NOTES ON THE BAMBOOZLE: WHO TO TRUST IN THE AGE OF ANTICHRIST

1. THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “Your own FRIEND and your father’s friend, forsake them not; neither go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a NEIGHBOR who is near [in spirit] than a brother who is far off [in heart].” – PROVERBS 27:10, AMPC

KEY TERMS:

• “FRIEND.” ‘Rea’ [רֵֽעֲךָ ]: “A brother, companion, fellow; a close friend.” NOTE: “Strong’s Hebrew 7453 (רֵעַ) designates the person who ‘STANDS NEXT TO ME’ in life—’Neighbor,’ ‘Friend,’ ‘Companion,’ or ‘Fellow.’ The word embraces every layer of human relationship in the Old Testament, from casual interaction in the marketplace to deep covenantal friendship. Its approximately 186 appearances spread through the Law, Historical Books, Wisdom writings, and Prophets, revealing: ‘A consistent Divine Concern for how people treat those closest to them in daily life.’”

• “NEIGHBOR.” ‘Shakane’’ [שָׁכֵ֥ן]: “A fellow citizen, resident, inhabitant; a dweller [in the land].” NOTE: “שָׁכֵן (‘shaken’)arises from the broader family of verbs that express ‘to dwell’ or ‘settle.’ ‘Thus a שָׁכֵן is not only the person next door but anyone whose life‐space overlaps mine in daily experience.’ The word can denote a literal resident of a town (Isaiah 33:24) or the Nations bordering Israel (Deuteronomy 1:7). ‘Yet its theological weight grows out of the Covenant Expectation that life lived in proximity is life lived under Yahweh’s gaze.’”

QUOTATION. “One must love God first, and only then can one love one’s closest of kin and neighbors. We must not be idols to one another, for such is not the will of God.” ― ELDER THADDEUS OF VITOVNICA, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, 2009; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend’ — Of whose friendship thou hast had long experience; ‘forsake not’ —But betake thyself to him, when thou art in distress, rather than to thy natural brother or kinsman, if he be not also thy friend. ‘For better is a neighbour’ — That is, ‘a friend,’ such as is mentioned in the beginning of the verse, who hath showed himself to be a true and good neighbour; ‘that is near’ — Namely, in affection; ‘than a brother far off’ — Who is  ALIENATED in affection from thee.”’ – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

1. TEACHING

AMBER FORD.  Digital Creator [YouTube, Instagram, Facebook]; Aspiring Model; White Christian Mom for Trump. Enemy of all Liberals (& Never Trumps). Conspiracy Theorist (“Covid was fake.” “Arrest Dr. Fauci”). Aligned with the extreme Right Wing “Patriot Movement” (look up their views of the Constitution and Eschatology). Digital Footprint: She reaches thousands if not tens of thousands online in an acerbic, mocking, arrogant style.

Around 4 am the morning of August 31, 2026, I happened across a Video post by someone named Amber Ford. She was commenting as a Christian analyst on the pervasive “Complacency” of the Church, and that we had to understand that only “Yahweh,” Jesus Christ, was the only one who can save us. She was forceful, convincing, and sounded very much like my own invectives against the Trump Nationalist Church who remain Indifferent to all the mayhem of his Fascist Regime brutality.

I was truly inspired by her delivery and the spiritual points she was directing toward the dependence upon someone she called, “The Man.” That statement nailed it for me, and I excitedly proceeded to prepare it to be shared on my three main platforms: YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. In fact, I boosted it on LinkedIn to reach several thousand American members, and personally tagged 100 of my best Facebook followers. I then looked forward to the results.

Until two eagle-eyed social media friends warned me that she was likely a DONALD TRUMP NATONIONALIST.

As my heart sunk into my lower abdominal regions, I panicked and started vetting her best I could (something I normally always do ‘before’ I post an unknown guest commentator). As you can see from the “Bio” above, there is virtually nothing to pin down about who she is or even if she is “real” (or an AI Ghost, or digital construction).

Having confirmed that she is indeed a “Make America Great” Christian American, I systematically deleted every last vestige of my earlier share of her video, with appropriate apologies all around.

THE LESSONS. Carefully noting that this is the second time in a single month that I have made a substantial mistake, I chew on a bit more Humble Pie to share with you at least FOUR THINGS I have learned. All citations of Scripture are from the Amplified Bible.

1. SLOW DOWN. “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark).” – PROVERBS 19:2

• VET EVERYTHING. “A single witness shall not appear in a trial against a man for any wrong or any sin which he has committed; [only] on the testimony or evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be confirmed.” – DEUTERONOMY 19:15

• GET WISDOM. “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” – MATTHEW 7:24-25

• KEEP COMMUNITY. “And let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.” – HEBREWS 10:24-25

DK NOTE. If a professional researcher, a devout Christian of 45 years, an applied theologian and comparative worldview expert such as yours truly can be ‘fooled’ – what might that say about the potential for Deception of the Masses in the days to come? We next explore that VITAL QUESTION:

‘Who Can We TRUST in the Age of Antichrist?’

1. THE CRY FOR DISCERNMENT

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead TEST THE SPIRITS [‘dokimazo’ (δοκιμάζετε), ‘reveal its true worth’] to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. 

By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.” – 1 JOHN 4:1-3

DISCERNMENT. Of all the abilities a human being moving through the turmoils and deceptions of the Last Days absolutely must possess, beloved, I would have to rate ‘Spiritual Discernment’at the very top, hands down. Why? Carefully consider its Core Meaning in the comments that follow.

• DEFINITION. ‘Diakrisis’ [διάκρισις]: “A judicious distinction or judgment; an accurate, God-assisted estimation.”NOTE: “‘Strong’s Greek 1253 designates the God-given capacity to separate, evaluate, and reach sound conclusions about what is true, right, or spiritually authentic.’ Though the noun appears only three times in the Greek New Testament, the concept permeates Scripture, anchoring both Christian Liberty and Doctrinal Fidelity.”

• SCRIPTURE. “To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit;and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-11

IMPLICATIONS. After my somewhat serious error in carelessly accepting one of the most Dubious Sources populating the social media today, with AI simulations virtually soaking the Information Platforms worldwide: ‘The Call to Discernment becomes a very literal Life or Death Choice in the days ahead.’

Thus, we shall conclude with a thorough treatment of this matter by a reliable analysis combining astute theology with a close examination of how and why THE TRUMP ERA presents such a serious challenge to us all.

1. LAST THOUGHTS: CHRIST & POLITICS

I discovered a thoughtful Broadside against the blending of Church and State matters by the Editors of an excellent but hardly noticed online journal, Feeding the Flock Ministry (Jan. 26, 2016; edited). The title of their piece: “Christ, Power, and the Trump Era: A Call to Discernment and Repentance for the Church”

Their approach is a gentler, kinder treatment of the Church’s Apostasy from the Biblical Canon, but nonetheless precise in its theology. So I should be a bit less strident in my review (but no promises!).

• OPEN. “For many Christians, The Trump Era is not merely Political — it is Spiritual. Churches are strained, consciences are burdened, and the name of Jesus is invoked in ways that demand careful and prayerful examination. ‘This is not ultimately a question about one man or one administration. It is a question about what kind of Kingdom Christians believe they belong to, and whether that Kingdom is being confused with the Kingdoms of this World’ [sic]. Jesus says plainly that His kingdom is not of this world and does not advance by earthly methods, making clear that the nature of His Reign cannot be mapped onto political dominance or coercive power (John 18:36).”

• MOTIVES. “Many believers who support Trump do not do so out of malice, cruelty, or disregard for others, but out of sincere concern about cultural collapse, moral confusion, economic insecurity, and fear of losing freedoms they cherish [sic]. These concerns deserve to be heard, not caricatured. Yet SCRIPTURE WARNS: ‘Sincerity alone does not sanctify conclusions. PROVERBS teaches that ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death’ (Proverbs 14:12). JESUS WARNS: ‘Religious Devotion, when severed from Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness, can drift into Blindness rather than Faithfulness’ (Matthew 23:23).”

• POLICIES. “Some policies associated with the Trump Administration align with concerns long held by many Christians, particularly regarding abortion, religious liberty claims, and judicial appointments. These alignments are often cited as evidence that the Administration represents Christian Values. ‘But Scripture does not evaluate righteousness primarily through policy outcomes. It evaluates faithfulness through Character, Fruit, Justice, Mercy, Humility, Truthfulness, and Love of Neighbor.’”

• STRATEGY. “‘One of the most sobering realities of the Trump Era is not simply that many Christians support the Administration, but that Christian language, symbols, and identity are openly leveraged for political power — and often EMBRACED WITHOUT DISCERNMENT.’ Public appeals to God, prayer, religious liberty, and Christian heritage are increasingly used to frame political loyalty as moral loyalty, and dissent as betrayal not merely of a party, but of faith itself … JESUS never promises His followers Cultural Dominance. He promises Suffering, Faithfulness, and Resurrection. He tells His disciples that: ‘If anyone wishes to come after Him, he must DENY HIMSELF, take up his cross daily, and FOLLOW HIM’ (Luke 9:23).”

• NATONALISM. “‘Christian Nationalism — the belief that a Modern Nation holds unique covenantal status with God and should be governed explicitly as a Christian State — stands in direct tension with the Teaching and Example of Jesus.’ Jesus refuses political Kingship when crowds attempt to make Him king by force (John 6:15). He rejects Domination as a model of Leadership, telling His disciples that: ‘The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, but it is not this way among His followers; whoever wishes to become great must become a servant, and whoever wishes to be first must become a slave’ (Mark 10:42–45). He declares unambiguously that His Kingdom is not of this world, and therefore His servants do not fight to establish it [in America or Israel!] (John 18:36).”

• ALLIANCES. “‘The Bible consistently warns God’s people against confusing Political Strength with Spiritual Faithfulness.’ When Israel demands a king ‘like the nations,’ God interprets their request not merely as administrative development but as a Rejection of His Kingship over them (1 Samuel 8:7). The Prophets repeatedly condemn rulers who invoke God’s name while practicing Injustice, Exploitation, and Violence, declaring that God despises worship divorced from Righteousness and Compassion (Isaiah 1:16–17; Amos 5:21–24). ‘Jesus Himself is executed through the cooperation of Religious Authorities and Imperial Power — a sobering reminder that Religious Devotion does not immunize institutions from complicity in Oppression.’”

• THEOLOGY. “Many Christians say, ‘God is using Trump,’ appealing to Biblical figures such as Cyrus or Nebuchadnezzar. Scripture affirms that God is Sovereign over rulers and kingdoms, removing kings and establishing kings (Daniel 2:21), and turning the hearts of rulers wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1). But SCRIPTURE never uses God’s Sovereignty to excuse Unrighteousness, silence Moral Critique, or demand Loyalty to leaders. ‘In Scripture, leaders whom God uses are still confronted, rebuked, disciplined, and humbled.’”

• EMPIRE. “‘The Early Christians lived under Rome without attempting to take it over.’ They confessed Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11). They refused participation in Civil Religion when Obedience to God conflicted with obedience to men, declaring that: ‘They must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29). They embodied an alternative community marked by Generosity, Reconciliation, Holiness, and Love of Enemies (Acts 2:44–47; Matthew 5:44). They accepted Marginalization, Persecution, and Death rather than Compromise their Allegiance, knowing that: ‘Through many tribulations believers enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22).”

• POWER. “‘Over the last century, American Christianity gradually shifted from Marginal Faith to Cultural Default, from Discipleship to Respectability, and from Dependence on God to Dependence on influence.’ During the Cold War, Christianity was often fused with Nationalism, Capitalism, and Fear of ideological enemies. Over time, Faith increasingly became associated with ‘Defending a Way of Life’ rather than following a Crucified Messiah … EMPIRE-SHAPED THINKING quietly took root. Over time, many Christians found themselves ‘Defending Leaders’ they once would have rebuked, excusing behavior they once would have condemned, and justifying methods they once recognized as incompatible with the Spirit of Christ.”

• WARFARE. “‘Culture War Theology [as contrasted with Spiritual War Theology] teaches Christians to see Society as a Battlefield and Politics as Salvation.’ JESUS teaches His followers to see themselves as Witnesses and the Cross as the way. Culture War Theology cultivates fear, anger, outrage, suspicion, and dehumanization. SCRIPTURE teaches that ‘The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God’ (James 1:20), and that: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22–23). Jesus never commands His disciples to win the culture. He commands them to FOLLOW HIM — and warns that faithfulness may bring misunderstanding, rejection, and suffering rather than applause or power (John 15:18–20).”

• COST. “‘In the Trump Era, Christianity is increasingly perceived not as Good News for the poor, the broken, and the lost, but as a Political Tribe, a Grievance Movement, or a Power Bloc.’ While these perceptions do not reflect every church or every believer, they do not arise in a vacuum. ‘SCRIPTURE warns that when God’s people misrepresent Him, His name is BLASPHEMED [“slander, defamation, reviling the Lord] among the nations because of them’ (Romans 2:24). JESUS TEACHES that His followers are the Light of the World, called to”: ‘Let their light shine in such a way that others see their good works and glorify their Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:14–16).”

• LIFE. “Moments of Violence, Tragedy, and State Power — regardless of motives, circumstances, or political frameworks — confront the Church with enduring Moral Questions. Whenever Force is used, whenever Lives are lost, and whenever Authority is exercised in ways that harm rather than protect, believers are called not first to defend systems or condemn opponents, but to Return to Scripture’s deepest convictions about Human Dignity, Justice, and Accountability before God … ‘For Christians, then, tragedies involving Power and Loss of Life are not merely political or legal matters; they are SPIRITUAL SUMMONS. They call the Church to sober reflection on how force is exercised.’” DK: And Confrontation, and Rebuke!

• REPENTANCE. “Scripture offers a consistent path toward Renewal — and it does not begin with reclaiming influence. In Daniel 9, faithful people confess collective sin, even when they personally did not commit the nation’s crimes. In Nehemiah 9, God’s people recount their failures without excuse or deflection. In Ezra 9–10, leaders grieve compromise rather than manage appearances. In Revelation 2–3, JESUS CALLS HIS CHURCHES — not governments — to Repent. ‘The Biblical Pattern is unmistakable: “Judgment begins with the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17), and Restoration begins with Confession, [And] Repentance begins with LEADERS, but it belongs to the whole body.’”

• RESISTANCE. “‘Faithful Resistance does not look like RAGE, withdrawal, despair, or cynicism. It looks like REFUSAL to conform.’ It looks like advocating for laws that protect life while rejecting rhetoric that degrades the vulnerable, remembering that God requires justice, kindness, and humility (Micah 6:8). It looks like voting with conviction while refusing conspiracy, contempt, and fear, knowing that God has not given His people a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). It looks like SPEAKING TRUTH when ‘our side’ is wrong, remembering that faithful wounds from a friend are better than deceitful kisses from an enemy’ (Proverbs 27:6). It looks like LOVING NEIGHBORS without filtering compassion through political identity, because whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20). ‘The most subversive act in an empire-shaped culture is a Church that is NOT AFRAID.’”

• CLOSE. “THE QUESTION before Christians today is not whether the Trump Administration is entirely good or entirely bad [sic]. The Deeper Question is whether the Church is allowing Political Power — now and going forward — to Reshape its Ethics, Imagination, and Witness. ‘JESUS does not need a Nation [nor a Presidential Candidate’s Promise] to defend Him.’ The Lord of Heaven and Earth does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is He served by human hands as though He needed anything (Acts 17:24–25). THE GOSPEL does not require Dominance to survive. The kingdom of God advances through Truth, Repentance, Love, and Resurrection — not through Coercion, Spectacle, or Fear. JESUS PROMISES that: ‘If He is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself (John 12:32), (Matthew 16:18), and that the gates of Hades will not overpower His [TRUE] CHURCH.’”

CODA. The Key to Surviving and Succeeding, and Submitting to God Alone in the Days of Antichrist ultimately reduce to just TWO ABILITIES: (1) DISCERNING Good from Evil; and (2) DOING the Good.

It truly is that simple, beloved. And yes, that hard. Selah.

“But prove yourselves DOERS of the word [actively and continually OBEYING God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like … You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].” – JAMES 1:22-24; 4:14, AMP

There is so much more than this for us, beloved. But we have to WANT HIS WAYmore than our very own lives.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/rlBeTAclFNw