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| (Transhumanism. Click for source.) |
Arthur C. Clarke, a famous science fiction author, said: "It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God but to create him." (Clarke) [See Genesis 3.]
Transhumanism is defined by oxforddictionaries.com as "The belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology." (Oxford.) (See Footnote below).
Eliezer Yudkowsky, a transhumanist, said: "There is nothing in transhumanism but the same common sense that underlies standard humanism, rigorously applied to cases outside our modern-day experience. A million-year lifespan? If it’s possible, why not?" (Yudkowsky) [End quote]
Another transhumanist, Marvin Minsky, wrote this statement, which appeared in the Scientific American magazine (in the October 1994 issue):
"Once we know what we need to do, our nanotechnologies should enable us to construct replacement bodies and brains that won't be constrained to work at the crawling pace of "real time." The events in our computer chips already happen millions of times faster than those in brain cells. Hence, we could design our "mind-children" to think a million times faster than we do." (Minsky) [End quote]
The Antichrist in the book of Revelation is called the beast. He is worshiped by all who do not receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Being a man-like entity called the beast, this person is not fully human. He actually has power which can be called "superhuman." For instance, he can die but appear to rise back to life again. He also has power to subdue the whole earth so that people will say "...Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:3). No man or woman on earth will be like this creature. One might then say that he is a "superhuman."
The concept of a superhuman man matches with the beliefs of transhumanists. They are looking forward to a time when humans will supposedly engineer themselves into something "godlike" or supernatural.
Now, humans did not create the beast, and they cannot create anything like this beast, but I propose that the Antichrist (which Revelation calls the beast) was a hybrid engineered by the devil (Satan) using human and fallen angel genes in a manner similar to what happened in Genesis 6. We will look at that more, later in this article.
I also believe that the Antichrist is a demonically controlled puppet. I will show you why I believe that later in this article.
This article has 4 sections (with an appendix section at another link):
1. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ANTICHRIST
2. THE BEAST HAS SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES TO MANIPULATE AND DECEIVE
3. THE TWO WITNESSES WILL REVEAL GOD'S POWER AND JUDGMENT TO THE WORLD, AND GOD'S MERCY
4. CONCLUSION
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Footnote:
Transhumanism is an impossible concept for mankind to realize because God said in Romans 1:21-23 that man changed God's glory into an image made like to corruptible man and other creatures, and Romans 2:5-6 says that God will judge men according to their deeds (actions). It does not say that man made himself into a super-human.
Romans 1:23 says: "[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
Romans 2:5-6 says: "[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"
Since God will judge men for their wicked deeds (like He did in the flood of Noah), we know that the human race cannot create super-humans. Plus, the Bible does not teach that man will ever create super-humans. But, the devil can come up with genetically modified creatures that are puppets for demons. We will look into this more, later in this article.
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1. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ANTICHRIST
The Bible gives this prophetic description of the Antichrist:
Revelation 13:1-6
"[1.] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
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| (A leopard. Click for source.) |
2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." [End quote]
The word beast in Greek is thérion (2342). According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it is a "Diminutive from the same as thera; a dangerous animal -- (venomous, wild) beast."
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| (A dragon statue. Click for source.) |
This beast entity has a mouth like a lion and he uses his mouth to blaspheme God's name. A wild lion roars and threatens with its mouth. And, the Antichrist will do the same. He prophetically resembles a leopard because he strikes his prey quickly. The Antichrist doesn't visually look like a leopard, but the leopard gives us a picture of his speed in pouncing on his prey (Christians and Jews). The feet of the bear represent how the Antichrist will be able to trample those who oppose him as he moves quickly to defeat his opponents.
All his power and majesty come from one source: the dragon. The dragon is the devil (see Revelation 20:2). It is the devil, Satan, who gives the Antichrist his power and authority. This power is so extensive and supernatural that people will say: "...Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" [End quote]
Notice how people of the world will call him the beast? Why do they call him the beast (thérion)? Keep reading.
2. THE BEAST HAS SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES TO MANIPULATE AND DECEIVE
Now, let's return back to Revelation chapter 13. The scripture says that all who do not have their names written in the book of life will worship the Antichrist. Revelation 13:8 says: "[8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." [End quote]
The Antichrist / beast must have a lot of power and supernatural abilities in order to get all the religions of the world to worship him. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, alleged "Christians", Taoists, atheists, and others will worship this powerful, man-like creature.
Using his superhuman power and influence, the Antichrist and his people will require every person on planet earth (who dwells in towns or cities, which are easily accessible) to get a mark in his (or her) right hand or forehead (see Revelation 13:16-18). We don't know from the Bible what exactly this mark is. But, people who don't have a mark cannot buy or sell (if they dwell in "civilized" areas). The mark could be an implant with sophisticated properties or a computer chip.
But, I believe it is a type of implant, which has gene-altering properties to "augment" humans to make them appear or feel that they somehow are "transhuman." I believe the Antichrist will offer people a type of "extended life" through his genetic technology.
But, the eternal consequence of receiving such technology and swearing allegiance to the Antichrist is being sentenced to Hell for all eternity (see Revelation 14:9-11). Why should this be? Because to resist the mighty power of God, which will pour out on all people in those days (Joel 2:28-32), and to rebel against God's warnings to not receive the mark of the beast will require a very hardened heart.
When people take the mark of the beast, they will know what they are doing. They will know that they have sworn their allegiance to the beast, the false prophet, and Lucifer (i.e. Satan) (Rev. 13:4 and 8) even though they know that the Creator God has been calling out to them to turn back to Him and repent.
3. THE TWO WITNESSES WILL REVEAL GOD'S POWER AND JUDGMENT TO THE WORLD, AND GOD'S MERCY
As part of His calling out, God will send two witnesses to warn the earth and to prophesy. I believe people will see them on the internet and on Satellite TV all over the world because of what Revelation 11:9 says -- "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." [End quote] Later, in verses 11 and 12, the two witnesses are raised back to life and ascend up to Heaven in the sight of their enemies.
While on earth, the two witnesses will have the power to release God's miracles in ways beyond what the earth has seen in centuries (Revelation 11:3-6). They will be able to use God's power to turn water to blood, and to keep rain from falling, and to launch fire from their mouths. This may sound strange, but it is God's power at work to show the world that the devil is a charlatan and that God has the real power.
Nonetheless, the world will become very hardened against God and will refuse to repent from their rebellion and sins, even though they know what the two witnesses were saying did come to pass and continues to come to pass (at that time). When the Antichrist offers his mark, many, many people will willingly receive it and will pledge their allegiance to him and to Lucifer (who will appear to people as an angel of light even though he is a foul creature. See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Let's look at Revelation 13:16-18, which speaks of the mark of the beast.
Revelation 13:16-18 says:
"[16.] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
Revelation shows how another beast entity (the false prophet) arises and uses his power and influence to have all who refuse to worship the first beast to be killed. Revelation 13:15 says: "[15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." [End quote]
This is a planet-wide dictatorship that demands the worship of a man-like creature, who is closer to a dangerous animal than a human being, in his true nature. He may look like a man, but he has the heart of a dangerous, predatory animal (a thérion). Daniel was shown the last kingdom on earth prior to Jesus Christ returning in glory to set up His millennial kingdom. The fourth kingdom, of Daniel 7:7-8 and Daniel 7:23, reveals the true character of the Antichrist. The Antichrist and his kingdom will be vicious, and will devour the whole earth, and will break it in pieces.
As we saw earlier, the Bible tells how the Antichrist beast will die by a sword, but that he will return to life again. A second beast (the false prophet) will arise and will cause the world to worship the first beast (the Antichrist). This second beast and the first beast both will have the power to do miracles to deceive the whole world, but these are demonic miracles. They are not miracles of God.
Revelation 13:13-14
"[13] And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." [End quote]
4. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, both of these beasts are human-like, but they are not truly human. Both have super-human abilities (like what transhumanists look forward to seeing). One appears to be incapable of staying dead. One performs lying signs and wonders. Both have great power and influence over the many religions of the world. And, both beasts have the power to control and manipulate billions of people on planet Earth (except for true Christians).
However, these demonic, man-like beasts will not be able to manipulate those who seek God and those who are true followers of Jesus Christ (true Christians). Revelation 12:11 says: "[11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." [Note: The "him" refers to the devil.]
➠ If you would like to know Abba God the Father and Jesus Christ (God the Son), and be saved from sin, click here to read more.
WORKS CITED
(Clarke) Sir Arthur’s Quotations. clarkefoundation.org. The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation.
(Oxford) "Transhumanism." oxforddictionaries.com. Oxford University Press.
Yudkowsky, Eliezer. "Transhumanism as Simplified Humanism." yudkowsky.net. Eliezer S. Yudkowsky. (2007)
Minsky, Marvin L. "Will Robots Inherit the Earth?" web.media.mit.edu. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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