AI and Recent Antichrist Speculation
Peter Thiel and John Lennox on AI and Recent Antichrist Speculation
There has been much speculation of late about the growth of AI, multi-faceted AI tools, and a future antichrist. It should come as no surprise that much of this recent interest is tied to a longstanding tendency to incorporate antichrist speculation into the preexisting end-times categories of dispensationalists—a final apocalyptic battle (Armageddon), a one world tyrannical government (the UN/EU is the usual suspect), and in many circles this includes events in Israel involving the Jerusalem temple. Many have wondered about how an end-times antichrist may use exploitive technologies to do his nefarious bidding and establish a worldwide antichrist government—hence the concerns about AI. Although I wholeheartedly reject dispensational eschatology, as a small government Reagan conservative with libertarian leanings, I do have some sympathy for worries expressed by dispensationalists regarding our government’s use of evolving technological tools such as AI to restrict the constitutional liberties of its citizens.
In light of the recent trend to associate such an individual with rapidly developing technologies, we need to be clear that the common use of the term “antichrist” is highly problematic. In American culture, the term has a vague, generic meaning largely influenced by film and pop-culture (both evangelical and secular). This generic antichrist is thought to be a mysterious and evil end-times personage who appears on the world stage, usually in conjunction with the end of the world, but often tied to dystopian and post-apocalyptic end times scenarios.
This understanding of the Antichrist has virtually no connection to the term’s biblical usage. Many are surprised to discover that the term “antichrist” never appears in the Book of Revelation. In fact, the biblical use of the term, is much more precise and specific. John tells us that the Antichrist is anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ, that there were a number of them, and that they were already present in the days of the apostles (e.g., 1 John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7). Biblically understood, an antichrist is any false Messiah associated with the heresy of denying the deity of Jesus.
Of late, entrepreneur and venture-capitalist, Peter Thiel, who has described himself as a “small o-orthodox Christian,” but in recent discussions has espoused something akin to the ancient Gnostic worldview, not an orthodox Christian view of God, nature, or human autonomy. Another antichrist speculator is Irish mathematician John Lennox, whose Christian commitments are well known.
Both men have made news with speculation about who and what the Antichrist might be. But both express concern that AI may provide the means by which the Antichrist (generically understood by Thiel and through a largely dispensational lens by Lennox) manages to appear on the world stage. Their efforts have given rise to countless YouTube videos and podcasts devoted to all sorts of wild antichrist speculation, much of it inspired by the recent mentions of such an antichrist figure by Thiel and Lennox.
As one who rubs shoulders with the uber rich and powerful, Thiel’s focus to date has been identifying various antichrist candidates from among those whose wealth and technological skill can manipulate and control AI so as dominate world events. Thiel has even speculated that Greta Thunberg might be a candidate??? If Thiel can offer unhinged speculation such as this, what is to stop a podcaster with an overactive imagination and a desire to get clicks from doing the same? Nothing. People eat this stuff up.
John Lennox has taken a much different route—essentially arguing that the Book of Revelation must be understood in the light of Daniel’s prophecies, which is true. But he also contends that what is missing so far in properly understanding Revelation is the realization that in John’s vision predictive prophecy must be tied to recent technological advances. While Lennox is an astute observer and commenter on culture and technology (as well as being a capable Christian apologist), his recent book on Revelation reads much like an endorsement (if a bit tepid) of a sophisticated premillennial and dispensational understanding of the Apocalypse. This is unfortunate, because someone of Lennox’s stature will give a shot in the arm to prophecy pundits still clinging to the waning dispensational understanding of the end times.
These men have done much to generate news and interest about an antichrist—who and what that might entail. Thiel appeals to the biblical text like a mosquito landing on a pond and then flying away without so much as a ripple. Lennox might benefit from the words of the eminent philosopher “Dirty Harry,” who wisely pointed out, “a man’s got to know his limitations.” A mathematician, even a brilliant one, ought to realize that he is far afield from his home turf when commenting upon the Book of Revelation, and that writing authoritatively does not make up for the use of poor sources (in too many places) and utilizing a very flawed hermeneutic—dispensationalism.
For those so interested, my new book on applied calculus will be out in the Spring.
Biblical Resources in Response
The Antichrist is a subject I too have long thought about. Since the Antichrist is an important biblical figure and one often subject to wild speculation which usually departs from the scriptural data (as being done by Thiel and to a lessor degree by Lennox), I endeavored to move the discussion back to biblical exegesis, his role in redemptive history (a subplot throughout), and historical Christian reflection (of which there has been a great deal).
My 2006 book The Man of Sin, wrestles with the biblical data, as well as detailing how Christians have understood this figure across time.
Audio Resources
I devoted an episode of The Blessed Hope Podcast to the matter, The Antichrist, as well as several episodes of Season Two on 2 Thessalonians. Season Two/Episode Thirteen: "The Man of Sin" part one -- (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12); Season Two/Episode Fourteen: "The Man of Sin" part two -- (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Essays on the Biblical Doctrine of Antichrist and Related Matters
666 and the Mark of the Beast: Why Antichrist is a present (not just future) threat to Christ’s church
Athanasius on the Seventy Weeks of Daniel: How did the famed church father understand the 70 weeks of Daniel?
The Binding of Satan in Revelation 20:1-3, 7. When is Satan bound? What is he prevented from doing? Does this mean all evil ceases?
The Church Fathers, Origen, and Augustine on Antichrist The church fathers wrestled with this doctrine just as we do today
Hitler as an Antichrist Figure: Hitler hated Christ, his church, and his people. He is an Antichrist figure.
Louis Berkhof on the Historical Development of the Church's Doctrine of the Antichrist
B. B. Warfield on Antichrist: A close look at John’s epistles—is Antichrist a present or future foe?