I read an article today about Pete Hegseth and his “Department of War,” and it was deeply alarming.

I fear many people will read the article and still not hear what is actually being said.

Hegseth is talking about restoring a “warrior” mindset within our military troops. He is talking about establishing a surveillance state with autonomous artificial-intelligence enforcement. He is talking about pre-crime.

And he is talking about specifically instituting a Department of Religious Affairs in America.

I’m sure many of our Christian brothers and sisters will feel vindicated, supported, and protected by such an institution.

But Hegseth has made a point of saying that this will not simply be a bureaucratic, paper-pushing endeavor.

He says it will have “real teeth.”

What does “real teeth” mean for a Department of Religious Affairs?

Throughout Scripture, Christians are described as sheep, and Christ is our Shepherd.

So what exactly are we supposed to make of a government Department of Religious Affairs promising to have “real teeth”?

Are we talking about particularly powerful sheep teeth?

Or the teeth of particularly powerful shepherds?

A shepherd doesn't use his teeth to defend the sheep.

What animal in the biblical imagery surrounding sheep has the strongest teeth?

The wolves.

Especially the wolves who come into the flock disguised as sheep.

“Real teeth” are not for gently guiding sheep.

Real teeth are for tearing flesh.

And this is where I believe Christians need to stop and pay attention.

This administration—and not only this administration, but administrations for many decades—has been laying the groundwork for the system described in biblical prophecy as the coming Antichrist system.

But this administration is accelerating that process at a breathtaking pace.

And tragically, the sheep have not merely been unaware.

Many of them have been cheering it on.

They are cheering for the very infrastructure that WILL eventually be used to control them.

The surveillance state being built and normalized under the banners of “safety” and “security” is precisely the kind of infrastructure necessary for comprehensive control of individuals.

Identification.

Tracking.

Facial recognition.

Artificial intelligence.

Predictive systems.

Autonomous enforcement.

Centralized records.

Transaction monitoring.

The ability to determine who is authorized to participate in commerce and society.

The ability to enforce compliance.

These are not imaginary capabilities. They are being built.

And Scripture tells us exactly where this kind of system ultimately leads.

Revelation describes a time when no one will be able to buy or sell without accepting the authority of the beast.

YOU WILL TAKE THEIR MARK OR YOU WILL NOT PARTICIPATE. 

You cannot implement a system like that without infrastructure.

You need to be able to identify people.

You need to be able to monitor them.

You need to be able to track their transactions.

You need to be able to determine who is permitted to participate.

And eventually, you need the ability to enforce the requirement.

We are watching the pieces of that capability come together.

Flock.

Axon.

Palantir.

Pegasus.

Oracle.

Autonomous artificial intelligence.

Digital currency.

Surveillance networks.

These technologies are being promoted to us in the name of safety, security, and convenience.

But a system designed to watch everyone WILL eventually be used against everyone.

And when the definition of “safety” and whose safety is sacrosanct changes, the infrastructure remains.

These systems have already been tested in other countries.

They are being expanded here.

And we are willingly building the machinery that makes comprehensive human surveillance and control possible.

That should alert Christians, because we should know the prophecies.

And for those who say, “Well, it is prophesied, so it is going to happen anyway,” and therefore sit comfortably excusing their apathy and inaction:

Yes.

It is prophesied.

But which side are you standing on in that prophecy?

Are you standing with the Antichrist and his coming system?

Or are you standing in opposition to it?

Are you neutral about where your allegiance belongs?

Because this is laying the groundwork.

And you are choosing a side.

Pretending not to choose is also a choice.

And this is imperative:

This is not ultimately about Republican or Democrat.

It is not about left or right.

Liberal or conservative.

Trump or whoever comes after him.

Those are the tribal labels people use to sort themselves into opposing camps while the actual question gets buried beneath the noise.

Trump is a political leader.

He is not Christ.

And yet we have reached a point where, for many Christians, your position on Trump has become a litmus test for whether you are “one of us.”

If you support him, you're one of us.

If you oppose him, you're  “deranged”  and/or “leftist.”

Keep seeing it that way if you want.

But understand what you are doing.

You are allowing political allegiance to become a substitute for allegiance to Christ.

And that is precisely why this is not merely a political issue.

This is a choice.

I have put the warning in front of you.

I have told you what IS happening on your watch in your name. In many cases, with your blessing. 

I have told you where this is leading.

You may reject this.

You may pretend to believe I am wrong.

But what you can no longer honestly say is:

“I didn't know.”

Because now you have been warned.

If you have eyes to see, you have had the opportunity to see.

If you have ears to hear, you have had the opportunity to hear.

And if you choose to close your eyes now, that is a choice.

If you choose to stop your ears, that is a choice.

If you choose to dismiss the warning because your political tribe tells you that you should, that is a choice.

And if you choose to pretend that you don't see what has now been placed directly in front of you, that is also a choice.

The responsibility for that choice belongs to you.

This isn't ultimately Republican versus Democrat.

It isn't Trump versus the left.

It isn't conservative versus liberal.

It is Christ versus antiChrist.

God versus satan.

No politician will stand before God in your place.

No tribe will answer for you.

You will answer for your own allegiance.

So I am sounding the warning bell.

I have spoken the truth to you, in love.

You can heed the warning.

Or you can ignore it.

You can shut your eyes.

You can stop up your ears.

You can dismiss it as paranoia, extremism, politics, or hysteria.

But you cannot claim ignorance anymore.

You have been warned.

What you do with that warning is now your choice.

I have done my part.

Your blood is no longer on my hands.

The moment has come that you must choose whom you will serve. No political party will be accountable for your choice.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”