On April 24, when the ship docked at St. Helena, the deceased man’s wife—who was already ill—flew to South Africa. Two days later, after collapsing in an airport, she also died.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, another passenger became ill and was evacuated to South Africa, where he tested positive for hantavirus, a potentially fatal disease that comes from exposure to infected mice and rats. At that point, authorities must have felt puzzled. Although at least one strain of hantavirus can spread from person to person, it usually occurs only through close contact. The married couple being infected made some sense, but another person with the virus? That was unusual, but perhaps that would be the end of the outbreak.

The next day, however, another passenger was showing symptoms of the virus. She died on May 2. Hantavirus was somehow spreading among the passengers. The following day, the ship anchored at Cape Verde. The ship’s doctor had become infected as well, and a passenger who happened to be a physician took over his role on the ship.

So far, eight people had fallen ill. Some of them had been evacuated to hospitals. Passengers on the ship were now quarantined, required to spend most of their time isolated in their cabins. Whenever they emerged, they wore masks and kept their distance from each other. Docking at a port was out of the question. They were trapped, wondering whether they might be the next to succumb to the virus.

On May 7, the MV Hondius headed for the Canary Islands, having obtained permission from the Spanish government to dock there. However, authorities on the islands were reluctant to have passengers disembark there, potentially exposing their citizens to risk.

Containing the Contagion

Meanwhile, authorities began tracking down the dozens of passengers who had disembarked in multiple countries before the virus was identified. In addition, they needed to begin the difficult task of tracing everyone who may have come into close contact with any of the passengers. Authorities still believe the risk to the general public is low.

Hantavirus is classified as a relatively rare illness, yet it sickens thousands of people worldwide each year. According to the CDC, there were only 890 cases in the United States from 1993 to 2023; the vast majority occurred west of the Mississippi River. However, the strains of virus found in the Americas, which are “New World” hantaviruses, tend to cause pulmonary syndrome, a respiratory disease that can be deadly. In fact, the CDC reports that 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms from hantavirus may die.

Of course, this isn’t the first time contagions have spread on a cruise ship. It happens frequently. For instance, this year alone, significant outbreaks have occurred on four cruise ships. In two cases, passengers and crew were infected with norovirus, a common cause of food-borne illness. On the other ships, E. Coli was to blame for illnesses. These diseases, though inconvenient for travelers, are not usually deadly.

The Andes variety of hantavirus, which affected travelers on the MV Hondius, can be transmitted person-to-person through close contact, especially within a household. But because this particular cruise ship is relatively small, the virus managed to spread among voyagers in the crowded common areas.

A Worse Predicament

Imagine being trapped on a ship, knowing that a potentially deadly virus is spreading. It’s a nightmare scenario that could lead to some pretty desperate thoughts.

Well, in a sense, we are all in a similar predicament—only worse. We are trapped on the cruise ship Earth, which has been infected with the deadly disease called sin. And without intervention, the survival rate for this contagion is zero percent.

Scripture states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). We have all been infected with this deadly virus. That means we are doomed. This isn’t something anyone can survive without outside help. We are in a desperate situation. We need to be rescued!

Thankfully, there is a Rescuer.

“Christ also suffered for us,” and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:21, 24). Because He was willing to die for us, we have hope. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Despite the deadly sin problem, we don’t have to be lost. Because He loves and cares for us, God has provided a way out. He wants not only to rescue us but also to provide an abundant life for us here and now—and a glorious home with Him for eternity.

Click here to read our encouraging Study Guide “Saved From Certain Death.”

“Today’s capstone hearing of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission contained more powerful testimony and discussion about how people of religion are under assault by the secular left,” said Chairman Dan Patrick. “It is time to set the record straight: there is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in the Constitution. For too long, the anti-God left has used this phrase to suppress people of religion in our country. During all 7 Commission hearings, witness after witness testified that the so-called ‘separation of church and state’ was used to take their God-given religious liberty rights away.”

While concerns about the free practice of the Christian faith are real and genuine (such as the well-known bakery dispute in Colorado and several workplace Sabbath-keeping challenges), any solutions designed to protect it at the federal level must remain faithful to the Constitution’s safeguards—for all people and all faiths, and not just one group.

It is true that the phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the Constitution; however, the First Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1791, does support the concept to at least some degree:

• The first clause states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This prohibits the U.S. government from creating a federal religion or imposing religious practices on anyone.
• The second clause adds, “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This protects individuals’ right to worship according to the dictates of their conscience.

Both clauses are essential. “The two religion clauses of our First Amendment, operating in tandem, represent the ‘both/and’ genius of our unique religious freedom regime. They tell us that we can both enforce the establishment clause without being hostile to religion, and rigorously protect religious free exercise without favoring one religion above others” (Bettina Krause, Editor, Liberty Magazine, Nov/Dec. 2024, p. 3).

The Constitution also stipulates that: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States” (Article VI, paragraph 3), meaning any person of any faith may serve as a representative of the people.

A History of Separation

Through their actions and writings, the founders of the United States made it clear that they intended to keep church and state separate. It was not their desire to make all governing bodies free “from” religious people, but rather to advocate freedom “for” religion.

Thomas Jefferson wrote that the “whole American people,” by enacting the First Amendment, built “a wall of separation between Church & State” (Letter to the Danbury Baptists). This letter coined the term “separation of church and state,” but it was based on the Constitution and the intended meaning of the First Amendment.

And the Treaty of Tripoli, negotiated during the era of George Washington and ratified by the United States Senate under the presidency of John Adams, provides an authoritative statement from the generation that forged the nation. “Its declaration that the United States ‘is not in any sense founded upon the Christian religion’ (Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11) reflects the founders’ deliberate commitment to separating civil authority from religious establishment while still protecting the free exercise of faith.”

“The framers [of the Constitution] intentionally built a system that protected freedom of conscience for all, ensuring that government would neither impose nor favor any particular faith. When that boundary is crossed and when the state begins to elevate religious traditions, it departs from its original design and puts liberty at risk. The preservation of true religious liberty depends on maintaining that clear and essential separation—once it is compromised, liberty itself is placed in jeopardy.”

Why a Religious Liberty Commission?

The RLC was established on May 1, 2025, by President Donald Trump to review the history of religious liberty in the United States. The stated purpose of the commission is to “advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies of the United States, including by recommending steps to secure domestic religious liberty and identifying opportunities to further the cause of religious liberty around the world.”

Over the past year, the commission has held seven hearings to examine First Amendment rights, conscience protections regarding health and education, attacks on religious institutions, and the rights of all Americans to freely exercise their faith without fear of government censorship or antagonism.

While Christians can be grateful for efforts to ensure they can freely exercise their religious convictions even under unfriendly state legislators and courts, extreme diligence should be taken so that the pendulum does not swing in the opposite, equally dangerous direction.

According to the White House, President Trump has won over 100 victories for people of faith. While many of these are positive developments, it is conceivable that another administration could use the same government structures to ultimately favor one religion and its adherents, offering an umbrella of influence and power over other religious groups and the unreligious.

The “America Reads the Bible” campaign enlisted over 500 Americans to join President Trump and other religious leaders in reading through the entire Bible between April 18–25. Their goal was to reconnect “leaders and citizens with the transformative power of Scripture.”

A laudable goal, indeed, but could it be evidence that the U.S. government is becoming increasingly willing to align itself with a particular set of beliefs?

Religious liberty is threatened when faith is restricted—and when it is enforced. Any government that promotes one faith risks violating the liberty of those of another faith.

A Prophetic Warning

This trend should interest all students of prophecy.

The book of Revelation describes a final crisis in which a global power enforces religious worship. In Revelation 13, John sees a lamb-like beast that “speaks like a dragon,” using economic pressure and ultimately a death decree (vv. 11–17).

Several features of this power have led many Bible students to identify it with the United States. Especially noteworthy are the lamb’s two crownless horns—suggesting a government without a king and a church without a pope.

Yet the prophecy warns of a dramatic change. This same power, which begins by upholding freedom, eventually speaks “like a dragon”—using its authority to compel conscience rather than protect it.

In light of this, any movement that brings church and state closer together deserves careful attention. A government designed to protect liberty must not become an instrument for enforcing belief.

Is the United States moving in that direction?

To learn more about religious liberty and America’s role in Bible prophecy, read the Amazing Facts Study Guide, “The USA in Bible Prophecy.”

The four-person crew took flight aboard the Orion spacecraft on April 1. They circled the moon and returned home ten days later, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean after reentering Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 24,000 mph.

The recent lunar flyby mission, named Artemis II, was the first time since 1972 that humans entered the moon’s vicinity, successfully evaluating Orion’s life-support and navigation systems. Artemis III, set for 2027, will test docking procedures with lunar landers in Earth orbit. And Artemis IV intends to put boots on the moon in 2028.

However, mission dates are likely to change, as is common with something as complicated as space travel. Because countless things can go wrong, rigorous testing is vital to success and necessary to protect the astronauts’ lives.

Let’s take a look at the extensive preparation and incredible effort needed for a space mission.

Preparing for Liftoff

In 2023, NASA selected astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen for Artemis II. They trained for nearly three years in anticipation of this year’s launch. 

The crew received detailed lessons on the Orion spacecraft and NASA’s Space Launch System. They studied every phase of the mission, from basic procedures to emergency scenarios. They trained to handle the spacecraft, solve problems under pressure, and conduct observations of the moon. They even learned how to capture clear photos from space. From working with ground control to preparing for splashdown, each exercise was designed to help them respond calmly and confidently in any situation.

That’s just a glimpse of the extensive preparation—everything aimed at ensuring they could handle both routine tasks and unexpected challenges during the 10-day mission.

“Training for Artemis II is all risk mitigation. By preparing the astronauts and flight controllers for what they might encounter, we enable mission success,” said Chief Training Officer, Jacki Mahaffey.

Besides all the training, there is the financial cost to consider. A recent article was titled: “Billions Over the Moon: Is Artemis II Worth the Price Tag?” And analysts warn that overall, the cost of the Artemis program could exceed $100 billion.

The amount of time, money, and dedicated effort that go into such a project is truly astronomical. Even so, Artemis is far from the costliest space program.

The Ultimate Price

The most expensive space program was funded by none other than God Himself. It cost the life of His dear Son and our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul says, “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), and Peter confirms, “you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, … but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18, 19).

$100 billion is nothing in comparison to the inestimable life of Christ.

During the first phase of His mission, the eternal Son of God became human and “dwelt among us” (John 1:14). And after living a sinless life, He died the death that we deserve (Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53:5). His perfect execution of the mission gives Him the right to return and retrieve His “purchased possession” (Ephesians 1:14).

Take comfort in Jesus’ words: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2, 3).

The Final Launch

When Christ returns, the world will take notice. Indeed, no one will miss it, for “every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). Jesus said, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect … from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30, 31).

This phase of the heavenly space program will not be like the first. Jesus’ feet will not touch the ground. Instead, He will summon His saints, both living and dead, to meet Him in the air. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

Christians have waited thousands of years for this moment—the final launch from a dying planet. It will take us well beyond 252,756 miles, beyond our solar system, beyond our galaxy, to the home of our heavenly father.

Are You Space Ready?

The Artemis II astronauts rigorously prepared for their mission around the moon, and rightly so. How much more should Christians be preparing to take flight, considering our eternal destinies are at stake? We are urged: “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).

A massive earthquake will accompany Christ’s return, “such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth” (Revelation 16:18). Islands will disappear into the sea, and mountains will crumble (v. 20). These events will terrify the unprepared, but the saints will rejoice at the appearance of their Savior, saying, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us” (Isaiah 25:9).

Jesus is coming soon. Are you preparing for the launch into eternity?

Check out this study guide to learn more about Christ’s second coming and how to be ready.

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.