One would hope in vain that the reelection of Barack Obama would put to rest the foolishness of many of his opponents. Here is a megachurch pastor from Texas:
"I want you to hear me tonight, I am not saying that President Obama is the Antichrist, I am not saying that at all. One reason I know he's not the Antichrist is the Antichrist is going to have much higher poll numbers when he comes," said Jeffress.
"President Obama is not the Antichrist. But what I am saying is this: the course he is choosing to lead our nation is paving the way for the future reign of the Antichrist."
One question: Can we do anything to stop the Antichrist at this point? Should we try to stop him coming?
Given that the Antichrist is purportedly part of God's plan for the world (assuming purely for the sake of argument that the End Times believers are right), I cannot see why anyone who worships God would oppose the rise of the Antichrist to power.
After all, if the ascension of the Antichrist is part of God's plan, then to oppose the Antichrist is to set oneself in opposition to God's plan, and therefore in opposition to God himself. To oppose God is blasphemy, a finite sin which, it is asserted, puts one in danger of infinite punishment.
And if the premillenial dispensationalists are correct, the Rapture cannot occur before the Antichrist comes to power; so by attempting to block that from occurring, they struggle to prevent themselves from being translated bodily to Heaven without dying. Which would seem to be a very odd goal indeed.
Not to mention that if God is omnipotent, then opposing his plan is futile anyway.
Again, all purely for the sake of argument. I personally think the whole thing is hogwash.
Right JSB. Also, isn't one of the reasons for the staunch pro-Israel position of many evangelicals the need to see that nation reconstituted within its Biblical borders, a necessary step to the end times?
If God is real, then He doesn't need our help. So, of course, it is silly to give unconditional support to Israel to give God a hand. And it's equally silly to try to stop the rise of Antichrist. That being said, I fail too see where in those quotes does the pastor argues to stop the Antichrist?
BN, the Pastor suggests a reason for opposing Obama is that he's preparing the way for the Antichrist.
John,
Is he doing that to prevent the coming of the Antichrist? Or, does he do it to put Obama in a bad light? Why would one vote for someone that's "evil" ?
From the same article: "Jeffress would go on to say that "it is time for Christians to stand up and to push back against this evil that is overtaking our nation" and to do so via "the ballot box"
I still think that the overall point is well taken, there's a lot of foolishness out there. However, I'm not sure if your question and first comment here (JSB) are valid.
BN,
Seriously. Read the quote above in bold.
John,
I feel like I'm trolling, so I'll stop. His comments are out there. As much as I try to iron-man them, I think they're beyond hope. But if you want post-election foolishness , here's a much better one: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20121113/NEWS01/121113003/Post-election-petition-seeks-separate-Louisiana-from-U-S-?odyssey=nav|head
BN, sadly the group with which you identify contains a very large number of people who make silly arguments. Perhaps it's time you ask yourself how much you share with them.
John,
Sadly, you are very right. But, it's never been them that compel me to believe what I do. I can almost say I have my beliefs in spite of them. Like Ghandi said, I like your Christ, not your Christians. The hypocrisy, the self-serving attitudes and the arrogance of many is quite depressing. No surprise that Nietzsche said that God is dead. He was merely reporting what he was seeing and had the courage to yell: "the king is naked".
All of that being said, God is real, and that truth is unshakable to me. Sometimes I wish He wasn't. It'd make mike life easier. As far as the church, it's been hijacked by the political machine. The only way it can be rescued is to remember why it exists in the first place:
"The content of church proclamation is therefore not just anything and everything. The church's message to the world is not about the energy crisis, pollution, white or black power, detente, the Israeli-Arab conflict, ad infinitum. It is the very specific Word of God. The church is called to proclaim what God says and does. Unless it verbally articulates and communicates the revelation of God, the church has no distinctive right to be heard, to survive, or to even exist. Nor is the Christian minister anything and everything- a fund-raiser, marriage-counselor, pulpit orator, public relations specialist, ad infinitum. He is primarily the proclaimer of God's revealed Word. Unless he declares the revelation of God he has no unique vocational claim and standing." (Carl FH Henry)