Is Obama the antichrist?

CNN’s David Mattingly reported that a John McCain ad is fueling speculation that Barack Obama is the antichrist. CNN quotes one online poll that says 73% believe that Obama could be the antichrist.

Typically, there are at least two inherent flaws when this question is asked. First, in the United States, and surely other nations, many seek to demonize those with whom they disagree politically. Calling a man the antichrist is essentially declaring him to be Satan incarnate.

Some on the far right were convinced that President Bill Clinton was the antichrist. Some who hold to far left political views were convinced that President George Bush was the antichrist. Now, those who disagree with the political views of Barack Obama are throwing the antichrist label at him as well. This political demonization is ridiculous, as the biblical indicators of who is the antichrist have nothing to do with conservative or progressive politics.

Second, Christians in the United States tend to forget that the end times revolve around the nation of Israel, not the United States. The Bible nowhere explicitly prophesies the existence of the United States. While the United States may have a role in the end times and/or with the antichrist, it is just as possible that the United States will not even exist in the end times.