Elon Musk Claims We’re on the Event Horizon of the Singularity… Are We?

Or Are We Facing Something Else?

Sunday night, Elon Musk posted the following message on X (formerly known as Twitter):

"We are on the event horizon of the singularity"

So what does this mean?

Well, to translate, we first need to define the terms he's using:

1) Event Horizon – An event horizon is the boundary around a black hole inside which the gravitational force is strong enough to prevent all matter and radiation from escaping. It’s otherwise known as “the point of no return.”

2) Singularity – The singularity (as Elon Musk reportedly defines it) is the point where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence.

That’s not my definition of the singularity, but again, it’s reported to be Elon's.

So essentially, Elon Musk is saying we’re at “the point of no return” when it comes to the advancement of artificial intelligence.

It’s on an unstoppable, exponential trajectory.

And the advancement of artificial intelligence will completely transform the world in which we live.

What’s Happening?

I believe Elon Musk is correct to observe we’re at “a point of no return” when it comes to the exponential advance of technology. It shows no signs of slowing down. Every day, new breakthroughs take place in almost every area of life. Breakthroughs in AI development regularly make headlines, and each month seems to bring a new milestone in the development of quantum computing.

Where will all of this lead? The trend points to more and more automation and less need for human labor – both physical and mental. By itself, this is a good thing. It raises everyone’s standard of living, increases leisure time, and creates more time to explore our creativity.

But with each passing day, the exponential curve of technological advancement becomes more vertical in nature. The closer it gets to going vertical, the closer we get to the end of the age. After all, Jesus pointed to the exponential curve as a sign of His Second Coming:

“But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” Matthew 24:8 (NLT)

In other words, just as labor pains increase in frequency and intensity as a birth gets closer, the signs Jesus mentioned in regard to the end of the age will also increase in frequency and intensity as the Second Coming draws near.

If you plot those events on a graph, increasing in both frequency and intensity over time, you get an exponential curve.

The Singularity

When it comes to technological development, the vertical portion of this exponential curve is what’s known as the singularity.

Using Elon’s definition, the singularity is a point in time when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence.

I think a better definition is this – the singularity is a future point in time when the technological change around us is so rapid, the unaided human mind can no longer keep up. In other words, technology will become so powerful (and the change around us become so rapid) the world will simply pass us by. Humans will become obsolete. Or at least, un-augmented humans will become obsolete.

This won’t be the case for everyone.

Some humans will choose to merge with advanced technology.

The Transhumanist Movement

A number of people see this technological singularity coming, and they’re actively preparing for it. They’ve modified their diets, exercise routines, and entire lifestyles in an effort to increase the likelihood of living long enough to merge with technology during the singularity.

Known as transhumanists, these people look forward to the singularity with a religious fervor. They believe it’s the next step in Darwinian Evolution and will lead to the emergence of “post-biological humans.” Such people will be able to shed their biological bodies and “upgrade their hardware.” As a result, the brain power and physical ability of these posthumans will exceed anything a person of today can imagine. The end result? A human race with abilities so far in excess of what we see today, they appear god-like.

Sound ridiculous?

It’s not, and it could explain one of the great mysteries of the Bible.

The Battle of Armageddon

The mystery I’m referring to is the nature of the Battle of Armageddon. Despite the convention wisdom, Armageddon isn’t a battle between human armies. It’s a battle between human armies and Jesus Christ Himself.

Don’t believe me? Go read these passages in the Bible for yourself:

“These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:14 (NLT)

“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the world and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Revelation 19:19 (NLT)

The gathering of the world’s armies at Armageddon is preparation for an act of war. But the armies aren’t preparing to wage war against each other. They gather together to plot against “the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Who is the “one sitting on the horse”?

Jesus Christ.

It’s true. Despite the popular myths, Armageddon is not the final realization of Cold War fears of nuclear annihilation. It’s not the conventional armies of the world gathering to fight each other to the death.

The end goal of Armageddon is for the human race to break free from God’s authority. Seems impossible, right? I think this is why so many people have “spiritualized” these passages. The whole idea seems preposterous. People tell themselves, “Of course it doesn’t mean a literal battle. It’s symbolic. The forces of good vs. evil.” Yet that’s our own minds talking. It’s not what the Bible says. Over and over again, the Bible describes this battle in clear terms.

For example, Psalm 2 has this to say:

“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from slavery to God.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)

Notice once again who the rulers plot against. They don’t plot against each other or Israel. They plot against “the Lord and His Anointed One.” Who is the “Lord’s Anointed One”? Again, it’s Jesus Christ. The armies of the world plot against the Prince of Peace Himself!

Does this sound far-fetched? It should. After all, mankind would have to become infinitely more powerful than it is now before it could ever challenge God. But you know what? That power is coming.

It’s what Elon Musk is pointing to when he says, “We’re on the event horizon of the singularity.”

This technological singularity might also be something Jesus pointed to as well…

No “Flesh” Will Survive

Given transhumanist aims and the approach of the singularity, one particular passage in the Bible demands our attention. When the disciples met with Jesus on the Mount of Olives and asked Him to describe the signs of His coming and the end of the age, Jesus told them what to look for. Then He said:

“Unless those days are shortened, no flesh will survive.” (Matthew 24:22)

What did Jesus mean when He said this? The traditional interpretation is this… Humanity will bring itself to the brink of destruction in a cataclysmic world war. Then the world will avoid total destruction when Jesus suddenly appears and stops the madness.

But is this what the Bible says? No. The Bible tells us the true reason for Armageddon, and it’s not nuclear war, comets, asteroids, or any other Hollywood produced end-of-the-world story. Armageddon is the armies of the world gathering to attack Jesus – the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Revelation 19:19).

To do this, people in the end times will have to be much more powerful than the people of past generations. And they will be. They’ll be proud and arrogant. They’ll fulfill the Tower of Babel prophecy, and “Nothing will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6). Could it be that in a quest for immortality, they’ll shed their fragile flesh and bone bodies in exchange for new ones?

Remember, Jesus didn’t say, “Unless those days are shortened, no one will survive.” He said, “No flesh will survive” (Matthew 24:22). The key word in this passage is the Greek word “sarx.” It doesn’t mean “people.” It means “flesh” or “animal meat.” It refers to the external body, and not necessarily an entire body with a soul. So taken in its original context, it’s more accurate to say “no flesh will survive” than to say “no one” or “no people will survive.”

Think this is just semantics? Maybe. But what if transhumanists succeed in their quest to create a race of “posthumans” who no longer need human bodies to survive? If that happens, the words of Jesus take on a whole new meaning.

Does all this sound like fantasy? I admit it’s hard to accept the idea of humans creating new bodies. It sounds like science fiction. And it’s hard to imagine this is what Jesus meant when He said, “no flesh will survive.” But our thoughts are limited. They are not God’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Remember, Daniel was given a vision of the end times. What he saw didn’t resemble the ancient world in any way. He openly stated he couldn’t understand what he had seen (Daniel 8:15). Why should it be any different for you and me?

When Will All This Take Place?

Despite Elon Musk’s assertion, we don’t know for sure when the singularity will take place. Many futurists have noted their belief in the nearness of it, with quite a few predicting it for our generation. Some think it will arrive in this century, while others think it’s still hundreds of years away.

If we continue at the same exponential pace – developing advanced technologies like quantum computers, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering – it’s near certain we’ll witness the singularity in this century.

Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil has a solid track record of forecasting technological trends. In 2006, he forecast that by 2023, $1,000 worth of computing power would surpass the brainpower of one human brain. You can make an argument this came true with the public launch of ChatGPT in early 2023. According to Kurzweil, $1,000 worth of computing power will surpass the brainpower equivalent of all human brains combined in the year 2045.

From Ray Kurzweil’s 2006 book “The Singularity is Near”

To me, this puts the singularity somewhere between now and 2045, and likely much earlier than 2045 if Kurzweil’s milestone is achieved.

The Event Horizon of the Singularity or Something Else?

Elon Musk claims we're on the event horizon of the singularity, but I think we're looking at something else all together.

We're on the event horizon of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

All the signs point to the soon return of Jesus, and the approach of the singularity is just one of them.

When the disciples approached Jesus and asked Him, "What are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). Jesus replied by giving them a list of signs and events to look for - signs such as false prophets, earthquakes, wars, and desecration of the Temple. But Jesus said one sign in particular indicates He’s right at the door. Our generation is witness to that sign.

It's the convergence of all the signs Jesus, Moses, and the Old Testament prophets said to look for. Jesus said, "When you see all these things occur, look up. For your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28).

The convergence of so many specific and detailed events - events Jesus told us to look for – should command the attention of even the most hardened skeptics. Why? Because for more than 1,800 years following the crucifixion, these signs were noticeably absent. But today, we see them all around us. For the first time ever, each of the signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for is present – and all at the same time. The approaching singularity is just one of those signs, and it indicates Jesus is coming. Now is the season of His return.

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