But Then Again . . . You May Be the Antichrist.

Given the genuine angst that many Christians feel after the recent passage of Obamacare, a number of people have actually written or asked me whether or not I think Barack Obama might be the Antichrist.

Having written a book on the subject, I guess people feel like I might be able to confirm their suspicions.  Sorry, I cannot.  Barring some completely unforeseen prophetic development (and I mean really unforeseen!), Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. 

This worry is not limited to Bible prophecy devotees as, apparently, a number of Republicans who oppose the recent healthcare bill have had the same concerns (25% of Republicans fear that Obama might be the Antichrist).

Although someone made a facetious "Barack of Sin" cover for my book (the same person made one with me on the cover as well-so don't get too upset), the biblical evidence points us in a very different direction.

The only time the term "antichrist" is used in the Bible (in John's Epistles) it refers to heretics who deny that Jesus is God in the flesh (1 John 2:18-22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7). 

When Paul speaks of the "man of sin" he's referring to someone in the church ("the temple of God") who opposes God and proclaims himself to be God (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

In the Book of Revelation (chapter 13), the dragon (Satan), the beast (the Roman Empire) and the false prophet (the imperial cult) oppress the people of God, persecuting them and preventing them from buying and selling unless Christians deny Christ and confess the deity of the current Roman emperor.  This image is given us as a warning of those empires which will arise throughout the course of this age, bent on opposing the kingdom of Christ, only to be thwarted by the preaching of the gospel and the providence of God until the time of the end.

I set out the biblical data for this in my book--you can read about it here:  (My book on the doctrine of Antichrist)  

All of that is to say, "No, Barack Obama is not the Antichrist."  Look, I don't like the guy either.  I don't trust him as far as I can see him.  I fear he's a Marxist (in terms of his view of history and economics).  There can be no doubt whatsoever that he is a statist and has little regard for the unborn.  He's also a bare-knuckled Chicago hack politician.  But he was duly elected, and like it or not he is our president.  If we disagree with his policies, we have an appropriate remedy--the ballot box.

"Pin the tail on the Antichrist" has long been a Christian parlor game.  If you don't like someone and fear their power, it is easy to demonize them.  Throughout the history of the church, Christians have called their enemies (perceived and otherwise) "antichrists."

Barack Obama is not the Antichrist.  But Nancy Pelosi on the other hand . . .

Comments

[George]

I was going to make a comment on this, but I was laughing too hard to be able to type...

[Truspire]

We are two young Christian girls, just trying to bring practical applications from the bible. We want to encourage others to study the word and grow in faith. So take a look at our blog, and comment.
http://truspire.wordpress.com/
God bless

[Jeremy Weaver]

I think the investigation has been inconclusive as of yet, but I can certainly see the spirit of antichrist at work in Obama and Pelosi and Bush and Reagan...almost as much as the spirit of antichrist is at work in some of the people who sit in our congregations.

["lee n. field"]

"But Nancy Pelosi on the other hand . . ."

Hmm. Does the "man 'o sin" have to be, you know, a man?

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

Pastor Kim:

Great comments! And like George says above, funny.

[DB]

Obama not the Antichrist?.... just one more area where he doesn't measure up.

[pb]

Wait a minute...the antichrist uses Botox...?

[John Yeazel]

George and Lloyd,

That was worth a good laugh- the goof-balls start manifesting themselves when you start talking about the Anti-Christ. It never ceases to amaze me how such "normal" looking people can entertain such "off the wall" doctrinal ideas when you start talking eschatology. Thank God for good scriptural expositors who can cut through much of the non-sense. Amillenialism sure puts sanity back into eschatology.

[David Wayne]

I nearly had a Julia Louis-Dreyfus coffee spewing incident when I read the last line. Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee or anything else when I read that.

[Patrick Yamada]

Can a grandmother be the Antichrist? That certainly would be awfully sneaky of the Deceiver to use that trick! I think the current President isn't evil enough to be the Antichrist, but the Speaker of the House just may qualify. Let's see if she's named a leader in the church. [wink, wink]

[JW]

While I agree that Obama is more than likely not "THE" Antichrist, I feel that I must say that Obama was likely NOT "duly elected". He certainly is not MY President. He is a usurper. He is a tyrant. Just about everything he does is unconstitutional. So no, he is not my president; neither should he be the president of any Christian who understands the Constitution and the Word of God and who understands the correct application of Romans 13.

Finally, voing is a pretty weak remedy. Certainly, our founding fathers did not think it to be the only or best remedy. Certainly in our present situation, I doubt they would be out there platforming for everyone "to get out and vote". Antichrist or not, Obama is undoubtedly an evil, Marxist usurper with no regard for America or its Constitution.