CNN Inquires: "[IS] OBAMA THE ANTICHRIST?"

Posted by Damozel: Hey, what do you know?  McCain's ad, "The One,"  portraying Obama as Antichrist (see the ad here) seems to have worked!  In "debunking" the "rumor," CNN actually treated this as a serious question. (cf. The Raw Story)

That such a subject is even speculated about in any but the most backwards, unreconstructed segments of American society -- let alone on a 24-hour cable network -- is a testament (no pun intended) to the depths to which political debate has fallen. But there was the caption on CNN Friday in big bold letters: "OBAMA THE ANTICHRIST?"

Apparently a not-insignificant number of Americans, after viewing John McCain's Web ad The One, with its Messianic overtones -- come away thinking that Barack Obama has been sent from Hell to Earth to turn its citizens against God. For inspiration, some of these people seem to be drawing from the fictional Left Behind series, which posits a dystopian future where the Anti-Christ comes to Earth as a charismatic politician. (The Raw Story)

Chalk one up for McCain!  He did exactly what he wasn't---he assures us---setting out to do. 

Teh Nutroots covered  the initial ruckus surrounding "The One" here.  He wrote:

The Republicans protest that it is a "light-hearted ad" poking fun at "his audaciousness." 

Yeah, that sounds right.  The GOPpers are known for spending large sums to poke affectionate fun with Democratic rivals.  It happens all the time. (BN-Politics)

In the meantime:

Just so we're clear: Barack Obama is in fact not the Anti-Christ, sent here to feed on the souls of the innocent, resume Satan's reign over earth and bring about the apocalypse as foretold in Revelation.

Not. The. Anti-Christ. (The Raw Story) 

Um, they seem awfully sure....

The Left Behind series writers don't seem to think Obama necessarily qualifies.

"I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist," adds LaHaye, "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."

I mean....come on. Obama?  How about Vladimir Putin?  He's certainly being characterized as everything else but.  He's a lot closer geographically to "Nicolae Carpathia, a charming Romanian politician, who later reveals to be (sic) the long predicted Antichrist." (Wikipedia)  Oh, but....Carpathia is described as "charming."  Nope, can't be Putin.

Hey! What about Mikhail Saakashvili, the young, gorgeous, charming, charismatic politician who is currently president of Georgia and McCain's BFF?  True, Georgia's in Asia---and Romania, home of the fictional Carpathia, a fictional character who is by definition a character in a work of fiction, is in Europe hundreds of miles away, but "Misha's" got the looks, the charm, the passionate character... Though of course, the segment of the "base" that finds the Antichrist allegations terrifying are the same people who would have responded to McCain's "Today, we all Georgians" with "Hell, no. I'm from Tennessee." [or wherever] 

Or what about McCain?  Bush?

Just so we're clear, as The Raw Story puts it,  I do not believe either of them is the Antichrist either. 

Throughout my Bible Belt childhood, I've heard people propose (always wrongly) potential candidates for Antichrist----though this is the first time I've seen one candidate in a campaign for THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES make such an implication concerning the other candidate.

In fact, I'd like to see everyone, especially the McCain campaign, agree that any such allegations are nonsense.

David Neiwart at FDL says grimly, "It's all about scaring the GOP base."

The story that inspired the segment -- in which "Left Behind" authors Tim LaHaye and Dan Jenkins officially pronounced Obama NOT the Antichrist -- was actually a clever bit of politicking: Even though the verdict was negative, it gave the very question a veneer of legitimacy it does not deserve. It made the question seem like a serious theological problem -- one that could then be debated further -- rather than the scurrilous nonsense it really is.  (FDL)

Wonkette:

Everyone should thank CNN today for thoroughly debunking the “rumor” that Barack Obama is the Antichrist (seriously, this is somehow classified as a “rumor,” that Obama may have magical powers). The big headline, “OBAMA THE ANTICHRIST?” along with the subhed claiming that this is a real “debate” online and thousands of other images of ANTICHRIST ANTICHRIST EVIL SATAN were very necessary for the viewers watching said debunking. Raw Story has the video. Oh and let’s thank CNN for covering this same thing yesterday, too.

I don't know---I can see a way this could work to Obama's advantage.  Shouldn't true Christians look forward to the Antichrist?  After all, his appearance signals the return of Jesus, the Rapture, and the rest. 

EXHIBIT A:  At our sister blog, I Don't Like You Either, Anna Hosanna, a born against true believer---anticipating the return of Jesus--- asks her fellow Christians:

"If Obama Really is the Antichrist, Shouldn't We Vote for Him?"

Memeorandum has more buzz here.

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Comments

[Howard]

Jack Cafferty is a biased hack ... instead of being an objective journalist, he's consistently chosen to be in the tank for Obama. When McCain wins in November, Cafferty and the rest of the media cronies who have tried to cram Obama down our throats, will all be irrelevant.

[smiglath predavore -X#$+]

We on Xetwon, are all "right wing biased hacks" (but only when compared with Left wing socialist hacks) who realize that Obama is a RAVING MARXIST...

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/series8.aspx

[bluedog]

I like this: "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."... Who says Obama is American? Certainly not his (long form) birth certificate!

[Lord Buddah]

"And there shall stand up in his place one despised, and the kingly honour shall not be given him: and he shall come privately, and shall obtain the kingdom by fraud."

"And I saw one of his heads...wounded to death; and his fatal wound was healed: and all the world was in wonder over the beast."

And they worshiped Satan which gave the beast his power: and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to fight against him?"

"And he was gifted with a mouth that could speak great & convincing things and blasphemies; and he was empowered to continue forty-two months. (3 1/2 years)"

"And at the latter end of their rule, when the transgressors have reached their full measure, a king of bold countenance, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great, and he shall cause fearful destruction, and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people of the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning he shall destroy many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes; but, by no human hand, he shall be broken. The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it pertains to many days hence."

There are two factors here that mark the time of this fulfillment.

Notice that the angel says that it shall be "at the latter end of their rule," i.e., the rulers that would control the area of the country once dominated by Antiochus Epiphanes. It will be in the latter end of their rule. This suggests strongly the reappearance of the nation of Syria in history. It is very striking that a nation of Syria did not exist for centuries until 1944 when the French mandate over this area was dissolved and Syria once again appeared as a nation in the midst of the world. Its history as a modern nation dates only from 1944.

Second, we are told here that it would be a time "when the transgressors had reached their full measure." This suggests the final crisis of history when transgression, or, as it is described in other places, corruption and violence, lawlessness, is so widespread and so intense that, as Jesus said in Matthew 24, it would be once again like the days of Noah (Genesis 6:11-12). This was the characteristic mark of the days of Noah, widespread corruption and violence over the earth.

At that time (endtime) a very singular individual appears. According to the description here he has two outstanding personal characteristics.

First, he is bold in appearance; "fierce" is the way it is translated in some versions. He has a commanding presence, a very intense personality, with a strong, magnetic appeal to people, thus, bold in his countenance.

Second, he is highly knowledgeable; he has the ability to understand riddles. This does not mean he enjoys conundrums or that he is good at riddle games. This is really a word describing the enigmas of life, the mysteries of life. He is a skilled psychologist, if you like. He understands what makes people tick, why they behave the way they do, and how society is structured. Using this knowledge he is able to influence people powerfully.

There are two methods of his operation revealed to us here. We are told that "his power shall be great,...but not with his own power. We learn from this that he will exercise derived power, power not his own. He borrows it from another source. But it will be great power, and will result, we are told, in fearful and widespread destruction. Especially it will be aimed against "the people of the saints," those who honor and love God in that day."

So, who is it? Who will it be?