Daniel

Many Christian or interested media writers ( those not being forthright in their views) are writing with careful caution or satire about the current event, in order to get their point across. Respectful, some, to the fact that no one knows exactly how things will turn out, and no one knows better than the book of the bible, which must be the unique source for any analysis relating to the Christian faith.

'Well it looks like Daniel; must be the clouds in my eyes!'

Daniel is the Old Testament book of the bible that first mentions the apocalyptic events also mentioned in the bible in the New Testament. The prophet Daniel, Jesus and the apostles of Jesus do not contradict one another of course.

That song line 'Well it looks like Daniel'... seems to sum up the current media style in respect of the current events compared to his prophecies.

'Daniel my brother, you are older than me, do you still feel the pain, or the scars that won't heal? Your eyes have died, but you see more than I; Daniel you're a star, in the faith of the skies.'

'Oh God, it looks like Daniel. Must be the clouds in my eyes!'

A number of people feel that the words from the apostles about the 'antichrist' in the last days...

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

..refer to many 'antichrists', not just 'one'. Some people view our current politicians, the up and coming leaders of their recently declared 'New world order' as antichrist in essence, and so dispute that 'one' penultimate antichrist enforces the 'mark of the beast.' Others think world political leadership has nothing to do with it, and suggest that 'antichrists' tend specifically to be coercive religious and cult leaders, nothing more.

Some people believe that other 'antichrists' pale into insignificance beside the book of Revelation's comments on the penultimate 'one'.

The assertion that there is more than one antichrist is entirely reasonable:

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

This scripture seems often to be used in isolation as a a bit of cop out; an excuse not to bother watching the times and praying. At the heart of that is quite often a hope to think that an individual's little world might be unaffected by events, whatever these may be. 'Oh well, they're all a lot of antichrists aren't they? ' People often react in two different ways: a) forget the matter or b) make endless assumptions about every false leader. Neither is an appropriate reaction to scripture surely.

There is an important scripture here:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. - II Thessalonians 2:3-4

This does clearly suggest that there will be a 'son of perdition' , who attempts to exalt himself above all else. Many believe that this 'one' corresponds specifically to the images involved in the prophecies in the book of Revelation.

Notice that the apostles appear to call this penultimate false Messiah figure 'the son of perdition.' This naming appears in one other context, during Jesus' prayer to the Father, on the night before he was betrayed to be crucified. He prayed for all he called his own, past, present and future, and thanked the Father that "not one of them has been lost except the son of perdition, that the scriptures might be fulfilled." It is assumed that when using the 'son of perdition' expression he was referring to Judas who had been his disciple . It is interesting that this phrase also appears in Thessalonians in the context about the man who 'exalts himself...... shewing himself that he is God'.

The use of the expression 'son of perdition' tends to suggest that the definition 'the son of perdition' applies to a man with a rare anti-Christ political ambition in the 'last days'.

I can see why people go for the different points of view about the 'antichrist' issue, but I incline to think that the scriptures clearly suggest that there will be in the 'last days' one powerful figure who is the penultimate 'Antichrist' ( specified in the bible as the 'son of perdition') and that a number of 'antichrist' disposition will precede as well as accompany him. As previously outlined in the post 'The Top of the Mountain'.

This article here does not highlight the Thessalonians scripture. It is a well researched article, interesting. On our world politicians and their 'new world order' proposals.

'Barack Obama the epoch changer' (BBC). Who is he? The BBC wants to know. They might have started asking this question more thoroughly before now. They seem convinced that he has 'revealed himself', rather than kept some of his motives apart. Others are not so sure at all.

ABC news on 'Slanted election coverage; how and why.'

A Jewish writer points out that one of Obama's supposed triumphant speeches ( his response to the Jeremiah Wright/church issue) was 'demagogue style' and that he avoided a response to essential issues that might have pinned him down on the was he ever practising Christian faith? issue. An interesting perspective.

Here, the Fox forum on Barack Obama's denying Christ 2004 onwards. Basically he's stating that there are ways to God other than Christ despite his going to Church for many years before.
Here's an early interview with Obama on Christianity and faith. The Christian forum producing the interview here, suggests that he 'repeatedly affirms then denies Jesus, and seems filled with doubt.' Deeper research demonstrates that Obama was never a Christian.

Credit to the older and very experienced Christians ( now aged about sixty or so) who spotted the Obama question at the outset of his career, putting up with all the rubbishing at their claims that Barack would rise in the most extraordinary way. Their early insights might turn out to be among the most important of the last century. Respect. Still, in case they fall into spiritual pride and get too big for their boots... here.
We have to take the mick out of the 70's crowd sometimes. :0)