The Divine Purge: How God is Making Room for His Kingdom

Across the world there is a purge and pruning taking place. Epstein files, Nations depopulating, De-dollarization, Mega-church meltdowns, Corrupt prophets. "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Matthew 15:13.

We live in extraordinary times. The Kingdom of God advances not merely through addition, but through divine subtraction. What we are witnessing across our world today—from the shaking of church institutions to the trembling of global powers—is nothing less than God's ancient pattern of uprooting what He has not planted to make room for what He has ordained.

Jesus gave many parables of "The Kingdom of heaven is like...."

In one he describes the unstoppable growth of the kingdom to eventually permeate all the world. Matthew 13:33 The kingdom is like leaven (yeast) that a woman hides in meal until the whole is leavened.

In another He describes that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net cast into the sea that catches a multitude of fish and then the bad are thrown back bit the good kept. Matthew 13:47-50)

Throughout Scripture and history, we see this pattern: A small bit of yeast was planted into the world on the Day of Pentecost....the church destined to grow till His Kingdom fills the world. But along the way the bad fish or unproductive branches are cast off to make way for God's Kingdom to grow. Let us examine how God is doing this in our time and how His church must respond.

I. The Refining Fire in God's House "
He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purge the sons of Levi." — Malachi 3:3

The prophet Malachi spoke of a day when God would purify His priesthood like silver refined in fire. We are living in that day. The recent exposure of corruption in prominent evangelical ministries—from Hillsong to Daystar, from IHOPKC to False Prophets to Mega-churches closing to churches dividing on homosexuality—represents not the failure of God's work but the fulfillment of His promise to purify it.

The Sin of Strange Fire
Do you remember the tragic story of Nadab and Abihu? These sons of Aaron, ordained priests of the Most High, offered "strange fire" before the Lord—unauthorized worship performed according to their own wisdom rather than God's commandment. The judgment was swift and terrible: fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them (Leviticus 10:1-2).

This was not merely ritual violation; it was acting in the things of God without seeking the mind of God. How many ministries today have fallen into this same trap? They began with genuine fire from heaven, but somewhere along the way, they began manufacturing their own flames. They built platforms instead of altars, attracted crowds instead of cultivating disciples, and measured success by metrics that would make Mammon proud but leave Christ grieved.

The exposure of leaders like Paul Cain, Mike Bickle, Robert Morris, and others is not God's abandonment of the prophetic movement or the Pentecostal tradition—it is His purification of it. As uncomfortable as it is for us to acknowledge, these revelations serve a redemptive purpose. They remind us that God will not bless what He has not ordained, no matter how large the crowds or how impressive the miracles.

The exposure of sexual misconduct among high-profile Christian leaders reveals this very condition. When homosexuality, adultery, and abuse of power come to light in those who have claimed to speak for God, we are witnessing the unveiling of hearts that were never fully surrendered. These were not momentary failures but patterns of behavior that revealed an inner corruption masked by outward success.

God declared through Moses that He would not fulfill His covenant promises upon a people who became "adulterous" (Deuteronomy 5:9). This principle applies not just to ancient Israel but to His church in every age. When leadership becomes corrupt, God intervenes—not to destroy His work, but to preserve it.

The size of their platforms, the fervency of their followers, the eloquence of their preaching—none of these can substitute for simple obedience to the King of Kings. In His mercy, God is making room for a new generation of leaders who will prioritize the Kingdom rule of life over personal empire-building.

II. The Exposure of World Powers "
For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad." — Luke 8:17

But God's purging extends beyond the walls of His church. The exposure of corruption among global elites—symbolized by revelations like the Epstein files—represents a divine unveiling of wickedness in high places. These are not merely political scandals or tabloid fodder; they are prophetic moments when the hidden things of darkness are brought to light.

Vessels of Wrath
The apostle Paul wrote of "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction" (Romans 9:22)—individuals and systems that, through persistent rebellion, become instruments through which God's judgment is revealed. The world's elite, operating in secret chambers of power, have often functioned as such vessels. Their transgressions, once hidden, are now "open to very enemies," leading to a state where, as the prophet Ezekiel declared, "God is fled out of his sanctuary" and stands against them.

This is not cause for schadenfreude or triumphalism. As believers, we must remember that "judgment must begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17). Yet we can recognize that when secular powers are exposed and shaken, it creates space for God's people to speak truth and demonstrate a better way.

We see echoes of this pattern today. Global institutions are exposing one another's corruption; alliances are fracturing; what was hidden is being dragged into the light. Isaiah prophesied that in the day of God's visitation, the LORD would "shake terribly the earth" to reveal humanity's idols of silver and gold (Isaiah 2:19-21). We are living in such a day.

III. The Overturning of Financial Tables "
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers." — Matthew 21:12

One of the most dramatic moments in Jesus's ministry occurred not in a sermon or miracle, but in an act of righteous disruption. He entered the temple—His Father's house—and overturned the tables of those who had transformed a place of worship into a marketplace. The money changers and merchants were not committing obvious sin; they were providing "necessary services" for temple worship. Yet their presence perverted the very purpose of God's house.

Today, we are witnessing a similar overturning in the global financial system. The rise of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance represents more than technological innovation—it is a disruption of systems that have long operated on principles fundamentally at odds with biblical justice.

The Sin of Usury
Scripture speaks with remarkable clarity about the sin of usury—charging excessive interest to exploit the poor. Ezekiel lists it among the gravest sins, alongside violence and idolatry (Ezekiel 18:13). The Torah commanded God's people not to charge interest to their brothers, recognizing that financial systems could become instruments of oppression rather than blessing (Exodus 22:25).

Our modern banking system, built largely on usurious principles, has indeed "taxed and tyrannized" the poor. Credit card interest rates that would make ancient money lenders blush, predatory payday loans, and financial instruments so complex that even their creators don't fully understand them—all of these have created a system where debt has become a form of bondage.

The disruption of this system through blockchain technology and stablecoins may be God's way of overturning these tables. I am not suggesting that cryptocurrency is the Kingdom of God—far from it. But I am suggesting that when oppressive systems are challenged and alternatives emerge, we may be witnessing divine providence at work, creating opportunities for more just economic arrangements.

IV. The New Tower of Babel "
Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name." — Genesis 11:4

The story of Babel reveals humanity's perennial temptation: to build our way to heaven through our own ingenuity, to make a name for ourselves independent of God. The project failed not because the technology was impossible, but because God intervened to "confuse their language" and scatter them across the earth.

The rise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Large Language Models represents our generation's Tower of Babel. These technologies promise to augment human capability, solve intractable problems, and perhaps even achieve a form of digital immortality. The rhetoric surrounding AI often sounds messianic—it will cure diseases, end poverty, solve climate change, and usher in an era of unprecedented human flourishing.

The Confusion of Tongues
Yet what if God responds to our modern Babel as He did to the ancient one? At Babel, He confused human language to prevent ungodly unity. With AGI, we may be witnessing a different kind of confusion—the disruption of human labor, expertise, and social order. And the confusion of what is real and what is artificial AI avatars speaking and looking like famous people but all deception and AI hallucination.

Already, we see AI beginning to replace human workers in fields once thought immune to automation. Artists, writers, programmers, lawyers, even doctors find their expertise suddenly less valuable in an age of intelligent machines. This is not merely economic disruption; it is a fundamental questioning of human purpose and value.

From a biblical perspective, this "confusion" may serve a redemptive purpose. Just as God used the Babylonian exile to wean Israel from idolatry, He may use technological disruption to wean modern civilization from its worship of human autonomy and achievement. When our towers begin to crumble, we are forced to ask the question we should have asked from the beginning: What is humanity's true purpose, and how does it relate to our Creator?

The Bridle and the Hook
The prophet Isaiah spoke of how God puts a "bridle" in the jaws of nations and a "hook" in their noses to lead them away from their destructive plans (Isaiah 37:29). Divine providence often works by redirecting human ambition rather than destroying it outright.

AGI may well be such a hook—a technology that promises to advance human capability but actually leads us into a place of dependence and desolation, where we must finally confront our need for the Creator. When machines can do what we do better than we can do it, the question "What are humans for?" becomes unavoidable. And that question, properly answered, leads us back to God.

V. The Crumbling of Human Alliances "
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7

We are also witnessing the increasing irrelevance of institutions that once seemed permanent fixtures of the global order—NATO, the United Nations, the European Union, and various international treaties and agreements. These human alliances, built on enlightenment ideals of universal peace and harmony, are proving unable to prevent conflict or address the deep challenges facing humanity.

Why do these institutions fail? Not because the people involved lack intelligence or good intentions, but because they were built on a foundation of secular humanism that excludes the sovereignty of God. They represent humanity's attempt to order the world without reference to its rightful King.

Alliances Without the Almighty
The prophet Jeremiah warned that "every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders" when God is not the center of an alliance (Jeremiah 9:4). We see this pattern repeatedly in international relations—allies becoming adversaries, treaties broken, promises forsaken. Even the most carefully crafted human agreements prove fragile when tested by crisis.

This is not cynicism but realism. Scripture consistently teaches that God alone is the "sole proper sovereign and ruler of the universe." Any system that attempts to create lasting peace and justice without acknowledging His rule is "doomed to limited success." This does not mean Christians should abandon political engagement or international cooperation, but it does mean we must not place our ultimate hope in these human structures.

VI. The Demographic Judgment "
In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince." — Proverbs 14:28

One of the most overlooked signs of our times is the dramatic decline in birth rates across the industrialized world. Japan, South Korea, much of Europe, and increasingly America face a demographic crisis that threatens their economic stability and cultural continuity. This is not merely a policy challenge; it is a spiritual judgment.

In the biblical economy, children are a blessing—"the heritage of the LORD" (Psalm 127:3). A thriving nation is characterized by growing families and multiple generations. Conversely, population decline signals a loss of faith in the future, a turning inward, and a prioritization of immediate comfort over generational legacy.

The Uprooting of Nations
The prophet Malachi declared that in the day of judgment, the wicked would be set on fire, and "there shall not be left of them root or branch" (Malachi 4:1). This agricultural metaphor speaks of complete removal—not just the visible tree, but its very root system.

When nations reject God's design for family, sexuality, and generational blessing, they effectively root themselves up. They may prosper for a season through wealth and technology, but without children, they have no future. This is not God's active punishment as much as the natural consequence of sowing to the flesh rather than to the Spirit (Galatians 6:8).

Yet even here, God's purpose is redemptive. As Ezra declared, those who refuse to obey the law of God face being "rooted out" (Ezra 7:26). This rooting out creates space for a faithful remnant—those who will embrace God's design and raise up generations who know the Lord.

Conclusion: The Pruning for Growth
We must not mistake what we are witnessing for mere chaos or decline. Yes, institutions are shaking. Yes, systems are failing. Yes, leaders are falling. But this is not the death throes of God's purposes—it is the birth pangs of His Kingdom breaking forth with greater clarity and power.

Jesus taught that He is the true Vine, and His Father is the vinedresser who prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2). Pruning is painful. It involves cutting away what appears healthy. It temporarily reduces the size and scope of the vine. But it is essential for greater fruitfulness.

This is the season we are in—a season of divine pruning. God is cutting away:
• Church structures built on personality rather than Christ's lordship
• World systems that claim authority apart from the King of Kings
• Financial arrangements that exploit rather than serve
• Human pride in technological achievement apart from God
• Alliances built on human wisdom rather than divine revelation
• Nations that reject God's design for family and generational blessing

The Coming Kingdom
The goal of this divine purge is not emptiness but fullness—the complete establishment of the Kingdom under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every plant not planted by the Father must be rooted up to make room for His garden. Every false structure must fall so that His temple may stand unobstructed. Every pretender to the throne must be removed so that the King of Kings may reign without rival.

This is not a message of destruction but of hope. God is not abandoning His world—He is reclaiming it. The uprooting we witness is the preparation for a great planting. The shaking we feel is the foundation being laid for an unshakeable Kingdom. The purging we experience is the refinement that produces gold.

As John the Baptist declared at the Jordan, "the axe is laid unto the root of the trees" (Matthew 3:10). But remember the rest of his message: the One who comes with the axe also comes with winnowing fork in hand. He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, gathering the wheat into His barn. The chaff will be burned, but the wheat—the authentic, the faithful, the true—will be preserved and honored in His storehouse.

Brothers and sisters, let us be wheat, not chaff. Let us be plants that the Father has planted, rooted deep in the soil of His Word and watered by His Spirit. Let us build on the foundation that cannot be shaken, even as everything around us trembles.

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."

— Hebrews 12:28-29
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