The Dangers of Ignorance

If you ever wanted to read something that speaks to the absolute asinine ignorance of people, read this Time article about reaction to Mr. McCain's The One ad.

Let's dispense with the faux outrage. Every campaign makes attack ads and this is no exception. What's more, people have been mocking Mr. Obama as a secular messiah long before this. Back in February, when he was mopping the floor with Ms. Clinton, there were numerous snarky comments made by her supporters and rightys of his messianic following. Mr. Obama's tendency towards grandiose statements ("we are the one's we've been waiting for") and over the top statements by his supporters (he is a "Light-worker") haven't helped. But trying to read images of Antichrist into is just stupid and displays a great deal of theological ignorance on top. This is even more concerning because if people are ignorant of the real signs of the coming of Antichrist, they're much more likely to be deceived.

First, comparing things to the Left Behind books is not proper interpretation. Left Behind is a work of fiction based on one man's interpretation of Scripture regarding end time events. There are several interpretations that Mr. LeHaye makes that I and people much more learned than I disagree with. Believing that Mr. Obama is Antichrist because a scene looks like the cover of a fiction book is silly.

Second, is the seal metaphor. One fellow in the Time article noted that the briefly used Obama seal rising out of the Red Sea is like the Antichrist rising out of the sea with wings of an eagle. Incorrect. There are two creatures rising out of the sea with wings of an eagle out of the four in Dan. 7:4-8: the first is a lion with wings and the third is a leopard with four heads and wings. But neither of these is the Antichrist. All four beasts that rise represent kingdoms (interpretation is mixed on whether they are historic or modern) an not men specifically. In fact, the Antichrist is heavily implied as the little horn that pops out of one of the ten horns of the 4th beast (which does not have wings). Even in Revelation 13:1-3, where the beast representing the Antichrist is given a much more fleshed out appearance, it does not have wings.

Third, Mr. Obama's lineage precludes him from being Antichrist. Daniel 9:26 mentions that Antichrist will come from the people that destroyed the second Temple. This means that he will either be of Roman or Syrian heritage (Rome commanded the legions but the three legions that actually destroyed the Temple were all recruited from the province of Syria and the territory of Edom (covering modern Syria, Lebanon, southern Turkey, northern Iraq, and Jordan). Isaiah also refers to Antichrist as "the Assyrian." I don't know the lineage of Mr. Obama's mother but the inherited lineage in Biblical interpretation is through the father, and Mr. Obama's father is African, making him of Hamitic stock, completely excluded from the prophecy of Daniel.

Fourth, and this the one that irritates me to no end with this and any other Antichrist claims, Antichrist CANNOT be revealed until the restraining hand of God is withdrawn. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 states that the Man of Lawlessness (Antichrist) is being restrained through the power of the Holy Spirit and he will only be revealed when the Holy Spirit is withdrawn. Now, as the Holy Spirit dwells within the heart of any one who has been forgiven of their sins, this means that Antichrist cannot be revealed until those whom the Holy Spirit dwells within have been withdrawn, i.e. not until after the Rapture. Then, and only then can Antichrist be revealed.

I would also add that Antichrist is implied to come from humble origins so the idea of him being already established as President of a major world power also rubs against the grain of Scripture. I don't mean to get on a high horse about this, but hysterical shrieking about these type of things belittles their importance. Antichrist is literally the worst thing that will ever happen to the world and to either lightly accuse someone of making Antichrist allusions, backing it up with incorrect Scriptural backing is very, very dangerous. It is through ignorance first and foremost that people bring about their own destruction.