Bible News Prophecy with Dr Bob Thiel

Continuing Church Of God 46

Artificial Intelligence, Digital Censorship, and the Coming Famine of the Word

Bible News Prophecy Examines the Rise of Artificial Intelligence

In this episode of the Bible News Prophecy program, presented by the Continuing Church of God, Steve introduces Dr. Bob Thiel for a discussion about artificial intelligence and biblical prophecy. Steve asks whether wars or AI are taking greater prominence in current concerns, then turns to a report about an AI coding assistant allegedly deleting a company’s database and backups after operating outside expected limits. Bob uses this incident as the starting point for a broader religious argument: that increasingly powerful artificial intelligence may eventually be used against the proclamation work of the Continuing Church of God.

Concerns About AI Removing Church Content

Bob discusses a reader’s question about whether AI systems, possibly influenced by demonic forces, could one day delete the church’s online materials and websites. He replies that he has long believed the Continuing Church of God will eventually face removal of its internet content through governmental action or related technological controls. Referring to the Beast, the False Prophet, and demonic spirits in Revelation 16, Bob argues that future authorities opposed to God’s work may use algorithms, censorship, or AI-supported systems to prevent the church from continuing its public proclamation. He connects this concern with Jesus’ statement that a time is coming when no one can work and with earlier teachings from Herbert W. Armstrong about the eventual end of the church’s ability to spread its message freely.

Amos and a Future Famine of Hearing God’s Word

A central part of Bob’s teaching focuses on Amos 8:11–12, which describes a coming famine not of food or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Bob says he does not interpret this as the disappearance of printed Bibles. Instead, because the prophecy describes people searching widely without finding God’s word, he argues that it points toward future internet censorship or removal of religious proclamation in the twenty-first century. He says the church has already experienced preliminary forms of restriction through YouTube limitations and what he describes as shadow banning by Google. Before that fuller restriction arrives, he says, the gospel of the Kingdom must first be proclaimed worldwide in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.

Revelation 13, Surveillance, and the 666 System

Bob then links artificial intelligence with the Beast power described in Revelation 13. He reads the passage concerning an image of the Beast, the killing of those who will not worship it, and controls preventing people from buying or selling without the mark, name, or number of the Beast. In Bob’s interpretation, such worldwide economic and religious enforcement implies a level of surveillance and monitoring that modern computing and artificial intelligence could make possible. He identifies the coming power with Europe and refers to early Christian commentary that he believes connects the number 666 with a Latin or European figure. Bob argues that technologies unavailable when Revelation was written now make its predicted control system increasingly plausible.

Cyber Warfare, Perplexity, and Prophetic Watchfulness

Bob also refers to Ezekiel 7:14, interpreting its description of people prepared for battle who do not physically go out to fight as potentially consistent with cyber warfare. He acknowledges that AI can provide useful research benefits, but warns that technology is likely to be used for harmful purposes, including persecution and social control. Turning to Luke 21:25, he notes Jesus’ reference to nations being in distress and perplexity, then makes a light observation that one AI research program he uses is itself called Perplexity. He additionally names AI systems and international AI development efforts as reasons believers should remain alert and watchful about technological change.

AI Will Not Ultimately Destroy Humanity

In the final portion, Bob maintains that artificial intelligence will likely play a role in fulfilling what he understands as end-time biblical prophecies, especially those concerning censorship, economic control, persecution, and the Beast system. However, he says he does not believe AI itself will ultimately destroy humanity, because in his reading of Matthew 24:21–22, Jesus will return before human life can be completely eliminated. Steve closes the program by directing listeners to the Bible News Prophecy and Continuing Church of God websites for additional interviews, written materials, audio content, and free literature.