July 10, 1998: The Maitreya - Benjamin Creme

Art Bell interviews Benjamin Creme, a Scottish artist and esoteric teacher who claims that Maitreya, the World Teacher awaited by all major religions, has been living in London since 1977. Creme describes his first contact with a master of wisdom in 1959, followed by a direct overshadowing experience from Maitreya in which he perceived all past and future events simultaneously. He states that Maitreya has appeared in various forms, including as a refugee woman on a London train and as a stranger in Berkeley, California.

Creme attributes major world events to Maitreya's behind-the-scenes influence, including the end of the Cold War, German reunification, and the fall of apartheid in South Africa. He addresses the Antichrist question directly, arguing it refers to a destructive energy force rather than an individual, and that it already manifested through Hitler and the Axis powers. He predicts Maitreya will appear on a major American television network following a global stock market crash originating in Japan.

Callers react with opinions ranging from enthusiastic support to deep suspicion. Art questions why a being of such power would need electronic media or newspaper advertisements, noting that a 1982 prediction of Maitreya's public declaration never materialized. A caller claiming to be the Antichrist himself predicts world awareness before 1999.