Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | Reason : Wingnut News | print version

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Is Obama the Antichrist?

by Lisa Miller, Newsweek

Thanks to Caudimordax for the link.

Reposted from:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/169192

The winning lottery number in Illinois was 666, which, as everyone knows, is the sign of the Beast.

On Nov. 5, Todd Strandberg was at his desk, fielding E-mails from around the world. As the editor and founder of RaptureReady.com, his job is to track current events and link them to biblical prophecy in hopes of maintaining his status as "the eBay of prophecy," the best source online for predictions and calculations concerning the end of the world. Already Barack Obama had drawn the attention of apocalypse watchers after an anonymous e-mail circulated among conservative Christians in October implying that he was the Antichrist. Former "Saturday Night Live" ingénue Victoria Jackson fueled the fire when, according to news reports, she wrote on her Web site that Obama "bears traits that resemble the anti-Christ." Now Strandberg was receiving up-to-the-minute news from his constituents in Illinois. One of the winning lottery numbers in the president-elect's home state was 666— which, as everyone knows, is the sign of the Beast (also known as the Antichrist). "It is very eerie, and I take it for a sign as to who he really is," wrote one of Strandberg's correspondents.

Ever since Jesus Christ was crucified and, according to the Gospels, rose again in glory, his followers have been anticipating the end of history—the time when their Lord will return to earth and reign for a thousand years. The question has always been when. Most Christians don't worry about the end too much; it's an abstract concept, a theological puzzle for late-night pondering. A few, however, have always believed that it is coming—and soon. Millennialist movements, as they're called, gain prominence especially when the world grows chaotic, during wars and at the turn of every century. According to a 2006 study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, a third of white evangelicals believe the world will end in their lifetimes. These mostly conservative Christians believe a great battle is imminent. After years of tribulation—natural disasters, other cataclysms (such as the collapse of financial markets)—God's armies will vanquish armies led by the Antichrist himself. He will be a sweet-talking world leader who gathers governments and economies under his command to further his own evil agenda. In this world view, "the spread of secular progressive ideas is a prelude to the enslavement of mankind," explains Richard Landes, former director of the Center for Millennial Studies at Boston University.

No wonder, then, that Obama triggers such fear in the hearts of America's millennialist Christians. Mat Staver, dean of Liberty University's law school, says he does not believe Obama is the Antichrist, but he can see how others might. Obama's own use of religious rhetoric belies his liberal positions on abortion and traditional marriage, Staver says, positions that "religious conservatives believe will threaten their freedom." The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts: "They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared," Staver says.

Before Christ comes again, those who are saved will ascend to heaven, according to this end-times theology, in a huge, upward whoosh called the Rapture. Strandberg is so certain that the Rapture is coming, he's bought a number of Internet addresses in addition to RaptureReady: AntiAntichrist, Tribulationus and RaptureMe. In the event that RaptureReady crashes during the apocalypse, anyone who needs an update will, with a simple Google search, be able to get one. Strandberg says Obama probably isn't the Antichrist, but he's watching the president-elect carefully. On his Web site, he has something called the Rapture Index, a calculation based on signs and prophecy of the proximity of the end. According to Strandberg, any number over 160 means "fasten your seat belts." Obama's win pushed the index to 161.

Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #286744 by InfuriatedSciTeacher on November 19, 2008 at 10:13 am

erm... This is satirical right' woops... newsweek , it seems not then. These people are completely MENTAL.

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2. Comment #286746 by HandyGeek on November 19, 2008 at 10:17 am

Further ridicule is desperately needed.

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3. Comment #286747 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 10:19 am

It's unclear whether the writer is paraphrasing Staver or stating her own beliefs, but I'd like to know what that person's definition of "nuts" would be!

The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts

Other Comments by Caudimordax

4. Comment #286754 by ggab7768 on November 19, 2008 at 10:28 am

They're right. That's not nuts, it's batshit, danger to those around you, bar the doors, hide the children crazy.
I'm still working on my plan to burn the stupid as fuel.

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5. Comment #286760 by severalspeciesof on November 19, 2008 at 10:33 am

Caudimordax:

The writer is not stating her own beliefs, as Staver probably did say that. He is/was Dean of the Liberty University school and heads a very conservative religious ministry called Liberty Counsel. Staver doesn't believe those people are nuts, just wrong, because he himself probably believes in an Anti-Christ.

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6. Comment #286762 by Roger Stanyard on November 19, 2008 at 10:35 am

Rapture Ready = Poe's law in operation.

Makes Wooter look clever.

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7. Comment #286763 by alabasterocean on November 19, 2008 at 10:36 am

Excuse me! I surely hope Obama is the Antichrist - not in person of course, but in behavior and attitude. I was reading about him (Mr Antichrist) just last night after a documentary about Armageddon by The History Channel (it's quite informative):

http://freedocumentaries.net/medi/82/_The_Coming_of_Armageddon/

He seem to be the opposite of Jesus (anti-Jesus) and that really made me wounder were to sign in. Jesus, if you read the story, seems to me to be quite a fool and maybe a bit crazy. He seems to stand for everything I don't so the opposite might just be what I like to see. And it's about time someone went in to battle with the son Jesus and father God. To finish them of and make this a godless world for all to enjoy.

Praise the Antichrist-like

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8. Comment #286765 by DamnDirtyApe on November 19, 2008 at 10:39 am

That's just not even worthy of any kind of intelligent rebuttle.

I'm not even sure If I've just spelt rebuttle right. And I'm so not caring about the opinions of these loons, I'm not even going to google it to spellcheck.

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9. Comment #286766 by Sciros on November 19, 2008 at 10:40 am

On his Web site, he has something called the Rapture Index, a calculation based on signs and prophecy of the proximity of the end. According to Strandberg, any number over 160 means "fasten your seat belts." Obama's win pushed the index to 161.

This guy needs to be committed to a mental institution. Seriously.

Anyone who honestly believes that pretty soon now, God's armies will fight the Antichrist's armies and the world will end, is certifiable. I think there are orangutangs more intelligent than these people.

Speaking of other intelligent primates, DamnDirtyApe, it's spelled "rebuttal." And I agree, it makes no sense to actually *reply* to these lunatics. It does make sense to put them away. I find them a danger to others' physical being, given that some may well be inspired to help the whole Rapture deal along.

Isn't the new number of the beast 616 anyway? Plus "the beast" sounds cool, like a Batman villain.

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10. Comment #286767 by eh-theist on November 19, 2008 at 10:41 am

You must remember that definitions change with numbers.

If one person believes in a mythical being, they're deluded, if it is millions, we call it religion.

If one person believes something crazy, we institutionalize them, if many people share that crazy belief, they build their own institutions.

If one person thinks he's the anticrist, they're nuts. If many people believe he's the antichrist, he's the antichrist.

Truths are determined by the majority - I think that's one of the laws of science.

As Richard would say (he wouldn't say it, but it gives it credibility - and I say that only to point out the absurdity of the article), in a debate it is possible that the "truth" is somewhere in between the beliefs of the two people debating but it is also possible that one of them is outright wrong. It follows that MANY people could be wrong (or nuts).

Off topic - my in-laws couldn't come over for dinner on Tuesday because they had to go to a meeting to decide on a new insurer for their church.

(I wanted to ask why god was canceling their policy but my wife wouldn't allow it.)

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11. Comment #286771 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 10:48 am

10. Comment #286767 by eh-theist

Your in-laws aren't the only ones:

Monks Turn to Reflection With Monastery in Ruins

"LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday the monks met with their insurance agent....In the midst of all this destruction,” Brother Brown, 46, said Tuesday, “miracles happened all over the place.”

They needed some better miracles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/us/19fires.html?_r=1&ref=us

Other Comments by Caudimordax

12. Comment #286777 by severalspeciesof on November 19, 2008 at 10:52 am

Sciros (9. Comment #286766) pointed out:

Wouldn't "fasten your seat belts" actually be the very opposite thing to do if one believed in the rapture? I mean you would think that one would want a quick trip outta here if the rapture were imminent, and unfastening your seat belt could slow your rapture progress down...

Guess they really don't think too well... ;-)

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13. Comment #286780 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 10:56 am

SSO - It's always amazed me that the people who claim to be the surest of an afterlife are most afraid to die. My mother's instructions are to keep her alive, no matter what - stomach tubes, endless CPR, whatever it takes, whether she appears brain dead or not - and she's a devout (loony) catholic.

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14. Comment #286782 by Shaden on November 19, 2008 at 11:01 am

What I've never got is why do these people get all worked up about it? It's supposed to be prophesy, so it's whats supposed to happen.

"According to Strandberg, any number over 160 means 'fasten your seat belts.' Obama's win pushed the index to 161."

I looked at the index on the site:

2005 High 161
2006 High 163
2007 High 163
2008 High 170

Record High 182, 24 Sept 01

Doesn't look like it's all that uncommon that the end of the world happening in a given year. I guess being wrong every time in a row doesn't decrease the odds or validity of the index to Christians.

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15. Comment #286784 by root2squared on November 19, 2008 at 11:02 am

Nice submission Caudi!

This rapture website is a rich source of humor
http://www.raptureready.com/faq/rap23.html
http://www.raptureready.com/rap49.html

I think these rapture-ready nuts just need to play some video games so they can get their fantasy fix.

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16. Comment #286787 by Border Collie on November 19, 2008 at 11:04 am

How can one be something that doesn't exist?

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17. Comment #286791 by Roger Stanyard on November 19, 2008 at 11:06 am

Sciros says "This guy needs to be committed to a mental institution. Seriously."

Maybe, but the End Timers/Anti-Christ brigade is huge in the USA. There are an awful lot of nutters who believe this crapola. John Hagee, who McCain tried to get an endorsement from, is one of their "leaders". IIRC so is Pat Robertson and so was Jerry Falwell.

One of the biggest selling series of books ever are the End Time series by Tim LaHaye. IIRC 50 million copies have been sold, far, far more, I guess, than all of RD's books combined.

A lot of them supported Bush because they wanted a war in the Middle East to hasten end times. They are basically a death cult.

"Anyone who honestly believes that pretty soon now, God's armies will fight the Antichrist's armies and the world will end, is certifiable."

Well, they think the anti-Christ will emerge in the European Union. If they ever get into political office in the White House, the End Timers will undoubtedly consider pointing the nuclear missiles at the EU.

They probably account for 15-20% of the population of the USA.

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18. Comment #286793 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 11:08 am

Hi 2! "This rapture website is a rich source of humor."

You're not kidding! Just checked. I thought there was only supposed to be room for 144,000 "saved" in heaven? If I do what I'm told, can I bump somebody else?

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19. Comment #286798 by Cartomancer on November 19, 2008 at 11:12 am

666— which, as everyone knows, is the sign of the Beast (also known as the Antichrist).

Umm, actually it was probably supposed to be 616, according to the earliest papyrus copies of the Book of Revelations from Oxyrhynchus in Egypt...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_115

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20. Comment #286799 by Roger Stanyard on November 19, 2008 at 11:13 am

Caudimordax et al, why bother with the Rapture Ready web site? The best of the gems are posted daily on Fundies Say The Darndest Things.

The Rapture Readyites are also raging homophobes, cretinists and wingnuts.

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21. Comment #286801 by Sciros on November 19, 2008 at 11:15 am

Yep! thanks for affirming that Cartomancer ^_^ I was too lazy to doublecheck my facts.

But hey if one's gonna be ridiculously super wrong about something, they may as well go all the way and get EVERYTHING wrong even their own scripture.

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22. Comment #286802 by root2squared on November 19, 2008 at 11:15 am

Caudi

You don't want to go to heaven. It'll be much more fun in hell.

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23. Comment #286806 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 11:16 am

Agree - heaven for the climate, hell for the company. See you there?

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24. Comment #286810 by severalspeciesof on November 19, 2008 at 11:18 am

13. Comment #286780 by Caudimordax

SSO - It's always amazed me that the people who claim to be the surest of an afterlife are most afraid to die.

Ditto here...

It makes me wonder if most believers really and truly aren't believers, only wishful thinkers...

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25. Comment #286811 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 11:19 am

"Fundies Say The Darndest Things" - thanks for that!

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26. Comment #286814 by MedMonkey on November 19, 2008 at 11:20 am

Clinically, mental illness tends to be defined by societal norms ... if it's normal, whether it is hallucinations or hearing voices, in the culture of the patient and it's not causing the patient distress, then they're not crazy.

It's weird to think about, but I would call it more of a societal illness rather than a personal mental illness.

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27. Comment #286815 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 11:21 am

24. Comment #286810 by severalspeciesof

Especially since they're so convinced that they are more virtuous than everyone else. I don't think their arrogance would allow them to anticipate being sent to "the other place."

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28. Comment #286817 by severalspeciesof on November 19, 2008 at 11:22 am

Carto:

Umm, actually it was probably supposed to be 616, according to the earliest papyrus copies of the Book of Revelations from Oxyrhynchus in Egypt...

I've also heard that 615 and 667 are brothers of the beast...

*grabbing my coat, picking up Skylark...*

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29. Comment #286819 by root2squared on November 19, 2008 at 11:27 am

Yes, Caudi

I will see you in hell://richarddawkins.net

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30. Comment #286821 by scottishgeologist on November 19, 2008 at 11:29 am

All this reminds me of that Sam Harris quotation:

In the US, 22% of the population are CERTAIN that Jesus is coming back in the next 50 years, and another 22% think that it's likely. The good news of Christ's return, though, can only occur following desperately bad news. Mushroom clouds would be welcomed. "End time thinking," Harris said, "is fundamentally hostile to creating a sustainable future." Harris was particularly critical of religious moderates who give cover to the fundamentalists by not challenging them. The moderates say that all is justified because religion gives people meaning in their life

Nutters. But dangerous ones, not just some mad uncle in the west wing, but a highly influential group of nutters.

:-))
SG

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31. Comment #286823 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 11:30 am

2 - Did you do that?

Edit: Or is it a "mirror" site? ;-)

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32. Comment #286827 by Mike O'Risal on November 19, 2008 at 11:37 am

Uhhhhh, yeah.

I wrote a little something on this a few days ago. Did you know that 666 has been drawn in the Illinois lottery 5 times this year? That one of those times was July 5, 2008 — so by the same "logic," the USA must be the Antichrist, since that's the day after our Independence Day? Also, the numbers 779 were drawn in the Illinois lottery TWICE on the day after election day, the odds of which happening is statistically far less than 666 being drawn once?

More in Obama is the Antichrist, the Sky is Falling, and Bigfoot is Coming to Take Your Soul.

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33. Comment #286831 by sterge on November 19, 2008 at 11:52 am

"The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts"

Um, yes, yes, they are lol.

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34. Comment #286832 by root2squared on November 19, 2008 at 11:56 am

Caudi

"Or is it a "mirror" site? ;-) "

Hehe...now that is a real mirror.

You can view any page that way through this:
http://www.qbit.it/lab/bew.php

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35. Comment #286834 by DiveMedic on November 19, 2008 at 11:59 am

My wife's parents sent us an email speculating that Obama was the antichrist a few days after the election. It was SO full of offensive, quasi-racist jargon and other hateful garbage that it pushed my wife over the edge and gave her the fuel needed to get her to come out as an atheist to her parents.

....So I guess this absurd rhetoric DOES have some use :)

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36. Comment #286836 by tvictor on November 19, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Sounds like I'll have to buy my ticket to heaven for a few hundred bucks from a televangelist

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37. Comment #286840 by j.mills on November 19, 2008 at 12:15 pm

So, okay, them who hath understanding have reckoned the number of the beast, and they reckon it's 616. Now look:

Obama's win pushed the index to 161

Coincidence? YOU DECIDE!

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38. Comment #286847 by aquilacane on November 19, 2008 at 12:33 pm

I take it for a sign as to who he really is

Good for you Mr. Crazy. Didn't have to read far to see a small brain at work here. Will not read the rest. When the foundation is flawed the house has no value.

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39. Comment #286864 by mdowe on November 19, 2008 at 12:57 pm

As an atheist, I have to say I'm kind of sorry the rapture-thing just isn't going to happen. It would do wonders for the gene-pool. I imagine the average intelligence of North Americans would go up 25 points over night.

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40. Comment #286878 by prettygoodformonkeys on November 19, 2008 at 1:08 pm

the spread of secular progressive ideas is a prelude to the enslavement of mankind

Right. Translation:

"Verily I say unto you that when healthcare becomes almost universal, when persecution and bigotry are almost vanquished, when budgets are balanced and library cards are free, and when political decisions are based on evidence rather than by religious influence - when all of these Abominations are fully visited upon us, it is then that the Beast shall appear for the Tribulation."

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41. Comment #286881 by markg on November 19, 2008 at 1:10 pm

They've got this all wrong. Clearly George W. Bush is the Antichrist.

The Pick 3 lottery in Texas on June 3, 1999 (6/3/99) was 666:

http://www.txlottery.org/opencms/Games/Check_Your_Numbers_Results.jsp

Nine days later (6/12/99) George W. Bush announces he's running for President:

http://www.fairvote.org/e_news/pres_campaign_events_2000.htm

Now look at the dates (6/3/99) 6 plus 3=9, tack on the 99 which gives us 999 turn that over and you get 666. Similarly for(6/12/99) 12-6=6 plus the inverted 99 is 666.

Irrefutable logic if you ask me.

Sorry Cartomancer, I'm sticking with 666. Mostly because 616 wasn't a winning lottery number in Texas on any significant date.

edited

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42. Comment #286884 by Ascaphus on November 19, 2008 at 1:12 pm

161
616

That can't be a coincidence.

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43. Comment #286896 by The Hogfather on November 19, 2008 at 1:24 pm

More deluded nonsense from those Christian fanatics then!

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44. Comment #286897 by Caudimordax on November 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Library cards ARE free!

That's one...;-)

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45. Comment #286901 by Frankus1122 on November 19, 2008 at 1:34 pm

I know it is just a mood I am in at the moment but this makes me angry.
The only reason we bother with this is because of the number of people who get sucked into such nonsense.
The crazy thing is that because of the number of people who believe this stuff we have to pay attention. It would otherwise just be a few crazy people.

But as the Staver says:

"The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts: "They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared."

They are nuts. There is just a lot of nutty people out there.

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46. Comment #286903 by alabasterocean on November 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Seriously Jesus. If the Antichrist is your opposite doesn't he have straight and blond hair? In (one of) your biography's they say your hair was like wool and black.

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47. Comment #286909 by JernJane on November 19, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Google "the beast antichrist 666" and you'll have thousands of matches, most of them singling out a past pope, the current pope, the next pope, the first black pope, a President of the USA, Elvis, Nero, Muhammad, a powerful business man or a person of authority within the UN or EU.

It's ridiculous, but people want to believe it as it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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48. Comment #286918 by Quetzalcoatl on November 19, 2008 at 1:51 pm

They believe in the Rapture and the Antichrist. They spend all their time anticipating the End Of Days. They think they're so damn special that the world wil end in their lifetimes.

They may not be nuts, but they're nowhere near sane.

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49. Comment #286920 by Wosret on November 19, 2008 at 1:59 pm

When I first saw the title of this article, I thought it said "Is Obama the Architect?", so I was confused when I started reading.

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50. Comment #286923 by lol mahmood on November 19, 2008 at 2:04 pm

"the beast" sounds cool, like a Batman villain

Um....The Beast was a Batman villain; sometime in the early nineties or possibly late eighties. If I remember rightly he was a Russian super assassin.

I'll get me anorak...

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