This issue has thus far been relegated to the far reaches of the internet, where conspiracy theorists and 24 fanatics occupy much of their time, but I guarantee it will come up before the election in November. A number of people on the far right wing have been pondering a question since the 2004 Democratic national convention:
Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?
This post is not an attempt to answer this question, I intend to examine the issue.
If you’re not familiar with bible theology, the Antichrist is a man who is prophecied to come to power in the last days of our civilization. (Those who call it the end of the world have misinterpreted the text.) This figure will become the most powerful man in the world and rise to the head of a one-world government, then proclaim himself to be God and force everyone to wear his mark on their head or their hand. He will have a reign of 7 years before Jesus Christ returns and conquers him and his armies in the battle of Armageddon.
Barack Obama is not the first person to be labeled as the Antichrist. History has provided many glorious candidates, including the Roman Emperor Nero, Napoleon, Hitler, and, yes, even George W. Bush. But none of these men ever fulfilled the Antichrist’s prophecies, so some people have taken it upon themselves to fret and ponder about just who this man will be until the end of time.
Thanks to Zak for passing this along:
[Promoted by DHinMI]
SoonerG already has a good diary that points out aptly and astutely that John McCain’s latest web attack ad is really a not too subtle code to the Christian Right Wing that Barack Obama is the literal Anti-Christ as foretold in the Book of Revelations and popularized in “non-fiction” books like “The Late Great Planet Earth” and Tim LaHaye’s “Left Behind” novels.
Well, as if we needed confirmation that this is the violent, dangerous meme the McCain is attempting to spread, WorldNetDaily has published a screed by Hal Lindsey, entitled “How Obama Prepped World for Anti-Christ”.
Who is Hal Lindsey? In right-wing Christian Evangelical and Dominionist Circles Hal Lindsey is a Big Deal. In the late Seventies Lindsey helped popularize the modern, Fundamentalist Christian interpretation of the Book of Revelations and the Apocalypse with his book “The Late Great Planet Earth”. This is the grand-daddy of the violent, homophobic, racist apocalyptic fiction of Lim LaHaye’s “Left Behind” books and scores of other works attempting to interpret The Book of Revelations for our times.
Hal Lindsey is largely responsible for the modern Fundamentalist Christian view of the Anti-Christ as a world leader who can unite the world and bring a temporary peace before the End of the World. The very same imagery and sophistry that McCain’s The One ad plays up.
So I sincerely doubt it is mere coincidence that the same day McCain’s Campaign puts out an ad with images of Barack Obama as a messianic figure Hal Lindsey writes:
Obama’s world tour provided a foretaste of the reception he can expect to receive.
He will probably also stand in some European capital, addressing the people of the world and telling them that he is the one that they have been waiting for. And he can expect as wildly enthusiastic a greeting as Obama got in Berlin.
The Bible calls that leader the Antichrist. And it seems apparent that the world is now ready to make his acquaintance…”
…
This will not be the last time that the right wing claims that Barack Obama is the Antichrist in order to hurt his chances of being elected. Which is quite odd, logically speaking, because if he really is the Antichrist, there’s nothing they can do to stop him from assuming his power, anyway.
If we can, let’s look at it from a purely prophetic point of view. As of yet, Obama has not created a peace treaty between Israel and its neighbors, has not built a statue of himself and claimed the title of God, has not forced all people on the earth to wear his insignia on their heads or their hands, and has not survived a wound to the head. These are all things that the Antichrist must do in order to fulfill the prophecy, and until he does any one of them, there is no biblical proof that this man is indeed the Beast.
Of course, if he does do these things, I will be the first person to warn people about him before I run for the hills. But until then, I’m not too worried.
The claims have been fueled by glowing media attention for Obama, and some bizarre photos that have come out depicting him as a messianic figure. Here are a few examples:
Creepy? Yes. Proof that he’s the spawn of Lucifer? No.
As a Christian, I find it troubling that so many people are lining up to claim that Obama is the Antichrist, when he has clearly and repeatedly spoken about his faith in Christ in public. Should we take him at his word? Perhaps not. Although I now intend to vote for him, I am not buying into the cult of personality that has arisen with his candidacy. Barack is a human being with flaws, and furthermore an amibitious politician, which means even more flaws. Would he be above claming to be a Christian when he’s not in order to gain credibility with Christian voters? Probably not. But it’s nothing that a million politicians who came before him haven’t done. Do I know what’s really in Obama’s heart? No. And neither do you. Only one knows what he truly believes and feels.
Until the day that Barack Obama proclaims himself God and forces us to worship him and wear his mark, please refrain from accusing him of such things.
P.S.
If it were true, how embarassing would it be for John Mccain if he couldn’t win an election against the Devil?
August 2, 2008 at 8:18 pm
No, he is not THE Anti-Christ, but seems to be one with a small “a.”
And he’s certainly an in-our-face preview of THE Anti-Christ, someone who hynoptizes the masses who seem to have jettisoned any reasoning for pure emotion.
As for your statement: “As a Christian, I find it troubling that so many people are lining up to claim that Obama is the Antichrist, when he has clearly and repeatedly spoken about his faith in Christ in public”?
He can talk from now until the cows come home and are having Havanas and mint juleps on the verandah, but that does not make him a Christian, as apparently the 20+ years at TUCC did not either. But, then, given the apparent gospel they preach, that’s understandable.
Nor does Obama speaking publicly indicate anything of how he’s put into action that faith he claims to have. The test is: Where’s the fruit from his tree? Unity? Harmony? Honesty? Love? What?
At best, he’s CINO–Christian in name only. But until he gets a revelation about lying, causing racial discord as he has and championing infanticide, among other things, a Christian he is not.
BTW: Calling one’s self a Christian and voting for Obama are incompatible.
In my opinion as a believer, for a Christian to suggest that he or she can call himself or herself a Christian and support Obama, that person really should reexamine whether they really have a genuine relationship with Jesus the Christ. Maybe they, like Obama, are not what they say they are?
For them to even entertain supporting Obama, they have to turn their backs on Jesus. That means, among other things, joining Obama’s lies to then support things such as infanticide, homosexual marriage and, generally, his character flaw of lying as he does. Creating racial disharmony with his insinuations and exaggerations, too. Or embracing his megalomania that it’s he and only he who counts. Or not being outraged about his derision of people who may “cling” to God when tough times arise.
And if he were a Christian, you’d think that sometime, a long time ago, when the news media started calling him messiah, anointed one, etc., IF he were a real Christian, he’d have had the love of Christ and humility to speak publicly and ask—demand—that they not compare him to the real Messiah?
Too, he’s on record even saying that all paths lead to God. Wrong answer if you’re a Christian.
To wit: In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times in April 2004, with Cathleen Falsani, he said: “I have a deep faith. I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.”
Again: “I believe there are many paths to the same place.” This is New Age multi-headed religion of the first order. It’s his gospel, not the Christ’s. It’s Obama being ashamed of the Gospels of Jesus and the Cross. It’s him being ignorant of what Jesus said and not accepting that, if he does understand.
He’s also said that he doesn’t believe there’s a hell or if there’s heaven. Again, wrong answer if you’re a Christian.
In that same newspaper interview, he said, “There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell.”
Fine. But, given his inability to state things clearly or declaratively when they matter, he never said that’s what he believed.
Further, he said, “I don’t presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. When I tuck in my daughters are night, and I feel like I’ve been a good father to them, as I see in them that I am transferring values that I got from my mother [NOTE: She was an atheist] and that they’re kind people and that they’re honest people, and that they’re curious people, that’s a little piece of heaven.”
Thus spake the Gospel of Obama. Kind and honest and curious are fine, terrific, but. There was nothing in his statement remotely connected to what a Christian would say about heaven.
As for not presuming what happens when he dies? He had the chance to say that as a Christian, “I believe I’ll spend eternity with the Lord, doing His bidding.” Whatever. He had the opportunity, but lacked the commitment and relationship with the real Messiah to say that.
In that same interview with Falsani, he said: “Part of the reason I think it’s always difficult for public figures to talk about this is that the nature of politics is that you want to have everybody like you and project the best possible traits onto you. Oftentimes, that’s by being as vague as possible, or appealing to the lowest common denominators. The more specific and detailed you are on issues as personal and fundamental as your faith, the more potentially dangerous it is.”
Indeed, he wants everyone–well, maybe not everyone–to like him.
BUt given how he’s blown his trumpet, declaring that he’s a “devout Christian,’ that’s ridiculous. Of course, he doesn’t want to offend anyone.
Well, news flash, buster: The Cross is offensive. It convicts. And it separates the lightness of heaven from the darkness and heaviness of hell.
Some verses from the New Testament come to mind regarding Obama and the cult he’s created or allowed to be created around him, including people who claim to be Christians:
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 8-9: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. . .
“Just as Jannes and Jambres [the Egyptian magicians] opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Beware of Obama. He is not a Christian. But he seeks to enroll those weaker Christians, denominational or not, evangelical or not, into his secularism.
What’s a stake is more than who’s the next president. As someone who calls himself or herself a Christian, surely you know that.
Obama’s secularized Christianity is one without stones, without the power of its namesake. Perfectly suited for Obama, as he now campaigns.
August 2, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Well that’s quite a mouthful, but you lost me at:
BTW: Calling one’s self a Christian and voting for Obama are incompatible.
I will not tolerate that kind of hateful slander. You are blocked.
CINO? As in a take on RINO? As in only a Republican can be a true believing Christian?
Right.
When you wake up from your Pat Robertson induced stupor I suggest you take another look at the book you like to quote from, because you won’t find anything resembling that kind of lie in the entirety of the Bible.
August 2, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Well, you proved my point. What I said was my opinion.
But you, regrettably, took that as slander.
Too bad.
August 3, 2008 at 2:08 am
Just one other thing: The Pat-Robertson-induced stupor is typical of liberals. They cannot fathom that anyone can discern anything without some indoctrination by someone else.
Funny how it is how they play that trump card.
And any time, here or in another forum, you’d like to discuss what’s in or not in the Bible, just let me know. You’ve got my e-mail.
August 3, 2008 at 8:24 am
Obama is WORSE than the anti-Christ; he’s the ultra-Liberal.
If that gets me blocked too, then fine.
CKA DOES make a valid point: Obama’s politics and the Christian religion are at odds in many places–notably condoning abortion, gay marriage, and forced socialism.
If you read Obama’s OWN WORDS, a thinking man would never believe Obama is a Christian. I don’t care that he’s not a Christian, except it’s a politically expedient lie.
And don’t BUY Newsweek because it’s now a liberal rag like the New York Times, but go to the library and read the issue about Obama’s “faith.” The editor says they will discover exactly what it is Obama believes. The articles disclosed NOTHING about what Obama believes. They never even asked about baptism, heaven and hell, faith or deeds, etc., etc. But it is easy to know when a person is covering up something by what they won’t answer. Obama is NOT a Christian. Now, your web site is blocked.
August 3, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Beverly- I don’t agree with every single one of Obama’s platforms. I am opposed to abortion and on the fence about gay marriage.
First of all, if you think Obama represents socialism, I suggest you read about socialist nations, because it’s pretty pretty far off from his platform.
Second of all, socialism wasn’t even invented until long after the new testament was printed.
And as for an ultra-liberal being worse than the Antichrist, well,
…
yeah.
August 4, 2008 at 2:50 am
Wow …
I’m not even sure that I want to step into the waters after these comments.
As an Evangelical who believes that there will be an Antichrist, I’d like to point out that Obama isn’t the guy. He’s just very liberal.
CKA, while I have a hard time understanding how a Christian could support Obama, I also know some good, solid Christians who do. BAIPA alone is enough to keep me from ever supporting Obama, there are Christians who note such things as his policies regarding war and peace, promoting peace and justice internationally, taking real steps against poverty, etc. as being what Christians should support. They have a point.
But to Tim’s question … The fact that there is a discussion of whether Obama is the Antichrist, frankly, proves conclusively that he’s not. The Big AC is not going to be a galvanizing figure who has massive numbers of people against him. To accuse Obama of being such is, simply, a sign of why the Religious Right needs to spend some serious time re-evaluating our relationship with the Republican Party and how its corrupted accurate Biblical scholarship over the past 30 years.
Just to correct Kos — Hal Lindsey was a Big Deal, but he’s not anymore. He’s a has-been whose game was up a long time ago, when people realized that he was being sensational for publicity. He still makes some appearances, but very few people take him as seriously as they once did.
Tim, I think that your response to Beverly was brilliant.
August 4, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Interesting theories… guess it would really depend on us actually reading the Bible to discover the answer. The Bible is the only authority of the identity of the players in the time of the end.
No where in the Bible does it say that there will be just one person that steps up against God. The book of Revelation makes it clear that there will be billions of mankind acting as anti-Christ’s in “the great day of God the Almighty,” Armageddon. That gives us our first clue as to who are (not “is”) the anti-Christ’s.
An anti-Christ is exactly what the term says: anyone opposed to Christ. The Bible through the apostle Paul also says that there are MANY anti-Christ’s.
A thorough study of the scriptures also shows that no government will be left standing, that all have had ample time to prove allegiance to God rather than the selfish desires of men. They have failed. Daniel 2:44 clearly states that all governments will be wiped out. No more United States, no more Great Britain, Japan, China, Israel. So why would God destroy all governments…?
Every government leader currently in power or coming into power is an anti-Christ. Their words and actions prove that, and have proven that, after hundreds if not thousands of years of oppression and destruction. They serve, and prefer, Satan and his materialistic and hedonistic ways far more then we could ever imagine. They will continue to promote Satan’s ideology until Jehovah himself steps in and says “Hold! Enough!”. And at that time the world will have to know who is really in charge.
August 4, 2008 at 8:23 pm
@Wickle- I was of course worried what kind of discussion that this topic would generate, and I thank you for contributing something meaningful. I hope there’s someone out there who disagrees with me but can do it without being offensive or twisting bible facts.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t have doubts about Obama, I just think if he isn’t the Antichrist, he’d certainly do much better than Mccain.
@pwramirez- I’ve heard that theory too and I think that it’s mostly true. The major power world leaders have all been pretty frightening for the last century at least. However, I think there are specific prophecies that only one man can really fulfill, rather than a group.
August 8, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Exactly how can one call himself a Christian when they believe in partial birth abortion? I’m not calling Obama the antichrist, I don’t know who the antichrist will be and quite frankly I do not believe God’s true followers will ever know. I do know that the Bible states it is better for one to tie a mill stone around their neck and jump in the sea, than it is to face the punishment for hurting one of his little ones. Obviously since I believe in chidren, both the born and unborn, my vote will not be going to Obama.
August 9, 2008 at 2:38 am
Madge- I pose you the same question. How can a Christian believe in the death penalty?
August 10, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Madge, late-term abortions count for less than 1/2 of 1% of all abortions in the US — there are only done in cases of extreme medical emergency — the fetus is irreparably damaged or the mother’s life is in danger. We’re talking .17% of abortions.
don’t paint the picture like they’re happening in every clinic in the US. Just 2 facilities in the entire country perform late term abortions — because they are so rare.
August 16, 2008 at 6:20 am
Barack clearly believes in New Age beliefs…(even a cartoonist like Jib-Jab can see this who probabaly ISNT a christian.) Barck is teaching a New Age version of Jesus in the guise of, faith,hope, and change, and would certainly qualify as a little ‘a’ antichrist if one believes in a literal fundamentalist Jesus….a literal Jesus who literally died and rose from the dead for your salvation. If one doesnt believe in a literal, like most Barack confessing christians…I quess then you would view this as purely a political smear.
August 31, 2008 at 1:05 am
Barack Obama is The Antichrist. His name calculates to 666 and his entrance on the world stage was ominously presaged by the appearance of The Great Comet of 2007. He is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophets of Israel. (see http://www.letthetrumpetsound.com)
Kenneth Alexa Randolf, Seattle, Washington
September 7, 2008 at 7:13 am
Obama lied about his religion. He was registered as a muslim and school. He has also lied about a lot of other things. One reason why he is suspected is because of the mayan calender, which says that the world will end in 2012, the end of Obama’s first term. I believe it will be the beginning of the tribulation or something.
September 8, 2008 at 7:13 am
Geez, Tim I don’t know how you handle this. I believe in freedom of speech and allow anyone to comment on my blog unless they use racist, hateful references. But my goodness, I can’t believe 15 people (more or less) took the time to tell you that Obama indeed was the antichrist. For all those bible-thumpers who responded to set you straight, they aren’t really christian students of the bible because the antichrist, according to that bible, will come from the middle east, not Hawaii, Kenya, or Chicago. So let’s put that one to rest right now.
And I thought I got some wacko’s on my site. Good luck.
September 12, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Go to http://obamaisantichrist.blogspot.com and cast your vote on question: Do you believe Obama is The Antichrist?
Kenneth Alex Randolf
September 23, 2008 at 12:53 am
What a joke! I have been saying for years that Bush fits the profile of the anti-Christ, and my fundamentalist friends have been deeply offended! Now they come up wiht this poppycock! Bush has their trust, and pretends to be Christian. He fits the profile to a tee!!
September 25, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Except Bush hasnt brought The Tribulation and Armageddon. That will come a short time after the next President, Barack Obama, is sworn into office on January 20th, 2009.
Kenneth Alex Randolf
October 3, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Who are we to say that Obama is not a Christian ? How do we know what this man believes in his heart ? And the world was going to end with Y2K wasnt it- all of the computers were going to crash…..
October 9, 2008 at 4:41 am
I seen 666 on obama’s head last night.Did any one else?
October 10, 2008 at 6:41 am
To All:
Prepare Yourself. The time of God’s Great Tribulation has started. The Antichrist is here NOW. He will take his seat of power and authority in 3 months. Armageddon–or what you may call World War III–will be unleashed a short time thereafter. Go to http://obamaisantichrist.blogspot.com and vote on whether you believe Obama is The Antichrist or not. Go to http://www.letthetrumpetsound.com and consider the validity of the method I use to calculate his number to 666.
Kenneth Alex Randolf, Seattle, Washington
October 11, 2008 at 10:56 pm
If we really do believe Obama is the antichrist, we should work as hard as we can to prevent his election, right?
Wrong.
Why, you ask? Because we would be going against God’s will by doing so.
Prophecies
Read the prophecies
Daniel
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Revelation
…and Jesus himself in the Gospels
Matthew 24
Mark 13
Luke 21
I was thinking about this topic just this morning; about the GOP-started e-mail talking about Obama as the anti-Christ
MY question being… what difference does it make, really, if he really is?
Before Jesus can come back, the anti-Christ must come – and “reign” for at least 7 years. He will not reveal his “true colors” until the middle of the 7 (3 1/2 years).
If it IS Obama, 3 1/2 years from his taking office would be the summer of 2012.
Google 2012 and see what you get.
If Christians (and yes, I am a Christian – AND a lifelong Democrat!) practice what we preach; if we REALLY long for – and pray for – Jesus to return, AND if we believe the prophets in the Bible are true…
…then, just as Judas had to betray Jesus to the Pharisees, so must the antichrist come before the final end can be!
If we’re really living in the end times – and as a student of the prophecies, I believe it’s more than a little possible we are – the best thing we can do now is to pray, simply…
God’s will be done
That was my fervent prayer before the election in 2004 – and I believe GW’s election to a second term, though not what I wanted, WAS what GOD wanted
It certainly helped pave the way for people to want to elect Obama in 2008!
So DO I believe he is the antichrist? I hope he isn’t – but I’m not going to say I KNOW he isn’t
I hope he is NOT, simply because I think almost everything he says and appears to stand up for is in agreement with the teachings of Christ
But even if he IS – before Jesus can come back, the antichrist must come
And if Obama IS the antichrist, we’ll know
…in just 3 1/2 years
October 18, 2008 at 3:52 am
Nostradamus has been credited with predicting numerous events in world history, from the Great Fire of London, the rise of Napoleon I of France, the French Revolution and Adolf Hitler, to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The professor told the Daily Squib that it is well known that some of the quatrains are open to interpretation however what he has translated from the previously unreleased manuscript will certainly “ruffle a few feathers”.
243
The great empire will be torn from limb,
The all-powerful one for more than four hundred years:
Great power given to the dark one from slaves come,
The Aryana will not be satisfied thereby.
Nostradamus’ previously unreleased quatrains are a heavily guarded secret and the scholars have broken with tradition to reveal a few tidbits in the Smithsonian’s monthly circular.
We leave it to our esteemed readers to make up their own minds. However, it seems that with the release of the new quatrains the race for the White House may have been already written about many centuries ago.
October 18, 2008 at 10:02 am
the bible said he will conquer within, wait until barack get in, NO thanks, macain all the way!!!!!!!!!!!
October 22, 2008 at 1:45 am
[...] most popular post that I have written on this blog is my article examining the possibility that Barack Obama is the Antichrist that was prophecied in the book of [...]
October 22, 2008 at 9:03 am
the antichrist will not come about until after the rapture, now unless we have all missed meeting Christ in the air i doubt Nobama is the antichrist
October 25, 2008 at 12:36 pm
As a Christian who studies prophecy, B O is NOT the anti-christ. According to the Bible, he comes out of the European Union and could be Syrian. However, Satan uses many devices and B O is one of them. Look at his associates, his philosophy, his apathy for proving his US citizenship status. If he were a US citizen he would provide the proof but truth is … he is a LIAR … just like Satan. He doesnt even mind being known as the Mesiah which, makes me want to vomit. He wishes … I’ll be waiving to him from heaven as he decends where he needs to be … in hell with the devils. He’s a sicko … he’s got a grandmother dying and it took him … what 3 days to fly to Hawaii, some so-called empathetic politician he is that makes his gravely ill grandmother wait on him to get around to seeing her. I pray she has a copy of his birth certificate that will reveal this impostor’s real nationality. Just like all evil … all liars, they are found out eventually and I will so look forward to this thing’s fall. Hitler fell, Nero fell … the Obamanation will fall. Just so you know, this IS the end times, not the end of the world, and soon the rapture will take the church away. I will bet I wont see ole Barry up there … once the church is gone … then what? All hell will break lose.
October 26, 2008 at 12:44 am
Ok, folks. I understand that I encouraged a number of interesting discussions with this post. But from this point on, is it alright if we keep the crazy down to say 7 on a scale of 10?
October 31, 2008 at 7:01 am
Whether you believe or not its going to happen sooner or later and in looking in revelations and into obama I believe it will be sooner. I would rather believe what god has said than any politician any day and obama is full of crap
November 2, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Is Obama the socialist supporting a culture of death?
Watch the replay on CNN.com of the Saddleback Forum.
It is shocking not by his answers but by his poor reasoning and avoidance in answering the questions!
I am one vote…but I WILL PRAY!
November 5, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I don’t believe Obama is the AC, but we are a step closer are we not? With all these “christians” (little c)embracing him and rejecting truth for lies I can now see how easy it will be for the mark to come into play.
America has sold her soul for a buck. She has rejected morals, character, the bible, the constitution… all sacrificed to Obama with the promise of a few bucks.
America will get what she deserves no doubt… perhaps she already has.