Part 4/5:
Thiel introduces the concept of the katechon, a term from the Greek that refers to the force that restrains or holds back chaos and evil. He explores how this idea has been interpreted throughout history, from the Roman Empire to the Catholic Church, as institutions and individuals that have sought to maintain a fragile balance against the forces of lawlessness and destruction.
Thiel's concern is that the modern world may be lacking such a restraining force, and that the choice before us is stark: either we find a way to avoid the twin perils of Armageddon and the Antichrist, or we risk succumbing to the very apocalyptic vision that has haunted humanity for millennia.