A new poll by BonusFinder.com has found that most Americans have no faith in the government’s ability to avoid or prevent a doomsday event. The study was conducted between May 3 and May 8 of this year and involved 6,200 Americans. Six states were excluded from the study due to having less than twenty respondents. The survey asked respondents about the types of doomsday events they considered to be most likely and their trust in the government for such events. According to the survey, 71 percent of Americans have zero faith in the government’s ability to prevent any type of doomsday event. 

There were various types of doomsday scenarios that Americans expected to occur. Over half of respondents (56 percent) believed climate change or some sort of natural disaster (47 percent) could have worldwide effects. Over a third (37 percent and 36 percent, respectively) believed another virus or food shortage to be a likely culprit. A quarter also believed that World War III or a nuclear event (25 percent and 25 percent) could be a source of disaster. Zombie apocalypse and alien invasion also made the cut at around seven percent each. 

The survey also looked at the amount of trust each state had in the government. Arizona had the highest amount of distrust, with 82 percent of residents not believing the government could act competently. Forty-two percent of Arizona residents have begun “prepping” in some way. Many respondents stated they believe a doomsday event could happen within one year. Social media appears to be the main culprit that causes end-times fears among respondents, with 16 percent stating their social media intake has led them to take certain prepping measures. Another 10 percent cite watching the news as what has inspired their prepping. 

Interestingly enough, a recent study published by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that despite increasing numbers of natural disasters, the number of Americans concerned about natural disasters being a sign of the end times had dropped from 49 percent in 2014 to 35 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, the recent events of the Hamas attack against Israel and subsequent declaration of war have renewed chatter of Biblical end-times prophecy and World War III concerns. Writing for Harvest, pastor Greg Laurie connected the current events to the Bible. “How do you even stop something like this? Let’s just say, for the sake of a point, that Israel decided to strike out at Iran, specifically, because they’re funding all of this. What would that produce? Well, it could produce a conflict we read about in Ezekiel 38. The Bible says that Magog will come against her will; the Bible describes hooks in her jaws, pulling her forward almost as though Magog is coming in reluctantly along with her ally, Persia (or Iran),” Laurie speculated. The Christian response, however, according to Laurie, is prayer, not fear. “The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We want to pray that they arrive at some kind of peace. We want to pray that this horrific terrorism stops and that they’re able to get their hostages back. And we want to pray that God places His hand of protection on the nation of Israel during this unprecedented war.”