Peter Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur, investor, and author best known for co-founding PayPal and Palantir Technologies. A Stanford-educated lawyer turned venture capitalist, he was the first outside investor in Facebook and co-founded Founders Fund, backing companies like SpaceX and Airbnb. Thiel is a leading figure in Silicon Valley, known for his contrarian views on innovation, politics, and the future of technology. Author of Zero to One, he advocates for bold, visionary startups. A libertarian-leaning thinker, Thiel has influenced debates on capitalism, competition, and the role of technology in shaping society.
Christian Background and Influence
Peter Thiel was influenced by René Girard, a Catholic scholar, during his time at Stanford University, which helped provide “a basis for his Christian faith without the fundamentalism of his parents.” This intellectual approach to Christianity appears to have shaped his ongoing religious engagement.
Recent Christian Organizations and Activities
Acts 17 Collective: Thiel has been actively involved with Acts 17 Collective, a nonprofit “dedicated to ‘Acknowledging Christ in Technology and Society.'” This organization has been organizing Christian-focused events in Silicon Valley.
Recent Speaking Engagements:
- In September 2025, Thiel delivered a four-part private lecture series about “the theological and technological dimensions of the Antichrist” organized by Acts 17 Collective.
- In 2024, Thiel gave talks “to make the intellectual case for Christianity” in San Francisco, which were described as “profound” and “moving.”
- At the 2023 NOVITATE Conference at Catholic University, Thiel gave a speech about the Apocalypse and Antichrist, advising young people to “go to church.”
Religious Self-Description
Thiel has described himself as “religious but not spiritual” and doesn’t appear to belong to any specific denomination. However, his engagement with Christian themes and organizations suggests active involvement in Christian intellectual circles.
Silicon Valley Christian Movement
Several news outlets have reported on Thiel’s role in “increasing openness to Christianity among Silicon Valley tech elites” through his work with organizations like ACTS 17 Collective.
The evidence shows Thiel has moved from a personal Christian faith influenced by academic theology to actively promoting Christian ideas in Silicon Valley through speaking engagements and nonprofit organizations, though he maintains an intellectual rather than denominational approach to Christianity.
Peter Thiel—the prominent tech entrepreneur and thinker—returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to discuss his views on the end times, technology, and societal progress. Thiel delves into the historical and philosophical context of apocalyptic thinking, referencing biblical texts and the work of René Girard. He argues that modern technological advancements, such as nuclear weapons and AI, have apocalyptic potential and should be taken seriously.
Below is the second half of the conversation with Peter Thiel, the discussion delves into Thiel’s reflections on ancient prophecies, particularly the concept of the Antichrist as outlined in biblical and literary sources. Drawing from thinkers such as Cardinal Newman and fiction by Vladimir Solovyov and Robert Hugh Benson, Thiel explores how apocalyptic ideas remain relevant today, particularly in light of global challenges like technological risks, nuclear threats, and international governance. The conversation examines the tension between fears of Armageddon and the dangers of a one-world government, emphasizing Thiel’s call for critical thinking, balanced globalization, and the need to integrate historical and contemporary insights into a coherent framework for action.
Following is a summary of Part II of the interview:
Peter Thiel on Biblical Prophecy and
Modern Threats: A Conversation Summary
Overview
In this wide-ranging interview on “Uncommon Knowledge” with Peter Robinson, tech entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel presents a controversial thesis linking ancient biblical prophecies about the Antichrist to contemporary global challenges. Thiel argues that modern threats like nuclear weapons, pandemics, and AI have created conditions where world government—presented as salvation—could emerge as a greater danger than the apocalyptic risks it claims to solve.
The Antichrist Framework
Thiel takes seriously the biblical concept of the Antichrist, drawing on Cardinal Newman’s assertion that believers have a “duty” to watch for end times signs. He conceptualizes the Antichrist in three ways:
- As a type: Historical figures like Nero, Napoleon, or Alexander the Great who sought world domination
- As a system: Ideologies like communism that create one-world structures
- As a person: The ultimate dictator of a global state
The Antichrist, Thiel argues, doesn’t present as obviously evil but rather as “hyper-Christian” or “ultra-Christian”—someone who claims to be more righteous than Christ himself while being fundamentally anti-Christian.
The Plot Hole Solution
Thiel examines two early 20th-century fictional works—Vladimir Soloviev’s “A Short Tale of the Antichrist” (1900) and Robert Hugh Benson’s “Lord of the World” (1905)—both featuring charismatic Antichrist figures who mysteriously achieve world domination. He identifies a critical “plot hole”: these authors couldn’t explain the mechanism by which such figures would actually gain power.
The solution, Thiel argues, lies in post-1945 reality: apocalyptic weapons. For the first time in history, humanity possesses the means for total self-destruction through nuclear weapons, pandemics, and potentially AI. This creates the fear necessary to drive people toward world government as the only alternative to annihilation.
The “One World or None” Dilemma
Thiel contrasts two ways of framing existential choice:
- “One World or None”: A secular framing that presents world government and human extinction as the only options
- “Antichrist or Armageddon”: A biblical framing that, while sounding more extreme, actually suggests the possibility of a third way
The secular version is more politically acceptable but psychologically coercive—since nobody wants “none,” we’re pushed toward accepting “one world.” The biblical framing, though it sounds “crazier,” is actually more hopeful because it doesn’t present these as the only two options.
Contemporary Mechanisms for World Government
Modern technology and global threats provide plausible mechanisms for the emergence of a world government that didn’t exist a century ago:
- Surveillance capabilities: AI and digital technology enable monitoring “every keystroke everywhere”
- Climate and nuclear threats: Problems that seemingly require global coordination
- Effective altruism: Humanitarian ideologies that can justify massive state intervention
Thinkers like Nick Bostrom explicitly argue for “effective global governance” to manage existential risks, while legal scholars like Harvard’s Adrian Vermeule advocate for continent-wide government based on Christian ethics.
Scylla and Charybdis: The Double Bind
Using the classical metaphor of Odysseus navigating between two sea monsters, Thiel argues that:
- Scylla (Armageddon): Everyone recognizes and discusses these threats—nuclear war, pandemics, AI risks
- Charybdis (Antichrist/World Government): Almost nobody worries about this threat because it presents itself as the solution to the first
The danger is that we’re “grooved to the Antichrist solution” precisely because it appears to solve all other problems. In biblical accounts, the Antichrist comes first, offering peace and safety, before everything ultimately goes wrong anyway.
The Globalization Trilemma
Thiel identifies three approaches to globalization:
- End it entirely: Would cause catastrophic drops in living standards, and is practically impossible
- Unfettered continuation: Likely leads to world government
- Managed globalization: Maintain international trade and cooperation while preserving nation-states—the “narrow path”
He advocates for the third option, arguing that “our only chance of achieving good globalization is to be critical of globalization.” This requires negotiating international agreements with skeptics of free trade rather than true believers who think “it will all work out for the best.”
America as Both Katechon and Potential Antichrist
In a striking paradox, Thiel suggests the United States could serve as either:
- Katechon (restrainer): The force that holds back chaos and prevents world government, as it arguably did during the Cold War
- Antichrist candidate: The most likely nation to actually implement world government, given its global military, economic, and ideological reach
This dual potential explains why American presidential elections matter so much—the outcome could determine which direction the country takes.
Religious and Personal Implications
Despite his sophisticated geopolitical analysis, Thiel acknowledges the primacy of personal spiritual response. Following René Girard’s advice, he “tried to go to church,” though he admits preferring “the Christianity of Constantine” (engaged with worldly power) to pure sainthood.
When asked about the biblical injunction “fear not,” Thiel struggles with the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, concluding that while God will ultimately “work it all out,” human choices still matter enormously from our perspective.
Call for Integration and Reconstruction
Thiel’s final advice to young people is to avoid “postmodern MTV-like incoherence” and instead work to integrate knowledge across disciplines—connecting personal life with history and society. After decades of academic deconstruction, he argues, “it is really a time for reconstruction.”
Conclusion
This conversation reveals Thiel as a unique figure who takes ancient religious frameworks seriously while applying them to cutting-edge technological and geopolitical challenges. His central warning is that humanity’s justified fear of self-destruction could drive us toward solutions that are ultimately worse than the problems they claim to solve—making vigilance against both Armageddon and Antichrist equally necessary.
The Anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation:
A Biblical Examination
The figure of the Anti-Christ stands as one of the most compelling and terrifying elements in biblical eschatology, finding its fullest expression in the apocalyptic visions of John’s Revelation. While the term “Anti-Christ” itself appears only in the Johannine epistles (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7), the concept reaches its prophetic climax in Revelation’s portrayal of the Beast from the sea.
The Beast from the Sea: Revelation’s Anti-Christ Figure
In Revelation 13:1-10, John presents a vision that has captivated and troubled readers for nearly two millennia. The Beast emerges from the sea with seven heads and ten horns, bearing blasphemous names and resembling a leopard with bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth. This composite imagery deliberately echoes Daniel’s four beasts (Daniel 7), suggesting a culmination of earthly powers opposed to God’s kingdom.
The Beast’s authority derives from the dragon—Satan himself—who grants it “his power and his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). This delegation of demonic power establishes the Anti-Christ not merely as a human opponent but as Satan’s primary agent in the final cosmic conflict. The text emphasizes the Beast’s recovery from a seemingly fatal wound, which parodies Christ’s death and resurrection, presenting the Anti-Christ as a counterfeit savior who deceives through miraculous signs.
Characteristics and Activities
Revelation portrays the Anti-Christ as possessing several defining characteristics that mirror and mock Christ’s attributes. The Beast receives worship from “all who dwell on earth” except those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 13:8). This universal worship represents the Anti-Christ’s attempt to usurp divine prerogatives, establishing himself as the object of religious devotion.
The Anti-Christ’s reign is marked by blasphemy against God, His name, His dwelling place, and those who dwell in heaven (Revelation 13:6). This systematic opposition to the divine realm extends to persecution of the saints, whom the Beast is “allowed to make war” against and conquer (Revelation 13:7). The temporal limitation of this authority—“forty-two months”—suggests divine sovereignty over even this ultimate rebellion.
Perhaps most significantly, the Anti-Christ system implements economic control through the mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-17). No one can buy or sell without this mark—either the Beast’s name or its number, 666. This economic stranglehold represents totalitarian control that extends beyond political and religious spheres into daily survival, forcing a choice between loyalty to the Beast and material sustenance.
Theological Significance
The Anti-Christ in Revelation serves multiple theological functions that illuminate the nature of spiritual warfare and divine sovereignty. First, it demonstrates that opposition to God ultimately culminates in a single, concentrated rebellion rather than remaining scattered across history. This eschatological convergence reveals the underlying unity behind all forms of godlessness.
Second, the Anti-Christ’s temporary success—conquering the saints and receiving universal worship—paradoxically affirms God’s ultimate control. The repeated phrase “it was given” or “allowed” throughout chapter 13 indicates that even the Beast’s authority operates within divine permission. The Beast’s power, while real and devastating, remains bound by God’s sovereign will.
Third, the Anti-Christ functions as the ultimate test of human loyalty. By demanding exclusive worship and economic participation, the Beast forces humanity to choose between temporal security and eternal faithfulness. This choice clarifies the fundamental division between those who belong to God and those who follow the dragon.
The Anti-Christ’s Defeat
Revelation’s narrative trajectory moves inexorably toward the Anti-Christ’s destruction. Chapter 19 depicts Christ’s return as a conquering warrior who defeats the Beast and false prophet, casting them alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). This decisive victory occurs not through prolonged warfare but through Christ’s spoken word, emphasizing the overwhelming superiority of divine power over demonic rebellion.
The Anti-Christ’s defeat serves as both judgment and vindication—judgment upon the forces of evil and vindication for the persecuted saints who refused the Beast’s mark. This resolution affirms that apparent victories of evil are temporary, while God’s kingdom remains eternal and unshakeable.
A Contemporary Perspective: Thiel’s Antichrist Framework
Peter Thiel’s analysis of the Anti-Christ phenomenon offers a compelling lens through which to view Revelation’s warnings. His tripartite understanding—the Anti-Christ as type, system, and ultimate person—resonates deeply with Revelation’s portrayal of the Beast system that encompasses both individual leadership and totalitarian structure. Thiel’s insight that the Anti-Christ presents as “hyper-Christian” rather than obviously evil aligns remarkably with Revelation’s emphasis on deception and counterfeit worship. The Beast’s miraculous recovery and universal appeal suggest precisely this kind of seductive righteousness that exceeds authentic faith while fundamentally opposing it. Most provocatively, Thiel’s “One World or None” versus “Antichrist or Armageddon” dichotomy illuminates how Revelation’s economic mark system might emerge—not through obvious tyranny, but through humanity’s rational response to existential threats. When faced with civilizational collapse, the Beast’s totalitarian solution appears as salvation itself, making the choice between material security and spiritual fidelity all the more acute. Thiel’s framework suggests that Revelation’s Anti-Christ warns not just against religious deception, but against the seductive logic of necessary evils that promise to save humanity while ultimately enslaving it.