Debunking End Time Myths: A Source of Unnecessary Worry For Christians, Myth #1

Many Christians are literally in a state of panic and fear about what they think is being fulfilled in terms of prophecy in the world. This post will seek to address some of these fears and debunk those that are untrue. My purpose of doing this is not to promote some political agenda, but to present a true teaching of what the Bible really says.

Myth #1 President Obama is the AntiChrist

This is a very popular myth being circulated around the internet and on youtube, based upon someone's interpretation of Biblical prophecy. The book of Revelation speaks of a 'beast' with the number 666 which will prevent people from engaging in commericial activity unless they have the 'mark of the beast.' Some see the government take-over of major industries such as banking, the auto industry, and possibly health care as signs of this beastly power. So the question is this: Is President Obama the AntiChrist, or is it someone else? What does the Bible really say?

Revelation 13:1-4, NIV:

And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

I must say, as a child when I first read the above passage, it scared the hell out of me. I imagined end-time beasts and monsters attacking the earth, before Jesus returns. Now I am an adult, with over 19 years of Christian experience under my belt, I now have a more accurate interpretation of the passage, and boy, what I have found is probably even more scary, because it is so real!

Highly symbolic language is often used throughout the book of Revelation to convey a message to God's people, without 'tipping off' the adversaries of God's people. If one can decipher the covert message, then one can understand what message God is trying to convey to His saints. Deciphering this message is not as hard as many people think, but it requires discipline and patience, rejecting one's preconceived ideas, and approaching it with an open mind that is ready to listen to the wisdom of God's Spirit.

Let me first begin by deciphering what is meant by the word 'beast.' In Revelation 13, the AntiChrist is described as a 'beast.' In Revelation 4,5 & 6 the four angels that stand around the throne of God are also described as 'beasts.'

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4:6-8).

If the angels that surround God's throne are 'beasts' and the AntiChrist is a 'beast' then it follows that the AntiChrist is a spiritual being, or fallen angel. But wait! There is so much more to this. In Daniel 7 is recorded a vision by the prophet Daniel of four 'beasts' which arose out of the sea (vs. 2). According to the interpretation given to Daniel, the beasts represent kings/kingdoms upon the earth. "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth," and " thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth" (Daniel 7:17, 23). It should be noted that 'king' represents the office of the king, and not a particular king. Daniel was alive during the time of the Babylonian empire and at the beginning of the take over of Bablyon by the Medo-Persian empire. Both of these empires had several kings throughout their existence, so therefore the word 'king' does not refer to any specific king, but to the office of the king. So what we have now are prophecies in which 'beasts' represent fallen angels, the office of the kings, and kingdoms. It would seem then from Daniel 7, that the kingdoms represented in the prophecy, were under the control of demonic powers, through the office of the king.

To say that Obama is AntiChrist, is therefore to say that the office of the Presidency of the United States of America, is under the control of demonic forces. That would not only implicate Obama, but would also implicate any President that holds that office, for the control is not specific to a particular person, but only to whoever holds that office. I don't think the prophecy of either Daniel 7 or Revelation 13 is referring to America at all, and if it is not referring to America, then it does not apply! It is time to stop worrying about Obama being the AntiChrist.

Daniel 7 is referring to the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and Revelation 13 is referring to a worldwide religio-political system, which will be something new upon the earth (never existed before). Stay tuned for more as I next talk about the much talked about One World Government.