Is Austria’s right extremist? Does it want another Adolf Hitler? Does it hate Jews? These are topics of a study by the Documentation Center of Austrian Resistance. Specifically, the study examined the prevalence of authoritarian, racist, anti-Semitic and related attitudes in Austria. To find the answers, 2,198 representatives of the resident population were surveyed online from the end of April to the end of May this year.

Much of the study has to be taken with a grain of salt. For example, skepticism that the coronavirus pandemic and the response to it was a natural occurrence doesn’t make one a conspiracy theorist. The belief that democracy leads to corruption does not make one an authoritarian. Nor do concerns about uncontrolled immigration make one a racist. It is also understandable that one wouldn’t want a man who dresses like a woman next door or around one’s children.

There are legitimate reasons to believe that the media is systematically lying, as 51 percent of Austrians believe, even though this may apply only to certain topics. It is also acceptable to believe that the “coronavirus pandemic was staged in order to fundamentally restructure society,” as 29 percent of Austrians do. Natural skepticism is indeed a necessity for democracy.

However, what the study does show is that years of media censorship and propaganda are causing people to believe the wildest theories. While many see that something is not right, they don’t know what is wrong or how to fix it. Moreover, some of the study’s questions unveil concerning beliefs, particularly regarding Jew hatred.

Austrians agree or strongly agree with these statements:

• 23 percent believe: “Even today, the influence of Jews is still too great.”
• 14 percent: “Jews work more than others with evil tricks.”
• 16 percent: “There is something peculiar about Jews.”
• 24 percent: “Israeli politics makes Jews unsympathetic.”
• 42 percent: “Israel’s policy in Palestine is like that of the Nazis in the Second World War.”
• 22 percent: “Israel’s crimes are worse than those of other nations.”
• 35 percent: “It is infuriating when Allied attacks are minimized.”
• 49 percent: “Compensation often only benefits the Holocaust industry of resourceful lawyers.”
• 42 percent: “Discussions about the Second World War and the Holocaust should be stopped.”
• 26 percent: “Hatred against Jews only exists among immigrants.”

In many cases, those statements are outright wrong. But if you believe the media reporting about Israel, you would come to many of the same conclusions. After all, even Pope Francis has concerns about a genocide happening in Gaza—although there is no evidence for it.

Even though a greater proportion of immigrants may exhibit Jew hatred openly, the idea that only immigrants have such hatred is false. Jews have often been the scapegoat of history. The greater the crisis, the greater the hatred. The mass murder of Jews throughout history led to the creation of the State of Israel, but the hatred hasn’t stopped.

Media and politics are partly to blame. While obscuring the real reason for economic crises, wars and other troubles, people revert to their own theories and are susceptible to old hatreds.

Another consequence of an uncertain people is a growing desire for strong leadership—or change from the current leadership. The report notes:

It is striking that both the statement “I want a strongman at the head of this country who does not have to worry about parliament” and the statement “Not all power should be in the hands of a single strong leader, but in the hands of the people” are affirmed by a majority of respondents with pronounced right-wing extremist attitudes, although both items appear to contradict each other.

This shows that people don’t know how to fix the current system.

Austrians agree or strongly agree with the following:

• 21 percent believe a strongman is needed at the head of the country.
• 22 percent prefer a strong party to speak with a united voice.
• 82 percent believe all power should not be centered on a single leader.
• 66 percent believe fewer decisions should be made in parliament, and there should be more referendums.

The desire for change is understandable. There is nothing wrong with wanting a strong leader to get things done. The problem is if this leader promises one thing and then abuses his power.

This is what the Bible warns about (request our free booklet A Strong German Leader Is Imminent). The Bible prophesies of a leader who comes in through “flatteries” and then destroys (Daniel 11:21; 8:23-25). Specifically, he will promise “peace”—such as a solution to the Middle East conflict—and then set out to conquer and kill (Daniel 11:40-45). This leader is prophesied to rule over Europe in this end time, and according to Revelation 17, he will rule with 10 lesser dictators subordinate to him.

Most Austrians and Europeans may not want such leadership, but it is what the Bible prophesies we will get unless we learn the real solution to man’s problems. The Bible reveals that the only cure to this corrupt rule is the rule of God and His law.

Thankfully, this is exactly where current world events are heading.

Revelation 17:14 notes that the dictators of this world “will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

This is the solution to mankind’s problems.