(February 7, 2008) The 2008 U.S. Presidential election campaign is revealing some interesting insights into human behavior. Several news outlets have likened the attitude of people supporting the candidacy of Barack Obama as one of bordering on messianic fever. Slate.com even has a page titled “The Obama Messiah Watch” which states:
“Is Barack Obama—junior U.S. senator from Illinois, best-selling author, Harvard Law Review editor, Men’s Vogue cover model, and “exploratory” presidential candidate—the second coming of our Savior and our Redeemer, Prince of Peace and King of Kings, Jesus Christ? His press coverage suggests we can’t dismiss this possibility out of hand. I therefore inaugurate the Obama Messiah Watch, which will periodically highlight gratuitously adoring biographical details that appear in newspaper, television, and magazine profiles of this otherworldly presence in our midst.” (The Obama Messiah Watch)
Jake Tapper on the blogs page of abcnews.com writes of this phenomenon:
“Inspiration is nice. But some folks seem to be getting out of hand.
(And Obama Wept)
It’s as if Tom Daschle descended from on high saying, “Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of Chicago a Savior, who is Barack the Democrat.”
Obama supporter Kathleen Geier writes that she’s “getting increasingly weirded out by some of Obama’s supporters. On listservs I’m on, some people who should know better – hard-bitten, not-so-young cynics, even – are gushing about Barack…”
He relates Joe Klein’s feeling on this issue:
“Joe Klein, writing at Time, notes ‘something just a wee bit
creepy about the mass messianism’ he sees in Obama’s Super Tuesday speech.
‘We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,’ Obama said. ‘This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It’s different not because of me. It’s different because of you.’ ”
I am writing about this issue because I believe it has End-Times connotations. I do not believe that Barack Obama thinks he is the Messiah. I do not think that Barack Obama is the Antichrist. What I do believe is that this issue reveals that human beings are hungry for a world leader that will solve all their problems. This is what Jesus declared would happen in the End-Times:
“3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Messiah; and shall deceive many…23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.” (Matthew 24:3-5,23-25)
Again, I am not saying that Obama is declaring himself to be the Messiah. I am saying that the times are ripe for a false messiah or messiahs to reveal themselves to the world. As John said concerning the ultimate false messiah, the Antichrist or beast, in Revelation 13:
“3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:3-8)
(May 23, 2008) A sophisticated surveillance helicopter flies over New York City monitoring the population below. (Unmarked chopper patrols NY city from high above) This is another example of the use of technology to fight crime. The article reports, “Police say the chopper’s sweeps of landmarks and other potential targets are invaluable in helping guard against another terrorist attack, providing a see-but-avoid-being-seen advantage against bad guys.” The helicopter has “an arsenal of sophisticated surveillance and tracking equipment powerful enough to read license plates—or scan pedestrians’ faces—from high above the nation’s largest metropolis.” “‘They don’t even know we’re here,’ said crew chief John Diaz, speaking into a headset over the din of the aircraft’s engine.” A revealing statement in the article declares, “Kelly even envisions someday using futuristic “stationary airborne devices” similar to blimps to conduct reconnaissance and guard against chemical, biological and radiological threats.” In other words governments are going to continue to increase their monitoring capabilities of their citizens.
