A Prayer for the Road Ahead

India’s roads are some of the most dangerous in the world. Traffic accidents claim countless lives each year—precious souls, many of whom have never heard the name of Jesus. For Mounika, one of our Amazing Facts India Tamil Call Center team members, that danger recently became very personal.

A young woman she once knew back in college—someone who, for reasons Mounika never understood, had resented her for years—reached out in a panic. Her fiancé had been critically injured when his motorcycle collided with a semi-truck, and he was fighting for his life in the ICU. Estranged and desperate, with nowhere else to turn, she called Mounika and asked her to pray.

Mounika began interceding immediately and asked her whole team to join her. A week passed with no improvement. Then two weeks. Doctors told the young woman not to hold on to hope—the man likely would not survive. Overwhelmed with grief, she told Mounika she could not live without him and admitted she was considering ending her own life.

Mounika kept praying, morning and night. Then the phone rang again; the doctors had cleared him for surgery. Within another week, he was well enough to go home to recover. The Lord had answered powerfully.

“So many lives are lost on India’s roads; so many of those did not know Jesus,” Mounika says. “We need to keep working so we can help the millions of people in India know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Even a little bit of faith can move mountains.”

Every day, calls like this one come through the Amazing Facts India Call Center—desperate people searching for hope in the middle of crisis. And every day, your prayers and compassionate gifts make it possible for someone to receive biblical answers and truth across the subcontinent:

Thank you for standing in the gap for India’s searching souls. Because of you, when Indians are seeking God, someone is there to answer with hope.

Escape Home

Rumila, a young Christian woman from Assam, thought she was traveling to Arunachal Pradesh for an honest job in a shopping mall. Instead, she found herself trapped in a Hindu household that forced her to work as an unpaid servant.

Because she was a Christian, life grew hard. The family pressured her to join their temple visits and spoke against Christians in front of her. When they discovered her reading her Bible, they took it away.

Rumila longed to go home, but she had no way back—and even her own family refused to help her return. Hope seemed lost.

Then, one day, she saw an Amazing Facts broadcast on television, along with the call center’s phone number on the screen. She dialed it and finally found someone who would listen and pray with her.

“We prayed earnestly together, asking the Lord to make a way for her to escape,” says Konika, the Amazing Facts India Hindi Call Center staff member who took her call. One week later, Konika’s phone rang again. It was Rumila—she was finally home. Someone had helped her escape and find her way back safely.

“This is a living testimony that when we call upon Him in faith, He hears and delivers,” Konika says. “All praise and glory to the God who never fails His children.”

Thank you for equipping the Amazing Facts India Call Center to be a lifeline for people like Rumila.

Truth Delivered to His Door

India’s railways may be among the largest in the world, and its highways stretch for thousands of miles, but for many pastors and evangelists, simply traveling from village to village to share the gospel remains a real obstacle. Train tickets are hard to come by. Roads are congested and slow.

But God has opened another remarkable avenue: the world’s largest postal network. Through the mail, Amazing Facts Study Guides are reaching directly into homes across every corner of India, in dozens of languages.

Mr. Vijay first requested a free Study Guide after watching Pastor Doug Batchelor’s Telugu program. When the lesson arrived, he filled out the answer sheet and mailed it back—and then he enrolled in the Amazing Facts Bible School.

Within three months, Mr. Vijay had completed all 27 lessons and earned his certificate. He called to share how deeply the Study Guides had blessed him.

“I have studied many books over the years, but I have never come across Bible studies that are so simple and clear to understand and are completely based on the Bible,” Mr. Vijay said. “It feels like I am taking a theology course right from my own home.”

Mr. Vijay said that had he not studied the guides, he would have missed many truths that have enriched his walk with Christ. Now, he is eager to share what he has learned with his family and friends.

Your gifts are placing truth directly into hands and hearts throughout India—sometimes just by dropping an envelope in the mail.

India Prayer Needs

Thank you so much for all you are doing to support the work of God in India. He is working mightily through your prayers and faithful gifts to reach hungry souls in India with the gospel. In the coming months, please pray earnestly for:

The Day Jerusalem Burned

In 588 bc, a massive Babylonian army marched across the sand-swept plains and surrounded Jerusalem. The besieged city, cut off from trade with other nations, eventually ran low on food. The people became weak. Many were stricken with disease and died. The rest were undernourished, desperate, starving. Lacking sustenance, their army was no match for the strong, well-trained Babylonian military. More than a year went by before the enemy smashed through Jerusalem’s north gate with their battering rams and stormed the city.

When the ruthless Babylonian army finished its invasion of Jerusalem in 586 bc, it left cataclysmic destruction in its wake. Residents who failed to escape were either massacred, left for dead, or forced to march to Babylon, and their beloved city was looted, ransacked, and set afire. Even the sacred temple was destroyed.

Recently, archaeologists in Jerusalem discovered burnt wooden beams from the time of this invasion 2,600 years ago. A layer of ashes from the invasion had been identified in the past, but this find is considered significant because of its level of preservation. Wooden beams naturally disintegrate over time, but it is believed that these were preserved due to being covered with plaster that melted from the intense heat. Because of growth rings that are still visible to experts, the beams can be dated accurately. These beams provide further evidence of the Bible’s historical accuracy, along with a reminder of an unspeakable tragedy that could easily have been avoided.

The residents of Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, had been among God’s favored people. Hundreds of years earlier, He had called leaders, including Moses, and miraculously delivered them from Egyptian slavery. So why would He have allowed such a horrendous attack?

Ignored Warnings

The simple fact is that the invasion didn’t happen out of the blue. It occurred only after many decades of warnings. Sadly, years of compromising their beliefs had led the Israelites into deep rebellion against God. Most of them had succumbed to the example of evil leaders and turned away from truth. They no longer worshipped the Creator or kept His commandments, choosing instead to worship false gods made of metal, wood, or stone. These were idols made with human hands, worthless gods who could never hear or help them.

The Lord had sent prophets to warn His people, to plead with them to return to the one true God, the only Source of salvation. Jeremiah, one of these prophets, spent many years trying to get through to the Israelites, to get them to listen to reason and understand the danger they were placing themselves in. He wasn’t warning about a slap on the wrist but sounding the alarm about an impending national collapse.

In Jeremiah 25:8, 9, he quoted God as saying, “Because you have not heard My words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, … and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations.” Time and again, the prophet pleaded with them to return to God, to obey His commandments. He begged them to forsake their evil ways and do what was right so they could again receive God’s blessing.

But they stubbornly refused. Feeling secure and prosperous, they ignored the messages, mocked the warnings, and continued doing as they pleased. No wonder Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. The vast majority of Israelites remained unconcerned about the wicked choices they were making. Entranced by sin, they continued down their slippery slope.

Then reality struck in all its brutality. The prophecies about what would happen if they continued the same downward spiral came to pass. Most people were unprepared. Many screamed to their false gods to save them, but they could not.

However, there were some who had never bowed to idols despite the downfall of those around them. Daniel and his three friends were in this group. After being captured and marched to Babylon, their faithfulness continued. There, they became lights to the nations as they powerfully witnessed for God. Yet, these were the exception.

A Repeating Pattern

The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem stands as a sobering historical reminder of what happens when God’s calls to repentance go unheeded. But are His people today following the same pattern as the ancient Israelites? We may not bow down to carved figures, but have we made idols of other things—money, entertainment, technology, politics, pleasure, or even ourselves? Do we feel secure in our unrepentant lives?

Scripture tells us that “in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1–4).

In case you think this is only talking about unbelievers, verse 5 goes on to include those “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” These are people who claim to be Christians, yet their behavior is anything but godly.

The good news is that God’s warnings are always an invitation to repent.

Turning away from God leads to extreme spiritual danger and, ultimately, to destruction. The good news is that God’s warnings are always an invitation to repent, to turn away from wrongdoing, to seek God with all our heart.

Christ says, “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). Have you accepted this invitation? He is ready to forgive and fill you with His love and transforming power right now.

Want to learn more about how to have a right relationship with Christ? Click here to read our free book Assurance: Justification Made Simple.

7 Reasons the Secret Rapture Isn’t Biblical

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An Amazing Fact: In the early 1500s, the Aztec Empire was among the most powerful civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. Yet within a few years, this vast nation of approximately 5 million fell to a small force of about 500 Spanish soldiers led by conquistador Hernán Cortés. How? Cortés had learned of an ancient Aztec belief—that a legendary feathered deity named Quetzalcoatl would one day return from the east. When Spanish ships appeared off Mexico’s coast in 1519, many indigenous people wondered if that prophecy was being fulfilled. By the time they recognized the Spaniards’ true intentions, their empire was already primed to fall. A mythic prophecy, subtly exploited, had proved more devastating than any weapon.

*****

I believe Satan will soon utilize the very same playbook that Cortés used against the Aztecs.

In the near future, according to Scripture, he will attempt to impersonate Jesus Christ and counterfeit His return to Earth. But to pull this deception off, he needs Christians to embrace a distorted picture of what the Second Coming actually looks like.

Enter the doctrine known as the Secret Rapture.

A comparatively new interpretation, it has become one of the most widely accepted teachings in evangelical Christianity, popularized by novels and films like the Left Behind series. Its basic claim is that faithful Christians will suddenly and silently vanish from the earth, but life will continue for a seven-year tribulation before Christ’s public return.

It sounds and feels comforting. But it isn’t biblical.

When the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His return, the first thing He said was: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). That warning belongs at the top of any discussion about the Second Coming. The Bible gives us a wealth of detail about how He would return—not to satisfy curiosity, but so that no one would be fooled by an imitation.

With that in mind, here are seven reasons the Secret Rapture doesn’t hold up to Scripture.

1. Every Eye Will See Him

The word rapture comes from a Latin word meaning “to be caught up or carried away,” and in that sense, yes, there will be a rapture. When Jesus returns, the righteous will be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

However, the Bible does not support the idea that this event will be quiet, local, or invisible to the rest of the world:

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him (Revelation 1:7, emphasis added).

The phrase “every eye” leaves no room for a private appearance, does it? This isn’t a regional event or a news story carried by a local network. It’s a worldwide, simultaneous unveiling. The scale of it will be impossible to miss. Jesus described it this way:

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27).

Lightning doesn’t slip in quietly. It doesn’t appear only to a select group of people. It splits the sky from horizon to horizon. Jesus chose that image to describe His return—a flash visible across the entire world.

The angels who appeared to the disciples at Jesus’ ascension reinforced this idea. As Jesus was taken up into the clouds, they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Jesus left visibly. He will return visibly. He left in the clouds. He is coming in the clouds. He was real when He left; He will be real when He returns. It’s the same physical reality.

A secret rapture would require Christ’s return to be hidden from most of humanity. But how does that reconcile with every eye shall see Him? The two ideas cannot occupy the same theology.

2. The Loudest Event in Human History

The Bible not only tells us that people will see Jesus come; it also describes it as a staggering sonic event. No one will be sleeping through the Second Coming:

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).

This is not the soundtrack of a quiet event. The Old Testament also describes similar divine events in equally booming terms:

The God of the Second Coming is not tiptoeing back to Earth.

The trumpet imagery also goes back to Sinai, when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Before Moses ascended the mountain, the Israelites gathered at its base to hear God speak, and what they encountered terrified them:

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled (Exodus 19:16).

That same trumpet, Scripture tells us, will sound when Jesus descends from heaven. The saved will rally to it; the wicked will flee from it—but not a single soul on the earth will miss it.

The secret rapture theory requires a Jesus who comes quietly and without fanfare. The Bible describes a Jesus whose return will be the most audible moment in history.

3. No Second Chances

One of the most appealing aspects of the Secret Rapture theory is the comforting idea that even if you miss the rapture, you’ll have seven more years to get right with Jesus. It sounds merciful, but it directly contradicts what Scripture teaches about the finality of Christ’s return:

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works (Matthew 16:27; see also Revelation 22:12).

Notice that His reward is with Him when He comes. The writer of Hebrews doubles down on the urgency: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (4:7)—not during a future tribulation. The window for decision is the present moment, and Scripture never suggests that the window remains open past the Second Coming.

This aligns with one of Jesus’ most sobering parables: the ten virgins in Matthew 25. Five were prepared when the bridegroom arrived; five were not. When the unprepared five returned and knocked, the door was shut. There was no extension, no second opportunity. “Watch therefore,” Jesus concluded, “for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (v. 13). The point of the warning is not to make you anxious; it’s to prepare you.

God’s mercy is vast, His patience is long, but the Bible never portrays the return of Christ as the beginning of another opportunity. It portrays it as the final conclusion of this one.

4. Sudden, Not Secret

Of all the biblical passages used to support the Secret Rapture, 2 Peter 3:10 carries the most water. The argument goes like this: Jesus described His return as coming “as a thief in the night,” and since thieves operate quietly and unseen, the rapture must also be quiet and unseen.

It sounds logical on the surface, but it falls apart the moment you read the full passage: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

The first half of this verse is the one you’ll hear quoted from Secret Rapture pulpits. The second half is almost always omitted. Why? Because Peter is not describing a quiet disappearance. He is describing a cataclysmic dissolution. The thief metaphor is there, yes, but so is the inferno.

So what does the “thief” image actually mean? Jesus explained it Himself:

If the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Luke 12:39, 40).

Jesus is making a point about surprise, not stealth. A thief doesn’t announce his arrival. He comes when you least expect. That is what Jesus is drawing attention to: The wicked will be caught off guard.

Let’s compare this to what Paul says: “You, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Paul’s point is that Christians, who are to be watchful and prepared, will not be blindsided the way the wicked will be. The thief metaphor says nothing about the event being invisible or silent. In fact, as we’ve already seen, in this very same book, Paul tells us Christ will descend with a shout and the trumpet of God.

A thief in the night is unexpected. The Second Coming will absolutely be unexpected for those who aren’t watching. But unexpected and secret are two different things, and conflating them has led millions of Christians to build a doctrine on a misread metaphor.

5. Two Destinies

If the “thief in the night” is the most misquoted passage in the Secret Rapture debate, Luke 17:34–36 is a close second:

I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.

Rapture theorists read this as a description of Christians suddenly vanishing while the rest of the world carries on—pilots disappearing from cockpits, drivers from cars, believers from their beds. It’s a dramatic picture, but it’s also a misreading of what Jesus was saying.

You see, Jesus was a master of symbolic language, and each of these three images carries a meaning that His first-century Jewish audience would have recognized.

In each image, Jesus makes the same simple yet sobering point: At the end of time, all of humanity will be divided into two groups—the saved and the lost. Side by side in life, separated forever at His coming. The meaning of “one taken and one left” is about one of two final destinies, not a blueprint for a silent mass disappearance.

6. The Tribulation

Of all the pillars of the Secret Rapture theory, this one is the most precarious. The concept of a seven-year tribulation period, during which those who missed the rapture receive a second chance at salvation, traces back to the 70-week prophecy given in Daniel 9:24–27 by the angel Gabriel.

Secret Rapture theorists take the final week of that prophecy—the seventieth week, representing seven years—and amputate it from the preceding 69 weeks, and then float it down to the end of time. Those seven years, they argue, are the tribulation period that follows the secret rapture.

But read the prophecy in its full context, and that interpretation unravels. Gabriel told Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city” (Daniel 9:24). The prophecy concerns Israel and Jerusalem. It is a unified, continuous timeline—70 consecutive weeks, not 69 weeks followed by a mysterious gap of thousands of years before the seventieth arrives.

The first half of that final week points to Jesus. It describes a period of three and a half years during which the covenant is confirmed, corresponding to Christ’s ministry. It ends with these words: “He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Daniel 9:27). This is not a future antichrist canceling temple rituals. This is Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), whose death on the cross rendered the entire sacrificial system complete. The veil of the temple was torn in two the moment He died. The animal sacrifices had served their purpose.

The second half of that final week covers the three and a half years following the resurrection, the period of the apostles’ ministry to Israel, which concluded with the stoning of Stephen and the subsequent turning of the gospel toward the Gentile world. The seventieth week is not a future event. It has already been fulfilled.

Sound doctrine cannot be built on a single isolated verse. It must be established by the consistent witness of multiple passages across Scripture. Doctrines such as salvation, the love of God, the resurrection, and the return of Christ are woven throughout dozens of books. The seven-year tribulation, by contrast, rests entirely on one passage that, read in context, isn’t describing what Secret Rapture theorists claim it does.

7. Through the Tribulation

There is one more deeply practical problem with the Secret Rapture interpretation: It has no precedent. The idea that God removes His people from Earth before a period of intense tribulation runs contrary to virtually every major narrative in Scripture about how God works.

When the ten great plagues fell on Egypt, God did not relocate the Israelites to Canaan ahead of time. He kept them in Egypt and delivered them through the plagues. God will likewise deliver His people through the seven last plagues in Revelation. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, God did not prevent them from being cast in. He met them inside the flames. When Noah faced the destruction of the world, God did not transport him to safety before the flood came. He carried him through it on the ark.

The pattern is unmistakable: God’s method is not extraction; it is preservation: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).

The Secret Rapture theory attempts to offer Christians a false security—a second chance or a way to step out of the story during the greatest test. But that is not the God of Scripture. He is Emmanuel, God with us, in whatever tribulation lies ahead. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

The Stakes Are High

God’s people misunderstood the prophecies of the Messiah’s first coming, and many were unprepared and even rejected Jesus because He did not come as they expected. The devil is now doing the same thing again for Christ’s second coming. Satan has been perfecting the art of deception for thousands of years, and the Secret Rapture is one of his most effective strategies. It doesn’t ask Christians to abandon their faith; it asks them to hold a distorted picture of how the story ends. And that distortion, Scripture warns, could prove fatal.

The deception Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:24 will not be crude or obviously false. It will be sophisticated, compelling, and superficially biblical. It will look like the real thing.

The antidote is preparation. God has given us everything we need to recognize the genuine Second Coming. It will be visible to every eye on Earth. It will be accompanied by sounds that shake the heavens. It will bring judgment with no extensions. And when it comes, the righteous will be caught up to meet Him in the air, in a moment so magnificent and unmistakable that no counterfeit could come close.

The Secret Rapture asks you to watch for a Jesus who slips in quietly. The Bible asks you to watch for a Jesus who splits open the sky. Know the difference, and you will not be deceived.

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Vacation Bible School Brings Revelation to Life

Restless energy filled the foyer of the Granite Bay Hilltop Church. Nearly 200 children ages 5–12 crowded around teenage leaders. Adult staff registered children, prepared snacks, set up for games, and reviewed their teaching materials for the day.

It was 9:00 AM Monday morning, July 13, 2026, and the Amazing Revelation of Jesus Vacation Bible School was about to begin.

Suddenly, the doors of the sanctuary swung open to reveal bright graphics and colorful decorations that had transformed the stage into a place of adventure. Giant books of prophecy were stacked on the sides. Center stage, the book of Revelation stood larger than life and opened to reveal memory texts and treasures like crowns, scrolls, and quill pens.

It’s never too early to introduce children to Jesus.

The sanctuary was soon full, and Pastor Jëan Ross, vice president of evangelism, welcomed everyone to an exciting week of learning about Bible prophecy. Then everyone stood for the theme song: “Jesus Will Come on Time.”

The next hour was filled with a visit from Mabel the sheep, a video visit to a high-tech library that brought Bible prophecy to life, and stories with Pastor Doug Batchelor, president. His down-to-earth style and exciting hands-on illustrations had every kid waving their hands in the air hoping to be picked as a volunteer.

Activities Reveal Revelation’s Mysteries

After an hour of Bible study in the sanctuary with Pastor Doug, the teens led their groups of kids off to four learning stations. At each station, the children engaged in hands-on activities that brought part of Revelation to life.

The science station used hands-on science experiments to teach biblical concepts like the sealing (Revelation 7:3) and testing the prophets (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

At the craft station, children created a colorful Revelation notebook complete with pictures of the two beasts of Revelation 13, a matching game on the seven churches, and students’ creative images of their heavenly mansions.

At the snack station, a small army of volunteers prepared plates of delicious Mediterranean-style food that went along with the lesson for the day.

The game station outside was a kid favorite. Activities included team relays like “Pour the Gospel” and “Go Tell the World.” One day there was a variation on Simon Says designed to help the kids recognize the importance of listening to God’s messages. Another day the kids played an exciting parachute game called “Preserve the Sabbath.” Four giant bounce houses were a highlight on the last day.

The week ended with a special Sabbath School and church program focused on Revelation and the hope that it gives.

Each day, students received copies of a brand-new Bible lesson series for kids on the book of Revelation. Each lesson went along with Pastor Doug’s presentations. (The guides will be available in the Amazing Facts Bookstore in the near future.)

Why a Revelation VBS for Kids?

Every year, the Granite Bay Hilltop Church hosts a Vacation Bible School for children in the community. These are not your standard VBS programs. Each year, two dedicated moms—Daniella Garza and Kathryn Moreland—write and stage a brand-new, Bible-based VBS on thoughtful topics like the Hebrew sanctuary and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.

In 2024, Amazing Facts partnered with Moreland and Garza to package the program into a VBS Kit that churches, missionaries, and schools can use.

This year, Amazing Facts’ team worked with Garza and Moreland on the Revelation VBS. Preparations began in earnest in January. Said Pastor Jëan, “Revelation is a book of hope that tells us how everything is going to end. It’s a revelation of Jesus, and it’s all about the gospel. We feel that it is never too early to introduce children to Jesus and help them see the hope that we have in Him.”

Daniella and Kathryn agreed. “I didn’t understand Revelation much when I was a kid,” explained Daniella. “There were always evangelistic series for adults, but never much that explained it to kids. We wanted to create a program that would introduce young ones to Revelation and give them the confidence to dig deeper into it on their own.”

That’s exactly what happened. Parents gladly brought their children to VBS, knowing that their kids would have fun and meet Jesus through engaging programming and caring staff. “The program is top-notch,” said Betsy, who brought her three kids. “I know they learn a lot about the Bible here.”

Long after the bounce houses, craft supplies, and stage decorations are packed away, the real impact remains: Nearly 200 children spent a week discovering that Revelation is not a book to fear but one that points to Jesus and the hope of His soon return.

Note: The Amazing Revelation of Jesus VBS Kit will be available in the Amazing Facts Bookstore in 2027. In the meantime, churches eager to host a Bible-based VBS can get started now with the Amazing Journey Through the Wilderness VBS Kit, available today at afbookstore.com.

Global Disasters and Gospel Promises

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on July 28, killing at least 35 people and injuring dozens more. The quake collapsed part of a shopping mall after triggering a gas explosion, and it forced roughly 300,000 residents across the region to evacuate.

Southern Europe, meanwhile, is enduring what may be its worst wildfire season on record. France has recorded its largest wildfires in national history, causing the country’s largest civilian evacuation since World War II. Spain has lost over 450 square miles of land in two weeks, and the two nations combined have been forced to displace more than 325,000 people.

Meanwhile across Asia, extreme monsoon rains have also triggered widespread flooding and landslides from China to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and beyond, uprooting thousands and destroying homes and infrastructure. Elsewhere, wars continue to escalate, and civil unrest reigns.

Jesus long ago foretold this pattern of events: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes” (Matthew 24:7). And He bid us to endure rather than be troubled (vv. 6, 13).

But with each new headline reporting yet another calamity, it’s easy to be consumed by anxiety and despair. So how can we find peace and purpose amidst all this turbulence, and what does Scripture have to say?

Let’s take a look!

The Signs of the Times

Resting on the Lord’s promises starts with understanding where this escalating global instability fits in God’s timeline. The trouble did not begin with an earthquake in Kumamoto or fires across France and Spain. It began in Eden, when sin entered the world and put all of creation on a trajectory toward decay.

And while tragedy has long been part of life, Jesus clearly spoke of a time when multiple crises would converge simultaneously: conflict between nations, natural disasters, moral decline, and widespread fear. These occurrences were foretold as signs of the period leading up to His return, events that would grow more frequent and more severe the closer that day came. The apostle Paul described it as the whole creation groaning and laboring with birth pangs (Romans 8:22).

These signs are not meant to paralyze believers with fear. Instead, when disasters cluster together the way they have this month, we can recognize as Christians that history is moving exactly where prophecy promised.

Viewed this way, the onslaught of disturbing headlines becomes a reason for confidence and hope. “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).

Which raises the question: If these are the final days of Earth’s history, what does God actually ask of His people in the meantime?

History is moving exactly where prophecy promised.

The Gospel Mission

To answer the question, we have to dive into what Jesus counsels after describing the events preceding the Second Coming in Matthew 24. We are urged to be watchful and faithful servants—not mere passive observers—and instructed to:

  1. Get our own houses in order. Christ entreated that we “be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). That means closely examining our walk with God, daily engagement with Scripture, and a willingness to let go of habits that dull spiritual readiness. Paul urged believers to “cast off the works of darkness” specifically because “the day is at hand” (Romans 13:12).
  2. Treat disaster relief as gospel work. Christ said whatever is done “to one of the least of these My brethren” is done to Him (Matthew 25:40). If it’s within our ability, we should offer tangible help through volunteering and providing shelter and supplies. As Jesus taught on countless occasions, we are to see to the urgent physical needs of those affected before addressing spiritual matters.
  3. Look for opportunities to share the good news. If we know of people watching the disasters unfolding from a distance and spiraling into anxiety, we are called to “tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19). We can reach out through a phone call, a meeting, or even a text message to share the truth and comfort that can only be found in Jesus.
  4. Share plainly when asked. Peter’s instruction to “be ready to give a defense” (1 Peter 3:15) urges every Christian to share the blessings of the gospel. Uncertainty tends to loosen people’s resistance to spiritual conversation.
  5. Hold the actual finish line in view. Christ was specific about what closes this chapter of history: “This gospel 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). Every disaster reported this month is a reminder that the window to complete that work is fast approaching and that each believer has the privilege of cooperating with Jesus in sharing the truth.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Europe and Asia will probably spend months dealing with the aftermath of the natural disasters. And long before recovery efforts are finished, other calamities will take their place. Jesus told us we can’t expect peace in these last days, but He promised something better. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

This rest is available to all believers today, and it’s one we can extend to others. So many are watching the news get grimmer every day and are in desperate need of Scripture’s assurances. Who is God asking you to reach out to this week?

Learn more about trusting in the Word.

Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready!

An Amazing Fact: During World War II, fighter pilots navigated through clouds, darkness, and enemy territory using radio signals they could never see. Those invisible transmissions guided pilots safely home when nothing else could.

“Get ready, get ready, get ready.”

Linda had just opened her kitchen blinds and thought she saw the face of Jesus by the back hedge. Twice, she heard the words. “Get ready, get ready, get ready.”

Get ready for what? At the time, she had no answer. But God was already at work through you, preparing to change two lives in a remarkable way.

Linda’s husband, Andy, was a retired pilot and Vietnam veteran known as the life of the party. He had spent decades far from the church. Not long after Linda heard those surprising words, the couple discovered an Amazing Facts program on TV.

Week after week, they watched. The straightforward presentation of Scripture resonated with Andy. One day, he turned to Linda and said, “I understand this guy. He makes sense.”

The weeks passed, and Andy’s interest grew. Then Linda asked him the most important question she had ever asked: “Have you given your heart to Jesus?” To her unspeakable joy, he said yes.

Do you see what God did? He used you to reach Andy in the quiet of his own living room, and the Word of God changed his destiny forever!

A Memorial Service to Remember

Then Andy suggested they visit Pastor Doug’s church. They did—and just a few days later, Andy peacefully fell asleep in Jesus.

Linda asked me to conduct a memorial service at their home. About 50 guests gathered in the backyard. They all heard the invitation to “get ready” for Jesus’ soon return.

Friend, those precious people were touched in that backyard because you made it possible to share lifesaving truth when someone switched channels.

A New Door Has Opened

Andy met God in his armchair. He never attended an evangelistic meeting. Truth came to him—and that was enough to help him “get ready” for eternity. That’s why a new door into more living rooms matters so much.

The Lord has opened a way to reach a new audience with the everlasting gospel: On Sunday, July 5, Amazing Facts began airing on Newsmax, a growing network that reaches approximately 142 million people across America on television, YouTube TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Hulu, and more.

For as little as 12 cents per person, you can share the three angels’ messages with an audience that is already seeking real answers. Many are like Andy: they may never walk into a church but will open their hearts when truth comes to them at home.

Will you prayerfully consider giving today? Your gift of $50 can help over 400 people learn Christ’s lifesaving truth, while $200 could help 1,600 people “get ready.” Together, we can share the everlasting gospel and help more people prepare for Christ’s soon return.

As a token of my gratitude, I’ll send you my recent sermon, “New Life in Death Valley.” I pray it will strengthen your walk with Jesus and prepare you for His soon coming. Please include your prayer requests on the enclosed card—our staff lifts them before the Lord every week.

Friend, somewhere tonight, another Andy is sitting in front of a television, ready at last to hear the undiluted Word of God. Thank you for helping them “get ready.”

With gratitude and hope,

Pastor Doug Batchelor

President, Amazing Facts International

P.S. Andy was more than 92 years old when he accepted Jesus—and only days later, he fell asleep in Jesus, awaiting the resurrection morning. None of us knows how little time remains. Your kind gift today will help more people know the Bible truth they need to get ready for Christ’s soon return.

The Gospel Has No Walls

China watches its people closely. Religious activity is monitored. Printing and distributing Christian materials grows more difficult by the year. Social media accounts that post Scripture can be shut down without warning.

Yet the truth keeps moving—because of your decision to co-labor in the evangelism work there.

From January to April of 2026, our culturally sensitive translation team completed seven evangelistic videos, the most in a single four-month period in a long time. Six new booklets and articles of truth were translated and uploaded. Because the government has cracked down on printing religious material, all translated books are now available for free download.

In the first four months of 2026, people came searching for truth on the Chinese Amazing Facts websites 545,481 times, and you helped distribute over 1.3 million pages of digital literature. Seventy-five percent of people finding our website were new—hungry hearts still searching their way to the truth.

Across just 19 private social media accounts, 183 short videos were uploaded—receiving 11,856 comments and 543,443 shares.

As of April 2026, 5,338 students are enrolled in the Chinese online Bible School, and 1,214 have completed the course and are now experiencing a deeper walk with Christ. During this period, you also helped 4,055 individuals receive personal, one-on-one help with their Bible and personal questions through secure online correspondence with one of our Bible workers.

We personally know of 14 people who began keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. Eleven connected with a local congregation. Nine others wanted to attend church but live where no fellowship could be found.

These reports are voluntary, and we never press for more than people choose to share. The safety of every seeker—and every worker—depends on that care. We know there are more. God keeps those records.

The door remains open in China. The hunger is real. And because you continue to stand with Amazing Facts, the everlasting gospel is still reaching souls in one of the world’s most closely watched nations.

Thank you for your prayers and your faithfulness.

An Urgent Prayer Request

A brother from Zhejiang recently wrote the following to our Chinese Amazing Facts team. We are sharing his story so that you can lift him—and the many, many like him—in prayer. He writes:

Please pray for me.

When I was young, I attended church with my grandparents, probably starting when I was about six years old. However, it has been a long time since I last went to church.

Some time ago, while I was searching online for sermons on the book of Revelation, I happened to stumble across the Chinese Amazing Facts website. After listening to Pastor Doug’s sermons, I was deeply encouraged and profoundly moved, especially by the truth he shared about the Sabbath.

In my area, people usually worship on Sunday. When I told them that the Sabbath is the day appointed by God, they said it was heresy. Because of this, I no longer attend Sunday worship meetings. Since there are no Sabbath-keeping congregations where I live, I now keep the Sabbath on my own.

I currently carry the burden of many sins in my life. I have visited prostitutes and committed adultery with many women. I often spent money through various online platforms to find prostitutes, and there was even a period of time when I went to them almost every day. Afterward, I knew I had sinned and sought repentance, only to fall back into the same sin again. I have not been able to break free from this sin or escape from this mire.

I know this is a sinful thing, yet I am constantly plagued by guilt and feel unable to overcome it. Every time I fall, I feel that I have sinned against God. But after listening to Pastor Doug’s sermons, I have found hope. I have confessed my sins and repented. I have deleted the websites, social media accounts, and contacts from my phone.

I hope Pastor Doug will intercede for me in prayer, that I may be completely delivered from these sins, find the peace that comes from forgiveness, and—even more importantly—gain a deeper assurance of salvation, enabling me to love the Lord more faithfully in these last days.

Please pray for me.

You brought this dear brother hope. Will you now pray for him to gain complete victory over his sin? And will you earnestly intercede for the millions of Chinese who are longing for the freedom only Christ can give?

Your partnership is so vital to the gospel’s continued reach among the Chinese. Without your continued loving gifts, hungry Chinese hearts will go unfed.

Thank you for allowing God to use you to feed the spiritually starved masses of China.

PAFCOE Baptizes 565, Plants Churches

Thank you for shining the light of gospel truth into the places of spiritual darkness in the Philippines. Because of your faithfulness, young and old there are discovering new hope in Christ. Your unswerving dedication to evangelism is yielding a rich harvest and enabling workers at the Philippine Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (PAFCOE) to impact thousands for Christ.

The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands. Only about 2,000 are inhabited. And far fewer have Sabbath-keepers living on them and sharing the gospel.

This year, you made it possible for PAFCOE graduates to join with local church members and leadership to plant two churches on Talim, an island of 44,000 people with no Sabbath-keeping Christians. Through your co-laboring kind gifts, these trained workers hosted Bible prophecy seminars for the local people and led many to Christ. (Learn about what God did through them HERE.) Please keep these two new church plants on Talim in your prayers!

You and your compassionate gifts helped many in the Philippines over this past year:

The newest PAFCOE class launches in July. Thank you for making it possible for them to be trained to share the everlasting gospel with those in darkness. Only heaven will reveal all that has been accomplished in the Philippines because of your co-laboring gifts and prayers.

Rescued from the Fraternity

Like many teenage boys, Mark lived for adventure and fun. He lived for himself, joined fraternities, got involved in street fights, and wasted his time on a variety of vices. His mom frequently urged him to make better choices.

One night, Mark’s Sabbath-keeping neighbors invited him to a prophecy seminar that you helped host.

“I wasn’t a church person, but I went on the third night,” Mark said. “That moment became the turning point of my life. I heard God’s words in a way I had never heard before, and it moved something inside me. I felt God calling me, pulling me out of the darkness I didn’t even realize I was trapped in.”

As 15-year-old Mark continued attending, he realized how sinful his life had been. He also realized that Jesus had never stopped looking for him. “His love met me right where I was,” Mark says. “I knew I had to surrender everything—my sins, my habits, my past—and trust that God would never leave or forsake me. Even though I had lost my way, Jesus became my light. He became my solution, my way back to life.”

The changes in Mark were dramatic. He started loving his family, coming home early, doing household chores, and obeying his parents. Most importantly, he decided to leave his fraternity. “When I told my frat mates about the truth that I found, they beat me and punched me, but I did not give up. I held on to the new path God placed before me.”

Thank you for helping Mark discover a new life with Jesus. He had thought his old life was his comfort zone, but because of your loving gifts, Mark discovered the true peace that comes only from Jesus.

Never Too Old

Milagros spent 55 years working as a housemaid in Manila. When she retired and returned to her hometown, she struggled to adjust to living with relatives. “I felt lost, like my life had no clear purpose anymore,” she says.

Though she knew it not, she was seeking the peace that only Jesus can give. And thanks to your compassionate gifts, she discovered the truth just when she needed it most.

Everything began to change when her brother told her about a one-month Bible prophecy seminar that PAFCOE missionaries would conduct in their area. Milagros had never attended a Bible seminar before, but she invited everyone she knew to attend with her, even though she thought she might be too old to understand things. Her heart was deeply touched by the message that you helped share. Even torrential downpours could not keep her away from the meetings.

Slowly but surely, God’s Word began to change Milagros. She learned about the Ten Commandments and, for the first time, understood the beauty of the Sabbath as God’s true day of worship. She also learned how to care for her body and keep it healthy. She found the Bible’s teachings about unclean foods difficult to understand at first, but by God’s grace, she was able to obey.

Milagros began helping in the children’s program, teaching the children songs and helping them listen to the stories. “Being with the children made me feel useful, inspired, and happy,” she shares. “I started praying and trusting God more. I smiled more, felt lighter inside, and slowly realized that my life still had a beautiful purpose—even in this season of my life.”

Even so, Milagros hesitated when given the first invitation for baptism. She feared she would not be able to make all the changes needed. But the Holy Spirit kept tugging at her heart, and by the end of the meetings, Milagros chose to give all to Jesus.

You provided Milagros with a new Bible when she was baptized. “I was overwhelmed with joy,” she says. “The missionaries taught me how to open it, how to find verses, and how to pray from the heart. Now, I don’t feel empty anymore. I feel alive, full of peace, full of joy, and deeply loved by God. I may be old, but I have finally found my true purpose.”

Thank you for sharing the gospel with young and old in the Philippines. Your enthusiasm for preaching last-day truth in the Philippines is making an eternal difference. Please continue to intercede for each PAFCOE team member to be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered for their work. And pray for all those who are hearing the message to be transformed by the truth. Thank you for co-laboring with the Amazing Facts Philippines evangelism team!

Cyclospora and Spiritual Parasites

The United States is in the midst of its largest recorded Cyclospora outbreak. The Cyclospora parasite, which causes cyclosporiasis, has been found in raspberries, salad mix, and cilantro in past outbreaks. Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce was recently identified as a potential culprit.

The lettuce was served at Taco Bell in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The same lettuce, sold at grocers and restaurants across the country, has been recalled in 27 states. The CDC is also investigating other Cyclospora outbreaks unrelated to Taylor Farms lettuce.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms include profuse diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, cramping, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss—all things we’d rather avoid, except for maybe weight loss. But it’s doubtful that a bout of cyclosporiasis is what comes to mind when considering a weight-loss program.

The CDC reports “1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and is aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis.” Of the thirty-four states that have reported cases, Michigan far exceeds all others with 4,312 cases. Ohio comes in second with 1,274 cases.

With treatment, most people feel better within a few days. Without treatment, cyclosporiasis can last several weeks in some people. Though severely unpleasant, the illness is generally not life-threatening.

Considering the current numbers and the fact that we live in a nation of approximately 340 million citizens, your chance of personally contracting cyclosporiasis is incredibly slim. Steer clear of the foods historically known to transmit the parasite, and your risk is next to none.

There are actually much worse things lurking in unsuspecting places put there by someone who wants to kill you. Let’s talk about that.

Food that Kills

Foodborne pathogens can certainly cause serious illnesses. That’s why it’s good practice to carefully wash and properly cook our food before consuming it. But washing produce does not reliably eliminate or kill Cyclospora. Cooking, on the other hand, does kill the parasite. So if you are wary of that bag of spinach sitting in your fridge, sauté it instead of mixing it into a salad.

Ironically, while we worry whether a bag of greens is hiding a parasite that will make us sick, we are often less concerned about our spiritual health.

Jesus said, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). It’s worth the effort to carefully select the content that you and your family consume.

Jesus continued, “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (v. 23).

Think about that for a moment. Allowing the wrong media into the mind can fill the soul with darkness!

That’s exactly what Satan wants. Scripture says he “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Like Cyclospora, he’s a parasite with no interest in your welfare. His modus operandi is “to kill, and to steal, and to destroy” (John 10:10), and his parasitic tentacles corrupt just about everything on this planet.

And because the devil disguises himself as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), his deadly pathogens are packaged together with what appears to be healthy content, just like a plastic clamshell of raspberries harboring matter infested with Cyclospora.

Deadly pathogens are packaged together with what appears to be healthy content.

Take, for example, those “family friendly” movies being pumped out of Hollywood. Sure, they often feature cute, lovable characters and a moral lesson. But at the same time, they tend to minimize sin and encourage a “follow your heart” attitude. Furthermore, so-called “adult themes” are frequently subtly incorporated into the films in the form of racy jokes and innuendo.

The Bible says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26) and, instead, encourages us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

With Bible in hand, we must “test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22). This is not always easy, but it’s necessary to guard our souls and our children’s souls from the enemy’s hidden pathogens.

Incubating Compromises

Cyclosporiasis can have an incubation period of up to two weeks. That makes it difficult to find the source of an outbreak. A person may be able to remember their last few meals, but recounting everything they’ve eaten over the course of two weeks isn’t feasible. They end up sick with cyclosporiasis but unable to know when or from what they contracted the illness.

Media laced with anti-biblical philosophies act on our thinking in a similar fashion. Consider the philosophy of humanism so prevalent in many movies. Humanism emphasizes the innate goodness and potential of human beings. It prioritizes reason, science, and human experience over religion while also encouraging compassion and ethical responsibility.

Humanism aspires to some good things, but its fatal flaw is that it directs attention away from God to ourselves, making us the heroes of the story. Such a philosophy suggests we don’t need a Savior, denying the truth that all must acknowledge to be saved: “I know that in me … nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18).

Satan wants us to believe that we can feed on worldly media and be blessed by the “good” aspects while overlooking the less savory elements. It’s naive to think that we can do this and go unscathed. It also shouldn’t surprise us when Christians who fall for this lie find themselves far from God and without faith after years of negligence. Thus, the incubation period has ended, and the parasites have multiplied, causing a full-blown illness (Galatians 6:7).

A Sanctifying Microscope

Ask yourself, “Are there ‘parasites’ in the books I read, the videos I view, the music I listen to? Has the devil fooled me? Have I been infected?”

You may already be aware of some of the devil’s schemes. But it’s impossible to snuff them all out without help. And thankfully, God has given us just the instrument to assist us; it’s a heavenly microscope to home in on and eradicate all harmful bacteria—the Word of God.

God’s Word sanctifies the mind, purifies the soul, and sharpens spiritual discernment (John 17:17; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 5:13, 14). Take the time today and every day to feast on “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15).

Satan’s Cyclospora cannot hide from a mind fortified with the Word of God. Learn more about detecting the devil’s deadly deceptions.

America’s 250th Birthday and Bible Prophecy

The United States honored its 250th birthday with unprecedented fanfare on July 4, 2026. From coast to coast, Americans gathered to celebrate freedom and display their patriotic spirit. The celebrations included tractor parades in the Midwest, a nine-hour military flyover in Washington, D.C., an armada of historic ships on the Hudson River in New York, Revolutionary War reenactments, small-town parades, and big-city extravaganzas.

On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., stalwart Americans braved oppressive humidity and triple-digit temperatures to listen to speeches, performances, and prayers of dedication. Many refused to go home even when severe thunderstorms forced them to temporarily evacuate. They came back by the thousands to hear the U.S. President deliver a 40-minute speech on politics, patriotism, and history, and to witness what may have been the biggest fireworks show ever.

Despite political divisions, the celebrations brought people together to honor the nation’s common heritage and the ideals that have made it great. Yet the Bible predicts that our nation, which has long been a bastion of religious freedom, will one day outlaw the true worship of God.

America’s Founding Ideals Allow Faith to Flourish

The United States of America first declared its freedom on July 4, 1776. On that day, the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, which reads in part:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

These founding ideals—liberty, self-government, equality—have made the United States the freest nation on Earth. Though America has often failed to live up to these ideals, it has nonetheless provided a haven for millions seeking freedom to build their lives and worship God according to their conscience.

Though the first citizens of the fledgling nation were predominantly Christian, they did not enshrine their religious beliefs in civil laws. The First Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, guarantees that the federal government shall not establish a state religion and that each individual has the right to freely express their own religious beliefs. These two protections created a country where Christianity could prosper.

The Second Great Awakening grew out of this religious freedom, and revival swept through the nation in the early 19th century. During this time, a popular preacher named William Miller discovered that the prophecies of Daniel seemed to point to the second coming of Christ in the early 1840s. Free to publish his views without restriction, Miller shared his insights widely, and many were converted.

People must be given the opportunity to understand and follow all of God’s law.

Despite a misunderstanding of the prophetic symbols and the believers’ great disappointment when Jesus did not return at the expected time, God continued to lead the believers toward a deeper understanding of the Bible. The truths about the Sabbath, the state of the dead, the heavenly sanctuary, and the soon return of Jesus anchored the believers’ faith and gave power to their message. The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 became their watchword and marching orders.

America’s commitment to religious liberty provided the nurturing soil that allowed the nationwide “Advent movement” to flourish and become a worldwide one.

Moving Toward a Prophetic Destiny

As the Advent believers pored over Revelation, they discovered that chapter 13 points to the rise of a beast from the earth with “two horns like a lamb” (Revelation 13:11). Diligent study led them to conclude that this lamb-like beast could be none other than the United States. The lamb-like beast:

Sadly, the prophecy also says that the USA will “speak like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). The time is coming when the United States will abandon its commitment to religious liberty and will begin to speak and act like the dragon (Satan).

While perhaps not a widespread belief today, it is worth noting that Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chair of the Religious Liberty Commission, has stated that the term “separation of church and state” has no basis in the Constitution and should not affect public policy.

Sharing the Three Angels’ Messages on America’s 250th Anniversary

“This country is the home of freedom… and has been the hope, the promise, the light and the glory among all of the nations of the world,” President Trump said during his speech celebrating America’s 250th birthday on the National Mall. That is something we can all celebrate.

Yet as Bible-based Christians who preach the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6–12, we must shout the good news that Jesus is coming and warn that the United States will not always be a place where freedom of conscience is upheld by the rule of law. People must be given the opportunity to understand and follow all of God’s law.

That’s why over twenty Spirit-filled missionaries converged on the National Mall earlier this year to distribute last-day truth. They passed out 15,000 Amazing Facts’ Freedom 250 bags containing the America in Prophecy magazine, The Fall & Rise of Jerusalem (a reprint of Great Controversy), an America & the Ten Commandments booklet, and a Religious Freedom 250 card with a QR code for Amazing Facts’ online documentaries. Thousands more received other books about the true Sabbath and plastic cards pointing them to an online version of the Great Controversy.

Our prayer is that many will read these timely resources and choose to join His commandment-keeping remnant so that they can experience true freedom in Christ.

Will you join us in that prayer?

If you’d like to learn more about what the Bible says about the United States in Bible prophecy, please watch Pastor Doug’s sermon on “The Final War Over Worship” or review the “The USA in Bible Prophecy” Study Guide.

Amazing Facts Expands Prison Ministry Through Edovo Partnership

Amazing Facts International is expanding our outreach to incarcerated individuals through a new partnership with Edovo, a leading online educational platform available in correctional facilities across the United States.

Currently serving more than 1,500 facilities and approximately 60 percent of the incarcerated population, Edovo provides potential access to more than 1.2 million individuals. Amazing Facts content went live on the platform on May 18, which significantly expanded our ability to share biblical resources with inmates nationwide, especially in facilities that heavily restrict physical mail.

Incarcerated individuals can now access a variety of faith-building resources, including Bible Answers Live programs, the Kingdoms in Time documentary, and Pastor Doug’s “Cold Confession” and “Five Steps to Eternity” sermons. Each resource includes contact information for our correspondence team and encourages viewers to reach out with questions or requests for additional resources.

This kind of content is exactly what’s been missing and needed.

Grateful inmates are already reporting spiritual blessings from the materials on Edovo. An inmate in Tennessee said this after viewing our Cosmic Conflict documentary: “This kind of content is EXACTLY what’s been missing and needed on Edovo. We need way more documentary-type courses such as this to stay engaged and continue on a path of growth.”

Accredited Bible Lessons

Edovo has a rigorous screening process before programs can receive accreditation on its platform. We are thrilled that our Introductory Bible Course, the first 14 lessons of the Amazing Facts Study Guides, has been accredited.

“The approval of Amazing Facts Bible courses as accredited educational content provides inmates with documented evidence of their learning and achievement,” explains Cathy Bauer, Amazing Facts Bible School director.

Inmates who complete our lessons will earn an Edovo-issued certificate of completion. Available to attorneys, judges, correctional personnel, family members, and friends, these records may serve as valuable resources during parole hearings and other rehabilitative evaluations.

An Important Move for Access

Due to recent nationwide correctional regulations on physical mail, it is increasingly important to make Amazing Facts’ materials available to inmates online.

“There are currently about 465 facilities where we are not allowed to send physical copies of our Bible lessons,” explains Daniel Raullerson, Amazing Facts Prison Ministry coordinator. “Getting approval to send materials is a lengthy process. Though we have received permission to send materials to prisoners in several states in the past couple of years, it is obvious that we need to make our materials available online to reach as many inmates as possible. This is a big reason we have been working so hard to get our materials on Edovo.”

Amazing Facts plans to grow its presence on Edovo by providing additional Bible lessons and video content. Future resources will also include digital books, magazines, and booklets, as well as standalone content such as weekly sermons, documentaries, and personal testimonies.

“Our goal is to give inmates access to rich, well-balanced biblical content produced by Amazing Facts, especially those who cannot receive physical mail,” explains Daniel.

Rescuing Inmates with Truth

Amazing Facts has been actively sharing truth with prisoners for decades. Ever since the Bible School began in 1969, there has been a significant percentage of students who were incarcerated. Today, about 24 percent of our students are inmates.

In 2000, Amazing Facts’ prison ministry began offering inmates four free items per month. Many took advantage of this offer while completing the Amazing Facts Study Guides. In 2022, Amazing Facts further expanded its prison ministry by partnering with Pando TV, a non-profit ministry that reaches over 600,000 inmates in the United States. That ministry has been fruitful; over 15,500 prisoners have expressed their desire to become Christians!

If you would like to learn more about Amazing Facts’ prison ministry or get involved with reaching inmates in your area, please visit: amazingfacts.org/prison-ministry or contact us at prisonministry@amazingfacts.org.

Limping Toward Hope: Josephat’s Journey

For most of his life, Josephat knew hardship far better than hope.

Growing up in the rural village of Kithimani, Kenya, he was the oldest of five children in a struggling family. Poverty, hunger, and instability marked his childhood. When his parents traveled in search of work, Josephat was left with relatives, where he often faced rejection. By seventh grade, financial pressures forced him to leave school and begin working to survive.

He desperately needed the hope that you hold in your hands.

As a young man, Josephat searched for spiritual meaning, moving away from his Catholic upbringing and attending various churches. He married Felistas, and together they worked hard to support their growing family. But in 2022, tragedy struck. While working on a construction site, Josephat fell three stories, suffering severe injuries to his arm, leg, and back. Although surgeries saved his life, he never fully recovered. The physical labor that once provided for his family became impossible, leaving them in a desperate situation.

Then God intervened in an unexpected way.

You gave out of love for your neighbor, and God sent an Amazing Facts Prophecies of Hope evangelistic series to Josephat’s village. He heard the messages from a distance and felt compelled to attend. Night after night, he limped to the meetings on crutches, carefully listening to Bible truths that transformed his understanding of God and His Word. The teachings on Scripture, baptism, and Christ’s soon return stirred his heart deeply.

One promise became especially precious: the hope of a restored body when Jesus returns. For a man living with constant pain, the promise of a future without crutches filled him with joy. Convinced by the Bible’s teachings, Josephat surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized.

Today, despite his limp and physical pain, he walks with joy in Jesus. Thank you for giving him hope!

Contentment in Christ at Last: Martin’s Story

Martin grew up in Mabaiku, a small village in South Sudan, in a devout Roman Catholic family. As he grew older, however, he became frustrated with his circumstances. He dreamed of escaping poverty and finding success, but he sought answers in the wrong places.

He, too, urgently needed the truth you hold in your hands.

A friend introduced him to witchcraft’s promise of power, protection, and prosperity. Soon, Martin was living a dual life—attending church while secretly practicing black magic. Success eluded him, so he turned to alcohol, but that path quickly led to broken relationships, isolation, and imprisonment.

Martin began to recognize the painful truth that power, money, alcohol, and witchcraft could not bring lasting peace.

Shortly after his release, you made it possible for Martin to meet an Amazing Facts evangelist, Alison, through your caring gifts. Alison invited him to study the Bible. Martin accepted. As they studied, Scripture came alive. He was deeply moved by the realization of God’s love and the urgency of the gospel message.

When the invitation was given for baptism, Martin was the first to respond. His relatives opposed his decision, but he chose to follow Christ wholeheartedly. His life changed dramatically. Alcohol and witchcraft lost their hold on him, and he experienced a peace he had never known before.

Today, Martin openly shares his faith with others. Family members who once opposed his decision now affectionately call him “pastor” because of his love for the Bible. Once trapped in darkness and searching desperately for meaning, Martin has found lasting contentment in Jesus Christ—the only One who could truly satisfy the deepest needs of his heart.

AFCOE Africa Relaunches in Kenya

AFCOE Africa first launched in Kenya about 10 years ago, before political unrest forced the program to relocate to Uganda in 2018. In January 2026, however, God opened doors for the ministry to return to Kenya.

Recently, when Pastor Doug Batchelor’s travel plans to the Middle East were canceled due to war, he was able to spend a week in Nairobi. His presence was an encouragement to AFCOE students and leaders as the program reestablished its presence in the country.

“The AFCOE Africa program is really strong,” Pastor Doug reports. “The students learn evangelism. They go door to door, learn to preach, and do evangelistic meetings. And God blesses their work with many conversions and baptisms.”

The week also created additional opportunities for ministry. Pastor Doug preached the Streams of Light revival series, which was broadcast across the continent via Hope Channel Kenya and AWR Nairobi. He also spoke with theology students, local pastors, Muslim leaders, and more than 500 young people at the University of Nairobi, where a planned testimony meeting became a four-hour conversation about faith and biblical living.

“The unexpected appointments, the ones we had no idea were going to happen, were especially exciting on this trip,” says Pastor Doug. “The Lord blessed.”

Thank you for giving so that Martin and Josephat—and so many like them—could find hope in Jesus. Your generosity and loving prayers restored their hope and gave them a new lease on life. Thank you, too, for making it possible for AFCOE Africa to lead thousands to Christ every year. Your loving co-laboring gifts are truly making a difference in Africa.