There is a prevailing notion that the anti-Christ will simply come in power and then surprise the world, declaring, “I am the anti-Christ.” At least that was my notion as a young believer, but over the years, I have come to believe that the anti-Christ will not be as naïve as we think or consider him to be. Far from this, like his previous likeness, Hitler, he will come as an “angel of light” that will deceive many and devastate their livelihoods and trusts.

In fact, because Hitler proclaimed the gospel of good hope, the gospel of greatness, the gospel of following our own path, he was embraced readily by the most cultured people of the world and arguably some of the finest minds the planet ever had. How could Hitler deceive so many that left a trail of death and destruction unequalled since the beginning of the world? The key to understanding this is found in the passage of II Corinthians 11:14-15, And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Many people, including believers are prone to be swayed by others when offered a good gift, including promises of wealth and insurance. When Hitler rose in Germany, he was simply a man who had nothing and from nothing, but when he rose from the socialist party with his fiery tongue that could easily inflame the sentiments of a wounded people, he got all the power he could get by claiming to provide economic well-being to Germany as well as pay all their debts and rebuild their destroyed homes, houses and restore pride to their race.

Since most of the people have been weary of their current leaders and the chaos orchestrated by Hitler’s party have been mostly blamed on the government, the leadership could no longer control the people and the masses. There were frequent demonstrations, sabotages and killing on the streets which were enough to call the attention of most of the people. It was this pressure that suddenly released on then the current government of Paul von Hindenburg, an old man, quickly dissipated their resolve. Since the people were tired of inept and seemingly irrelevant government of Paul von Hindenburg, they increasingly listened to the voice of Hitler. Although Hindenburg would later reluctantly give the chancellorship to Hitler, his age and his indecisions as well as his cabinet advisers known as the Camarilla contributed to the demise of the Weimar republic and also the transfer of power to an unknown and obscure Austrian called Hitler.

How did it happen so fast? The answer to this question could be more speculative, but the rise on power of Hitler not only allowed him to consolidate both the legislative and executive power over Germany. The support of many businessmen as well as religious institutions on Hitler has considerably contributed to his rise in power that emboldened him. Because freedom was quickly curtailed and totalitarian power was conferred on him so easily, the people had no other choice than to obey him.

It had happened quickly at a time when there was a vacuum of true leadership at the government and the financial woes dissipated the hearts of their people. Understandably, under the background of chaos and financial wreck, Hitler quickly subdued his opponents, run on a motto of giving hope to the people and delivered results in four years time.
Although Germany was virtually bankrupt in the 1930s with an estimated unemployment rate between 30 and 50 percent and their currency worthless to the point that it literally took a wheelbarrow to buy a single loaf of bread, in just four years at the time Hitler, they made their economic engine working again so that they had:

1)    the strongest and most secure economy in the world
2)    no unemployment
3)    The most productive and efficient manufacturing in the world
4)    A balanced budget
5)    No national debt
6)    The best and most affordable and obtainable healthcare system
7)    The most powerful and effective military
8)    Virtually a zero crime rate

Almost all of these have been achieved by Hitler which was miraculous in proportion so that almost all the Protestant and Catholic Church leaders called him the Messiah. Unbeknownst to them and the German people, his primary agenda would not only to rule Germany but to establish a hegemony of the Third Reich all over Europe and possibly the world over. Although devastating and possibly the worst atrocities were committed since the beginning of the world through Hitler’s regime and his war, he could have been stopped quickly had there been more discernment among God’s people living in his time.

Winston Churchill who possibly the most discerning among his peers in England had often addressed that if Hitler should have been stopped earlier, World War II could have been unnecessary. Beginning in 1932, he opposed those who advocated giving Germany the right to military parity with France, Churchill spoke often of the dangers of Germany's rearmament. And he later portrayed himself in The Gathering Storm, as being a lone voice calling on Britain to strengthen itself to counter the belligerence of Germany.

Because Hitler came as a savior of the German people during the most difficult times, he was most often viewed by the Christians as simply doing what is good and what is right for Germany. However, their lack of discernment to resist the very enemy who is snuffing out their freedom and killing innocent people soon became clearer and there was no way of escape except to go underground. This in reality is the bait of satan, for just as soon as he gets the upperhand, he will manipulate people and keep them in chains. He will use everything that has the appearance of being good to catch even the elect who have abandoned sound faith and doctrine.

In Matthew 13:39 the Lord said that “...the harvest is the end of the age...” As we have said, the harvest that comes at the end of the age is the maturing and reaping of everything which has been sown in man, both the good and the evil. This is more apparent when we read the whole context of this statement in Matthew 13:36-43: Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Here we recognize that from the very beginning of time when the Lord sowed the righteous seeds into His field, the enemy also came and sowed his own tares. We are told that there will be two seeds maturing at the end. Both are going to be gathered together. One will be destined for burning while the other will be destined for shining forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The primary way to distinguish between the two seeds is not fully known except to the laborers and they could not be separated from each other until they are fully grown. It is possible that until now both the good seed and the tares inside the church and in our society are growing together until fully mature when we can easily view which is a tare and which is not.

In the natural tares have the same appearance as the good seed but when fully grown and mature, tares point up while the real wheat bows due to the weight of its fruit. Tares are usually the hypocrites, those who profess to know Christ but go on to continue to sinning. There will come a time when these will leave the church and be separated, for perdition while the real wheat towards holiness and righteousness. So one sign that we are also coming into the end of the age will be maturity of the wheat and tares and when these mature, the tares are described to be insolent, stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness (Matthew 13:41). In no other way can they be known except by their fruit, pride is a fundamental flaw of their character, unable to bend down to the Lord’s call.