A weird paradox happens when you talk to many Christians today. Ask them if they believe we’re living in the last days, and most will say yes without hesitation. But bring up the topic of the Antichrist—the very herald of the End Times—and suddenly most will change the subject. Why is that?

If the greatest trick the devil ever played on the world was convincing people he didn’t exist, then the second greatest is convincing believers that his greatest agent isn't to be discussed either. Perhaps out of fear. But in my opinion, whatever you fear most is what you become a slave to. That kind of fear is at the heart of what we call "worship."

Types of Christians and Their Level of Worship of the Beast/Antichrist According to Jesus in Revelation 2–3

Level of Beast Support	Label	Revelation Church Parallel	False God / Corrupting Influence (as named in Revelation)	Why This Fits
1	Enthusiastic Personal Support for the Beast	Sardis – reputation without reality (Rev 3:1–2, 4)	Spiritual deadness, unrepentance, soiled clothing	Sardis is warned that they have “soiled their clothes” and refused to repent. “Soiled clothes” symbolizes visible moral compromise, and unrepentance shows a hardened posture. This represents a deeply compromised state—outwardly Christian, inwardly dead.
2	Strong Political Support for the Beast	Laodicea – lukewarm self-sufficiency (Rev 3:15–17)	Self-sufficiency as a false god (“I am rich… I need nothing”)	Laodicea is satisfied with what the AC has brought them and is neither hot nor cold toward Jesus.
3	Consistent Support for the Beast	Pergamum – tolerating corrupt teaching (Rev 2:14–15)	Balaam (prophet-for-hire who affects politics), Nicolaitans (compromised with pagans), food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality	Pergamum doesn't renounce the faith but tolerates teachings that lead to compromise with worldly power.
4	Institutional Respect for the Beast	Thyatira – Jezebel-tolerating faction (Rev 2:20–23)	Jezebel, sexual immorality, food sacrificed to idols, “deep things of Satan”	Jezebel represents wholehearted devotion to a corrupting influence, which Thyatira tolerates.
5	No Support for the Beast or for Jesus either	Ephesus – orthodox but diminished love (Rev 2:2–4)	Self-reliance. Has tested and rejected false apostles	Ephesus discerns truth from error but has forgotten their first love.
6	Active Opposition to the Beast	Smyrna – faithful under pressure (Rev 2:9–10)	Opposition from the “synagogue of Satan”	Smyrna suffers for refusing compromise—mirrors active resistance despite pressure.
7	Strong Rejection of the Beast	Philadelphia – the faithful church (Rev 3:8–10)	No false gods; keeping the word; not denying the name	Philadelphia is the model of steadfast, uncompromised faithfulness—perfect for principled rejection.

What level are you at?

NIV Mark 5:1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-- and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

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Curious to see the gentilic interpretations of this.

NIV Mark 5:1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-- and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

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Curious to see the gentilic interpretations of this.