Prototypes of the Beast

Though tyrants and murderous despots have plagued the world since the beginning of time, not all of them have risen to power through violence and bloodshed. Rather, some have assumed power through deception and flattery.

Certainly, the previous century had its share of brutal tyrants such as Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Josef Stalin. However, unlike Mussolini and Stalin, Hitler rose to power through fraud and deceit. He literally conned millions of Germans into electing him Germany's chancellor in 1933.

How did that happen? How did a nation of educated people become so deceived as to elect one of the most evil men who ever lived? That happened because millions of people allowed their feelings to dictate their actions. They fell for Hitler's charm, wit and propaganda. And they willingly chose to ignore his past.

That past included a rambling, paranoid manifesto titled; Mein Kampf  that was published in 1925. In his book, Hitler spelled out his worldview and his political philosophy. That philosophy demonized the Jews as human devils that controlled the global banking system and were determined to take over the world.

And Hitler revealed what he would do with the Jews if he ever gained political power.
Mein Kampf should've been a warning to the German people that Adolf Hitler was an extremely dangerous man who embraced bizarre ideas.

Tragically, they ignored his past and allowed the Fuhrer to mesmerize them with his hypnotic speeches and utopian promises to transform Germany into an elite nation that would lead the world into a new age.

Instead, Hitler led Germany and much of Europe into a nightmarish hell. Not only did 11 million people perish in his Holocaust, including six million Jews, but over 50 million people died in the second world war that he instigated. Many Germans subsequently claimed that if they had been aware of Hitler's bizarre views, they never would have voted for him. However, his ideas were well known by then. Millions of people simply chose to ignore the evidence.

We saw a similar occurrence six years ago with the election of Barack Obama as America's 44th president. Though he was already known as a far left Marxist radical who associated with racists, Obama fooled millions of people in the run up to the 2008 election by promoting himself as a church-going Christian and a political centrist.

The "Christian" church he attended was led by an arch-racist pastor named Jeremiah Wright who was a disciple of James Cone who is considered to be the father of the racist Black Liberation theology. Obama's "centrist" political views were garnered from radical terrorists such as Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, and from communists such as Frank Marshall Davis and Harvard Professor Derrick Bell.

Like millions of Germans who willingly ignored Adolf Hitler's past, millions of Americans ignored Obama's past and elected a wicked man who was determined to impose his radical Marxist agenda upon the United States. And like millions of Germans who expressed bitter disappointment and shock at Hitler's wickedness, millions of Americans have expressed remorse at Obama's evil. And yet, the people were the ones who chose these wicked leaders. Thus, they got what they deserved.

Barack Obama isn't Adolf Hitler. He's not a mass murderer, but he's a clever con artist who understands that if one speaks well and presents the right image, many people will ignore their past and embrace whatever they're told. Just as millions of Germans ignored Hitler's past and elected him in 1933.

The elections of wicked men such as Adolf Hitler and Barack Obama reveal a very serious problem that has plagued human beings since the dawn of history, and that problem is their penchant for idolatry. Both Hitler and Obama became idols to millions of people who worshiped them as gods.

Both men also exploited terrible economic conditions to promote their con and get themselves elected. And by doing so, both of these men became prototypes of the coming Antichrist.

What does the Bible tell us about this coming dreaded world ruler? It reveals that he will appear to the world as a benevolent man of peace who will be an elaborate counterfeit of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul warned that people who are most vulnerable to being deceived are those who refuse to examine the evidence and believe whatever they're told: "By smooth talk and flattery they (deceivers) deceive the minds of naive people." (Romans 16:18)

Concerning the Antichrist, he will arrive on the world stage as a peacemaker (Revelation 13:11); he will perform incredible miracles (Revelation 13:13); he will suffer a mortal wound and then recover (Revelation 13:3); he will have an advance prophet as Christ did with John the Baptist (Revelation 19:20) and he will be empowered by Satan (Revelation 13:2).

The Bible also tells us that he will be a "a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue..." (Daniel 8:23) who will "become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and succeed in whatever he does." (Revelation 8:24) And scripture reveals that he will persecute Christians and Jews: "he will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior." (Daniel 8:25)

And the Bible reveals that when the world least expects it, this evil ruler will commit mass murder on a scale that no one has ever witnessed: "When they (world residents) feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes (Jesus Christ). Yet he will be destroyed, but not by his own power." (Daniel 8:25)

Both Christ and the apostle Paul echoed the murderous and destructive nature of this coming world ruler. Christ said this: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:22)

And Paul wrote this: "While people are saying, 'Peace and Safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
Obviously, such a wicked man can only gain power through massive deceit. No one would willingly support such a destructive person, even if that person possesses a charismatic personality and performs miracles.

And so, this man won't be a world leader who suddenly turns to corruption--he will be a vile person from the beginning whose evil past will be overlooked by many because he will tell people "what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3)

It was author Tom Robbins who said it best: "Those who willingly accept being conned are as corrupt as those who con them." Thus, wicked people elect wicked leaders after their own hearts. Wicked people think with their emotions because if something feels good to them, they believe that it must be good.

And like all classical con artists, the Antichrist will exploit the instincts of wicked people who base their decisions on feelings and emotions.  He will make the world feel good through powerful hypnotic speeches coupled with incredible miracles that science won't be able to explain away.

In fact, Paul warned that this wicked ruler will rise to power through the supernatural: "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

And why will these people perish? Because like all folks throughout history who have perished at the hands of wicked con artists, they allow their feelings to overrule their intellects. Paul continued: "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Tragically, many people are most vulnerable to deception when things are bad. Biblical prophecy reveals that the Antichrist will rise to power when evil and violence are rampant on the earth. Millions will seek a savior who will promise to bring an end to strife and restore law and order on the planet. And that "savior", without any biblical credentials, will appear and claim to be Jesus Christ who has returned from heaven to establish his kingdom on earth.

Christ warned: "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25)

But is anyone listening?