Just, y’know, not good evidence.
Consider the following video, which has been going around the Internet, with over a million hits on YouTube between different versions.
Okay. So that kind of settles it.
NOT.
I don’t know who is behind the video, but whoever it is clearly has only the most rudimentary understanding of the things he’s talking about, and he makes mistakes left and right. (Put another way: He’s totally out of his depth.) This is made clear by the annotations that start popping up in the video (you can shut them off with the controller in the lower right hand corner) that, among other things, advertise an updated version of the video, in which he tries to eliminate some of the most blatant errors that critics have pointed out.
The new one doesn’t work any better. It’s just got a few of the worst mistakes cut out.
Like this one: The claim that Jesus spoke Aramaic, which is the most ancient form of Hebrew.
NOT.
While Jesus did speak Aramaic, Aramaic is not an ancient form of Hebrew. It’s a related language, but neither is an ancestor of the other.
What he’s done is the equivalent of saying that English is the most ancient form of Dutch.
It reveals how utterly devoid of basic competence in the biblical languages this person is.
His overall strategy then becomes clear: He knows that the New Testament is recorded in Greek, but he wants to get back behind that to Aramaic so he can jump (quickly!) back to Hebrew. This is where his real interest is: Talking about Hebrew, because he’s got access to a rudimentary Hebrew dictionary. He doesn’t really know or care about Aramaic. It’s just a way of getting quickly to the Hebrew dictionary he’s discovered.
And by the way, it is evident that this man has no training in biblical Hebrew or he never would have made the mistake of saying that Aramaic was a form of it. You can’t take a class (or even read a whole book) on biblical Hebrew without learning how the two languages are related, since they’re both used in the Old Testament. He’s just some guy (possibly a minister, possibly not) who has access to a Hebrew dictionary.
A particularly, old, problematic Hebrew dictionary.
In fact, what he really has is a copy of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. As its name suggests, it’s not really a dictionary; it’s a concordance—a book that allows you to look up where words occur in the Bible. For example, if you looked up “faith,” you’d find a list of all the verses in which the word “faith” occurs in the King James Bible.
Strong’s happened to assign numbers to the words, and it offers a numbered word list to give a basic idea of what the original Greek or Hebrew word meant.
The problem is that Strong’s definitions are (a) more than a hundred years old, (b) extremely brief and lacking in detail, and (c) very, very prone to misuse.
Whenever I hear anyone starting to use Strong’s numbers when making an argument, I cringe because I know that misuse of the original languages is almost certain to occur.
The problem is so common that the Wikipedia entry on Strong’s Concordance devotes two paragraphs to warning people not to misuse the numbers:
Strong’s Concordance is not a translation of the Bible nor is it intended as a translation tool. The use of Strong’s numbers is not a substitute for professional translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English by those with formal training in ancient languages and the literature of the cultures in which the Bible was written.
Since Strong’s Concordance identifies the original words in Hebrew and Greek, Strong’s Numbers are sometimes misinterpreted by those without adequate training to change the Bible from its accurate meaning simply by taking the words out of cultural context. The use of Strong’s numbers does not consider figures of speech, metaphors, idioms, common phrases, cultural references, references to historical events, or alternate meanings used by those of the time period to express their thoughts in their own language at the time. As such, professionals and amateurs alike must consult a number of contextual tools to reconstruct these cultural backgrounds.
I don’t know who wrote that in Wikipedia, but whoever it was, God bless him (or them)!
So let’s see how the video manages to botch things with Strong’s numbers.
First, it cites Hebrew words number 1299 and 1300, which Strong’s lists respectively as meaning “to lighten (lightning)—cast forth” and “lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing sword—bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.”
Okay, fine. Fair enough. But here is where not knowing what you’re doing comes in. It’s true that the Hebrew word(s) for lightning come from the root BRQ, but that is not where Barack Obama’s name comes from. It comes from a different root: BRK.
We don’t distinguish the sounds of K and Q in English very well, but in the Semitic languages, they do. K is pronounced towards the front or the middle of the mouth, while Q is pronounced toward the back of the mouth, on the soft palette. In other words, these are two different sounds in Hebrew and Aramaic, and you can’t count on a word derived from BRQ to have the same meaning as a word derived from BRK any more than you can count on the meaning of the word “cab” to have a meaning similar to the word “cap” (B and P being similar sounds that English speakers use and distinguish but that some, such as Arabic-speakers, don’t).
(There are also other variants on the K sound in these languages, but we won’t go into them for simplicity’s sake.)
So what is the real meaning of Barack Obama’s first name?
It has nothing to do with lightning. But if Mr. Video Maker hadn’t been so fascinated by Strong’s numbers 1299 and 1300, he might have looked up at 1288 which is the real source of the name: barak, which can mean a variety of things, but the relevant one is this: blessing. People see their children as blessings, and they want them to be blessed by God, and so variants on the root BRK have been used in Semitic and Semitic-influenced languages for thousands of years. Which is why lots of people from Bible days down to ours have had names based on this root, even in other languages than Hebrew.
EVEN THE PEOPLE AT BABYNAMES.COM HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT.
So much for the Barack = baraq business. President Obama’s first name has nothing to do with lightning, and a native speaker of Aramaic or Hebrew would have distinguished the two words as easily as we distinguish “cab” from “cap.”
We already have plenty of evidence that the vid is a load of hooey, but let’s keep going.
To get the word “Obama” into the picture, Mr. Video Maker seems to reason like this: Jesus said something about the devil falling light lightning from a high place, so let’s find somewhere in the Old Testament (so it’ll be in Hebrew) where the devil falls in connection with a high place.
He settles on Isaiah, which he says is the source of the Christian concept of Satan (???), and specifically on Isaiah 14.
Now the thing is, Isaiah 14 is not about the devil. Certainly not in the literal sense of the text. It involves a series of prophesies against neighboring kingdoms that have been persecuting Israel: the Babylonians, the Assyrians, and the Philistines—all of whom the text explicitly names, so we don’t have to be confused about it. The verses that Mr. Video Maker applies to the devil are, in fact, part of a taunt song directed toward the king of Babylon, telling him that although he is high and might now, he’s going to die and end up rotting, with all his pomp and glory coming to nothing.
Over time, Christians have lifted some of the imagery from this passage and applied it to the devil, but that is not what the text is literally talking about. It’s talking about the death of a Babylonian king.
So: More problems for Mr. Video’s thesis.
Now, it’s true that the word bamah can mean height or high place. It’s also a term referring to pagan shrines, which were built on elevated platforms (that’s the kind of high place the prophets often rail against). But it’s not the normal word for “heaven,” in Hebrew, which is shamayim. If you took Jesus statement that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Greek, ouranos) and you translated this back into Aramaic or Hebrew, the word you’d use for “heaven” would be shmaya (Aramaic) or shamayim (Hebrew). Bamah would not be the expected word.
So: Another problem.
Then there is the bizarre things that Mr. Video Maker does with the conjunction waw- (or vav-). This functions as the equivalent of the word “and,” and it is prefixed to words in Hebrew and Aramaic.
Video Guy tells us that this is often transliterated “U” or “O” by some scholars.
Uh . . . no. Not when it’s used as a conjunction. (The same letter can be used as an O in the middle of a word, when it’s functioning as a vowel, but not when it’s on the front of a word functioning as a conjunction.)
When it’s used as a conjunction, it’s pronounced “veh-” in modern Hebrew, and it’s pronounced “u-” (as in “tube”) in Aramaic (and Arabic).
So this is just wrong. waw as a conjunction is not pronounced O.
Mr. Video then strings it all together: baraq + o- + bamah and suggests that this would be used “in Hebrew poetry” to mean “lighting from heaven” or “lightning from the heights.”
GAH!
Okay: Here is something Mr. Video should understand just from his days in grammar school. Just from English. Conjunctions are words like “and,” “but,” and “or.” “From” is not a conjunction. It is a preposition.
PLEASE REVIEW THE RELEVANT EPISODES OF SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DISTINCTION: CONJUNCTION JUNCTION, BUSY PREPOSITIONS.
So in Hebrew and Aramaic, U- is a conjunction. It means “and,” not “from.”
What you want for “from” is min. “Lightning *from* heaven” would be something like baraq min ha-shamayim (Hebrew) or barqa min shmaya (Aramaic) or similar variants.
So things aren’t going well for this thesis.
But now let’s pull the rug out from under it entirely.
Consider the context. Read Luke 10, where the quotation in the video comes from. Jesus has sent out the Seventy-Two on an evangelization mission and when they come back . . .
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
So what is the context of “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”? Is it a prophecy referring to the 21st century? No! It’s a remark about the evangelization mission that the Seventy-Two have just completed!
The disciples went out, preached, worked miracles, and struck a blow against the kingdom of Satan. So Jesus congratulates them telling them that before their evangelistic effort, King Satan fell from his throne like lightning from the sky (which is where lighting falls from; “sky,” “heaven,” same word in all these languages).
He’s not prophesying the future. He’s congratulating them on the past and how effective they were by God’s grace.
So, Mr. Video Maker is just wrong on all kinds of fronts. There is no prophecy of the Antichrist here. His video is all bunkum.
What do you think?
Comments
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Excellent Jimmy! You’re the best!
So Jimmy! At last the mask is off! Now you’ve gone from open calls for the destruction of Israel to defenses of your hero and god, Barack Obama. As the Bible clearly says, if you don’t believe every criticism of Obama, no matter how ludicrous, you are 100% in favor of him and you probably even *worship* him.
And I oughta know! As a somebody who defended the Council of Nicaea from the claims of an apostate Catholic Mormon who happens to be regarded as useful on the “Obama is the source and summit of all evil in the universe” front, I have just today been informed that this makes me a “closet modernist” (cuz nothing says “modernism” like staunch defenses of Nicaea from Dan Brownified history). So heaven knows what your voice of sanity and moderation here will provoke from the folks who think that common sense and a modicum of accuracy can be dispensed with in the service of the culture wars.
Mark I think you need a vacation! ;)
Well Mr. Akin… it crushed me… but I know you are right… I saw the title and was hopeful… alas, I was wrong…
Good work, even if it isn’t what I wanted to hear!
Mr. Akin - praise to you. I saw the video and even with my (very) rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew recognized some of the mistakes. Truly, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.
I believe this is precisely what St. Peter is talking about when he tells us: “Know this, first of all, that there is no prophecy of Scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came of human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God” (2 Pt 1:20-21). Kabbala never led to true prophecy any more than any dabbling in the occult ever led to sainthood.
I have a question related to Isiah 14 - the Babylonian king is referred to as ‘morning star’ (v. 12) - isn’t that one of our names for Jesus?
one of the name for Jesus isn’t morning star, it is said He’s as bright as morning star there’s a difference
Well, the claim that Obama is THE Antichrist is obviously no more credible than the claim that he is Jimmy Hoffa. I’ll quibble with at least a couple of things in your analysis, though. First of all, who says Isaiah 14 can’t have more than one meaning? Such is often the case in books of prophecy. Typology, anyone? Secondly: sure, the Hebrews can/could distinguish between b-r-k and b-r-q, but they could even more easily distinguish between Baal Zebul and Baal Zebub. Blurring the distinction a little would be in character for Hebrew wordplay.
I’m afraid those quibbles don’t affect your main argument, though. Besides, I was told by a Baptist preacher 19 years ago that Saddam Hussein was the Antichrist.
Aw, darn it! Mr. Video Maker really “tickled my ears,” until I read what Jimmy had to say. Now I just feel silly!
Oh my gosh…Obama as the Anti-Christ! Who could have imagined?
And here I thought that he was the reincarnation of Donald Duck. Quack!
I’m no fan of his, but if people really think Obama is the Antichrist, then they owe an apology to emperor Nero.
I agree that it does not serve any good purpose when someone supposedly “cracks the code” to supposedly reveal secret knowledge. Keeping that in mind though, and the almost messianic hope many have put in Barack Obama:
CCC 676:
The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgement. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism.
...as could be said about many others throughout history besides Barack Obama of course. I think it could be argued that the Antichrist is in some sense already here and has been for some time.
Well…..
Barack Obama is not THE Antichrist but AN Antichrist like all the other Antichrist’s that have existed throughout the ages.
Interesting that the bible defines the Anti-Christ ‘the wone who denies that Christ is God’ (as we can read in John’s letters!).
First of all many confuse ‘The second beast of the Apocalypse’ with the ‘Anti-Christ’, second the bible does not say that there is only one anti-Christ.
There are many anti-Christs and they are those religious and political leaders that indeed denied that Christ is God (I need not put a list up, I am sure you can easily pick them out)
I do not know if Obama denies or not that Christ is God (he calls himself Christian after all)... but we can see his works and deed.
However I would not be rush to judge him. I am by no means an Obama fan, but we cannot simply point our finger and cry devil.
I think Obama is not that bad compared to all those who CONTINUOSLY bash and attack Christianity and try to prove that Christ was just a man or even not real.
Nah, but I personally believe he is a “forerunner” of the one who is yet to come (if the anti-christ is an actual person that is).
To be fair, he is the most evil, hateful politician of any party this country has ever seen. Not quite as bad as Hitler and Stalin, but sometimes I wonder how close.
I miss George Bush as president (no prize, but better than most).
I love posts like this. Very entertaining and informative. There are a lot of cooks out there, and some of them believe in Jesus.
IN TODAYS WORLD YOU WILL HEAR MANY THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE!!ONLY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE YOU TO BE IN HIM AND WITH HIM FOR ALL ETERNITY!
When ever we - you and I - intentionally disregard the will of Christ in our decisions and behavior towards ourselves and others, then the anti-christ is alive… within us.
Claiming the anti-christ is outside of us is self-deception.
Pete
I wonder how many have said any prayers for the soul of President Obama? Or have we written him off?
Holy Spirit, Living Truth! Breathe Your Life into the mind, heart and soul of our President, Barak Obama. Everything is possible with God! I desire it Lord. Hear my prayer. Blessed Mother Mary, Holy Saints, intercede on his behalf. Bring him to the house of the Father. I humbly hope and pray. Protect him and give him courage and strength to find his way to Christ and the Father. Amen.
Pete
Good job debunking that faulty assertion of Mr. Video. However, this man’s assertions are certainly useful for reflection, as Obama does resemble a sign of things to come; if not in his character, then in his actions as president (pro abortion laws, perpetuation of racism and judgemental stereotyping, nerve to place the sin of homosexuality on the level as the sacrament of marriage, et cetera). Barriers are broken down so change can occur. The AntiChrist when he does come will be in full power and have the support of the nations. Scary stuff.
It’s all very interesting—this person’s claim and your rebuttal, but what I find disheartening is that there is nothing about President Obama that suggests calling him the Antichrist is absurd. He has spoken no words, performed no actions that could not come from the mouth of the Antichrist.
Schoolhouse Rock!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
All Christians should be praying for their civil leaders. Every American Christian ought to pray for Obama. We’re told to do so in the Bible. http://chrysologus.blogspot.com
While I agree that this particular argument in this particular video doesn’t support Obama as the Anti-Christ, it doesn’t mean that he is not. Nor that Obama isn’t the forerunner of the anti-christ.
Allan, I am no expert on the anti-christ, but my understanding is that he will drive God out of society. He will fool the Christians into calling evil good. As Will stated so well in his post “pro abortion laws, perpetuation of racism and judgemental stereotyping, nerve to place the sin of homosexuality on the level as the sacrament of marriage, et cetera). Barriers are broken down so change can occur. The AntiChrist when he does come will be in full power and have the support of the nations.”
I would say that Obama is at the helm of an administration that drives Christian morality out of society, AND MAKES IT SEEM GOOD! I can certainly say that I would entertain the idea that Obama could be the anti-christ, or one of many anti-christs, or as Marty said “the forerunner of the anti-christ to come.”
I figure Rahm Emmanuel for the antichrist. He’s the personage behind the president. He coordinates what the presdint does, much like Karl Rove was the grand strategist for George Bush. Obama can’t function without his telepromopter, so someone’s writing it for him. Rahm Emmanuel is Jewish. Even the name Emmanuel means something akin to “christ”. Too bad Rahm doesn’t mean “anti”, then you’d have your answer. :-)
Clearly he wants to detroy the united states , but if he is the anty CHIST.
DO NO WORRY, JUST REMEMBER who made him
Paul
Clearly Obama, the president of the U.S., wants to destroy America? Have I stepped into the Tea Party forums by accident?
An additional problem with people using Strongs Concordance as their sole interpretive tool is that the numbers are linked to the ROOT words in Hebrew and Greek, and do not explain the various differences in meanngs for the same word used in different forms.
The passive or middle form of some words, for example, have a different meaning to their root word, leaving a Strongs ‘scholar’ confused about why so many English translations ‘ignore the Hebrew’. Certain words and combinations of words are grammatical constructions which, when translated, use different words in English but carry the same meaning.
Finally, although there are many such points we could make about Strongs, it fails to take into account that Hebrew words in particular often have a much larger semantic field than their English counterparts. In other words, a Hebrew word can mean a whole lot more things than an English word, and often does.
Peter
OK, just to inject some humor into the discussion…where in the world did the photo of Obama and Joe Biden come from? It’s hillarious! If the “anti-Christ” look is in Obama’s grin, I’d have to say the “3 Stooges” look is in Bidens!
(Forgive me, that was VERY unchristian of me! But, funny don’t you think?)
Politicians are small potatoes.
The more insidious and confusing spirit of anti-Christ is realized in consecrated religious leaders who…
1) sanction or allow behavior among the faithful that is contrary to the clear teaching of Jesus Christ and worse
2) promote or propogate such behavior as actually being the moral mandate of Jesus Christ.
This is the abomination of desolation, that sin will be declared virtue in the name of Jesus Christ.
Politicians defer to materialist secular humanism because they have no authority to speak in Christ’s name.
The real damage to the flock of Jesus Christ comes from the hand-picked (consecrated) Judases. The very speculative trajectory of this is that the ‘ultimate’ harm to the faithful - and by extension humanity - will come from the ‘ultimate’ Judas.
Divorce, contraception, homosexuality, and abortion are openly accepted, individually and collectively, in most mainline Protestant denominations as posing no hinderance or obstacle to one’s growth in the faith of Christ. Some denoms have altered their constitutions - i.e. it’s dogma. Divorce, contraception, homosexuality and abortion certainly have advocates within the Catholic Church, but at least it’s not dogma.
It’s telling that partial-birth abortion practitioner and advocate Dr. Tiller was murdered not at his clinic, but at his church! (God have mercy on his soul.) What Tiller’s example illustrates is the incredible degree of relativism or indifference that is accepted as legitimate Christianity in some denominations. It’s amazing to me that 1) he actually was a member a Christian community and 2) there actually was a Christian community that would have him as a parishioner. I wish to emphasize no desire to judge the eternal state of Dr. Tiller. I truly hope that through the infinite merit of his Son, Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice, God has mercy on his soul, and on all of us.
Now don’t get me wrong, a repentant sinner I would gladly share a pew with as I am one myself. In fact my parish is full of sinners. To my knowledge, and here is what differentiates my parish from Tiller’s, none of the sinners in my parish openly publicly advocate that their sin is, in truth, to viewed as acceptable Christian behavior or promoted as a basic human right.
Dr. Tiller’s religious congregation serves to illustrate the phenom that in America there is pandemic of ‘anything-goes’ Christianity, and in case of Tiller’s congregation I mean ANYTHING. And this points back to my opening statement about politicians.
When mere publicans allow vice, protect and promote it - this is scandalous.
When consecrated Christian leaders allow vice, protect and promote it - this is an abomination.
President Obama can give his opinion on many a religious topic, but he has no authority to declare anything true or untrue in the name of Jesus Christ.
Politicians beating up the Church is just oppression. There’s lots of contra-Christs, but the anti-Christ will be a total negation of the original true Christ, the ‘new’ son of God. I don’t believe atheism goes far enough. Evil will be proclaimed to be good, to be the actual will of God by the ‘new’ son of God.
Simeon said it well, “This Child is destined to be the rise and fall of many… a sign to be contradicted.”
pete
YOU KNOW, JUST PRAY ABOUT, DOES IT DO ANY GOOD TO TALK ABOUT IT?
“(Forgive me, that was VERY unchristian of me! But, funny don’t you think?)”
I find much of the hatred exhibited in these discussion forums by so-called Catholics to be rather unchristian, at least in my humble understanding of Christ’s example.
No, Obama is not the Antichrist. If he were, I would be most disappointed by the weight of the anticlimax.
The Christian Faith has such a long history of martyrdom that a wimp like Obama is well…not even a third rate Caligula. If he really tries, he might measure up to becoming the second coming of the Peanut Picker. I doubt he has what it takes to go even that far.
@ Biff,
I really don’t think saying the look on Biden’s face is humorous amounts to “hatred.”
Perhaps not. But the numerous other comments expressing disappointment that Obama might not be the antichrist, or hoping to find some other way to cling to the utterly ridiculous notion that he is, or firmly asserting that, even if he isn’t the antichrist (which he still might be! Hope Hope!) we can all agree that he is the most evil politician in American history, just short of Hitler and Stalin, is a pretty good indication, not only of hate, but of a sort of silly suburban cowardice that seems to have no real appreciation of what real martyrs who have suffered under *real* tyrants had gone through. It is an insult to the memory of millions of suffering Christians around the world and down through time to watch this absurd thread unspool and serious comparison be made between this timid and tepid politician and Hitler (!). It’s every bit as ridiculous as the Bushitler rhetoric of the Left. Get a grip, people.
Very insightful article on Obama as possible ‘antiChrist’ is here:
http://www.studiobrien.com/reflections/the-us-election-2008.html
I’m certainly no fan of Obama, but why the personal vitriol against him? Reality Check: he didn’t become President only by his vote; a majority of Americans actually elected him. Which should wake us up to the fact that this country’s world view appears to be somewhat to extremely left of center.
If Catholic Americans really held Catholic values and based their voting on them, our country would not be suffering this current moral decline. We all need to pray, read the Bible, and study the Catechism of the Catholic Church so we can live our Faith and nurture our families based on true Christian values. Otherwise, we’re spiraling downward and going the way of previous great civilizations. Aren’t we responsible for making moral choices in all life’s activities and behavior, even voting?
Prayer, Bible, CCC, and one more step: become informed on who your politicians are and what they stand for before voting.
For centuries, both the sacred and the secular worlds have debated the question of who the real Anti-Christ is (or will be).
The surest way of recognizing the characteristics that would qualify annyone as a valid candidate are: LIES and DECEPTIONS. Those two are straight from hell, and of Satanic origin. Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine. Decide for yourself, assisted by the wisdom of Holy Scripture.
“Which should wake us up to the fact that this country’s world view appears to be somewhat to extremely left of center.”
Bit of a reality check here: Obama ran on a pretty centrist platform, and he’s even shifted slightly further rightward in his actual governance.
Mark Shea, I mostly agree with you, but I think you swung the pendulum back a little too far. While he may be a timid and tepid politician, he’s certainly far from harmless. We won’t know this side of heaven the number and suffering of the unborn that he has promoted at home and abroad, and the further eroding of family and marriage that he promotes, intentionally or not. The unseen, secret, ignored or denied violence makes it even more insidious. But no, he’s certainly not a tyrant imposing his will against the populace either—he’s had a lot of help. He didn’t single-handedly elect himself President.
JohnE:
I quite agree he’s not harmless. He’s arguably the most powerful man on earth. And I realize people are speaking out of a deep sense of fear about the economy, the giganticism of government, the war, the growing hostility of our culture to the faith, etc. Obama has arrogated powers to himself (like the power to declare anyone on earth, citizen or foreigner, an enemy of the state and have them murdered without arrest, trial or evidence) which ought to scare the daylights out of Americans, but which curiously does not scare the very people who tend to play around with all the “Antichrist” nonsense—because they are enthusiasts for the War on Terror and thing such exercises of Executive Power keep them safe.
That why I find this weird. There are real dangers with this Administration. But many Catholics keep focusing on fantasy scenarios. The problem is not that Obama is about to declare himself the God of the Universe. It’s not that he’s just about to clap all Christians into concentration camps. It’s that he’s just another American politician who is slowly whittling away at the Constitution. He can’t be *both* an incompetent President *and* a World Spanning Monster of Evil bent on Global Domination. People need to take deep cleansing breaths and calm down.
I don’t like Mr. Obama more than any other Catholic-conservative, but calling him the Antichrist IS a bit harsh. Not only that, it makes normal people who just don’t like his policies look bad. So, thank you for this article, Mr. Akin. (Also, kudos for the School House Rock reference.)
@Mark P.: I’d argue that he COULD be a World Spanning Monster of Evil who’s just PRETENDING to be an incompetent president…if we were in a Frank E. Peretti book. :P Until I happen to see him acting in a demonic fashion, I’m more inclined to think of him as just Incompetent.
My problem is with declaring anybody an anti-Christ because it would have to rest on the fact that one has flawlessly interpreted and understood the book of Revelations. That claim is big red flag for me. When ever someone claims to have ‘decoded’ or ‘figured out’ the book of Revelations and its associated scriptures to the degree that they can now discern and pinpoint living individuals and contemporary countries referred to in the text, then it is time cover the ears, repeatedly jump up and down and say “loo loo loo loo looo…. I can’t heeeear yooooou. looo loo loo loo loo.”
Reread the First Letter of John (John 1), 2:18-23. There are (and were in the First Century, A.D.) many who deny that the Second Person of the Holy Trinity became flesh. By John’s definition, these are against Christ, hence antiChrists. Don’t expect a single person exactly fitting coded language from the Book of Revelation. We will deal, during our lifetimes, with many who articulate flat opposition to the doctrine of the Incarnation. Steel yourself for this. If the opportunity arises, give a logical defense of your belief. Given prayer, and a mild (not angry or attacking) explanation, your position may help convert someone.
TeaPot562
Well some of these comments make me afraid. If this is what people really think, then Jesus and his holy mother must be weeping in heaven to see what the people he came down on earth to save are now doing, some in his name. President Obama is just a man, and a clever and I think good man. Pray for him.
This sums up the argument for Obama’s obvious leftist sympathies: http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2010/06/obama-the-far-left-radical/
THANKS FOR THAT!!! I saw this a while back and was horrified. I love how Fundamentalists and Mormons believe God wears a giant American flag t-shirt and is obsessed with American culture, as though the rest of the world is just problematic. Good work! Though it probably was easy to refute such ignorance.
Patricia,
Your obliviousness concerns me - and Obama and his administration scare me. While I have no clue about a connection with him and the antichrist, I do know that his policies and actions, both now and as a senator, border on immoral and evil. Start with his profoundly pro-abortion, pro-partial birth abortion, anti- “born alive act” legislation, “Safe School czar, Kevin Jennings, etc, etc, etc, etc. THIS MAN HAS NO CONSCIENCE. HE IS NOT A GOOD MAN.
I also question his “cleverness” - I am much more inclined to believe that he is a puppet for a much more insidious movement that seeks to control mankind (George Soros, for example.)
One final thought: many will write me off as a “conspiracy kook,” a reactionary, a right-wing nut, or any other name that someone who only gets his news from the mainstream media feels is appropriate.
I am at least as sane, caring, and compassionate as any of you. (Neither am I uneducated - I have a BSN with 32 years nursing experience and a teaching degree, with 10 years as a high school science teacher.)
I think Barack Obama is the biggest mistake this country has ever made. One thing you got right - he, and this country, need our prayers, DESPERATELY!!!
***Obama has arrogated powers to himself (like the power to declare anyone on earth, citizen or foreigner, an enemy of the state and have them murdered without arrest, trial or evidence) which ought to scare the daylights out of Americans, but which curiously does not scare the very people who tend to play around with all the “Antichrist” nonsense—because they are enthusiasts for the War on Terror and thing such exercises of Executive Power keep them safe.***
Mark,
I have never heard of this. It DOES scare the daylights out of me. And, for exactly the opposite reason you mention. I don’t think Obama is an “enthusiast for the War on Terror.”
While you may not approve of the war, (I am guessing from your tone,) some (myself included) see its necessity. Good Catholics sit on both sides of the fence on this one. While war is always a failure of mankind, sometimes it is necessary. Yes, we all wish terrorists would “just be nice.” Hasn’t worked very well so far. The leader of any country has a moral obligation to protect innocent civilians. (I feel Bush lived up to his moral obligation in engaging in the War on Terror. I feel Obama is extremely dangerous loose cannon with this new power to condemn someone as an “enemy of the state.”
Okay, the video mentioned in article is wrong.
Here is video that is more to the mark.
Obama is no friend of Catholics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVN2MMuiedI
“I am much more inclined to believe that he is a puppet for a much more insidious movement that seeks to control mankind (George Soros, for example.)”
Conspiracy theorists and barking loons. Is Soros also behind the faked Apollo moon landing?
This snarky little article. This clip has been an internet hit because it resonates out there. I hope Jesus is, indeed, coming soon. If not in this generation, we’ve got ample reason to fear the consequences of half of America’s hastily wielding of their ballots for revenge against W. I hope we get America back from this Alinskyist brood of vipers before it’s too late.
Some of you guys are just insane.
Another wonderful article, Jimmy. Your unassailable logic and sly humor make for a very entertaining combination!
Well, I don’t think that Obama is the antichrist. However, the way he has been acting sure makes me think that I could be wrong. ;-)
Carmen,
I saw that you tube video a while back. It does have some points to ponder.
iF OBAMA IS CONSIDERED BY SOME AS “ANTICHRIST” THERE ARE OTHER THOUSANDS LIKE HIM. bUT AS GOOD CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD NOT JUMP INTO HASTY CONCLUSIONS. iT IS NOT GOOD TO CONDEMN OUR OPPONENTS. bETTER TO PRAY FOR gOD’S BLESSINGS ON THEM FOR WISDOM AND DISCERMENT
Yeah, that vid was horrible, I made the same points somewhere or other months and months ago. No way that guy ever graduated from a seminary.
As to the individual in question, he seemed to be running for antichrist, not president, and he seems to -want- to be the antichrist, but it is ore likely that is he anarthrous, as St. John described in his first encyclical.
Obama the anti-christ? Does that mean he will one day become the first black pope?
Too many people, for far too long have been trying to indentify the anti-Christ. More time and effort should be spent trying to know and follow Christ. That will go a whole lot farther toward healing our world than anything else.
Jimmy, Congratulations on a brilliant article totally debunking the “Antichrist” nonsense.
I am far less impressed by the blind hatred of President Obama from many of your so-called Christian readers. As a non-American (a Brit), but huge fan of the United States, myself and most of my family and friends see President Obama has a highly intelligent and articulate man, a man who dearly loves his family, his country, and his Christian faith, despite constantly being referred to by haters as a Muslim.
He inherited an economy that was in a complete shambles. He became President of the greatest country on earth, but one that had been seduced into a war (in Iraq) for reasons that, to put it mildly, were totally false and ridiculous. We were lied to by our leaders just as you were. As for him being a communist or dangerous socialist - these folks have got to be kidding! By that twisted logic the United Kingdom should be your sworn enemy because, believe me, the UK is far more socialist than President Obama could ever be.
It is also sickening to hear how his critics now blame him for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, or rather, blame him for not having some magic fix for the problem. This completely ignores the fact that in 2004, during the Bush Administration, the Minerals Management Services (MMS) granted “categorical exclusion” from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) specifically to the Deepwater Horizon and other projects knowing that they involved extremely deep water mining using new technology that was untried and untested. How strange that the media never seem to mention when permission was initially given to the Deepwater Horizon project and what rules were put in place at that time to protect the environment. I constantly read the propaganda about President Obama being somehow involved with shady figures in Chicago, but I note that no-one seems to connect him in any way shape or form with “Big Oil”! Maybe not this President – but the cap might just fit another one.
President Obama was elected President of the United States of America because the majority of the electorate voted for him. We may not all agree with some of his positions, and I certainly disagreed with some of the actions of President Bush, but I for one, will always respect the President of the United States, whether it is this one or past Presidents. As ‘Patricia’ so aptly and beautifully put it, we should pray for President Obama, and for whoever holds that office now and in the future. Mmmm isn’t that what we Christians are supposed to do?
Did I miss something? I thought that Bill Clinton was the antichrist, and Hilary the “woman who rides the beast”.
So because he’s out of office, he’s no longer it? What about Hilary?
Dear 67,
Nice try to disguise your fawning note over our mysterious President, aka the Man Who Knew Much Too Little, but there is a vast difference between an informed group of voters and the 54% of the Obama voters who were largely conned by the highly biased mainstream media into voting for an inexperienced, poorly performing Senator from Illinois, a state rolling in graft, corruption and bankruptcy. As for Great Britain, everyday seems to move it closer to the prophetic words of Huxley, Orwell, Tolkien and Wells. We just have to figure out is your society will be ruled by Morlocks or Orcs in this decade or next.
And if the “highly intelligent man” you so obsequiously gush over, will try to impose Orcian rule here presently as well.
Please give my regards to David Axelrod when you see him in the hall next time.
Janek
NB We should pray for all people even President Obama and even you, Number 67
Well-spoken post by 67. There’s much collective amnesia about recent history among those who’d rather spread hate than work together to realize the promise of this great nation.
Well spoken post by Janek (and I LOVED the Lord of the Rings analogy!)
67, you said “I am far less impressed by the blind hatred of President Obama from many of your so-called Christian readers.”
Does that hold true for all Presidents? What about the blind hatred of President Bush? Of the 5 major networks here is the U.S., 4 of them derided, ridiculed, and spread anti-Bush propaganda for more than 4 years.
Wasn’t that “blind hatred” of Bush I detected in your post?
I think Obama really fits the charater traits for the Antichrist.
As a Christian, I’m scared that he is for abortions and pushing the Gay agenda. He seems to praise the Muslims and anti-Christian views/policies of Europe. There are American children signing songs about Obama and statues being made of him. He has been called Christ-like and has almost a blind following. I will pray each day but not for Obama but for America and all our children. I will pray that Obama is not the Anti-Christ and just another sick liberal, for if he is the Anti-Christ than the end is near!
@Rich:
“He seems to praise the Muslims and anti-Christian views/policies of Europe.”
Rich seems to be kind of an idiot.
Kcpunky seems to be one of those Intolerant Liberals who name call. I guess next you’ll tell me I’m a racist or a Redneck, who clings to my Bible and guns. Am I an idiot because I love Jesus and believe in the Bible? Am I and idiot because I see the destruction of the family and Christian values all around me?
Funny that the only people that can express their opionions are those who embrass the Gay agenda, Global Warming or Obama and his libs. Just don’t talk about God, marriage or say that you question Global Warming!
On a Christian Website, I expected more than a comment like ” Rich seems to be kind of a idiot.
By the way, God Bless you.
Yes, Rich…EXACTLEY!
It’s just like the pro-aborts who scream for a “woman’s right to choose.” Then, of course, if she chooses LIFE, then she’s the enemy. (Look at Pam Tebow!)
I’d have to say, if you are a target for the liberals, then you must be doing something right!
Government-Approved Illegals !
Speaking of illegals, the government hasn’t built the fence high enough to keep out the un-American criminals who want to take away our freedoms.
Yes, the government hasn’t built the White House fence high enough to keep out the un-American criminals who somehow got into the White House and who are now working hard to take away the religious, social, and economic freedoms of true American patriots!
Here are two slogans that Obama would rather not think about: “Unborn babies should have the right to keep and bear arms - and legs and ears and eyes, etc.!” and “Unborn babies should have the same right to be born alive that abortionists had!”
If Obama should ever happen to Google “Dangerous Radicals of the Religious Right,” do you think he would feel guilty merely walking in the hallowed halls of that House where true Americans walked?
Is it safe to assume that Mecca Wafers are Obama’s favorite candy? And is barack-coli a vegetable or a disease?
(Neither Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi nor any other DemocRAT approved of this message! BTW, for more info on Obama in Washingdumb, Google “Obama Supports Public Depravity” and “Obama Avoids Bible Verses.”)
Yes, the government hasn’t built the White House fence high enough to keep out the un-American criminals who somehow got into the White House and who are now working hard to take away the religious, social, and economic freedoms of true American patriots!
True American patriots understand that, even when the party you happen to not like wins an election, the results of the election stand. In the words of John Wayne (an actual patriot and not a poseur who rejects democracy when it didn’t go his way), “I didn’t vote for him [Kennedy], but he’s my President and I hope he does a good job.” The notion that 52% of the American people are not “true American patriots” because they voted for the guy you don’t like is but one small part of the reason that such radicalized rubbish is going nowhere as a political strategy. Treating a valid and legal election as though it was a criminal military junta and not a perfectly normal function of the Constitution that “true American patriots” are supposed to defend and uphold, even when they don’t win is not likely to persuade average people that you really care about America. It sounds much more like the losers of the 1860 election who wanted to take their ball and go home because they didn’t like how things turned out. That strategy didn’t especially pay off for them, and it’s unlikely to be a winning one now. And I speak as somebody who wouldn’t vote for Obama in a thousand years.
Bottom line: don’t vaunt yourself as a “true American patriot”, excommunicate millions of your fellow citizens as “fake Americans”, spit on the results of a valid election, and then expect anybody to take you seriously as somebody who actually cares about the American Constitution. If you don’t like the results of an election, find a candidate who can win.
@Rich
“Am I an idiot because I love Jesus and believe in the Bible?”
No, you seem to be an idiot because you write stuff like “He seems to praise the Muslims and anti-Christian views/policies of Europe.”
There’s plenty of grounds for reasonable disagreement about Obama’s policies, but making up weird conspiracy theories and basing your convictions on “seems” rather than actually engaging with particular policies is at best laziness.
“Is it safe to assume that Mecca Wafers are Obama’s favorite candy? And is barack-coli a vegetable or a disease?”
Idiocy seems to be contagious. Some “Christian” that writer is!
Thanks for this, Mr. Akin. I enjoy your columns, and I admire the integrity and common sense displayed in them. Your articles are great. And they stir up discussion - obviously. :-)
No more beer for Mark P.S.
Anyone else notice how some people come here, name call (ie “Idiot”,) then turn around and say of someone else “Some “Christian” that writer is!”
kcpunky, you need to take a look in the mirror!
Who is the true Antichrist? Will he rise in 2012? http://www.nwowire.com/revelations.html
The antichrist is not Obama not many people look up to him the antichrist will be some one more powerful then obama it could be some one religious morelikely like a phrofet type some one that will do miracles and will do things just as Jesus did he will try to fool the people please read Revelations in your bibles
Your proof of President Obama being the antichrist does not float. President Obama may be alot of things but one thing he is not is the biblical antichrist. He just does not fit the criteria.
World renouwned psychic Sylvia Browne saids that she went into a deep trance with her spirit guide Francine and conversated with God. Sylvia saids that God told her that President Obama has decended from Jesus and is on earth to save the planet from hate and enviromentions destroystruction. I believe in Sylvia what she saids cause she is a real psychic and speaks truth and she predicks everything thats true.
And How Could Obama Be The Antichrist If The Antichrist comes after WW3 dumbfucks
Good work.
Jascher Koach!
funny. reminds me of growing up in the 80’s, so many of us thought Reagan was the Antichrist because his first middle and last name all had 6 letters each. LOL!
Thank you for this post. I never really believed Obama was the anti-christ, but I was just researching it because I was curious. What I ended up finding was a lot of people who were REACHING to make Obama fit the profile of the anti-christ, when he really doesn’t. Sure, he fits some prophecies about the anti-christ, but the ones he fits most politicians do! And I would hardly say he is “worshipped”. I feel like overall our country has the same mixed feelings and arguments about him as we do any president. He certainly hasn’t conquered “three kings”. The 666 number relation is also a stretch. I think you could take anyone’s name and make it somehow end up to 666 if you tried hard enough. And the zip code of Chicago? Please! I highly doubt the Bible is referring to English letters and numbers, or a zip code of a city in Illinois! Poor Obama. People need to lay off him. He is not the anti-christ, but I’m amazed at how many people are so ready for the anti-christ to get here! Thanks for your educated information here to contradict those people who so badly want Obama to be Satan!!!
Somehow you guys are not reading the Bible correctly, plus you don’t know all the dirt on obama that the prophetic websites have on him. He is planning on getting rid of the USA Constitution, and the law that states that marriage is between one man and woman, plus he supports the Muslims instead of Israel! Obama has also blasphemed the Name of Jesus by saying He is not God, he also has children singing songs of praise to him and a painting of him portrayed as Jesus Christ. HELLO does that not raise any major red flags here? Obama is also wanting to get Israel and the Palestinians to have a peace treaty with them. I know he is the Antichrist because the Holy Spirit is crying out within me that he is the man of lawlessness. This is it, people. We are going home soon.
OK!!! SO WHAT ABOUT “YES WE CAN” IN REVERSE??? & his blasphemous out of context speech about “WHICH VERSE IN THE BIBLE SHOULD WE RUN OUR SYSTEM ON?? Especially THE COMMENT ABOUT JESUS CHRIST’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT!!! ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN A NAME!!!!
Here is UNDENIABLE PROOF that Obama is the antichrist. His “Yes we can” song praises Satan with every word when played backwards (first video). These three videos also prove that Obama fits EVERY SINGLE Biblical description of the antichrist. Please help get this info out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQV3AN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5FbMu5ld3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx3VLtTZIwE
Here is UNDENIABLE PROOF that Obama is the antichrist. His “Yes we can” song praises Satan with every word when played backwards (first video). These three videos also prove that Obama fits EVERY SINGLE Biblical description of the antichrist. Please help get this info out there.
Here is UNDENIABLE PROOF that Obama is the antichrist. His “Yes we can” song praises Satan with EVERY LAST WORD when played backwards (first video). It speaks of the Mark of the beast, the oil spill (2 years before it happened), mocks God, and thanks Satan. Obama even refers to himself as Christ. These three videos also prove that Obama fits EVERY SINGLE Biblical description of the antichrist. Please help get this info out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQV3AN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5FbMu5ld3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx3VLtTZIwE
Attention everyone. This video should put to rest this debate on whether or not Obama is the antichrist. It contains never before seen information PROVING that Obama fits EVERY SINGLE Biblical description of the antichrist. He also admits it in his backwards “Yes we can” song. He admits causing the oil spill, he refers to himself as our “soul christ”, he talks about the mark of the beast, and World War 3. PLEASE help get this out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGaEaSMpRYM
Hey folks, May be the U.S. far much better off staying with Syria’s Assad?
Why all the confusion about ‘The Antichrist’? Antichrist is not any particular person, but anyone of a particular group of people. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is antichrist. Anti, means against, If you can’t look up this answer for yourself, check 1 John 2 : 22. This will tell you clearly who antichrist. Now it is up to you to decide whether you wish to believe GOD’s word, or not.
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