Is that your final answer?
If you watched television around the turn of the century, you will immediately recognize this phrase. Americans in every stage of life gathered in their living rooms to watch Who Wants to be a Millionaire with the one and only Regis Philbin. We shouted out answers, sympathized with the losers, and celebrated with the winners. The nation erupted in thunderous applause when John Carpenter clinched his spot in history as the first contestant to win the million, simply because he knew that Richard Nixon was the only president to appear on Laugh-In. The show even affected the clothing styles of Americans, as Philbin’s trademark dark suits coupled with dark ties became the trending style of choice.
The Millionaire phenomenon shows us something about society—we are inexplicably attracted to the latest fads. If it is new and exciting, we fall for it.
People are always looking for something new and exciting. When life gets boring or tedious, we search for something to charge us up—maybe a new restaurant in town or an exciting politician.
Usually it’s not a big deal. Other times, however, the results can be disastrous.
That’s exactly what we see in John’s vision of the end times. A charismatic figure appears on the scene and the world flocks to him like ants on a picnic lunch. He seems exciting—after all, he looks to be the answer to all the world’s problems.
The introduction to this new global leader comes in the symbolism of a strange-looking beast, complete with seven heads and ten horns. But by this point in John’s vision, he’s kind of used to that.
Who is this guy that so successfully enchants the world?
In John’s vision, he appears as a beast with seven heads and ten horns, symbolizing his supreme political power. In addition, he resembles a leopard, a bear, and a lion, indicating that he heads up the culmination of all the world kingdoms throughout time. He receives his power from Satan, represented (in chapter 13) as a dragon, also with seven heads and ten horns.
He is the one we know as the Antichrist.
Why will everyone be so enchanted by this man? Because he will accomplish amazing feats. He will unite the world under a single government, instantly solving many global problems. When he declares himself to be God and imposes a policy of religious intolerance, the masses will obediently fall into line.
The result will be increased persecution for the one group that doesn’t buy into his dazzling persona—those who become believers in Jesus during the Tribulation.
While we, as pre-Tribulation believers, will not be around to face the Antichrist, there is something we need to learn from his appearance on the world scene: humans tend to follow their passions without thinking. Like a fish hungrily lunging for a lure, we latch onto the latest new and exciting fad, hardly giving a thought toward what is right or wise. That’s why we see people, even Christians, go into debt, turn to drugs, reject their marriage vows in favor of an enticing relationship with another person, or allow their children’s athletic activities to trump church attendance.
In our day of dazzling attractions, so much seems more exciting to us than God. So, we must remember this: doing what is right is always more important than chasing what is new and exciting.
