Hi all,
Christians around the world are asking about the significance of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in our lives. Many ask if this is the mark of the beast, to what extent should we use it, and others ask if it is good or evil? My heart is to share the spirit of the world’s use of it towards Satan’s goals. But God can and does use it for good.
Everything the Lord has created was made by Him and for Him. Computers are made from ore mined from the ground God made. It is neither good nor bad; how Earth’s resources are used is good or bad. The issue is how the resources and knowledge are used.
The Tower of Babel and AI
“And the whole earth was of one speech and one language.” Genesis 11: 1
This sentence is literally, “Of one lip and of words one.” It means the way words were both pronounced and then used in a sentence was the same throughout the whole world. The Hebrew word translated ‘speech’ is ‘davar’ and means ‘a cause’. It indicates they were one in their cause, which included building the Tower of Babel.
In verse 6, the Lord comments: “Indeed, the people are one, and have one language, and this is just the beginning of what they will do; nothing they imagine will be impossible to them.”
Though Satan has long used strife and hatred to cause division, his larger goal has been to unify mankind in language as it was at Babel that he might rule, for a kingdom must be one to have order within.
Computers; They are neither good nor bad.
They are made of materials of the earth which God made. Being in Christ, God means them for good. But Satan perverts all things of God, to make mankind use them for sin and evil. Satan’s plan is to unify the world under him. If we are all one (computer) language, he can better rule those who are part of his kingdom.
That Christians are not part of his kingdom infuriates him, of course. But that doesn’t stop him from using God-given computer technology towards his goal of uniting the world in one language. While the events of The Revelation are focused on Israel and Europe, the spirit behind the effort to unify mankind by one language is worldwide, for he is the ‘god of this world’. II Corinthians 4:4
666 and the Mark of the Beast
In The Revelation 13: 1-10 the apostle observes there is a beast that is worshipped and wages war against the saints and demands people worship him. That narration ends in v10. In verses 11-18, he sees another beast that has the power of the first beast and enforces worship of the first beast. This second beast talks and does miracles of deception, and institutes an economic system. To participate, a person must first declare allegiance to it, and is then rewarded with a mark on their forehead or wrist which enables them to buy or sell.
The case could be made – I’m not making the case, merely presenting a possibility – that the 2nd beast is an AI politically-controlled economy, requiring an electronic ‘mark’ on people to buy and sell. The apostle John was writing to Christians in the Roman Empire, which had unified under 1 Caesar (king) and 1 Roman law. At the end of the 1st century, the Roman Empire included western Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa. To understand The Revelation in our day, therefore, we limit much of the events to what amounts to a revived Roman Empire.
666 is this: 6 being the number of man: The 3 spheres of influence every dictator as sought throughout the centuries: To rule in politics, law, and religion. 666. It is within the context of Europe that the 666 economic system will take place. That said, the spirit behind it, trying to unify the whole world as we know it, is still present.
This is why governments are going to take more steps in the next few years to change to a digital economy. Cash cannot be tracked, is expensive to make, move, and store. In the right hands, it isn’t an issue for Christians. If, however, a political system turns against Jews and Christians and political enemies, a digital currency can be used to lock people out of the ability to buy or sell, it can track their movements and details of their lives, and much more. The spirit behind it is actively trying to unify the whole world today.
While dictators have tried to rule in the number of man, 666: Politics, law, religion, we could say Jesus is the True ruler of 777. Politically because Jesus will rule the earth as its King, by law because He will enforce His law with a rod of iron (enforced righteousness), and by religion in that He demands worship as Lord and King. (Zechariah 14)
Throughout history, dictators have been able to rule politically and by their law, but they have never been able to rule religion. Examples include Nebucadnezzar who first fought then honored the God of Israel, but he didn’t demand all his kingdom worship Him alone. Also, Nazi Germany’s war against Jews, Christians, and political opponents, as they wanted everyone to ‘Heil Hitler’ (Hail Hitler). They have ruled 66 but not 666. The man of sin will seek to do the same, bringing war against believers in the last years of this age.
We watch technology develop. We don’t fear what Satan has in mind, but we observe. We are careful to use technology for the blessing it was intended to be, rather than a gateway to spiritual distraction and sin.
Wash your eyes out with this: Waking up, talking to the Father
“Father, thank you for your graciousness to me and my family”, is what I say (internally) as I wake up most every morning. It’s become automatic yet remains sincere. Then I add: “And thank you for those who support us, pray for us and our work in you.”
As I say that to the Father, I shift to silently praying in the spirit under my breath for family members, and then to issues left unsettled the previous day. Then to praying for those who have requested prayer, then to those who support us financially and in prayer, and then to people He brings floating across my mind as I pray silently in the spirit for them. Always, always, I am thankful and tell Him so. No matter what happens, I give thanks – in all things give thanks. Not always FOR all things, but IN all things. I Thessalonians 5:18
Romans 1 describes the most basic way to know God – that He is Creator. Verse 21 says: “Knowing (He is Creator) they did not acknowledge Him as God, nor were they thankful. But became godless (vain) in their thinking, and their hearts were darkened.”
In our culture, the day of Thanksgiving to God has become a thanksgiving completely detached from God the Creator. People are thankful for all they have, thinking it was by their hand they have life. People are thankful to the universe for all they have. Let us commune with our hearts to know and give thanks to the Father as Creator, our Creator, first and foremost. Let us be thankful TO HIM. Let us look at the cup half full rather than the part that has yet to be filled.
CWOWI: Above, you’ll find announcements for our 2026 Tulsa conference, October 16-18. These multi-day gatherings are unlike other conferences in that we spend so much time together – meals, worship, teaching, individual prayer, and such rich fellowship! Also, our European conference, April 30-May 3, in Helvoirt, Netherlands, has the same spirit of fellowship and richness in Christ.
A note about this month’s teaching series: Ezra to Esther; Rebuilding lives, rebuilding walls, and God’s promise keeping. We are winding down our survey of the Old Testament, covering the time when Israel left Babylon to rebuild the city and temple. We cover everything from Nehemiah who refused to be distracted from the work for the Lord he was doing, to how Ezra taught the Word with meaning so all understood, To God keeping a 900 year old promise. The series will encourage you to stay focused not distracted, and how to let the Lord rebuild life. For anyone rebuilding their life, or praying that for others, this series is for you!
KWOWI Kenya: The first follow-up meeting after the business planning seminar is taking place about the time you receive this. These meetings are smaller, even 1 on 1, to help these parents define and refine the businesses they plan to start in their homes. We are doing this in addition to your sponsorship for the children in many of these homes; thank you SO much! Their lives are changing for the better!
Fenn family: Chris is a constant reminder to keep a childlike simplicity to our faith. He will be 46 next month, though mentally about age 4. As he and I run errands on Fridays, he listens to playlists I have on my phone. The Donut Man, Psalty the singing songbook, and others are on that list. Chris regularly, and I mean weekly, has tears in his eyes when a song like ‘Hallelujah” or “Jesus loves me this I know” comes on.
His eyes fill with tears and he chuckles through them barely able to speak through his tears: ‘Jesus loves me’…it brings tears to my eyes just telling you this. Stay in, or return to, the core simplicity of your faith.
We are well, focusing on core things as we are about to close out the year: Simple faith, family, fellowship with those we value so highly and love. Praying for you! Thank you for being part of our lives!
Happy Thanksgiving!
John & Barb, Brian & Amy
