Barack Obama is the antichrist?

Twice, in the last week, I've received digital communications claiming that Barack Obama, the current Democratic candidate for President in the U.S., is the antichrist (or anti-Christ, or however you spell it).

I have already posted on the dangers, even sinfulness, of passing on some of the political rumors making the rounds at this time of the political year. I'll repeat. The Bible says that slander is a sin. Some of the stuff being put forth, and not all against Obama, and not all in nationwide politics, is slander.

But Obama as the anti-Christ? In one of the two cases I mentioned, it's worse than slander.

Here's a quote from a forwarded e-mail message I got a few days ago:
How long is the beast allowed to have authority in Revelations?

Revelations Chapter 13 tells us it is 42 months, and you
know what that is. Almost a four-year term of a Presidency.

All I can say is "Lord, Have mercy on us!"

According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:
The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive
the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

Well, I agree with one thing. "Lord, have mercy on us!"

The word, antichrist, does not occur in the book of Revelation at all. Evil entities that are found there include one or more beasts, and false prophets. But use of an on-line Bible search shows that "antichrist" is found only four times in the Bible, and only in 1 John and 2 John. Here are the relevant texts, from a more modern version, the ESV:
1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
1John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Note that this is John writing, probably the same John who wrote Revelation, so he could have used that word, if he wanted to, but he didn't.

As to the antichrist being in his 40s? Where does it say that? I cannot find that in Revelation.

Promising peace? Where is that found? The word, "peace" does not occur in Revelation after 6:4, which is talking about the four horsemen, who are taking away the world's peace. There's no promise of a false peace in the entire book.

Of Muslim descent? Where is that found? There were no Muslims until Mohammed came along, over 500 years after Christ's death, which, of course, was long after Revelation was written, too.

And what does forty-two months have to do with being President? To say nothing of the fact that Obama may not be elected such, anyway.

(The rest of the quoted paragraph may agree with Revelation 13, which is talking about one or two beasts. I would point out, however, that not only Obama, but many other politicians, such as Sarah Palin, for one, have massive appeal and use persuasive language.)

The book of Revelation does say this:
22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

I wouldn't want to have begun, or circulated, an e-mail that seems to do exactly what John warned about, namely add to the prophecy of the book.

There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about Senator Obama, such as disagreeing with his stated policies, not trusting his judgment, questioning his experience, wondering about his past associations, doubting the sincerity of his Christian faith, or being afraid of what he might do if he becomes President. Even being a loyal Republican is a legitimate reason to oppose his candidacy. (Similar reasons exist for being concerned about McCain.) It is possible that one of the two of them might be the antichrist, I guess. But to claim that Barack Obama is the antichrist, and, worse, to falsely claim that Revelation says he is, is illegitimate, and seriously dangerous.

I'm old enough to remember when Hitler, Stalin, and Henry Kissinger were accused of being the antichrist. Napoleon, and one or more popes, were accused of that before my lifetime. A little Google searching shows that modern figures, including George W. Bush, John McCain, and even Sarah Palin have been so accused. My guess is that there will be other proposed candidates, from time to time, if Christ doesn't return soon.

Thanks for reading.