Obama the Anti-Christ?


Back during the heated days of the most recent presidential election, Barack Obama was accused of many things. These ranged from being a non-citizen (I guess being born in Hawaii makes you a foreigner), a closet Muslim, and most intriguing of all -- the anti-Christ. Having come of age while Hal Lindsey and his Late Great Planet Earth reigned supreme, back when apocalyptic-tinged songs rang out on our record players (yes, we still had record players in the 1970s), I'm familiar with the ever-changing complexion of the anti-Christ. Over the years the AC (for short) has been identified as the Pope, Hitler, FDR, among others. Now, in the minds of some, Barack Obama is the new Anti-Christ.

Why? Well, people oversees like him -- that has to a bad mark on him. For some reason Americans take pride in being hated by "foreigners." We consider this perspective a matter of jealousy. So, if Obama is popular then he must be a -- traitor? Or, a weakling?

He's promising to make life better for the majority of Americans -- affordable health care for instance! Although gay rights activists aren't excited about the progress so far, just promising to ease the burden of gays and lesbians in America makes him a pariah.

Matt Sutton, a historian of American religion and author of an excellent study of Aimee Semple McPherson, opines as to Obama's problem with apocalyptic-driven evangelicals. No matter how hard he tries to break through and communicate with a vast majority of evangelicals they spurn his advances as anti-Christian. Indeed, even though he's more apt to quote Jesus than did the evangelical favorite George W. Bush, his rhetoric seen as pseudo-Christian and a cover for his devious plans to remake America into a pluralistic sort of place.

Anyway, back to Matt's article in Religion Dispatches, he opines as to Obama's problem.

So what does this mean for the Obama administration? Nothing very promising. Despite the president’s desire to find common ground with evangelicals, he is unlikely to be able to penetrate the apocalyptic fears that have characterized the evangelical movement since the Great Depression.

Obama is caught in a classic catch-22. The Antichrist, the Bible explains, is going to masquerade as an angel of light. This means that the more Obama accomplishes as president and the more he improves America’s image abroad, the more suspicious evangelicals will become; they don’t want to be duped by the devil. Obama’s talk of more cooperation with other nations, the possibility of a national health care plan, his move to nationalize some private businesses, and his goal of expanding protection of the rights of gays and lesbians will drive evangelicals to one certain conclusion: the End of Days are upon us.


And what to do? Well, perhaps pray for the rapture so that we end up getting the kinds of reforms that will make life easier and more peaceful. Of course, as a pastor of a Christian Church, I'd rather not be "left behind"! A better solution, perhaps, is for Christians to rethink their view of God's future, recognizing that this "left behind" theology is less than true to the Scriptures and the Christian faith.

Comments

Gary said…
Lots of people quote Jesus; that doesn't mean they know him. Even some apostate "pastors" do.

I don't think obama is the anti-Christ. But, I'm convinced he isn't a Christian either.
Anonymous said…
Hi Gary,

This article is an odd coincidence, when Jimmy Carter first came out of the woodwork my mother, who is usually quite rational, was convinced he was the anti-Christ. I never heard her talk like that before or after.

I figured it was because he was a southerner (she was from Memphis), the Playboy interview confession (lust in his heat) etc. Anyway, here he is trashing his religion.

Now we have Asia freaking out over a 31/2 minute eclipse and now something earth size took a surprise hit on Jupiter. I’ll say a prayer tonight!

Anyway Bob, I’ll send a photo I took of an eclipse in Feb 1979 through a $30 Tasco telescope modified with an automotive exhaust pipe and an old camera. I used the “hat trick” to eliminate shutter bounce. Just in case you want to do a piece on the eclipse. I drove my shiny new 79 Chevette from Detroit to Manitoba for a 60 second eclipse. It was like -18F or something. I’d do it again.

David Mc
Robert Cornwall said…
David,

I remember that eclipse -- it got kind of dark for a bit in Eugene -- but to really see it you had to go way north. Love to see the picture!
Anonymous said…
Gary,

I just noted your "apostate" comment (yes, I had to look it up). I hope I didn't bait you into going against Carter too. I was just jesting.

David Mc
Anonymous said…
ooops misinformation-

6 minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point.

There will not be a longer eclipse than Wednesday's until 2132.
Anonymous said…
Well, anyway, I’m in the backyard staring at the stars (a good night with the new moon over China) and saying my promised prayer and a lone firefly visits. I realize all is well and wonder how many false alarms we get. David Mc

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Isaiah 60:19

• Of the sun and moon
Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 32:7,8; Joel 2:10,31; 3:15; Amos 8:9; Micah 3:6; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12,13; 8:12

Eden Alley
(Artist: Timbuk 3)

We were raised in Eden Alley
Where the music plays all night long
And children make love in the shadows
While the elders pray for kingdom come...
Anonymous said…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w72jJGUGYLo&feature=related
Anonymous said…
On his YouTube channel Hal Lindsey actually said Barack Obama was not the antichrist.
Anonymous said…
Pastor Bob,

I quit reading your article when I came across your remark in parentheses:(I guess being born in Hawaii makes you a foreigner).
It has not been legitimately demonstrated yet that Barry Soetero, aka Barrack Obama was born on American soil, as pre-requisited in the US Constitution. This remark could potentially jeopardize the integrity of your information sources.
laurent j.

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