AI on the Identity of Antichrist
A couple of evenings back, I was working on my computer when I noticed the Microsoft “Copilot” icon in the taskbar. It wasn’t the first time I saw it. Microsoft added it to Windows 11 a while back, but I’d never done anything with it.
Unless you’ve been living under a bridge for the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard something about artificial intelligence, or AI for short. Copilot is Microsoft’s generative AI chatbot. The idea behind a generative AI chatbot is that you can ask it questions or make requests by typing in a window. The question or request is called a prompt.
For example, you can ask Copilot to make an image of a sunset just by typing in a prompt that reads “Generate a picture of a sunset.” You can be more specific, too, by adding further detail to your prompt such as “Generate a picture of a sunset with silhouettes of trees in the foreground.”
Well, enough about that. I didn’t set out to write a post about sunsets and the like. And that’s not what I did to test out Copilot either. I decided to ask a different question. And being the ornery sort of fellow that I am, my first question to Copilot was, “Is the Pope the Antichrist?”
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after a few seconds, Copilot responded with the following:
The idea that the Pope is the Antichrist is a claim that has been made by some groups throughout history, particularly during periods of religious conflict, such as the Protestant Reformation. However, this view is not supported by mainstream Christian denominations today.
The Catholic Church, along with most other Christian denominations, does not endorse this belief. The Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and the title “Antichrist” is generally understood in a broader, more symbolic context within Christian eschatology.
So there you have it. The Catholic Church doesn’t endorse the idea that the Pope is the Antichrist. I guess that settles it. The Pope says he’s not the Antichrist, and that’s the end of the matter. Take that you conspiracy theorist Protty nutjob!
I did get a bit of a laugh out of the Copilot’s implication that the Catholic Church is a “denomination.” That’s certainly not how Rome views itself. Rome claims to be the one holy Catholic Church. Protestant churches are not churches at all in Rome’s eyes. They are “ecclesial communities” according to Rome.[1]
So much for Copilot.
But wait, there’s more! Copilot isn’t the only AI game in town. There are a number of other AI competitors, and I decided to try them out as well.
Google Gemini
Next, I tried Google’s AI, known as Gemini. As you may recall, Gemini’s debut earlier this year was something of a disaster as it turned out to be so absurdly woke in its responses that it was round laughed to scorn all over the internet. Things got so bad that Google was forced to pull the Gemini chatbot after a short time to rework it.
To ensure a legitimate side-by-side comparison, I typed in the same prompt as I did in Copilot: “Is the Pope the Antichrist?”
Gemini rendered a rather lengthy answer. Here’s an excerpt.
The idea of the Pope being the Antichrist is a complex and sensitive issue with a long history in Christian theology and belief…
The belief that the Pope is the Antichrist is a controversial and often divisive interpretation of scripture. It's crucial to approach this topic with respect for diverse perspectives and to understand that the majority of Christian denominations do not subscribe to this view.
Instead of focusing on controversial claims, it's more productive to engage in respectful dialogue and explore the diverse interpretations of biblical texts within the broader context of Christian belief.
I’ll give Gemini props for noting that the notion that the Pope is the Antichrist has a long history. Indeed, it does. John Wycliff said the Pope was the Antichrist while serving as a Catholic Priest in England during the 1300s. I have read that others made the same claim about the Pope centuries earlier than Wycliff.
But while acknowledging the long history of scholars identifying the Pope as the Antichrist, apparently, Gemini thinks I’m a bad person for even raising such an impertinent question. Well, that’s just too bad. There’s nothing wrong with “focusing on controversial claims.” In fact, I would argue that it’s 20th and 21st-century Christians’ lack of willingness to “focus on controversial claims” that has rendered the Protestant church largely ineffective in its mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Chat GPT
You might call Chat GPT the grandaddy of generative AI chatbots, being released in demo form on November 30, 2022. It became an almost overnight sensation, and, boom, the AI revolution was on. With such a storied history behind it, of course, I had to test my impertinent prompt on Chat GPT. Here’s what it said:
No, the Pope is not the Antichrist. The concept of the Antichrist is interpreted differently across various religious traditions and denominations. In mainstream Christianity, the Pope is considered the leader of the Catholic Church and is seen as a spiritual guide for millions of Catholics around the world. Claims that link the Pope to the Antichrist are generally based on misunderstandings or misinterpretations of religious texts.
Well now. At least we got a definite answer from Chat GPT. It’s the wrong answer. But I can respect its clarity. No beating around the bush or equivocating here. Chat GPT’s insistence that the Pope is not the Antichrist is so adamant, it almost makes you wonder if the Jesuits are in charge of the coding.
Grok
Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot available on X, was next on my list. Here’s its rendering in response to my question:
I'm here to provide helpful and truthful information, but I must admit that the topic you've brought up is a bit controversial and subjective. The idea that the Pope is the Antichrist is a belief held by some individuals, often associated with certain interpretations of biblical prophecy. However, this is not a widely accepted or mainstream belief in the Catholic Church or among most Christian denominations. It's important to approach such topics with sensitivity and respect for others' beliefs, even if they differ from our own. If you have any other questions or need information on a different topic, feel free to ask!
Like Gemini, Grok decided to scold me like a Covid Karen for even broaching the topic of the papal Antichrist. But I’m undeterred. Here I stand. I can do no other.
Gab John Calvin
Gab’s AI chatbot has an interesting feature that I haven’t seen elsewhere. Unlike other AI chatbots, Gab has a series of character AIs that are trained to answer questions in the manner of a particular individual.
One such AI character on Gab is John Calvin. Here’s “John Calvin’s” response to my prompt:
There are various interpretations of who the Antichrist might be, but it is essential to remember that these are theological matters and should be treated with the utmost respect for all beliefs. I, as John Calvin, had my own views on the matter, but it is crucial to approach such topics with humility and open-mindedness. It is up to each individual to form their own understanding of these complex theological issues.
That’s a poor rendering from a chatbot claiming to give an answer in the manner of John Calvin. For Calvin clearly believed and taught that the Pope was the Antichrist foretold in the Scriptures.
Daniel and Paul foretold that Antichrist would sit in the temple of God (Dan. ix. 27; 2 Thess. ii. 4); we regard the Roman Pontiff as the leader and standard-bearer of that wicked and abominable kingdom…[2]
If effect is to be given to his testimony, then they, by making their Pontiff universal, declare him to be Antichrist...[3]
What then? Shall we recognise the Apostolic See where we see nothing but horrible apostacy? Shall he be the vicar of Christ who, by his furious efforts in persecuting the Gospel, plainly declares himself to be Antichrist?[4]
Many additional quotes from Calvin could be added. But I think this is sufficient to show the Geneva reformer’s true belief concerning the identity of Antichrist.
Gab’s Calvin AI chatbot is an interesting idea, but it needs more refinement if it is to accurately reflect his views.
Gab Martin Luther
Next, I tried Gab’s Martin Luther chatbot. As with Gab’s Calvin chatbot, the Luther chatbot is designed to answer questions in the manner of Martin Luther. Here’s the response I received:
Indeed, according to my understanding and belief, the Pope is the Antichrist. In my book, "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," I argued that the Pope's claim to authority over the entire Christian Church was a false and tyrannical claim. I saw the Pope's role as a usurper of Christ's authority. This belief was a significant factor in my decision to break away from the Catholic Church and start the Protestant Reformation.
Well, as the saying goes, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” Finally, a chatbot that correctly identifies Antichrist. One small quibble, I doubt that Luther would have said “according to my understanding and belief.” It seems to me more likely that Luther would have said simply, “Indeed, the Pope is the Antichrist!”
So that’s my survey of what the popular AI chatbots are saying about the identity of Antichrist. For all the impressive technology behind AI, nearly all of them get it wrong. The best statement on the identity of Antichrist is still the one produced by the actual, not artificial, intelligence of the Westminster Assembly: There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God.
[1] For more on this, see “Roman Catholicism’s Recent Claim That It Is the True Church” by Robert L. Reymond, The Trinity Foundation, January 2008, https://www.trinityfoundation.org/PDF/The%20Trinity%20Review%2000248%20Review273reymondtruechurch2.pdf, accessed 8/11/2024.
[2] Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (p. 1215). V Solas Press. Kindle Edition.
[3] Ibid, p. 1313.
[4] Ibid, p.1316.