« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
Breaking News! Left Behind Authors Confirm Obama Is Not the Anti-Christ
Apparently, it's official. Barack Obama, presumptive Democratic nominee for President is not the Anti-Christ.
According to the authors of the Left Behind series of novels, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Obama is not Nicolae Carpathia "a young Romanian politician who eventually oversees a one-world government."
So Jenkins and LaHaye refute the premise set forth by John McCain's campaign ad "The One" that has generated a lot of buzz regarding the "Left Behind Series." Political commentators are comparing McCain's portrayal of competitor Barack Obama with the blockbuster apocalyptic series' depiction of the antichrist.
Apparently, "there is no basis for that."
"I've gotten a lot of questions the last few weeks asking if Obama is the antichrist," says novelist Jenkins. "I tell everyone that I don't think the antichrist will come out of politics, especially American politics."
"I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist," adds LaHaye, "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."
Whew... so who's the
So Obama is not masquerading as the secret Manchurian Muslim radical Christian atheist Jew. As far as we know...
Here's the real story...
See? I wasn't pulling your leg.







Comments (26)
Actually Jade, the exact quote is, "I don't think the antichrist will come out of politics." So, he's not the antichrist, as far as we know!
August 14, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why, no, no, no... there is no basis for thinking that... We can take them at their words...
August 14, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I found the series to be a wonderful read...The authors, 1 who is a Bible Scholar and the other that is a good storyteller, join forces to present a work of fiction that is based on the Book of Revelations.
If you are interested in a kind of fun way to understand what a lot of Christians believe about the end times, this is it.
That having been said, since the authors reject the notion that Obama is the anti-Christ, it may slow down the rhetoric a little... :-)
August 14, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Boy, you really are still idealistic. But, I hope you're right!
August 14, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I am, but I'm always lookin' for those silver linings, too!
August 14, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is nothing "fun" about christians' desire and belief about the end of times. Their glee at anticipating hell-fire for everyone who isn't sitting next to them on Sunday mornings is just plain sick.
They have no sense of personal morality -- just someone else telling them what is right and wrong, and at the same time condemning everyong else. Fun? It's just as much fun as pulling legs off of insects, or cutting fins off of sharks.
August 14, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an interesting view of Christians...
I don't think I've ever met one who felt glee at the idea of anyone going to hell. As I mentioned in another post discussing Christianity, sometimes Christians can be the worst ambassadors for Christ there are. I'm sad that you've come into contact w/ so many that are not good examples, and hope you are able to meet some that will be a blessing in your life. You may change your mind about lumping them all into the same category.
One of the interesting premises in this series of books is how surprised everyone is at who is "left behind."
August 15, 2008 1:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
That and the fact that it is a work of fiction based on a "literal" reading of the bible. I have read plenty of "what if" fiction that has secular forces wiping us out with a bioengineered virus.
Is Stephen King blaming the government for worldwide apocalypse somehow less "reprehensible" than whatever story is told in the Left Behind series?
As an agnostic, I would find the fear of Christianity funny if it wasn't so damaging to our national need for reconciliation of the masses, many of whom Believe.
August 15, 2008 9:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Frankly I wish the "left Behind" thingy was true and that it would happen tomorrow. All of us left would have a much more peaceful and pleasant world.
August 15, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, ya might wanna read the book before you wish for that!
August 16, 2008 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank goodness! I was getting SOOOOO worried there for a second.
So, we're NOT all gonna die the moment he's elected?
Well, he's got my vote now! ;D
August 14, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure why, but I'm always surprised when those who claim allegiance and servitude to an almighty god have the audacity to see themselves as god's all-knowing peer.
August 14, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't jump to conclusions. All we know is that Obama is not the anti-Christ.
That doesn't preclude him from being a secret Manchurian Muslim radical Christian atheist Jew (you left out fist-jabbing terrorist).
And while Obama may not be the anti-Christ, he could still be the anti-Christ's right-hand man.
August 14, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh dear... now I'm concerned... very concerned...
August 14, 2008 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
uh oh. Obama uses antichrist language? O.M.G!!!
Did God make it ok for LaHaye to know, for sure, that Obama is not the antichrist?
Maybe, this is a conspiracy by God and LaHaye to feed us to the Obama antichrist language.
Ruuuun!!!
August 15, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is hard for me to think of Oilbama as the Anti Christ. He did however vote for his good friend Dick Cheneys Big Oil Energy Bill so although Oilbama is a Racist Sexist empty suit he really is just an Antichrist wannabe. He does not have enough experience yet.
August 15, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oy.
August 15, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, now that raises an interesting question - just what kind of experience does an Anti-Christ need? When are you ready to take that 3 a.m. call from Satan?
August 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, now that raises an interesting question - just what kind of experience does an Anti-Christ need? When are you ready to take that 3 a.m. call from Satan?
August 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's not the anti-Christ?!? Well now he's lost a whole lot of his appeal for my demonic friends and I! Maybe he can be anti-some other nonentity? I could still vote for him if he were at least anti-Santa or anti-Easter bunny.
August 15, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
The authors' notion that a Romanian would become world ruler rather than an American is laughable. Yeah, a guy who talks like Dracula is gonna take over the world.
There's a good reason the antichrist was American in Rosemary's Baby and The Omen.
August 15, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the anti-Christ won't come out of politics then it must be...oh no...but yes...
BILL GATES!!!
I should have seen it with the total evil that was the psychotically buggy Windows operating system taking over the world until the final horror...VISTA!!!
In hindsight it seems so clear now.
August 15, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I could easily envision an antichrist person from the US. Look at the state of what our leaders have given us and it is not out of the question. Actually I don't think any of this has anything to do with a deity of any sort. There just happens to be a lot of very bad people claiming all manner of things in order to gain power and control over as many people and as much wealth as possible. The notion of a god and religion is just one mechanism used in that endeavor. This would not be possible were it not for the fact that people worldwide remain filled with superstition no different from what all of recorded history reveals.
August 15, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I always thought the anti-Christ would be a Republican and Dick Cheney sure had my vote for a long time. Then I remembered that the Book of Revelations was apocalyptic literature written in code to buck up 1st century Jews who were suffering under Roman dictatorship and that any message that was intended for them would have very little relevance to 21st century Christians.
Now I see that Dick Cheney is just a colassally selfish political manipulator who's the chief tool for the neoncon corporate rape and pillage of America. Who needs an anti-Christ when you've got ol' Dick in your pocket?
August 15, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to nominate this as the funniest statement EVER on this blog. Thanks for the big belly laugh, Schmedley!
August 16, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's comforting to know that we have people like lahaye keeping us on the straight and narrow minded path of righteousness. How would we manage otherwise?
And I was wondering if he was thinking of the Unitarians. Unitarianism came from Transylvannia which is now part of Romania.
August 15, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Post a Comment