The Church Isn’t Ready for What’s Coming—and That’s a Problem

Jesus’ first warning about the last days wasn’t about war, famine or even the Antichrist. It was about deception.

That was the central message as Bible prophecy teachers Pete Garcia and Mondo Gonzales discussed the spiritual condition of today’s church, arguing that many Christians are unprepared for an increasingly deceptive culture because biblical literacy has steadily declined.

Rather than focusing solely on current headlines involving artificial intelligence, UFO disclosure or the paranormal, the pair repeatedly returned to a single concern: whether we know God’s Word well enough to recognize truth from error.

A Church Losing Its Foundation

Garcia traced what he believes has been a century-long erosion of biblical influence in America, pointing to the rise of secular humanism in education and the gradual weakening of biblical teaching.

“So, we’re at this time now in 2026 where the church is arguably probably at its weakest point … at least. And at the same time, you have a whole bunch of stuff starting to happen that’s supernatural,” Garcia said.

He argued that even many churches that faithfully defended biblical truth gradually became uncomfortable teaching the supernatural elements of Scripture.

“So many within Christianity then began to reject the supernatural aspects of the Bible, things like the Nephilim, the rapture of the church, a literal, grammatical, historical taking of the book of Revelation and other prophetic passages,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, the result is a church that is increasingly fragmented and hesitant to teach doctrines that prepare believers for the days ahead.

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The Greatest Threat Is Deception

While discussions surrounding AI, UFOs and the occult often dominate headlines, Gonzales said Scripture identifies deception—not technology—as the defining characteristic of the last days.

“When that reality comes, I mean, that’s why Jesus said in Matthew 24:4, the first thing, ‘Let no one deceive you.’ That to me [is] the biggest descriptor of all of the seven-year tribulation,” Gonzales said. “Lawlessness, etc., but deception is the biggest indicator. One hundred percent, hands down.”

That warning, he said, becomes increasingly important as society embraces ideas and spiritual practices that previous generations largely rejected.

The two pointed to the growing acceptance of witchcraft, New Age spirituality, paranormal experiences and encounters with unexplained phenomena as evidence that culture is becoming more comfortable with the supernatural while becoming less grounded in biblical truth.

Knowing the Truth Before the Counterfeit Appears

Garcia cautioned Christians against becoming fascinated with every new spiritual claim or unexplained phenomenon.

“I would caution that just as much as I would caution somebody from playing the Ouija board,” he said. “It’s … something you don’t want to mess with.”

Instead, both men emphasized that believers should prioritize biblical discernment over speculation.

Their concern was not simply that deception is increasing, but that many churches have stopped teaching the full counsel of Scripture needed to recognize it.

Whether the conversation centered on Bible prophecy, artificial intelligence, UFO disclosure or spiritual warfare, Garcia and Gonzales consistently returned to the same conclusion: our greatest preparation for whatever lies ahead is not mastering every headline but becoming firmly rooted in God’s Word.

If deception is the first warning Jesus gave about the last days, then our first response should be to know the truth so well that counterfeits become easier to recognize.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at 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 media@.