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And On The Other Hand

How important is the issue of Artificial Intelligence?

On the one hand, it is quite important, but what is on the other hand is far more important.

The following synopsis discusses a 2025 article in the Wall Street Journal:
Driving the news: Peter Thiel, the influential billionaire investor known for backing data, AI, and defense startups, has begun publicly discussing his concerns about the apocalypse — blending biblical prophecy with modern fears around unchecked technological development
• In a series of recent talks, Thiel has urged wider consideration of eschatological themes, including the figure of the Antichrist, as part of grappling with rapid scientific and societal change
The context: Thiel has long been a prominent figure at the intersection of Silicon Valley and politics, with early investments in PayPal, Palantir, and Facebook (see sustainability performance of Meta)
• His current public reflections mark a notable turn towards spiritual and theological discourse
• This comes amid a broader trend of tech leaders engaging more openly with religious frameworks as AI and advanced technologies prompt existential questions.

And now, my take: Honestly, I'm not interested in learning anything more about the antichrist. And I'm not going to recommend any follower of Jesus to give it another thought. Whether you consider the technology trends thrilling or awe-inspiring or fearsome, neither technology nor antichrist are really the point.

There are several reasons for my position, but for brevity, I'll hold to just two.

First, more accurately primarily, that guy is not the person the one who is trusting in Christ needs to consider.

Second, there isn't a singular character in the whole of the Bible's eschatological teaching called 'the Antichrist'. Seriously. Read it for yourself.

Some point to the KJV's rendition of 'son of perdition' (2Thess 2:3-6) to cling to the idea of a singular individual. But notice that person is NOT the focal character of that passage at all! The 'TJ Unauthorized Version' might say, "and then the lawless one will expose himself, the same one whom the Lord will consume simply with His Word and render him useless for everything about the guy is lies, deception and the energy of Satan."

In fact, the Book of Revelation shows even more about what shall happen in those final days. It teaches us that there is not one, but two who come to power in the end. John the Revelator describes two who bring about conditions that will be so indescribably wicked and desperate. There we find them identified as 'the beast' and as the 'false prophet', not as a singular 'Antichrist'.

But the life-saving all-important question isn't about AI or the antichrist. It is simply this: Who should we think more about, the ones whom Jesus renders useless or Jesus Himself?

I think you already know the answer to that.

So, let's all let go of fear and uncertainty and anxiety and do this: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Let's think more about Jesus.

Effect Radio's TJ Mac
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