Last week my mind was on the Super Bowl, when out of the blue a friend asked me: Is Trump the Antichrist?
Seriously?!
Yes.
Look, I know he’s unfit for office. I know a team of psychologists determined he’s a paranoid narcissist and an antisocial sadist. I watched Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump. But I’m wondering whether there might be more to his personality—something deeper, darker, more mythical, more biblical.
So, is Trump the Antichrist?
I don’t think so. But evangelicals do.
Really?
Yes, indeed.
Most people don’t know about that abominable figure, but evangelicals do. They know Trump matches the profile, and apparently they’re keeping it to themselves.
According to Biblical prophecy, the Antichrist (whose number is 666) will appear before the end of time and wreak havoc. Over the past 2000 years numerous candidates have been identified, including Nero (the letters in his Latin name convert to 666), Pope Leo X (the arch foe of Protestant reformer Martin Luther), Hitler (another name-to-number 666 thing), JFK (received 666 votes at the Democratic convention in 1960), and Ronald Wilson Reagan (each of his three names is six letters, hence 666.)
By the way, Trump’s Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was probably considered a candidate for Antichrist after he purchased 666 Fifth Avenue.
Interesting. But is TRUMP the Antichrist?
Actually, I don’t believe “Antichrist” is a person per se. I believe as Carl Jung did that “Antichrist” is a universal archetype within our personal and national unconscious, a shadow self.
Evangelicals don’t.
Evangelicals believe Antichrist is a person, a mashup of several biblical figures—“the evil one” (Daniel 8), the “man of lawlessness” (I Thessalonians 2), and “the Beast from the abyss” (Revelation 11). I was raised evangelical so I know the profile.
The Antichrist
• arises from obscurity to great popularity and fame.
• is the polar opposite (hence, anti) of what society considers good as symbolized by the archetypical Christ virtues such as compassion, hospitality, forgiveness, and humility.
• deceives the world with lies, “even the elect.”
• claims he alone, “the chosen one,” can bring peace and prosperity to the world.
• flouts morality and the law.
• persecutes and eliminates opponents.
• suffers a mortal wound but recovers and returns to power, amazing the whole world.
Alas, my friend, evangelicals happen to know that Trump is the Antichrist.
Will they still vote for him?
Is Fifth Avenue still in New York City?
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See Paula’s “Love Sweeps In” on the home page.
