Identifying the Anti-Christ
I caught part of a History Channel documentary on the Anti-Christ the other night. In it, historians speculated on past historical figures who had been identified, however incredibly, as the Anti-Christ. Names suggested included Hitler, Mussolini, and Ronald Reagan (!). (The identification of Reagan as an anti-Christ is fairly ridiculous. Can anyone seriously deny that Communism was a great evil and therefore a tool of the Devil and Reagan played a large role in defeating it?)
Upon reflection, Hitler and Mussolini don't strike me as valid candidates for the anti-Christ either. There's one simple reason: they're too evil. You see, it's innate in humans to recoil from a great evil. It's the way God made us. So, the Devil works on us by persuading us that an evil is actually a good. He sugarcoats it and make it seems that our actions are really for the best. Even Hitler believed that killing the Jews would be a good, positive step. It was obvious to the rest of us, though, that it was an act of unmititgated evil.
So, when trying to identify the anti-Christ we need to look for someone who does and promotes evil, but makes it look like a good thing.
Here's an example: Hugh Hefner. Please note, I am not calling Hefner the anti-Christ, nor am I seriously suggesting that he is. I tend to think the anti-Christ will not take a public profile, but Hefner fits the description for reasons I will explain.
Look at what Hefner was responsible for: increasing promiscuity and commitment-free sex; a devaluation of women who are now commonly perceived as sex objects; pervasive pornography; breakdown in traditional amrriage. And he's made all of these seem like good thigns! That's the way the anti-Christ will operate. Smoothly, making evil seem good. Drawing people into sin willingly and happily.
A diplomat has been described as someone who can tell someone to go to Hell in such a way that they'll look forward to the trip. That's what the anti-Christ will do as well.
Comments
Good post! Neither Hitler nor Mussolini were "the" Anti-Christ, but they were anti-Christ. The Scriptures talk about the spirit of anti-
Christ which I think you captured well in your description of Hugh Heffner. His "work" and its effects on society have been significantly anti-Christ, juxtaposed to the Christ who came to lift women, who broke with societal norms to raise women. Think of the shock experienced in his accepting women as close followers and in talking to them as precious human beings, in treating fallen women with respect even while He lifted them out of their fallen lifestyles. He even appeared to women first, although a woman's testimony would never had held up in court. What did He care for the courts of men when women were reliable witnesses in His sight. But I better stop now...
Posted by: Anna Venger | October 22, 2006 7:30 PM
Temptation is always the sweet whispering in your ear, telling you it will be all right, not the thundering voice telling you what you're doing is evil.
Posted by: Duffy | October 23, 2006 10:58 AM