A new wave of deception is spreading rapidly across culture, technology and even the church, and it is hitting closer to home than many realize. Evangelist Perry Stone is sounding a direct warning that echoes Jesus’ words, urging believers to wake up to how easily truth can be distorted in this hour.
Stone pointed to Matthew 24:24, where Jesus gave a vital end-times warning: “For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall show great signs and wonders in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
The Elect in the Crosshairs
Stone made it clear that this warning is not vague or symbolic. It is targeted.
“The word elect is often said to represent the church,” he said, before walking through Scripture to show it also refers to Israel, the Messiah and individuals chosen by God.
In the context of Matthew 24, he explained, the focus turns to the tribulation period and the Jewish people. “He is specifically talking about the Jewish elect who could be deceived at the time of Revelation 13.”
That connection brings the warning directly into the prophetic timeline tied to the beast, false worship and global deception.
How Deception Actually Works
Deception is not always loud or obvious. It is often subtle, gradual and convincing.
“When you take the word deceived in the Greek, it means to go astray to wander away from truth,” Stone said.
This drifting away from truth is where the danger lies. It does not begin with outright rejection. It begins with small compromises, misplaced trust and exposure to the wrong voices.
A Digital Age Flooded With False Voices
Stone warned that modern technology is accelerating deception at a level never seen before, pointing directly to artificial intelligence and manipulated media.
“They are what are called artificial intelligent fakes. They are not a real person,” he said, describing videos and messages that appear authentic but are completely fabricated.
He revealed that his own voice has been used in fake messages online. “They were taking other people’s messages and putting my voice to it. But yet people thought it was my site. It was not my site.”
This kind of deception is no longer rare. It is widespread, polished and designed to gain trust quickly.
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Key Warnings for Christians
- Deception can reach sincere believers
This is not limited to the spiritually weak or uninformed. Stone warned that even those who genuinely love God are vulnerable if they are not grounded in truth. “Good people who really do have a love for the Lord can fall into these traps.” Deception in the last days is designed to appear convincing enough to pull in those who believe they are secure. - False voices are multiplying at an unprecedented level
The rise of artificial intelligence, deepfake videos and manipulated audio has created a flood of content that appears real but is completely fabricated. These voices can mimic trusted leaders, familiar tones and authoritative teaching, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from deception without discernment. - Believers are following voices with wrong spiritual motives
Stone pointed to a growing issue where individuals are gaining influence not through truth, but through attention-driven content. “You are following individuals that have wrong spiritual motives… just to get attention.” These voices often thrive on controversy, emotion and division rather than biblical accuracy. - Truth is being replaced by edited and manipulated information
Deception is no longer just false teaching from a pulpit. It now includes altered clips, misrepresented messages and intentionally edited content designed to change the meaning of what was originally said. This creates confusion and leads people to form beliefs based on distortion rather than truth. - Many are cutting themselves off from sound biblical teaching
Emotional reactions, offense and online narratives are causing believers to disconnect from trusted, long-standing voices in ministry. In doing so, they are removing themselves from those who provide deep biblical insight, including Hebrew and Greek study, and replacing it with shallow or misleading content. - Spiritual discernment is now essential, not optional
Stone emphasized that surviving this level of deception requires more than casual faith. It demands discernment. Believers must be able to recognize what is truly from God and what is not. Without this, even strong Christians can be led astray in subtle ways.
When Truth Is Rejected, Deception Grows
Stone pointed to a troubling pattern among believers who are disconnecting from solid teaching while embracing questionable voices.
“You’re cutting yourself off from men or women that have a now word from the Lord… and in reality, the individual you’ve cut off could be the person that’s bringing you Bible information.”
This shift opens the door for confusion, misinformation and spiritual drift.
History Shows How Easily People Can Be Misled
The pattern is not new. It is deeply rooted in biblical history.
“One minute they’re waving palm branches… and four days later the same people are yelling crucify him,” Stone said.
He also pointed to the apostle Paul, who was abandoned after false accusations spread. “All Asia has forsaken me… because they believed a lie.”
Deception has always had the power to turn hearts quickly when truth is not firmly rooted.
Guarding the Heart in a Deceptive Age
Jesus gave clear instruction on how to navigate deception, and Stone brought that warning back into focus.
“Take heed to what you hear… take heed to how you hear,” he said.
What enters the heart shapes belief, and belief shapes direction.
A Call for Discernment and Readiness
Stone emphasized that surviving this level of deception requires more than awareness. It requires spiritual depth.
“We need wisdom, knowledge and understanding. But we need the gift of discerning of spirits,” he said.
This is a defining issue for the church right now. Truth must be guarded, voices must be tested and discernment must be sharpened.
Deception is not coming. It is already here. And staying anchored in truth is no longer optional.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
