Obama the Antichrist

21/08/2008 / USA

Who does he think he is? The Messiah? That's the message a recent McCain TV ad, which likens Obama to Charleton Heston's Moses, seems to project. Viewed over one million times on YouTube, the video finally landed on a CNN television report, intended to "de-bunk the rumour" but giving it de-facto international coverage in the process.

McCain's campaign aides have described the video as merely "poking fun at Obama's tendency to get carried away with audacious statements". In fact, its content eerily echoes the "question" that has been raised in a minority of right-wing Christian circles: is Obama the Antichrist?

Some claim they see clear similarities between the figure described in the book of Revelation - a charismatic, crowd-pleasing leader with an evil heart who rallies the world around a false message of peace - and the Democratic candidate. According to Eric Sapp, a Democratic consultant on faith issues, the video clip is largely inspired by the bestselling Christian fiction series Left Behind, which recounts the rise of a young and brilliant politician who, after portraying himself as a pacifist, leads the world into chaos and war.

It's unclear whether this McCain ad voluntarily refers to the myth of an Antichrist as Obama, or even whether such a campaign can affect the vote of Christian Americans. One thing is for sure: the controversy has created a buzz on the web, complete with marketing accessories - T-shirts, mugs, you name it - portraying the ‘satanic Democrat'.

Contributors

Brian Kirby

John McCain's video

Posted on Youtube by TwistTelly

"This type of video and rumour could eventually do some damage"

Brian Kirby is the Pastor of Emmanuel International Church, a moderate Evangelical congregation based in Rueil Malmaison, in the outskirts of Paris. Originally from North Carolina, he moved to France six years ago.

The Antichrist is a character from the Book of Revelations, the last chapter of the New Testament. Some believe that the events described in the book took place in a distant past, thousands of years B.C., but most Americans think that the book predicts the future, foretelling events that have yet to come.

Grossly put, the Antichrist is described as a key political figure, very charismatic, who rapidly rises to power. He promises peace and rallies the world around a common false religion, only to plunge it into war and chaos. This is a simplified version that interprets the complex imagery of the Bible, but it's the one that stands out in many Christians' imaginations. Americans also usually consider that the Antichrist will rise somewhere in the Middle East, although the Bible never explicitly says that the Antichrist is of Muslim descent.

In recent years there has been a concerted effort amongst Republicans to associate their party with Christianity, in particular with right-wing Christians. This has become true to such an extent that most people don't even believe that you can be an Evangelical Christian and vote Democrat, which is precisely my case.

Americans tend, much more than Europeans I think, to vote for a candidate based on their emotions, on how they feel about him, more than on what they think of his political ideas and of specific policies. So this type of video and rumor could eventually do some damage. Even if there were Evangelicals who were thinking of maybe voting Obama, any doubt on his Christianity would immediately change their minds.

I think that comparing Obama to the Antichrist is a gross exaggeration, a farce. It's like the people who insist on Obama's Muslim origins although he has been very open about his personal spiritual journey, his conversion to Christianity and his baptism. When I go back to North Carolina, I'm faced with people who tell me "I could never vote for a Muslim". It's dangerous rhetoric."

Brian Kirby

France
Pastor

Front cover of the first book of the best-selling series "Left Behind"

The T-shirt

Text that can be found on many anti-Obama memorabilia: T-shirts, mugs... here.

This time, Obama portrayed as a Marxist saint

Originally posted here.

Français

Comments

unregistered user no longer subscribing to France 24

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 24/08/2008 - 22:34.

This story was not of Brien Kirby's making. If you read the story, you would see that he is merely reporting on something that has already been done. He is merely letting us know that it exists and that it could make a difference in how people vote.

Unregistered user

how we vote

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 24/08/2008 - 23:56.

kirby is wrong about how americans vote, we tend to vote against someone rather then for someone. there is no emotion involved whatsoever.we know the politicians are all crooks and liars,pick out the biggest crook, and then vote against him. what we americans disagree about is who is the biggest crook. thats why our past two elections have been close, thats why this one will be close, you see the two parties are really the same,not a penny's worth of difference between them when it comes time to make a decision, and we get screwed in the end all the time, no matter who is in power.

Unregistered user

very true, once again we

Submitted by bill (not verified) on Mon, 25/08/2008 - 18:45.

very true, once again we must choose between the lesser of two evils. The greater evil i think is the one who has a lot of people falling at his feet hanging on his every word. But they give little if any critical thought to what this man is, who this man is. looking at his words and actions and voting record and those he associates with, indicate that he would bring about the end of America as a sovereign nation.it seems he is a socialist and seeks globalization, maybe he should be at the UN instead of trying to be the "leader" He speaks well but is an empty vessel, truth is not in Obummer moreso than McCain.

Unregistered user

So why don't you just choose

Submitted by Leo (not verified) on Tue, 26/08/2008 - 00:53.

So why don't you just choose someone who is not evil? If you don't trust any of your politicians, just don't choose them.

I've no interest in American politics, but keep an eye peeled as it obviously affects the rest of the world in some way. I see what you people write about your education system and it is somewhat amazing, really.

I'm from South Africa - a country you all probably have read about. Our poor people are, well, very poor most of them living in shanty towns. Electricity is hard to come by as are telephone lines or even computers. These people fail to get a proper education because of violence, because of continued poverty etc. Now why I am saying this is to paint a picture of contrast against that of the average American poor. True, no money means no money regardless of where you are. But in a country like America even some of the poor must be able to afford the Internet and use that as a source of education. And it's not entirely impossibly, because I did it (although not in America).

Perhaps the biggest problem facing us is not who our leaders will be, but what we will do for ourselves - our drive and inspiration through life. Can we think for ourselves? Can we think outside the box (hence the 'choose someone who is not evil' bit)? Could it be possible that we are rendered incapable of our own heightened(meaning education etc.) self-preservation through those benefits supplied to us that we have become... lame?

I don't think Obama is an Evil person. Nor McCain. The real champion, however, would be the one to encourage people to be free within themselves.

Unregistered user

Final warning

Submitted by Georgina (not verified) on Sat, 06/09/2008 - 00:56.

The beast is soon to be upon us. Im comfortable in the knowledge that ive booked my ticket for the rapture with my faith, have you?

I'd strongly suggest you begin attending mass agian and reading the bible or you may be left behind to deal with the beast and his demonic armies (muslims). You can see the tides of change if look hard enough, look at their economies (Dubai- the devils sparkling city for example). We have to wakr up.

We good people can only warn you so many times before you will be left to burn with the infidels.

Unregistered user