens with Iran pales in comparison to what the Bible says is coming. The most devastating clash the world will ever experience is currently brewing and will erupt in what’s known as the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

The Final Conflict

The Battle of Armageddon is the culmination of a war that began in heaven thousands of years ago (Revelation 12:7). It’s a battle for hearts and eternal destinies. Every human must choose a side. No one is exempt.

As demonic activity increases, miraculous signs and wonders, including fire from heaven, will accompany a movement to establish a worldwide, government-enforced religious system (16:13, 14; 13:13). Everyone who resists this movement will face a difficult decision: submit to a false religion and live as usual, or worship the Creator and be denied the right to buy and sell—and even face the death penalty (13:15–17; 14:7).

Eventually, every person’s fate will be sealed, and God will announce, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still … he who is righteous, let him be righteous still” (22:11).

At that point, there will be “a time of trouble” unlike anything before (Daniel 12:1). God’s wrath will be unleashed on the earth in the form of seven plagues (16:1). The first plague is a “foul and loathsome sore” on those who reject God and worship according to the state religion (v. 2). Next, the oceans will turn to

blood, killing marine creatures (v. 3). Then, freshwater sources will likewise become blood (v. 4). Fourth, the sun will scorch the earth’s inhabitants with “great heat” (v. 8, 9). Following the heat will be dense darkness (v. 10). Next, the Euphrates River will dry up (v. 12).

The seventh plague will cause a violent storm and a massive “earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth” (v. 18). “Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men” (v. 19).

Although it sounds like the terrifying script for a horror movie, those who love Jesus have nothing to fear.

We have these precious promises:

• “He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure” (Isaiah 33:16).
• “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9, 10).
• “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1, 2).

How to Prepare

Amidst the description of the plagues, we find this verse: “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15).

To be found naked is to be found unrepentant and lost in our shame and sin when Christ returns (Genesis 3:10). However, we won’t be caught by surprise if we commit our hearts to Christ today.

The apostle Paul says, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:2–4).

Are you daily walking with Jesus? If so, you’re ready for the final events.

Learn more about the Battle of Armageddon and how you can fight on the Lord’s side

According to Pew Research Center survey results from September 2025, 31 percent of American adults use AI frequently, 62 percent use it several times a week, and 73 percent would be open to allowing AI to assist them in daily activities.

Users typically engage with AI in the form of chatbots such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. And with the number of users on the rise, researchers have become increasingly concerned about their mental well-being.

A recent study published on the JAMA Network, for instance, surveyed 20,847 U.S. adults in all 50 states about their AI use and their mental health. The average age of those surveyed was about 47 years, and men and women were divided into nearly equal groups, with a variety of ethnicities included. The study also took into consideration the educational level and socioeconomic status of participants.

The study reported that those who used AI regularly were more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and irritability, and the incidence increased with more frequent AI use. The authors of the study were careful to point out that these results don’t mean that AI necessarily causes mental health disorders. But there appears to be a significant link between them.

More importantly, the researchers emphasized that people who use general chatbots for social or emotional support were the most likely to have mental health challenges. Indeed, some studies have shown that depending on general chatbots for support can exacerbate mental health disorders and, in some cases, even lead to suicide.

A Toll on Youth

In one of the most prominent and tragic cases of the past year, a chatbot appeared to be implicated in the death of a 16-year-old boy, Adam Raine. Testifying before Congress in 2025, his parents stated that their son had confided in ChatGPT on his phone for weeks before his suicide. When Adam expressed emotional distress, the chatbot’s responses were validating.

Over time, it convinced the teen that it knew him better than anyone else. When he considered telling his parents about his struggles, the chatbot dissuaded him from it. Shockingly, it even offered to write a suicide note for him.

Sadly, there are many more stories like Adam’s, some involving virtual relationships established in chatbots like Character.AI. In fact, two-thirds of teens have tried Character.AI or other companion chatbots, and 30 percent of teens use them every day. In Character.AI, users can interact with an existing character or design a complex character of their own with a unique personality and memory, develop a “relationship” with their character, have conversations, and fantasize situations together. Proponents say it sparks creativity.

However, according to commonsensemedia.org, social AI companions such as Character.AI are too risky for teen users. Designed to create emotional dependency, AI companions can result in confusion for developing brains and often produce violent, sexually explicit, or self-harm content that can negatively impact users.

All Ages Impacted

Teens seem to be especially vulnerable to mental health challenges related to AI, but adults can be as well. In fact, the JAMA Network study showed that it was primarily the adults who used AI for personal reasons (as opposed to for work or school) who showed increased scores on standard tests for depression, anxiety, and irritability. And participants ages 45 to 64 were the age group of adults most likely to be negatively affected by this type of AI use.

So why are some people willing to interact and communicate with machines?

For a variety of reasons. In the case of teens, it may be mainly for entertainment purposes. In other cases, many people are isolated, lonely, or in emotional turmoil and feel they have no other human they can safely confide in. AI sounds empathetic in its responses and seems to understand how they are feeling. People of all ages can be very convinced by, and even become addicted to, the digital mirage of someone who cares.

Real Help

So what should you do if you find yourself in the midst of an emotional crisis?

First, realize that you’re not alone; many people struggle. Psychological problems are extremely common and are not a sign of weakness. And since around half of us will have a diagnosable mental health condition during our lifetime, there is no room for stigma.

Second, find someone to help you. But rather than counting on technology that has no conscience or emotion, it’s best for struggling individuals to search out real human help. Talk with a trusted friend or family member. If your problems seem complex or you are in emotional distress, seek out a good Christian counselor. If you have limited finances, ask at a large church. Many of them provide counseling services at reduced fees to community members. Alternatively, check with your county health department for free or low-cost therapy. Often, mental health clinics offer sliding-scale fees to accommodate those with lower incomes.

Finally, remember that God is on your side. As your Creator, He cares about your well-being more than anyone else. He wants you to “prosper in all things and be in health” (3 John 1:2)—and that includes mental health. As you seek psychological assistance, ask God to help you. Lean on Him. He will never abandon you. And keep in mind that He “has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Want to learn how to deal with stress in your life? Click here to read our free book!

One hundred years later, television—and by extension all video-based social media platforms—dominates our daily routines. Screens wake us up, keep us company during meals, follow us into our bedrooms, and shape how we relax, learn, and view the world.

According to recent studies, the average American spends 5.5 hours per day watching TV/video content, and the average teenager consumes a staggering 9 hours of entertainment media per day (not including time spent using media for school or homework). On the other hand, only 16 percent of Americans say they read their Bible every day.

That contrast is striking.

Screens: A Powerful but Neutral Tool

To be clear, television and digital media are not inherently evil. Like fire or electricity, they are tools—powerful ones—that can be used for good or for harm. Educational programs have taught generations to read. Documentaries have expanded our understanding of the world. Sermons, Bible studies, and other faith-based content now reach millions at the tap of a screen.

The problem isn’t that we watch—it’s what we watch, how much we watch, and what we prioritize spending our time on.

Even the briefest look at any of today’s most popular TV channels or social media platforms will instantly reveal that the more inflammatory and salacious a video, the more popular it is. According to an article published in Forbes: “The algorithm doesn’t reward truth—it rewards hostility. If an accurate news report gets less engagement than a sensationalized falsehood, the falsehood wins.”

This doesn’t just apply to news, but to all forms of video content. Provocation reigns, and outrage is all the rage. What we consume to unwind winds up leaving us anxious, overstimulated, and numb instead.

It’s even more dire when it comes to developing minds. “Today’s children and teens do not know a world without digital technology, but the digital world wasn’t built with children’s healthy mental development in mind,” states the American Academy of Pediatrics.

So how can we find our way in a world saturated with digital noise?

Choose Light, Not Darkness

The Bible tells us “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Television may be only a century old, but distraction and misinformation have always been the enemy’s primary tools. Entertainment is nothing but the same tactic in different packaging.

What we consistently take in doesn’t stay on the outside. It shapes our values, trains our desires, and influences our minds. A 2023 study found that repeated exposure to wrongdoing—known as the moral repetition effect—dulls our emotional response, so each time we see it, we judge it as less unethical, gradually reshaping our moral compass.

Is it any wonder Satan relentlessly uses our screens to flood our lives with corrupting content?

It’s for this very reason that Jesus warned us: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:22, 23).

What we give our time, attention, and affection to doesn’t just fill our schedule—it forms our hearts. If our daily diet is mostly trivial, violent, or hopeless content, our spiritual and mental lives will reflect it. Fortunately, God has given us the gift of choice, as He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Dining on Truth

In a digital world rife with chaos, every time we choose God-honoring media, we reject Satan’s fear and anxiety-inducing fare and choose to dine with Jesus. And although deciding what media to allow into our lives may seem like navigating a minefield, thankfully, we have a sure guide: God’s Word.

So what does biblical content look like? The apostle Paul’s words are especially helpful in making our viewing decisions: ”Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

How’s your digital plate looking lately?

Exercising Divine Discernment

Here are three practical and biblical steps to help make faithful media choices.

1. Pray: Before scrolling, watching, or listening, ask God to guide your choices. Prayer helps you filter content through His perspective. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

2. Evaluate media against Scripture: Does it promote love, peace, integrity, and holiness—or does it entice and enflame? God invites us to think critically and align our choices with His Word: “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD” (Isaiah 1:18).

3. Ask yourself if it draws you closer to God: Before watching anything, consider what it teaches you about Him. If the answer is nothing, it is likely not worth your time. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

The Choice Is Yours

God’s Word has always been transformative—but never before has it been so accessible. Today, sermons, Bible studies, and faith-based programming can reach people across the globe instantly.

The question is whether we will choose media that merely entertains—or media that actually nourishes.

As we reflect on a century of television, this anniversary invites us to ask an honest question: How are my viewing choices shaping my thoughts?

It may not be necessary to turn screens off entirely, but to intentionally turn them to something better.

Learn to understand the Bible and sharpen your spiritual discernment with Pastor Doug’s free book, The Ultimate Resource.

While hitting the bullseye on avoiding added sugar and refined foods, the guidelines also made some startling recommendations regarding animal-based fats and protein, placing them at a priority level in the pyramid. For instance, recommendations were made for frying foods in beef tallow or dairy butter as an alternative to olive oil. And in the accompanying graphic, meats and full-fat dairy are shown at the top along with vegetables.

Physicians, Dietitians & Researchers

Since the new pyramid and guidelines were released, a tsunami of comments has flooded the media from physicians, dietitians, and researchers concerned about the potential impact on public health. While many acknowledge the positives in the new DGA, there are significant misgivings about several aspects of the new advice.

One of the most frequently cited issues is the confusion generated by the apparent contradiction between the Food Pyramid graphic and the written guidelines. Even a dietitian writing for the Food Network expressed concern that the new recommendations could result in more Americans consuming excessive saturated fat from animal products, potentially endangering their health.

Major health organizations have echoed these concerns. For instance, the American Heart Association applauded some of the changes but cautioned that the new emphasis on animal fats and meat consumption could cause many people to consume an excess of saturated fats, which could result in increased rates of cardiovascular disease.

Experts who participated in the guideline process have also raised red flags. Deirdre Tobias, one of three Harvard nutrition professors appointed to the DGA Advisory Committee, commented that the “biggest deviation from the science is a new prioritization of animal sources within the protein food group, instead of a plant-forward pattern.”

Those advocating for plant-based health have been even more direct. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine—an organization of nearly a million members, including 17,000 physicians—supports plant-based eating because of the extensive evidence demonstrating its health benefits. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee, commented regarding the DGA: “The Guidelines are right to limit cholesterol-raising saturated (“bad”) fat, but they should spell out where it comes from: dairy products and meat, primarily. … The Guidelines err in promoting meat and dairy products, which are principal drivers of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.”

Dr. Barnard’s critique carries weight. He has led dozens of scientific research studies on the effects of diet on chronic pain, hormonal symptoms, body weight, and diabetes. One of his studies, funded by the National Institutes of Health, opened the way for the discovery that type 2 diabetes can potentially be reversed.

Decades of Research

Beginning in the 1960s, prominent physicians and researchers such as Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (whose work inspired the hit documentary Forks Over Knives) began investigating the effects of diet on health. In one landmark study, Dr. Esselstyn changed the diets of patients with severe cardiovascular disease (CVD) to a whole foods, plant-based pattern. Those who adhered to the diet experienced no further cardiac events during the 12 years of follow-up. The one patient who did not stick with plant foods required bypass surgery six years later. A larger study followed, delivering similar results and confirming the potential power of dietary change. In the 1990s and beyond, Dr. Dean Ornish reported comparable outcomes with his own program to reverse heart disease that featured plant-based eating. This added additional evidence that dietary intervention can dramatically change the outcome for CVD patients.

One of the largest studies along these lines—a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving well over one million participants—examined the association between dietary fat and various causes of death. This extensive analysis produced a broad view of how different types of fat influence long-term health outcomes. The researchers concluded: “Diets high in saturated fat were associated with higher mortality from all-causes, CVD, and cancer, whereas diets high in polyunsaturated fat were associated with lower mortality from all-causes, CVD, and cancer. Diets high in trans-fat were associated with higher mortality from all-causes and CVD. Diets high in monounsaturated fat were associated with lower all-cause mortality.”

Together, these results reinforce what decades of additional empirical research have shown: that dietary patterns emphasizing whole foods and plant-based nutrition consistently align with lower disease risk and improved health. Even with this impressive collection of research backing up the benefits of a whole foods, plant-based diet, the controversy continues—not among most researchers, but among those determined to oppose or reinterpret the science. Yet, the science itself remains clear.

It has taken us humans a long time to sort out the healthiest approaches to eating, but God laid out the original plan in His Word millennia ago. “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:29). In other words, from the very beginning, the Creator provided a vast variety of plants as food for all living things—a generous, abundant menu designed for our wellbeing. Delicious fruits, seeds, nuts, greens, grains, legumes, and vegetables are all part of His health-enhancing plan for us, a plan that still speaks with wisdom today.

Want to learn how to improve your health? Read our free Study Guide called “God’s Free Health Plan”!

Rage Bait or Prophetic Fulfillment?

The year 2025 was a challenging one for many. It seemed everyone was angry about something: gay marriage, Gaza, global warming, Project 2025, immigration, digital I.D.s, vaccines… the list could go on and on. Many influencers intentionally used these divisive issues to provoke others.

There’s a word for that: “rage-bait.” Merriam-Webster defines it this way: “Rage-bait is content (usually, but not always, found online) that tries to provoke anger or outrage, as a means of gaining attention or making money.”

It’s an old trick, one that the devil has been using for millennia to keep people from focusing on what really matters. But as 2026 begins, we would do well to remember that the troubles we see around us are more than rage-bait. They are actually prophecy in fulfillment.

A Prophetically Seismic Year

Let’s review a few of the prophetic markers from 2025. Just as Jesus predicted, trouble increased on every side. Wars escalated between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Palestine. Civil war raged in Sudan. There was political upheaval, tariffs and trade wars, lost jobs, and government shutdowns. Wildfires raged out of control. The cost of living increased. Digital identification systems became more prominent. Worldwide, it was one of the three hottest years on record.

Things have heated up on the religious front too. Pope Francis passed away in April and was replaced by the first American Pope: Leo XIV. Evangelicals gained increasing power in American politics, while the shooting of Charlie Kirk highlighted the political and religious divides in America. And Kirk’s posthumously released book, Stop, In the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life brought the issue of the Sabbath to the forefront of people’s attention.

But it hasn’t all been bad news. God is working in tremendous ways all around the globe, and thousands of people have turned to the Lord. God’s remnant church is growing, and His people are actively seeking to know the truth and live by it. The Holy Spirit is being poured out on many.

Here at Amazing Facts, we celebrated 60 years of God’s miraculous leading. It’s been thrilling to revisit the ways God has led in the past as we look forward to the future.

Are You Troubled?

For many believers, the steady increase of prophetic fulfillment feels like the drumbeat of approaching doom. We take the devil’s rage-bait and let our anger at the problems we see control us. Or we focus on the coming time of trouble rather than the God who has promised to deliver us. Worry wiggles into the corners of our hearts as we look at 2026.

Yet neither anger nor worry was on Jesus’ agenda for His last-day church. Instead, He specifically tells us: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled” (Matthew 24:6).

As we face the unknowns of 2026, God has something far better for us: joy.

Living Hope -> Joy

Like us, the early Christians faced uncertain times and increasing pressure to be disloyal to Jesus. But the apostle Peter didn’t want them to take the devil’s rage-bait. Instead, he reminded the believers that they were saved by the mercy and power of God so that they could look forward with living hope.

“According to His abundant mercy [God] has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3–5, emphasis added).

This living hope allows us to do something the world cannot understand: rejoice in the face of trials, for trials prove “the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire” (1 Peter 1:7).

But our greatest joy comes because of our love for Jesus. “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8, 9).

Remember the wise men? They followed a prophetic star across the desert for months, met with disbelief, and faced open ridicule. Yet when they saw God’s continued leading, they “rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (Matthew 2:10).

Tell the World!

We can do the same in 2026. We can (and should) pay attention to fulfilling prophecy. But more importantly, let us allow the love of Jesus to fill our hearts with “joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

Then (and only then) will we be prepared to preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world. When the love of Jesus absorbs our thoughts and fills our hearts with joy, we will find that we want to do nothing else than tell the world about our Savior. Our living hope will propel us to every corner of this dark planet with the good news that Jesus saves.

“And this gospel [good news] of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

That’s a lot better than taking the devil’s rage-bait!

Join Pastor Doug for “Charlie Kirk’s Sabbath Book and the Evangelical Earthquake” to learn more about current events and how they are fulfilling Bible prophecy.

Conditionalism posits that only the righteous receive immortality; annihilationism asserts that the wicked will be destroyed in hell. These ideas fly in the face of the traditional view of hell known as eternal conscious torment (ECT). The term is self-explanatory.

Kirk Cameron became a household name in the 1980s as a teen star on the popular sitcom Growing Pains. Yet after becoming a Christian, he distanced himself from Hollywood and later starred in widely successful Christian films Left Behind (2000) and Fireproof (2008). Additionally, in the early 2000s, Cameron partnered with well-known evangelist Ray Comfort and his ministry Living Waters.

The point is this—Cameron is highly influential in the Christian world, and his recent thoughts on hell caused concern among proponents of everlasting torment.

Has Mr. Cameron gone off the theological deep end?

Should we be worried too?

Let’s find out.

What Was Said

In the controversial video, Cameron expresses how eternal conscious torment doesn’t seem to mesh well with God’s character of mercy and love as revealed in Scripture. He said that if we get the doctrine of hell wrong, “We give ammunition to the enemies of God.”

According to Scripture, he’s right! Our behavior and teachings about God are on display before the world (1 Corinthians 4:9). We should be careful not to give reason for God’s name to be “blasphemed among the Gentiles” (Romans 2:24).

Sadly, ECT has done just that.

Agnostic Robert G. Ingersoll said, “Eternal punishment can be inflicted upon man only by an eternal fiend” (The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 1, 1901). Atheist Bertrand Russell said, “I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment” (Why I Am Not a Christian, 1927). And more recently, atheist Richard Dawkins compared teaching children to believe in eternal hell to “child abuse” (The God Delusion, 2006).

Cameron’s prior ministry partner and friend, Ray Comfort, responded to Cameron’s video with one of his own. He wanted supporters of Living Waters to know that Cameron has not worked with them for over a decade and that they do not share Cameron’s views on hell. He stated, “We’re releasing this video because we want to reaffirm that Living Waters does indeed hold to the biblical and historic orthodox view of conscious eternal torment.” Comfort promised to release a video with a “thorough defense” of ECT soon.

Looking at the Evidence

Comfort referred to eternal conscious torment as the “biblical and historic orthodox view” of hell. While the view is historic and orthodox (that is, commonly accepted within Christianity), it is not biblical.

Cameron and his son, James, did not appeal to tradition, but to the Bible. They discussed Jesus’ unambiguous statements that we should “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28) and “He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).

These were supported with Psalm 37:20, which says, “The wicked shall perish. … Into smoke they shall vanish away” (Psalm 37:20). Don’t be thrown off by the word “unquenchable.” The same terminology is used to describe the fires that destroyed the nation of Edom and even the city of Jerusalem, yet neither is burning today, and Jerusalem has been rebuilt (Isaiah 34:10; Jeremiah 17:27; Ezekiel 20:47). An unquenchable fire is one that cannot be stopped. However, it will go out after its fuel is consumed.

Matthew 25:46, a text used to support eternal torment, was also discussed. It says, “These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). In light of dozens of texts that speak of the destruction of the wicked, there are no grounds to view this punishment as unending agony. It is simply permanent. And what is this permanent punishment? “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

A lot more could be said, but we don’t have the space here. Visit helltruth.com to explore the overwhelming evidence for conditionalism and annihilationism.

A Reluctant Destroyer

Supporters of ECT often say that annihilationism portrays God as “easy on sin” and doesn’t motivate the wicked to turn to Him. However, Cameron pointed out that “within the annihilationist view, there is also room for judgment. It doesn’t just mean that Hitler and sweet little grandma, who sinned a couple of times, are both just snuffed out like this candle flame.”

Jesus’ own words support Cameron’s view, saying that some “shall be beaten with many stripes,” while others “shall be beaten with few” (Luke 12:47, 48).

And when it comes to God motivating sinners to turn to Him, He does this with love, not the scare tactic of threatening eternal conscious torment. His love was put on display at the cross. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

Nevertheless, the Bible does speak of a “lake of fire” where there will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Revelation 20:14; Matthew 13:42). That’s something we shouldn’t wish on anyone. Neither does God, who is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

At the end of his video, Cameron admitted, “I used to hold the position of conscious eternal torment because that’s just what I was taught by people that I love and trust. I’ve learned that there are other positions, and a very robust argument can be made for conditionalism or annihilationism, as Edward Fudge posits here. [Cameron shared a lecture on hell by Dr. Edward Fudge that is worth watching.] And it fits the character of God in my understanding more than the conscious eternal torment position because it brings in the mercy of God together with the justice of God.”

It’s encouraging to see Cameron embrace the biblical view of hell and point his substantial audience in that direction. Let’s pray that he stands firm. He’s taking a lot of heat right now.

Do you want to know what the Bible really says about hellfire? Or share the amazing truth in your community? Check out our colorful and popular sharing magazine, The Bible Truth About Hell.

His announcement provoked a storm of opposition, both within the UK and abroad. Groups like Big Brother Watch warn that the new “BritCard” will turn the UK into a “papers, please” society, marginalize those who cannot or will not use the system, and create serious data-privacy risks.

Britain is not the first country to utilize a digital identification system. China famously uses digital and biometric data to identify and track its citizens. Other nations—including Austria, Singapore, Australia, Spain, South Korea, and India—also employ digital ID systems. Twelve U.S. states now offer the option of adding a driver’s license to a digital wallet in Apple or Google systems.

Digital IDs can offer significant benefits: convenience, fraud protection, and streamlined business services. But the dangers are potentially huge, including privacy concerns, vulnerability of personal data to hackers or corporations, and the possibility of expanded government surveillance.

Should Christians Be Concerned?

The renewed discussion has many Christians wondering whether digital IDs are the mark of the beast—or at least a step toward it. One user on X, @karma44921039, wrote, “world government is rolling out the mark of the beast ID which will soon become a chip for your hand with bio metrics for your face… it truly is the mark of the beast brought to us by devil worshippers.”

Others have fought digital ID systems in court. A coal miner refused to use a biometric hand-scanner at work and was fired; he sued, testifying that he feared being “marked”—identified “with the antichrist.” In another case, a parent refused to allow their child to carry a Smart ID card, believing the chip embedded in the badge was the mark of the beast. Yet another parent, attempting to receive state benefits, testified, “If I were to take the mark of the beast, which is what I believe finger imaging may be, it would be damnation to my eternal soul.”

Are they right? Will using digital identification systems cause someone to receive the mark of the beast? Or does the Bible teach something entirely different?

What Is the Mark of the Beast?

The Bible’s most dire warning appears in Revelation 14:9–11: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And … they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

It’s no wonder people fear receiving this mysterious mark.

The Bible explains that at the end of time, every person will be marked—either with the seal of God or with the mark of the beast. There will be no middle ground.

The seal of God is given to those who sorrow over sin (Ezekiel 9:4) and are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 1:22). They have the Father’s name “written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1 KJV), meaning their minds have received the impress of God’s character. They have learned to love, think, and act like Jesus. Their allegiance to God is revealed by keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8–11), which contains all three elements of a king’s seal: His name (“the LORD”), His title (Creator), and His territory (“heaven and earth”). Those who receive God’s seal are protected from the final plagues (Revelation 7:1–3).

In contrast, the mark of the beast is received by those who accept the devil’s final deceptions through the antichrist beast power (Revelation 13). Receiving the mark in the forehead or hand symbolizes that their thoughts and actions reflect rebellion against God. The visible sign of this mark is not a number or a tattoo; rather, it is expressed in who and when we worship. Just as the seventh-day Sabbath is the sign of God’s faithful people, keeping Sunday sacred will be the outward sign of those who receive the mark of the beast.

So … Is the Mark a Digital ID?

The Bible explains that the mark of the beast will be enforced through economic sanctions and, ultimately, the threat of death (Revelation 13:15–17). If that’s true, then no one has the mark now. But the time is coming when all who follow Satan’s counterfeit system of worship will be compelled to keep Sunday and disregard God’s holy Sabbath.

Will digital identification systems be used to enforce economic sanctions against those who keep the Sabbath holy? Likely, yes. But we must be clear: Digital IDs themselves are not the mark of the beast. The mark (or seal) is about allegiance—a choice of loyalty between Christ and the enemy.

Whose Mark Are You Choosing?

Though no one has yet received the mark of the beast, we are all living in the time of preparation. Every day we make choices that reveal whose side we are on. Are we aligning with Satan by gratifying our selfish desires? Or are we aligning with Christ by surrendering self through the power of His indwelling Spirit?

The habits and decisions we form today are shaping our characters—and determining whether we will receive the beast’s mark or the Lamb’s seal.

Want to learn more? Read Pastor Doug’s article “The Seal of God in the Last Days” to understand how you can be prepared to stand for Jesus in the final crisis.

Crato’s image, dedicated November 13, is based on the original Our Lady of Fatima sculpture, which sits in a shrine in Fatima, Portugal. Its stature is vastly more diminutive at 104 centimeters (3.4 ft).

Why should you care that Crato made a giant Marian statue? Keep reading.

The Pilgrim Statue

In 1952, Pope Pius XII stated, “In 1946, I crowned Our Lady of Fatima as Queen of the World and the following year, through the Pilgrim Virgin, she set forth as though to claim her dominion, and the favors she performs along the way are such that we can hardly believe what we are seeing with our eyes.”

The Pilgrim Virgin, a reproduction of the original Our Lady of Fatima Sculpture, visited Crato on November 13, 1953. According to the National Catholic Register, “There are reports of favors after the statue’s passage through the streets. At the end of that month, the Crato cathedral received as a gift a replica of Our Lady’s statue. … Consequently, devotion to Our Lady of Fatima has flourished in the region.”

A few of the “miracles” and “favors” claimed over the years include: the statue shedding tears during a 1972 visit to New Orleans; sparing Aruba from a hurricane in 1999; curing a child’s cancer in the Philippines in 2002; and numerous accounts of miraculous conversions and physical healings.

But is this really the work of Mary? Let’s dig deeper.

Talking to the Dead

In 1917, three shepherd children reported that Mary appeared to them once a month for six months in Fatima, Portugal. Mary is said to have encouraged them to pray the Rosary daily, devote themselves to her, and seek to turn sinners to God. They also said she gave them a vision of hell and made several predictions.

All but one appearance occurred on the thirteenth of each month from May through October. The children said Mary had promised to perform a miracle in October. On the day of the final apparition, some 70,000 people gathered to witness the miracle. It’s reported that “the sun began to spin, change colors, and zigzag across the sky.”

Two of the shepherd children died the following year, as Mary reportedly told them they would. The third, Lúcia dos Santos, became a nun. The first image of Our Lady of Fatima was sculpted in 1920. Two more were made in 1947 based on Lúcia’s description. One of them became the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue that inspired Crato, Brazil, to eventually build a 45-meter (147 ft) version in 2014. But after its beauty was questioned, it was replaced by the current, larger one, which was recently dedicated.

Again, we ask: Did Mary visit the shepherd children, perform the Miracle of the Sun, and other signs afterwards?

That’s impossible. Here’s why.

Mary Is Dead

The thing about the dead is that we can’t talk to them. Scripture says, “the dead know nothing,” and have nothing to do with “anything done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6). When a person dies, they “go down into silence” (Psalm 115:17) to await the resurrection (John 5:28, 29).

We should not expect to hear from the dead, nor should we attempt to contact them. In fact, we are forbidden to do so. Such behavior is called “an abomination” (Deuteronomy 18:10–12).

Mary, like King David, is “dead and buried” and “did not ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34).

Idolatry Forbidden

The being who appeared at Fatima as Mary encouraged prayer and devotion to herself. This directly opposes Scripture, which says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15), and “O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come” (Psalm 65:2).

Jesus Himself taught us to pray to “our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). And when someone sought to elevate Jesus’ mother, saying, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You,” He replied, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27, 28).

Prayer should always be directed to God alone. It is a form of sacrifice involving offering our time, effort, and devotion to God. Many of the children of Israel died in the wilderness because they made sacrifices to the dead (Psalm 106:28, 29). Praying to anyone other than God is idolatry, and exchanges “the truth of God for the lie,” by placing another in His place (Romans 1:25). “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Crato’s giant Marian statue is nothing more than an idol encouraging worship of the dead while masquerading as a Christian symbol.

Our Only Safeguard

Jesus warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). The apostle John wrote about “spirits of demons, performing signs” to fool the “whole world” (Revelation 16:14). Paul wrote that Satanic forces would work “with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).

Never forget: “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The being who appeared as Mary at Fatima, who encouraged the violation of God’s commandments and, afterward, is said to have performed signs and wonders, was not Mary. We must stand on God’s Word alone. Satan can fool the senses, but “the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Learn more about what the Bible says concerning the dead and communicating with them.