Daniel 12:4: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
These words were spoken by the angel Gabriel to Daniel, a Jewish man who lived most of his life in Babylon and then Persia, that is, during and after the captivity of Judah. Some believe what the angel referred to concerning the increase of knowledge in the end times is an increase in knowledge of the meaning of end-time prophecies, and I most certainly agree. I also believe, however, that this could be an allusion to the great amount of technical know-how that mankind has amassed throughout history, culminating in the fantastically advanced technology and access to incredible amounts of information that we see and utilize today.
One of the tools of the modern/end-time era is the internet. The official birth of the internet was in 1983, and by 1990 there was a foundational form of the web, but it was not until the middle 1990’s that the internet really took off. As of late March 2023 there were approximately 2 billion websites. At their fingertips, people have access to information on virtually any subject imaginable as long as the information sought is not under some sort of restriction. So much knowledge in cyberspace can be a real boon to researchers. I know it has been a help to me in researching various Bible topics. Of course, there are more than just search engines on the internet. There are social media platforms, video platforms such as YouTube, websites for numerous businesses and religious organizations, and so on. If anything, the challenge a lot of times in going on the internet is not finding information, but trying to determine which of it is true and which of it is not.
The internet and social media greatly amplify beliefs and opinions because of their wide distribution and easy access. It is a sad fact that because of the sinfulness of humanity there is a lot of evil in cyberspace. We have heard of the dark web, scammers’ websites, and hackers, not to mention child predators and other villains who twist the technological power of the internet to suit their own malevolent purposes. Between social media and video sites there is also the allure of achieving internet celebrity status, or being able to sound as if one is an authority on some subject. Some persons get on there and succeed only in making fools of themselves. Worse, some of those who are guilty of misusing the internet are those who profess to be Christians. Whether they are misguided believers or wolves in sheep’s clothing, the fact is that they are out there and you must not only beware of them but also avoid inadvertently becoming like one of them.
One of my more important study resources has been Christian teaching videos on YouTube. I would not advise a new believer to dive into them because you must first have a good working knowledge of the Scriptures in order to be capable of distinguishing between true and false doctrines. For every good Bible teacher on there, you can also find a bad one or one who is misguided. There are folks from other religions who post their teachings as well. Then there are the problems of attack and slander, not just on YouTube but on the internet generally.
Professing Christians can be incredibly vicious in cyberspace, just like unregenerate people can be. It is one thing to call out false teachers. It is quite another to slander someone’s reputation, including the reputations of men and women in ministry. I have seen videos where ministers who have erred and repented have been attacked, sometimes by other professing Christians, years after their issues were settled. There are those who have labored hard in the Word and in doctrine, bringing out precious Biblical truths, only to be called heretics, apostates, and many other uncomplimentary things by these spiritual headhunters.
Men and women of God have prayed in tongues—legitimate heavenly prayer languages given by the Holy Spirit—and in return have been accused by other believers of speaking in gibberish. They don’t mind lambasting these godly people out on the internet, either! To make it worse, many of them come off as being truly pious and holy. They are just as bad as The Great Reset brain trust in thinking that they know what’s best for everybody else.
There are Christians who hear rumors about other believers and go about spreading these rumors without vetting them to see if they are true. Even if they are true, the internet and social media are not the places to air a fellow believer’s “dirty laundry.” Typed words count as well as spoken words when it comes to their use or misuse. A keyboard in the hands of a gossip or a slanderer, whether wielded by a believer or an unbeliever, has the power of the tongue. If any of you who are reading this blog are guilty of any of these unsavory types of behavior, then here is a friendly reminder just in case you forgot:
Proverbs 16:27-28: An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Matthew 12:35-37: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
James 1:27: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
Unless something must be called out, such as Bible teachings that are blatantly false, or unless something has to be reported, such as a criminal act, then it is best to keep believers’ issues in-house. You know the saying, “What is said in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.” Same principle. It is not at all our place to skewer our fellowsaints in cyberspace. We should help those who have fallen, discipline the unrepentant with an eye toward restoration, give the targets of gossip the benefit of the doubt unless what is said turns out to be true, we should always be honest with and speak the truth in love to one another, and if there are things we cannot agree on which are not salvation-level issues, we should agree to disagree but otherwise continue to be kind and respectful to each other.
One other thing: Even if you say something bad on the internet or on social media or video platforms and you later delete it, it is still on a computer somewhere. What goes into cyberspace stays there unless those who control the high-tech platforms scrub them from everything. If you ripped a fellow believer apart on Facebook and deleted that post ten years ago and have made amends to the person whose reputation you ruined, you are forgiven in God’s eyes, but know this: That post is still out there in Big Tech’s computer storage.
If you have visited pornography sites in the past, even if you have recovered and are not doing it anymore, all the sordid places you went to on the internet are still known to someone and are still out there. No matter what it is, what you do online does not go away, even if it is removed from every computer, cellphone, and other electronic device you have. Furthermore, with our government becoming increasingly corrupt, do not be surprised if Big Brother is already spying on you whether you have done anything wrong or not.
I do not say any of this to scare or discourage you, but to admonish you about the time you spend on the internet as a Christian. Whatever you endeavor to put into cyberspace, think it over carefully, because once it is out there you cannot take it back. It will be known to someone, somewhere, no matter how much deleting and erasing you do on your end.
As for lies, deception, and poorly researched items, all that is on the internet also. When you, as a Christian, do research for whatever reason, you must be careful with what you come across. Know your Bible. Check what you are reading against the Scriptures, and do so prayerfully. That way, if you put together a sermon, a Bible study, or something else, you will have good results and not something that is error-ridden. If you really and truly think you are to call out a false teaching, prayerfully be sure, and if what you are basing your action on has been found on the internet, make sure that what has been posted is true first. When in doubt, don’t share it.
God will hold you accountable. In addition, if you wrongly attack someone you can potentially face civil litigation. Wrong conduct online can even be criminally prosecutable. When quoting from the work of others, please cite your sources, and if you can, paraphrase sometimes instead of always quoting something verbatim. That way you will not be guilty of plagiarism. As believers, we of all people should be the last ones anybody worries about as far as being foolish online is concerned. Wherever we are, including cyberspace, we are to represent Jesus Christ.
These end times we live in are evil and will continue to grow worse. Meanwhile, we are here until either we pass away or we go up in the Rapture, whichever comes first. We are to use our energy, resources, and time wisely, for good and not for wickedness or nonsense. We should love one another and help each other, only calling out folks when absolutely necessary, and that includes on the internet, including platforms for videos and social media:
Galatians 6:1-3: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Ephesians 5:1-7: Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:15-17: See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
The internet can be a powerful tool for good if used wisely. Please use wisdom when you go online. If you do this, all should go well. But if you slander or otherwise attack people online, especially after their issues have already been settled, or if you visit questionable websites, say foolish things, and so on, not only are those in Big Tech watching you, above all else God is watching you, and one day you will have to give an account to Him (Romans 14:11-12). As in the physical world, so in cyberspace: Obey the Golden Rule, as it is called:
Matthew 7:12: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
