August 27, 2009
(Revised March 25, AD2010)
(Revised December 26, AD2011)

Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?
Frank Allnutt

Only days after ObamaCare became law, almost a quarter of Republicans believe Democrat President Barack Hussein Obama "may be the Antichrist," according to a Harris Poll. More than that compared him to Hitler. As you might know—or can imagine—there are a multitude of web sites that deal with the speculation, and bloggers are in a frenzy.

Much of that sentiment is no doubt fueled by Bible prophecies about the coming Antichrist and Babylon, the Bible's symbolic name of the nation over which he will rule, among them:

He will rise to power over Babylon through a conspiracy.

He and his group of conspirators will exploit the wealth and treasures of national Babylon, with the intent of eventually controlling the wealth of the world

He will greatly alter the political, economic, social, and religious customs and laws of the nation of Babylon, as a stepping-stone to ruling an aspiring global empire the Bible calls Mystery Babylon the Great.

The Harris Poll also revealed that 67 percent of those interviewed believed Obama is a socialist. The Rev. Al Sharpton told Geraldo Rivera on Fox News, on March 22: "the American public overwhelmingly voted for socialism when they elected President Obama."

Some 57 percent in the Harris Poll believed Obama is a closet Muslim, though he maintains he is a "Christian." But compelling evidence suggests he may be a CINO (Christian In Name Only) who embraces a gospel that is not biblical:

Obama says he converted from Islam to "Christianity" almost two decades ago at Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago, through the ministry of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. Though Obama attended that church for nearly 20 years, he denies being a disciple of what some call Wright's Black Liberation Theology.

Obama told an audience that although he believes Christ died for his sins, those who reject that teaching can also be children of God. During a campaign stop March 27, 2008, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Obama told the audience that he believes he "can have everlasting life" because Jesus Christ died for his sins. But he then told a questioner that he believes Jews and Muslims who live moral lives are just as much "children of God" as he is.

Is Barack Obama the Antichrist? Those who ask the question have their suspicions. As with all persons of interest, the person and works of Barack Obama must be weighed against Bible prophecies of the Antichrist. ("You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16) and whether they are rooted in the "bad tree," [verse 17] which is Adam's Tree or the "good tree" [verse 18] which is Christ's Tree.)

Some Christians, myself included, conclude from Bible prophecy that the Antichrist will be an American (Babylonian) leader of ancient Roman Empire ancestry. There is no independent published evidence to indicate that about Obama, and much of his early life remains mysteriously hidden is sealed documents. The Bible also indicates that the numerical value of the Antichrist's name will total 666; I've yet to see a gematria calculation that does so with the name Barack Hussein Obama, or variations of it.

Some Bible expositors believe the Antichrist will be of Jewish ancestry, based on what perhaps is a prophecy of the Antichrist in Daniel, which states: "And he will show no regard for the gods [Hebrew elohim] of his fathers...." (Daniel 11:37a). The term elohim is plural and is used in the Old Testament in reference to a plurality of gods, real or not, as well as to the Bible's God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If the original meaning is God of the Bible, then the Antichrist's male ancestors, who believed in God, were Jewish and thus Antichrist is Jewish. However, the most reliable English translations use "gods" in the lower case, plural tense. The Jew-Antichrist theory also reasons that end-time Jews would only worship a Jew who claimed to be the Messiah. But there is a counter argument to that: Jesus was the real Jewish Messiah, but was rejected by most Jews in His day and to this day. Could such spiritual blind Jews not also be deceived by accepting the Antichrist who falsely claims to be a Jewish Messiah? At this time, I would say the Antichrist's ancestry is an open question.

Writers, such as Hal Lindsay, author of the 1970 mega best-seller, The Late Great Planet Earth, contend that the Antichrist will rise to power through a confederacy of ten European nations. More recently, in The Islamic Antichrist, author Joel Richardson perceives the Antichrist to be the same person as Islam’s Mahdi. However, biblical prophecy indicates the Antichrist will be a seventh king (over national Babylon) and go on to become an eighth king (over global Babylon). See Revelation 17:10, 11. Bible prophecies about Mystery Babylon are more characteristic of the United States of America than Europe (as a revived Rompan Empire) or an Islamic caliphate (connected to a revived city of Babylon in modern Iraq and its future empire which would surpass even America.

Should Christians be Antichrist-watchers?

I will cite two main reasons why Christians should be on the look-out for the Antichrist: 1. The Bible contains numerous prophecies to assist Christians in identifying the Antichrist; and 2. The Apostle Paul wrote: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day [of the Lord, including tribulation under Antichrist] should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).

A word of caution: Do not jump to unfounded conclusions. My own criteria as an Antichrist watcher is to approach evaluation and conclusion of the evidence in three steps:

1.  Is there sufficient evidence to consider the person to be a person of interest?

2.  Is there additional sufficient evidence to classify the person as a suspect?

3.  Is there indisputable and sufficient evidence to make a positive identification?

When it comes to "categorizing" Barack Obama, I would place him in the same category as Henry Kissinger: a person of interest.

Anyone who seeks to identify the Antichrist must broaden their perspective beyond initial suspicions to consider an abundance of vital biblical criteria. What are those criteria? I list them further on. But, before we get into that, it will be helpful to consider the biblical meanings of the term “antichrist.”

Why be an Antichrist watcher?

Those who do not believe in looking for the Antichrist are, for the most part, pre-tribulationalists who believe Christians on earth will be “raptured” or removed from earth and taken to heaven before the appearance of the Antichrist. Those who watch for the Antichrist, myself included, tend to believe the Church on earth will experience the reign of the Antichrist preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Regardless of your theological leanings on the issue, I urge you to read on because the Bible indicates that many antichrists—predecessors of the final Antichrist—are in the world today.

What’s in a name?

The name Antichrist (Greek antichristos) refers to a person who opposed Christ.

The word “Christ” is a technical Bible term translated from New Testament Greek into English. It literally means “anointed one” (of God). In the Old Testament the English translation of the Hebrew word for “anointed one” is Messiah. So, both Christ and Messiah have the same meaning; both refer to Jesus as the anointed one of God.

Jesus prophesied that there would appear many “false Christs” and “false prophets.” They will appear to show “great signs and wonders,” He said, “so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect [Christians]” (see Matthew 24:24). Today, we see many so-called Christian sects that erroneously teach that Jesus is not God and that He did not come to earth in the form of a man. The leaders of those sects fit the definition of "false Christs" and “false prophets” who are antichrists.

The Spirit of Antichrist

The word antichrist is found in the Bible only in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; and 2 John 7· It can refer to the spirit of antichrist which is in the world right now, to a class of people who are against Jesus Christ (I identify with a lower case "a" in antichrist), and to the end-time person of the Antichrist (who I distinguish from the others with an upper case "A" in Antichrist).

The Apostle John wrote: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that [A]ntichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).

Elsewhere, John wrote: “...This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (1 John 4:3).

The spirit of antichrist is in everyone who speaks against the Lord Jesus Christ. People who lie about Jesus have the spirit of antichrist. “Who is the liar,” asks John, “but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). Are there antichrists in the world today? How can we identify them? By the single criterium that they deny that Jesus is the Christ!

Many times we hear people speak about Jesus as being only a prophet or a teacher. Such people have the spirit of antichrist because they deny the incarnation of Jesus Christ: “And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist...” (1 John 4:3). Such people are dangerous deceivers: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 7).

While there are many antichrists in the world today, the Bible is clear that there will be one man in the end-times who will be the worst of all—the Antichrist.

The Antichrist is called by many names in Scripture. The Old Testament prophet Daniel saw him symbolically as a “little horn” in Daniel 7:8. In Daniel 8:23, he is described as an “insolent king.” He is seen as the “prince who is to come” in Daniel 9:26, 27. In verse 27, he also is described as the “one who makes desolate.” Jesus referred to the “abomination that causes desolation” in Matthew 24:15 in listing the major signs that will appear to alert believers that His Second Coming is near.

In Daniel 11:21, the Antichrist is called a “despicable person.” The prophet Zechariah had the Antichrist in view when he wrote about the “worthless shepherd”—a counterfeit of the Good Shepherd who is Jesus Christ (see Zechariah 11:16).

The New Testament prophets also refer to the Antichrist in symbolic and descriptive terms. Paul calls him the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). John pictured him as a “beast” in Revelation 13:1; 17:3; and 19:20.

The Person and Origin of Antichrist

Is Barack Obama the Antichrist? I urge you to read on and form your own conclusions.

The following “check-list” is a collection of statements that can be made about the Antichrist, based on the Bible verses indicated. (For expanded commentary on the Antichrist and end-time Bible prophecies, see my book After The Omen, which is a source for this article.) I suggest that you read through the following checklist of statements, then return and read the referenced verses in their biblical context.

___ 1. The Antichrist’s appearance will be the first major sign to Christians that God has started the countdown which will culminate at the end of the age in the personal return to earth of Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15).

___ 2. He will descend from the people of the ancient Roman Empire, which included much of what is modern Europe (Daniel 9:27).

___ 3. He will rise to world political prominence in an unconventional way through the government of the mightiest, most blessed Gentile nation in history (Revelation 13:1; 17:3; 9-13).

___ 4. His name, in the language of his name, will be calculated as a result of supernatural insight to total 666 (Revelation 13:18). His name may have changed from his birth name to a new name or unique title.

___ 5. He will be proud and arrogant (Daniel 8:11, 23; 11:36; Revelation 13:5).

___ 6. He will deal in secrecy whenever possible (Daniel 8:23).

___ 7. He will be skilled in ambiguous speech (Daniel 8:23).

___ 8. He will be a brilliant intellectual (Daniel 8:25).

___ 9. He will possess supernatural power (Daniel 8:24; Revelation 13:2; 17:8).

___ 10. He will be politically powerful (Daniel 8:24, 11:36; Revelation 6:2, 4; 13:2; 17:I3).

___ 11. He will rule the last in a succession of seven spiritually corrupt empires, each of which is identified with the immoral character of ancient Babylon (Daniel 8:8, 11; 1 Peter 5:13; Revelation 13:1-3; 17; 18).

___ 12. He will be the second manifestation of the spirit of Antichrist­—the first manifestation being in the person of Antiochus Epiphanes (Revelation 13:3; 17:8).

___ 13. He is typified by Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 8; 11).

___ 14. He will deceive many people with his empty words of peace (Daniel 9:27; 11:21; Matthew 24:4, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 6:2).

___ 15. He will be destroyed by Christ at His Second Coming (Daniel 7:11; 8:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 17:14; 19:20).

The Authority of Antichrist

___ 1. He will receive Satan's authority, power, and throne (Daniel 8:24; 11:38; Revelation 13:3).

___ 2. He will reign with Satanic power over the supernatural realm of the entire world (Revelation 13:7; 17:8).

___ 3. He will be allowed by God, as part of God’s plan for the world, to become a mighty political ruler (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8; Revelation 17:11, 13, 17).

___ 4. He will become "King" over Babylon the Great as the result of a conspiracy by a group of ten “kings” of commerce (Revelation 17:12, 13). Babylon the Great will be comprised of national Babylon, the seventh kingdom, and global Babylon, the eighth kingdom (Revelation 17:11).

___ 5. He will force three of the ten kings into supporting him in the conspiracy (Daniel 7:24).

Antichrist’s Reign Over Babylon

___ 1. He will seize total control over the nation of Babylon which, in its past, selected its leaders by conferring upon them the title of leader (Daniel 11:21).

___ 2. He will greatly alter the political, economic, social, and religious customs and laws of the nation of Babylon, as a stepping-stone to intended world ("sea") domination (Daniel 7:2. 4; 11:21-45; Revelation 13:17).

___ 3. He and his group of conspirators will exploit the wealth and treasures of national Babylon, with the intent of eventually controlling the wealth of the world (Daniel 11:24, 30-43: Revelation 13:16, 17).

___ 4. He and his group of conspirators, in their greed, will bring about the economic ruin of national Babylon (Revelation 17:16).

___ 5. He will declare himself to be God and rule as dictator over Babylon beginning the second half of the last seven years of the age—Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 12:10-12; Revelation 13:5).

___ 6. His reign will end when Jesus Christ returns at the end of Daniel’s 70th Week (Daniel 2:44: 7:9-14; Revelation 16:19; 17:14; 18).

Antichrist’s Quest for World Domination

___ 1. He will establish his Satan-given throne in "the tempe of God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

___ 2. He will lead his Middle Eastern forces in a triumph over a Russian invasion attempt (Daniel 11:40).

___ 3. He will repel an Egyptian invasion; then, with his own forces, invade and overthrow Egypt (Daniel 11:40, 43).

___ 4. He will besiege all of Palestine, overthrowing many countries, but excluding Jordan (Daniel 11:41).

___ 5. He will attract as allies the nations whose biblical names are Libya and Ethiopia (Daniel 11:43).

___ 6. He will gather the armies of Russia and the Orient at Armageddon to wage war against Jesus Christ at His Second Coming (Revelation 16:16).

Antichrist’s Antichristian Crusade

___ 1. He will be against Jesus Christ (Daniel 8:25; Revelation. 17:14).

___ 2. He will persecute and murder many Christians (Revelation 11:7; 13:7, 10, 15).

___ 3. He will blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:1-7).

___ 4. He will worship Satan and call himself God, and will require everyone to worship himself and bear his mark (Daniel 11:36-38; Revelation 13:3-8, 13-16).

___ 5. He will be supported in his political and religious exploits by the False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-17).

___ 6. The Antichrist, being a false Christ, will declare himself God and cause all to worship him (Revelation 13).

___ 7. His image will be set up in the temple of God, where he will proclaim himself to be God, and will require everyone to worship his image (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:14, 15). Not all Bible expositors agree on the definition of "temple of God." Some believe it will be a future third (rebuilt) Temple in Jerusalem, while others point to Paul's writings that the temple of God in the Church age refers to the hearts of Christians (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Ephesians 3:16, 17). In that view, Satan, through His lies and deceptions will occupy the minds, emotions, and will of fleshly souls in the divided hearts of Christians. While there are plans to build a third temple in Jerusalem, it does not exist today. Meanwhile, we can see that Satan, through his lies and deceptions, can be said to "dwell" in the fleshly souls of Christians. And non-Christians, to be sure. And the day is coming when Satan will give his worldly throne to his Antichrist (Revelation 13:3). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "[T]he god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving." And Jesus taught: "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to midlead, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24).

___ 8. He will attempt to kill everyone who does not worship his image (Revelation 13:15).

___ 9. He will muster together the armies of the world to Armageddon to battle against the returning Jesus Christ and His saints (Revelation 19).

___ 10. He will kill the last Christian destined by God to be martyred, thus consummating the end of the age and ushering in the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God (Revelation 6:9-11).

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©Copyright 2009-2011 Frank Allnutt. All rights reserved. Content herein may be quoted, subject to the "fair use" doctrine of U.S. Copyright Law.

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