The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has said that humans’ dependence on modern technology will result in the coming of the Antichrist (I’ll explain more about the Antichrist figure in a moment–it will be a real person).
In an interview with Russian state media, Patriarch Kirill explained he does not entirely oppose electronic gadgets, but warned against “falling into slavery” to smartphones.
Patriarch Kirill said that the collection of user data including “location, interests and fears” will make it possible for humans to be controlled by external forces. “Control from a single point is a harbinger of the coming of the Antichrist,” Kirill told the state-run Rossia-1 TV network. “The Antichrist is a personality that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling the entire human race. Thus, the structure itself presents a danger,” he said.
First and foremost, anyone reading this will agree, younger people–particularly those of the Millennial generation–are often extremely attached to the cellphones to the point where hanging out with friends involves less inter-personal verbal communication, and more staring, mouth agape, at an electronic device.
According to a research paper in the December issue of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, lessening Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat use can lower loneliness and depression.
University of Pennsylvania psychologist Melissa G. Hunt led the study, which surveyed 143 Penn students. Hunt said social media platforms give “the illusion of connectedness and not true connectedness,” adding, “It is a little ironic that reducing your use of social media actually makes you feel less lonely.”
I would add, constant time on a device gazing at photos of self and others as a dominant form of communication, information, and education will help make users stupid and unable to hear the voice of God.
The Bible says, in Psalm 19:1-4,
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world
In other words, the Creator of the universe is SCREAMING for our attention via the earth, sky, and heavens.
As for the Antichrist, we read in First John 2:18 – “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” The specific term antichrist is used seven times in Scripture, twice here in 1 John 2:18 and also in 1 John 2:22; 4:3; and twice 2 John 7.
The meaning of the term antichrist is simply “against Christ.” As the apostle John records in First and Second John, an antichrist will deny the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), does not acknowledge Jesus (1 John 4:3), and denies that Jesus came in the flesh (2 John 1:7). There have been many “antichrists,” in the past, as 1 John 2:18 states.
But also to come is the Antichrist.
Most Bible prophecy/eschatology experts believe the Antichrist will be the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be against Messiah. In the end times/last hour, a man will arise to oppose Messiah and His followers more than anyone else in history. Likely claiming to be the true Messiah, the Antichrist will directly used by Satan to seek world domination and will attempt to destroy all followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and the nation of Israel.
Though we are saved by the atoning blood of Messiah, and are born again through faith in Him, we are still living in the world where Satan rules.
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one,” 1 John 5:19)
Therefore, Satan is called, the Ruler of the air.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient,” Ephesians 2:1-2).
Satan is always moving about the air and working in the hearts of men to commit sinful things. The majority of this world population is following Satan or Satan is at work in their life. The air itself is polluted with sins created by the works of Satan. Satan will continue to work until Messiah comes back again to defeat him (see Revelation 19:11-21).
As for those electronic devices which are capable of pulling photos and videos out of thin air–while it is amazing technology I believe the “Ruler of the air” is using this smart technology as a way to dumb-down the masses as he prepares to hoodwink the entire world.