Is Obama the Antichrist?
Over the centuries, a number
of world leaders have been suspected of being the Antichrist, the coming
political and religious figure foretold in the Bible. They include Roman
Emperor Nero, Napoleon, and Adolf Hitler. More recently, U.S.
President Ronald Reagan, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, U.S. President Bill
Clinton, and even Pope Benedict XVI have been alleged to be the Antichrist.
Today, some people think that U.S. President Barack Obama may be the
Antichrist.
Does
the Bible give us any clues about the identity of the Antichrist? Yes, most
certainly.
Let’s
look at John 5:43 in which Jesus declared to unbelieving Jews of ancient Israel that as a
nation they did not receive Him as their Messiah, but prophesied that they will
receive another. How was this verse interpreted in the days of the early
church?
One
of the most acclaimed theologians and writers on Scriptural prophecy in the
second century was Irenaeus, student of Polycarp, a student of Apostle John, who wrote The Revelation. Irenaeus
interpreted John 5:43 in this manner:
“I have come in my Father’s name, and ye have not
received Me: when another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive,”
calling Antichrist “the other.”
In
other words, Irenaeus interpreted this verse to mean that Israel as a nation
rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but they will accept the Antichrist (“the other”) as
their messiah. Obviously, for Jews of modern Israel to accept the Antichrist
(initially, at least) as their messiah he will undoubtedly be of Jewish
descent.
Barack
Obama is Kenyan and of African descent. Historically, native Africans descended
from Noah’s son Ham, while Jacob and his Israeli offspring descended from
Noah’s son Shem (Genesis 9:18-11:27). Therefore, it is reasonably conclusive
that U.S. President Barack Obama is not the Antichrist.
To learn more about
how the early church interpreted the prophetic Scriptures, be sure to read my
book available on Amazon entitled Rediscovered
Early Church Premillennialism: Teachings of the Earliest Church Fathers on
Prophecy.
