Man, It’s Getting Hard to Tell What’s Real
Let’s be real here. We’re living in a world where you can’t always believe what your eyes see or your ears hear. Somebody can fake a video of a politician saying something they never said. They can clone a voice in under two minutes and call your grandma pretending to be you. They can spin news stories out of thin air, spread them across social media, and half the world believes it before anyone checks the facts.
And the scary part? This isn’t science fiction. It’s right now. Artificial intelligence, deepfake tech, AI voice cloning — it’s everywhere. And it lines up perfectly with what Jesus and the apostles told us would happen in the last days: a flood of deception.
In John 8:44 Jesus called the devil “the father of lies.” Lies are his native language. If the enemy can’t destroy you with brute force, he’ll do it with a lie. And now he’s got technology on his side like never before.
So how do we stand? How do we discern truth from slick lies when the whole system seems built to confuse us?
Lies in Prophecy: We Shouldn’t Be Surprised
The Bible never promised the last days would be easy to navigate. In fact, it warned us over and over:
- Matthew 24:24 — “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 — “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing…”
- Revelation 13:13–14 — The false prophet “performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth… and he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.”
Notice the thread? Deception isn’t a side issue in prophecy. It’s the main event. The enemy doesn’t just want control of governments — he wants control of perception. If he can make the lie look like the truth, he’s got you.
Historical Examples of Deception (Foreshadowing the Digital Age)
This isn’t the first time people have been duped on a massive scale. Technology has just put it on steroids.
- Roman Propaganda: Caesars used coins, statues, and ceremonies to push the lie that they were “sons of the gods.”
- World War II: Hitler used radio and film to flood Germany with deception, convincing millions that evil was good.
- Cult Leaders: From Jim Jones to David Koresh, lies mixed with half-truths have always destroyed lives.
What’s new today is the speed, scale, and sophistication. A lie that once took weeks to spread can now reach millions in minutes. And Revelation tells us a time is coming when one global leader will use that power to deceive the whole earth.
Real-Life Examples of Digital Deception
Let’s bring it down to ground level. These aren’t “someday” threats. They’re already happening:
- AI Voice Scams: Thousands of families have been tricked by scammers cloning a loved one’s voice to beg for money or “emergency bail.” All they need is a 10-second clip of your voice — which half of us have all over Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube.
- Deepfake Politicians: Fake videos of world leaders declaring war, resigning, or saying outrageous things. Even if they’re exposed as fake later, the damage is done because people share the clip millions of times first.
- AI Religious Teachers: There are already “AI pastors” and “AI prophets” generating sermons, visions, and fake scripture interpretations. Think about that. The Word of God being twisted by an algorithm trained on internet junk.
- Fake News Floods: Bot armies generating thousands of “articles” to push an agenda. Doesn’t matter if it’s true — it’s about who controls the narrative.
- Financial Deception: Deepfake CEOs calling staff to approve wire transfers. Entire companies losing millions because someone trusted a fake voice.
That’s not just tech gone wild. That’s a setup for deception on a global scale.
Why This Matters for Believers
Here’s the danger: if you and I aren’t rooted in truth, we can get swept right into the chaos. It’s not just about scams stealing your money. It’s about lies stealing your faith.
Think about Matthew 24 again. Jesus says deception is so intense in the last days that even the elect would be deceived “if possible.” That’s how slick it’s gonna get. And if you’re relying only on your eyes and ears — on “evidence” from a screen — you’re toast.
That’s why discernment has to shift from What do I see? to What does God’s Word say?
Practical Ways to Guard Against Digital Deception
1. Test Everything Against Scripture
Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans who “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” That’s the model.
If an “AI prophet” spits out a new word, check it against the Bible. If a video shakes your faith, measure it against God’s Word. If a headline tries to stir fear, ask: Does this line up with the promises of Jesus?
2. Slow Down Your Reactions
Digital deception thrives on speed. The enemy wants you to share before you think, react before you pray. Proverbs 19:2 says, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Slow down. Breathe. Fact-check. Pray.
3. Guard Your Inputs
Let’s be real. If you’re feeding your soul a steady diet of conspiracy videos and doom channels, don’t be shocked when your peace evaporates. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on what’s true, noble, right, pure, and praiseworthy. Not clickbait lies.
4. Talk It Out in Community
Lone wolves are easy prey. Share what you’re seeing with grounded believers. Sometimes a brother or sister can spot a fake faster than you can.
5. Protect Your Family
Teach your kids and grandkids how to spot scams. Help them understand not everything online is real. Show them how to filter everything through the Bible. If they learn that now, they’ll be way harder to deceive later.
6. Equip Yourself with Tools
- Reverse image searches (Google, TinEye) to check fake photos.
- Sites like Snopes or PolitiFact (not perfect, but a starting point).
- Critical thinking questions: Who benefits if I believe this? Who loses?
A Resource That Helped Me
I’ve gotta mention this: Living In The Daze of Deception.
That book flat-out opened my eyes. It walks through how lies creep in, how the enemy twists half-truths, and how believers can stay anchored. Honestly, in an age where fake news and AI prophets are everywhere, it’s one of the best tools I’ve found for sharpening discernment. If deception is the devil’s weapon, then this book is a shield.
Not trying to push, just saying — it’s worth your time if you’re serious about walking in truth.
Fear vs. Faith in the Age of Lies
Here’s where we land. Fear says, “I don’t know what’s real anymore.” Faith says, “I know Who is real, and He is truth.”
Jesus didn’t just give us truth. He said, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6). That means no algorithm, no deepfake, no AI-generated lie can override Him.
Yes, the deception is real. Yes, it’s getting worse. But so is the opportunity for believers to shine. When the world can’t tell truth from lies, your steady witness becomes a lighthouse.
Faithful Living in a Digital Babylon
- Stay Word-Centered. Every day, get your bearings in Scripture. Don’t start with the feed — start with the Bible.
- Stay Spirit-Led. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. He promises to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).
- Stay Mission-Focused. Use every conversation to point people to Jesus. When they say, “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” tell them, “I know Someone you can always believe.”
- Stay Practically Ready. Digital lies can lead to real-world chaos — bank hacks, cyberattacks, food shortages. Have some backup plans. (I share a few things I trust personally on my Trusted Products & Reviews page if you’re curious.)
The Early Church Model
It’s easy to feel like this tech deception is brand new — and in one sense, it is. But lies are ancient. The first deepfake was in Genesis 3 when Satan said, “Did God really say…?”
The early church thrived in a world full of lies, idols, and propaganda. They didn’t survive by out-teching Rome. They survived by clinging to Jesus, the truth. And the gospel spread like wildfire.
That’s our blueprint. Not fear. Not hiding. But living as people of truth in an age of lies.
Mini-FAQ: Digital Deception and the Bible
Q: Does the Bible talk about technology like AI and deepfakes?
Not directly — but it does talk about end-times deception on a global scale (Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13). AI is simply a tool that makes deception faster and more convincing.
Q: How can I tell if a prophecy online is real or fake?
Test it against Scripture. If it contradicts the Word or fuels fear instead of faith, throw it out.
Q: Should Christians avoid technology altogether?
Not necessarily. Tech can spread lies — but it can also spread the gospel. The key is discernment. Use tools wisely, but never let them replace God’s Word.
Q: What’s the number one defense against deception?
Knowing Jesus personally and knowing His Word deeply. Lies only work when you don’t know the truth.
A Prayer for Discernment in These Days
Lord, in a world where truth feels blurred and lies travel faster than light, anchor us in Your Word. Teach us to slow down, to test everything, to walk steady in Your Spirit. Protect our families from deception. Make us lights in this digital Babylon. Keep our eyes on Jesus, the Truth who never changes. Amen.
Do Not Fear: Additional Reading for Hope in Christ
- Encouraging Scripture for Hard Times
- Bible Verses That Anchor Faith in Crisis
- Spiritual Readiness for the End Times
- Helping Others in Crisis as a Christian Prepper
About the Author
My name is Jason — just a sinner saved by grace, learning to walk by faith and share hope in Christ. Through Prepared & Redeemed, I write to encourage believers to anchor their hearts in Scripture, prepare wisely for uncertain times, and point others to the eternal hope found in Jesus alone.
👉 Read more on my About Page
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear how this hits you. Have you seen examples of digital deception in your own life? How are you guarding your heart and mind? Drop a comment below.