Pastors, Prophecy, and Powerlessness
A power vacuum exists today that was foretold almost two thousand years ago. Its effects on this generation and beyond are profound and are destined to make an even more deleterious impact on America and the world in the days just ahead. The apostle Paul prophesied the following: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come… [Men] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:1, 5a).
Many pastors within Christianity today, I am sorry to have to say, are complicit in helping fulfill this prophecy on an hourly basis.
First, let’s define the term “Christian pastors.” Within the context of Paul’s prophecy that I wish to examine here, I refer to those pastors who truly preach and teach that Jesus Christ is the only way to redemption, to reconciliation with God the Father. All others who claim to be clergy within Christianity I completely disregard, because God’s Word discounts them as false prophets, as defined by the following Scripture, to give but one example:
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Again, to be clear, when I say “Christian pastors,” I’m referring to genuine pastors: Bible-believing preachers who lift up Christ as the only way to salvation.
Some will say that Paul’s “perilous times” warning of men who would display the end-times characteristic of “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” applies to the false teachers of Peter’s prophecy, not to true preachers called by God to be shepherds of His flock. I agree that Paul’s 2 Timothy prophecy applies to those interlopers who deny Jesus Christ as the only way to redemption.
However, the accusation against those who have a “form of godliness but deny the power thereof” can apply as well to God’s true shepherds. The condemnation is in some ways even more to the point than when leveled at the false preachers and teachers. It’s my contention that Christian pastors today–and, sadly, I believe this includes the majority of them–deny the power of God when they deliberately cast aside prophecy given in the Bible that is for a time yet future.
We have written in these commentaries, and many others have written and spoken on the fact that God’s Word, the Bible, consists of at least 27 percent prophecy. Half of that prophecy has been fulfilled; half is yet to be fulfilled. Although it can be proven through study of the Scriptures and by examining history that the Bible is always accurate in putting forth prophecy in past instances, pastors – preachers and teachers – consistently and persistently ignore preaching and teaching things to come.
By this willful disregard for presenting this vast body of scriptural truth, men of God–called and anointed by the Lord as guardians of His truth and shepherds of His flocks–deny the great power wrapped up in the astonishing reality that our God is the only One who knows the end from the beginning–and in excruciating detail, might I add.
For the most part, preachers of today seemingly avoid the prophetic Word at any cost. And, in God’s holy economy, the cost must be astronomical. These shepherds of God’s precious people are denying those people the assurance of the hope that He promises. Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior, is the fruition of God’s magnificent plan for their journey into forever. With the knowledge of Christ’s return plainly given as imminent in God’s love letter to mankind, the born-again should be living victoriously, not with cringing fear or, even worse, in almost complete apathy.
The prophetic Word says:
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:12-14).
The majority of those who aren’t informed about what is going to happen next in this judgment-bound world, or who are totally unconcerned about things of God, are fed pabulum rather than meat for living life in the way the Lord intended. These are, as often as not, force-fed the “feel-good and let’s not dwell on sin too much” worldly message that is anathema to truth from the Word of God.
To the pastors and teachers who do, in fact, teach doctrine and sound biblical principles, may the Lord bless you to the extent to which you remain faithful to break the Bread of Life in the way it should be fed to your flocks. But if you don’t include prophecy as an important and generous part of your messages–that Jesus is coming again and might come at any moment–you are falling far short of deserving full commendation. You are denying the true power of God. You are exhibiting only a form of godliness.
Respectfully, please pay attention, you who are the truth-bearing pastors of our Holy God. These are the times to which all of Bible prophecy has pointed for millennia. These are perilous times. Signals are rampant that this generation is the generation that will almost certainly see the Lord’s return in power and glory. Israel and the peace process, with all nations beginning to turn against that state, dear pastors, is the number-one signal that we are bumping up against the very end of this swiftly fleeting age. Christ’s shout, “Come up hither,” is imminent!
You will be held accountable at the judgment seat of Christ for how you treat His whole Word in feeding your flock. Jesus spoke to the great power and importance resident within prophecy while addressing the churches. John recorded what the resurrected Lord directed him to write:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.… Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:1-2, 7-8)
–Terry
UFO Mania
The world’s obsession with alien life and UFOs continues to grow exponentially. The latest rage consists of a mystery object hurtling through space at 130,000 miles per hour dubbed “31/ATLAS.” While most observers believe it’s a comet, renowned Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb believes that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS might be a gigantic alien spacecraft. Initial reports claimed that the spectacle is twelve miles wide; now the experts say it’s only three but still rather sizeable for any flying object of unknown origin.
Professor Loeb believes the spacecraft will arrive near Earth in early November. I have read other accounts of gigantic UFOs that have already passed by the earth or are nearby. The conflicting information doesn’t deter those who believe that intelligent life exists beyond the earth.
Searching the Internet for stories on “alien spacecraft” results in a multitude of stories about UFOs, 31/ATLAS, and other potential sightings, substantiating the widespread conviction that these things are real. An August 27, 2025, article on the Popular Mechanics website had this captivating title: “Aliens Might Be Chatting With the Planet Next Door. We Could Listen In.”
Why the fascination with aliens and UFOs? Does this preoccupation have anything to do with Bible prophecy? I believe it’s a sign that Satan knows his time is short and has ramped up his efforts to deceive people so they later will fall for the antichrist’s lies.
The Deception
In his book, UFO’s: The Great Last Days Deception, Billy Crone describes how the current UFO phenomenon fits with the devil’s ploy to deceive mankind into believing a lie rather than the true explanation for the multitudes of missing people. In his book, he states, “More people believe in Aliens than in the existence of God, and more people believe that Aliens have visited planet Earth than that Jesus is the Son of God.”
The Bible does not specifically tell us whether or not the antichrist will use the current UFO obsession in deceiving the masses after the Rapture. However, given the hysteria of our day, it seems as though a great many people would readily attribute our disappearance to aliens rather than the Rapture. The immense size of 31/ATLAS (three miles wide and even longer) and other gigantic alien spacecraft reported to be near the earth would allow for such an explanation of why so many people are missing.
I’m amazed by the predominant opinion that aliens must be far more advanced and intelligent than humans. Many believe they have the answers to the problems we face on Earth and welcome future interactions with them. Does this not also fit with a false Rapture narrative? The aliens supposedly have the know-how as well as the available space to accommodate our future disappearance.
The Lie
In 2 Thessalonians 4:11-12, Paul refers to “the lie”:
“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (NKJV).
Referring to people who will reject Jesus as their Savior and thus fall under the deceptive ploys of the antichrist, the apostle wrote they will fall for “the lie,” which God will cause them to believe. The Bible does not reveal the exact nature of this “strong delusion,” but it seems to be closely related to the appearing of the “man of lawlessness” and his “false signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-11). As a result of their unbelief in Jesus, the majority of people will accept his version of reality rather than what Scripture says.
Could it be that the UFO mania of our day is Satan’s way of conditioning people to believe “the lie” after Jesus catches us up to meet Him in the air? I believe it’s a likely scenario for the masses who already possess more faith in UFOs and aliens than in God’s existence.
I believe Paul’s warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 applies to those who now reject Jesus and the saving message of the cross. Our sudden disappearance will not change their minds regarding the Gospel or their dismissive attitude toward the Rapture. They will gladly believe “the lie” rather than the truth of God’s Word. Those who believe the lies of our adversary before the Rapture will continue to do so afterward, despite all that they see.
The Bible also tells us that a multitude will come to saving faith in Jesus after the Rapture (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17). The sizeable number of Tribulation saints points to a great awakening after our departure, likely due to the preaching of the 144,000 and the angel who will proclaim the Gospel during this time. This sizeable group of people, those not previously hardened in their unbelief, will reject the world’s explanation for our disappearance and turn to the Savior.
Satan’s intense preparation of the world to believe the lies of the antichrist tells us we must be ever so close to our homegoing. It’s not that he has any inside information on its timing, but he knows Scripture and thus recognizes that Jesus is coming for His Church very soon.
For us as believers, the rampant deception of our day signifies the necessity of knowing Scripture and trusting its revelation of what lies ahead both for us and the world. Our adversary is not only working overtime to deceive the world, but is also seeking to lead the saints astray with a wide variety of errant beliefs regarding their future as well as that of the world.
Though many will scoff, it’s also a time to share the Gospel and our hope in Jesus’ appearing as the Lord gives us the opportunity to do so. Others may not respond in faith now, but may do so after Jesus takes us home to glory.
-Jonathan