CHRISTIANS AS “CRIMINALS” IN THE AGE OF “PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS”

Talking about the Last Days or End Times, it is prophesied that “knowledge will increase” many folds. This is particularly true about the last one hundred years. About one hundred years ago, life was almost the same as it was in Greek and Roman times, but for a few changes. Not much of a difference at all. However, in the last one hundred years plus, there seems to be an explosion of knowledge, unlike anything seen or heard since the time of creation. 
– “…before 1900 human knowledge increased at a rate of doubling every century.  By the end of WWII human knowledge increased at a rate of doubling every 25 years.  Today it is dependent on the field of knowledge, but in general human knowledge doubles every 13 months to 2 years.  With the advent of AI, it is expected that we will soon be able to double human knowledge every 12 hours.  This could very well be an indicator of the end times that Daniel is talking about.” – The Way of Christ Ministries

Are we then living in those times, which was foretold about in the book of Daniel?
– “4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” – Daniel 12:4

Commenting on “knowledge will increase” Berean Study Bible Notes makes these observations…
– “The increase in knowledge can be seen as both a positive and a negative development. On one hand, it may refer to a greater understanding of God’s plans and prophecies as the end times draw near. On the other hand, it could also indicate a surge in secular knowledge and technological advancement, which can lead to both progress and moral challenges. This aligns with 2 Timothy 3:7, where people are “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth,” highlighting the potential for knowledge to be misused or misunderstood without divine wisdom.”

The above observations are very much in line with all the prophesies that were given to Daniel by the LORD, regarding the End Times. David Guzik expresses the same in the Enduring Word Commentary. We can see from Daniel chapters 11 to 12 that…
– The power of Satan would be at its peak in the Last Days.
– A world ruler, who will utterly opposes God will rise up to power, and will be well accepted by most people, including many “christians” who will welcome him.
– A world religion, will be ushered in, based on the abomination of desolation that will be established in the “temple” of God.

In the light of of the above predictions, it is not improbable to conclude that, Satan will use every conceivable geo-political power in the world, and will make the utmost use of technology, especially AI, to usher in his evil reign. His primary, and probably, the only obstacle would be the few faithful Christians, who are obedient to the LORD Jesus Christ. He would surely go at them with all his force. 

It is the most logical thing to conclude that, one of the tools that would be extensively used world-wide, to accuse and persecute the “righteous” and the “faithful” Christians is the technology of “Predictive Analytics” run by AI. It may sound like a conspiracy theory. However, we should be a bit more circumspect in evaluating this, than simply brush it aside as a conspiracy theory. Can we see how it can be used by Anti-Christ against Christ-centered Christians? One doesn’t need to commit any crime to be labelled as a criminal under the “Predictive Analytics” software. Our data is mined – all that we ever read, speak, write, search and view – online and other electronic mediums – and a prediction is made, basing on that data, whether we pose any threat to anyone or not. When the algorithm is tweaked, it can be made to speak anything in anyone’s favour, or against anyone. The “Predictive” software will categorise Christians as “criminals” because it is backed by solid “data” and not some “prejudiced” and “biased” assumptions. We are already living in such a reality. Most of us are blissfully ignorant.
– “Christian critiques of predictive analytics software…often frame the technology as a potential tool of the “Antichrist” or the “Beast system”….[the] concerns center on the capacity of artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate global surveillance, totalitarian control, and the erosion of human freedom and moral autonomy…Many Christians interpret the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13) not just as a physical mark, but as a digital, economic system that controls the ability to “buy or sell”. Predictive analytics, facial recognition, and digital IDs (like those developed by firms such as Palantir) are seen as the infrastructure for this surveillance state…Predictive AI allows for the rapid processing of immense data to control populations and enforce conformity, mirroring the centralization of power described in apocalyptic prophecy.” – Gemini AI Overview

What is being brought in, is nothing new. It is the old trick refurbished with a new wrapping.
– The apostles were accused and persecuted by the Jewish religious leaders, as anti-society, anti-religion and anti-nation, and were considered a dangerous threat to everyone because of their thoughts, words and deeds. 
– The early Church was accused and persecuted by the Roman empire, because of the same reasons – their thoughts, words and deeds.
– The Christians before and during Reformation were accused and persecuted in the same way by the Roman church, in christianised Western Europe, because of their thoughts, words and deeds.
– The Christians were accused and persecuted in the same manner by the Communist regimes of Eastern Europe, because of their thoughts, words and deeds.
– The Christians are accused and persecuted in the same manner, even today, because of their thoughts, words and deeds, by many people.

The future would not be any different for true the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ. If anything, it would be worse and severe than ever. We will be persecuted. Now it is the “predictive” softwares that will categorise Christians as those that pose the highest level of threat to the society because of our Bible based thoughts, words and deeds. Let us not have much doubts about this.

The LORD who led the apostles, the early Christians, the faithful Christians during the Reformation times, the uncompromising Christians in the Communist block, and the unwavering Christians in many nations even today, where they are persecuted because of their faith in the LORD Jesus, will lead us too, even under the AI driven “predictive” software era. Even so, the LORD help us.