Antichrist Discussion Hits the Mainstream

Peter Thiel and New York Times editor, Ross Douthat, differ about the nature of the Antichrist.

Yep. It’s true. People in the business and media mainstream are now talking about the Antichrist—and they are talking about it seriously, not just in some derogatory manner.

Peter Thiel is giving lectures about the rise of the Anti-Christ in this century, and it is related to AI, luddites, and global domination—and you might be surprised about what he is saying.

Who is Peter Thiel?

Peter Thiel is a entrepreneur and venture capitalist billionaire that is best known financially for co-founding Paypal with Elon Musk and others. He is also co-founder of Palantir Technologies, maybe the most integrated AI software company in the world. He is also a co-founder of the Founders Fund—a venture capitalist fund based in San Franciso. There are also many other business endeavors in which he has been involved. He might be one of the most influential Americans alive today through business investment and political involvement.

He claims to be a “small-O orthodox Christian” but is also married to a man, and has been involved in several high profile same-sex relationships. Politically, he is a libertarian.

Will the Anti-Christi use technology to rule?

The recent suggestion, and simple logical thinking based upon biblical data and looking at the world around us is that a future Antichrist could easily use present technology to accomplish things described in the Book of Revelation—things like the Mark of the Beast, and restrictions on commerce. In fact, these things are already happening in China with its social credit system. There was a New York Times opinion piece that suggested that Peter Thiel’s tech could aid the Antichrist.

Or will it be the Luddites?

However, Thiel takes a different approach. In his recent series of for the Acts17 Collective, Thiel argues from Matthew 24:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 the following ideas.

• “the Antichrist will come to power by talking about Armageddon non-stop”
• The Antichrist will come to power promoting peace and safety.

His conclusion is that the antichrist will be anti-technology, not a proponent of it.

In a recent series of “off-the-record” lectures delivered in San Francisco to sold-out crowds, the venture capitalist and GOP megadonor warned that critics of technology, artificial intelligence, and financial innovation are “legionnaires of the Antichrist,” who could usher in the destruction of America “and an era of global totalitarian rule.” The modern version of the biblical Antichrist would be “a Luddite who wants to stop all science, it’s someone like Greta or Eliezer,” he said, referring to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky, who wants to prevent machines from achieving human-level intelligence. By calling for stricter global regulations, he claimed, these activists could help create a singular world government that the Antichrist would then use to control humanity. Thiel is a devout Christian and longtime libertarian; still, his words were striking in their “effort to cast resisting oversight of technology development as a religious battle.” (Religion: Thiel’s ‘Antichrist’ obsession | The Week)

Episcopal priest Kevin Deal, in the San Franciso Standard said that he found Thiel’s comments heretical because they sow fear and division.

What should Bible-believing Christians think about this trend?

Beware when anyone twists the scriptures to defend their life choices and livelihood. It is in Thiel’s best personal and financial interest to defend the use of technology against those that see it overbearing and freedom robbing.

Our culture is now full of people who live contrary to the clear teaching of the scriptures, especially on LGBTQ issues, while claiming to be Christians. The Bible is clear on this subject. It is hard to believe that someone could genuinely be a Christian and hold this position. Not only the Word of God but also the indwelling Holy Spirit would oppose such a view and lifestyle. Beware of following people who say “good things” but live contrary to the scriptures. Jesus said you will know false prophets by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

Ross Douthat, the editor at the New York Times article mentioned earlier is a former Pentecostal that converted to Catholicism with his entire family. He is no better a candidate to assess the theological nuances of the Antichrist in prophecy that Thiel.

So, the point is to beware. Unbelievers are not a reliable source of good theology. Consider these passages.

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-30

For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:14-16

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. Titus 1:10-14

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly. (2 Peter 2:1-6)

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[i]have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of ^[corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-19)

Beware. These are dangerous times. Be very careful who you listen to and what you believe.

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