Donald Trump 2020

Fudge Nuggets · January 19, 2020

3 hours ago, Burt said:

Good thing I have my mop and bucket stored right next to the rake I use for clearing the forest.

Broom you stupid libtard, we supposed to sweep the forest not rake the gotdamn forest.

Can't get nothing right up in here, yo.

Burt · January 19, 2020

So THAT'S why it hasn't been working.

henrygandorf · January 19, 2020

5 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

i've heard good things about season 4. no spoilers please, i like to go in fresh.

Junior Miller · January 19, 2020

Every stupid promise this idiot made then did the opposite should be put on a poster and mandatory on the walls in all federal/state/municipal buildings including public schools.

Bookman · January 19, 2020

What are you supposed to do with the water after you mop it up?

WhatTheBuck · January 19, 2020

Bookman · January 19, 2020

Wow, Trump Ice was actually a thing. Another failed business of his.

How much more would Donald Trump be worth if he had simply taken all his daddy's money and invested it?

Mrs Whiggins · January 19, 2020

^^^WhatTheBuck- brilliant, hat off and rep to you for that...

The President will be leaving the Mar-a-Lago late this afternoon and heading to Austin, Texas USA. Home of the University of Texas, the state capitol, and many wonderful people.

The President will be speaking at the American Farm Bureau Federation and Trade Show at 5:00 PM CST. Now that he has signed the 'China deal' among other things, one might guess that would be a topic about which he will speak as that is how he rolls (wave a fake magic regulation/executive order/economic wand, show up to rally and then business as usual). But, with Trump speaking, anything goes.

Mr. Abbott will probably attend as well. I can hope that topics such as refugees, homeless, and asylum seekers are not discussed in a disparaging way, but put these two fellows together and I will in all likelihood be disappointed.

Watch out for traffic today if you have plans near the Austin Convention Center.

jimmyjazz · January 19, 2020

7 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

Cool, but you gotta admit that's a pretty damn good looking follow through on the swing at about 0:45 in. Not a fan of his takeaway and jerky transition, but got damn that guy cleared the hips and got his arms through like a mofo.

That's Mark Morris. His LinkedIn says he worked at Star Ranch and taught golf (among other pro shop duties).

Goredho · January 19, 2020

I have no idea if this article is worth a crap theologically/biblically, but its freaked out a bunch of my social media circle and sparked some debate among them who are religious -- some who love Trump and some who hate him -- about whether the quoted bible passages are fake news (lol!).

https://www.benjaminlcorey.com/could-american-evangelicals-spot-the-antichrist-heres-the-biblical-predictions

Contents spoillered below:

Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist? Here Are the Biblical Predictions:

Does the Bible predict the future with stunning accuracy as so many in the end-times camp have claimed?

I grew up in the rapture-me-outta-here end times movement, and have spilled no shortage of ink critiquing it– even poking a bit of fun at it. As a theologian I fall into a category of belief that sees biblical prophecies about “the end” as being events that have mostly been fulfilled in the past, but I try to hold that belief gently and recognize I could be wrong.

Many of my fellow Christians in America have warned me over the years of exactly that, often telling me: “I feel sorry for you, because when the Antichrist comes you’re not even going to recognize him!”

To honor those who have given me such warning, I decided to spend the past week studying the most significant biblical prophecies and descriptions typically believed by my conservative friends to refer the Antichrist. If my evangelical friends are correct, and if it’s entirely possible that the Antichrist is on the global scene today, I certainly wouldn’t want to be the only person in the room who didn’t recognize the Antichrist when I saw him.

In case you too are a bit rusty in the area of biblical predictions about the coming Antichrist and don’t want to be oblivious if such a person were to arise, consider me your chief antichristologist who is more than happy to help you out.

Here are the no-kidding-not-satire-prophecies and signs of the antichrist the Bible tells us to watch out for… and that blew my mind by the time I was done:

The Antichrist will be the leader of a nation that is a military superpower with the ability to trample and crush the entire earth.

“The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”

Daniel. 7:23

This verse helps us start by narrowing down the nations and times the Antichrist could come from. The passage directly states he is from a nation that was different from times before, in that it was powerful enough to crush and destroy the entire earth– likely a nuclear superpower. Revelation also speaks of the Antichrist and his prophet having the power to “call down fire from the sky,” which further supports this notion.

Thus, when considering the prophecy in light of the modern world, it most likely leaves Russia or the United States, as both have over 6,000 warheads with remaining nuclear nations having under a few hundred. Furthermore, Revelation 17:15 describes the Antichrist coming from a place where there are “multitudes of peoples, nations, and languages” which would most accurately depict a “melting pot” nation like the United States.

The Antichrist will be a man who is exceptionally arrogant and will be known for giving boastful speeches.

“I could hear his boastful speech…”

Daniel 7:8, Revelation 13:5

So, as you keep your eyes peeled for the Antichrist, be sure to keep in mind that it won’t be a quiet leader who is deceitfully humble and flies under the radar– The Bible says it will be someone who loves to give speeches where he boasts about himself.

The Antichrist will be someone known for making a lot of public threats against people.

“…had a mouth like that of a lion.”

Revelation 13:2, Daniel. 7:4

As we begin to assemble the biblical prophecies, Christians on guard should be looking for a king-like figure who loves to boast about himself, but who also loves to go around roaring like a lion– things like threats to his enemies and a constant verbal flexing of muscle.

The Antichrist will come from among 7 tall “hills” that each act as a “head.”

“And I saw a beast coming out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, which stood for seven hills”

Revelation 13:1, Ch. 17

John described the Antichrist (beast) “rising up from the sea” as he looked out from the Island of Patmos in a supernatural vision. The Bible describes the beast as having 7 heads, which symbolized 7 “hills” that stood up high. Hills also are metaphorical for places of power in the Bible.

So, if the Antichrist were to come in the present age, we’d be most likely looking for an American president known for being exceptionally arrogant, boastful, and threatening others, but who also came from 7 tall “hills” or places of power… one of which would need to be somewhere in the vicinity of where John was looking out into the ocean where the vision occurred.

Huh… well this is a super weird coincidence:

Seven heads? Maybe like potential head-quarters?

Well, funny thing again: while Donald Trump owns at least ten skyscrapers that I’m aware of, apparently only seven of them are formally named Trump Towers:

Trump Tower, NYC

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago

Trump Towers, Istanbul

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto

Trump World Tower, New York

Trump Towers, Sunny Isles Beach

Trump Tower, Manila

And this is a little bizarre, but in John’s vision he said that the 7 heads had horns on them– some had just one, some had two… kinda like those antennas on top.

Wow, and you know what? John’s vision also said that the seven heads all had someone’s name written across them. Interesting!

And let’s not even open the can of worms regarding the building on 5th ave… Yeah, the same deal that was bailed out by Justice Kennedy’s son before Kennedy surprised everyone and retired– giving Trump what had been a swing vote on the Supreme Court. #PowerMove

Bummer of an address Jared! Glad you were able to offload that.

The Antichrist will cause people all over the globe to be filled with wonder and “follow” him.

“The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.”

Revelation. 13:3

This verse also speaks to the likelihood the coming of the Antichrist is more likely to be in the modern world instead of the ancient one. 2,000 years ago it would not have been possible for people all over the globe to become fascinated by a political leader, let alone “follow” them.

Okay, I get it…

Some predictions and prophecies can be like horoscopes: they can appear to apply to anyone.

And I’m with you… when you get into stuff like numerology and interpreting seven-headed beasts, it’s hard to know if something is an eerie coincidence, or just plain silly.

I’d honestly started this post intending to be silly, and during my research began to find the coincidences and certain numbers happening to match a bit amusing the first few times. But at a certain point the coincidences added up or got too specific, and it wasn’t funny anymore– it was deeply unsettling.

And by the end? Well, stick with me as the prophecies grow more specific, and you’ll see why my mind was a bit blown– and why as a Christian my spirit was deeply unsettled by the the end of it:

The Antichrist will be a political outsider with despicable character and a contemptuous personality who wins an election that no one expects him to win.

“… a despicable person will arise… a man of contempt… to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will slip in when least expected and will seize the kingdom through flattery and intrigue.”

Daniel 11:21

When looking to identify the Antichrist, the Bible starts to help us with some really specific prophecies. Based on what the Bible predicts, a most likely scenario for the arrival of the Antichrist would be a candidate for president who came from the private sector (not of ‘royal’ background) being found with despicable morality along with a contemptuous personality, who campaigned on flattery and lies– but somehow went on to win an election no one expected him to win… leaving the country stunned.

The Antichrist will give speeches where he speaks “great things” and then about things that are even “greater.”

“He had a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions…”

Daniel 7:20

Starting to get weird now, isn’t it? This is about the point I got goosebumps and a little freaked out also.

Yes, in warning us of the Antichrist the Bible predicts in both Daniel and Revelation that when the Antichrist comes, he’ll not only be the contemptuous and arrogant political outsider who pulls an upset in the election– but warns us that he’ll specifically be speaking of “great” and “greater” things along the way.

The Antichrist comes to power through collusion with a secret alliance who uses disinformation to help him win– even though he has a minority number of supporters.

“After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people.”

Daniel 11:23

So, you know… according to God’s holy and infallible word and all, one of the other major signs to warn us of the arrival of the Antichrist would be an election where someone won with fewer supporters, and where it was also proven that an evil outside power meddled with the process to specifically put that person in office.

But I can’t imagine the country would turn a blind eye if that ever happened, especially for my evangelical friends who tell me we need to always be on guard for the arrival of the Antichrist.

The Antichrist’s rise to power will seem like a miracle that God performed, tricking people into following Satan instead of God without even noticing.

“The arise in power of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.”

2 Thess. 2:9

Evil is evil, but evil is not stupid… or at least, Satan isn’t. When the time comes to make his power move in the human story, he’ll find a way to not only make evil palatable– he’ll try the ultimate bait and switch by making God himself seem responsible for this evil. What better way to get a hit in, than to do it and make it look like God actually did it?

When the Antichrist comes, be sure to look for powerful religious folk claiming it was a miracle from God:

“He did everything wrong, politically. He offended gays. He offended women. He offended the military. He offended black people. He offended the Hispanic people. He offended everybody! And he became president of the United States. Only God could do that.”

Franklin Graham

False Prophet

As president, the Antichrist will immediately find ways to make himself and his friends richer– and he will do it in a way no president had ever done before.

“Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done.”

Daniel 11:24

In this verse the Bible continues down the path of helping us get more specific about the rise of the Antichrist so we won’t miss it when we see it: He says that the Antichrist will be unique from all other presidents before him in the way he will be able to use the presidency to instantly get richer and toss lots of money over to his friends.

While all modern presidents are wealthy, and politicians give kick-backs, Daniel indicates something will be different about this president and that he will uniquely profit off the presidency in a way that previous presidents never imagined.

This prophecy could likely only be fulfilled if a rich business person were to win a deceptively influenced election, and then serve as president with some sort of business structure that got he and his friends richer and richer just from being president.

If such a thing were to ever occur, you might likely hear a government oversight body state something to the effect of: “The president has turned the government of the United States into a money-making operation for his family, his friends and himself.”

Once in power the Antichrist will reveal that his heart wants to make alterations to the “appointed times” that are in current laws.

“He will try to change the set times and the laws.”

Dan. 7:25

What’s fascinating is that the Bible never tells us he actually succeeds or does change the appointed cycles, but that he expresses wanting to change them. What would it look like to express an interest in changing laws around cycles and appointed times? It would likely be that the Antichrist will want to change elections, skip an election, or extend term limits, etc, thus what the Bible says of “intending to alter laws for appointed times…”

The Antichrist will make fake news popular and will be a chronic liar. His followers will believe his delusions because they hate the truth.

“He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior… He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.”

Daniel 8:25, 2 Thess 2:10

Daniel 8 and 2nd Thessalonians 2 are incredibly descriptive warnings to help us recognize the Antichrist. Predicting that under his rule “deceit will prosper” warns us to look for someone who calls the truth “fake news” and who is known for constantly lying.

In fact, the Antichrist lies so much that the Bible stops calling him the Antichrist and starts calling him The Liar– using the definite article for effect– as if he begins to personify fake news and lies.

The Antichrist will reward those who are completely loyal with powerful positions and lucrative real estate deals.

“He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will sell them land at a price.”

Daniel 11:39b

No kidding: the Bible predicts the Antichrist will be someone who negotiates powerful real estate deals with his friends.

The Antichrist is someone in need of constant affirmation, so the Bible predicts he will use his position to surround himself with blind loyalists who honor and submit to him.

To spot the Antichrist as the Bible predicts, look for a president who gives high level positions away on the basis of personal loyalty. While all politics involve a level of this, the Bible calls the Antichrist a worthless shepherd’ so he will likely have a cabinet of leaders in disarray and incompetence, with many being blatantly unqualified or even a bunch of them going to jail.

If that’s not enough to help us identify the Antichrist, the Bible throws us a major bone: He’ll be a president experienced at negotiating land and property deals, and he’ll have access to plenty to buy and sell.

While some prophecies are general enough to fit certain leaders here and there, thankfully the Bible give us some rather specific clues to also look for– like a rich and arrogant political outsider who happens to be in the business of negotiating land and property deals.

The Bible says that we’ll be able to spot the Antichrist because he will give an arrogant public speech in the middle of his first term where he boasts of “great things” but also uses God’s name as a curse in the same speech.

“And there was given to him a mouth speaking of ‘great things’ and blasphemous words… and he opened his mouth saying terrible things and blasphemed the name of God.”

Revelation 13:5-6

I mean, if this were to happen all my end-times friends would spot it, wouldn’t they? Revelation 13 very specifically tells us that somewhere in the middle of his first three and a half years in office, the Antichrist will give a very specific and telling speech: he will arrogantly brag of his accomplishments and ‘great’ things, and will also use God’s name in a way considered to be blasphemy.

This would be exceedingly eye-brow-raising for any serious Antichrist hunter, were this to ever happen in a presidential speech… right?

The Antichrist will draw strong support from many Christians as if they are willfully blind and outright delusional.

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and appear to perform ‘great’ signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, God’s own people. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction…”

Matt. 24:24, 2nd Thess 2:10

Sorry, but I’m old enough to remember when revivals were for God and blasphemy was a serious sin.

The Antichrist will spend his first term in office having an ongoing feud with the leadership of the nation on his southern border.

“He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South…”

Daniel 11:25

Creepy coincidence? The entire Antichrist narrative of Daniel 11 is situated around a conflict along the southern border where the Antichrist is wanting something that the king to his south wont give him. Based on the whole of Antichrist prophecies and the common thread of money and greed, it certainly appears to be money that he wants from the nation to his south…

The Bible predicts that negotiating a deal will be hopeless, as neither side is willing to budge. The Antichrist hates the leadership south of his border and hates his people. Not surprisingly, the Bible says they aren’t big fans of the northern king (v11:27). Scripture tells us that negotiations never get off the ground, as kings to the south don’t want to give the Antichrist anything.

It also says that the Antichrist will go down to the southern border as things heat up– there is a crisis where both sides have troops along the southern border– and that the Antichrist will return home with a large sum of money shortly after.

Another interesting coincidence: in April 2019 Trump toured the southern border and returned home days later to the Pentagon awarding him $1 billion toward his border wall.

The Bible also says that even though the Antichrist will come home with a large sum of money, that he’s even more furious about things after.

Maybe the money wasn’t enough for what he wanted and didn’t know where the rest would come from?

The Antichrist will be so angry at the king to his south that he will decide to intentionally inflict harm on that ethnic group in retaliation.

“He will set himself against the people… doing much damage before continuing his journey.”

Daniel 11:28

Yes, you’re tracking with me correctly: the Bible predicts the Antichrist will be an arrogant political outsider who talks about “great” and “greater” things, who wins an election where he has less supporters due to the election being tampered with, who then instantly gets rich off the presidency and spends his time in a feud with the president across from his southern border.

And yes, the Bible actually says that after negotiations fail at the souther border he decides to get even by intentionally inflicting harm and distress on that ethnic group.

Get ready to have your mind blown with what Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming Antichrist says on this matter, especially in light of what Daniel tells us regarding the Antichrist’s retaliation along the border:

“There will be a leader over the land who will not help the ones who are dying.

He will not go looking for the young who got lost, or care for the children.

He won’t help the ones who are sick or broken, or even give nourishment to the hungry ones who are still healthy.”

– Zechariah 11:16-17

Children being ripped from their parents as a deterrent from crossing into the “northern kingdom,” refugees being locked in cages without adequate care, some dying in our custody, children still missing or given for adoption even though they weren’t orphans?

Yeah, the Bible references the “worthless shepherd” who will do that– AKA: the Antichrist.

Still need a few more warning signs from the Bible as to the identity of the Antichrist? Apparently God doesn’t want us to miss it, because the last few drive it all home:

The Antichrist will be furious over “rumors and reports” that come from the east and north, and will fly into fits of rage as the reports surface.

“But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many.”

Daniel 11:44

That’s right: In the middle of the Antichrist’s feud along the southern border he will hear troubling “rumors and reports” that specifically come from the eastern and the northern parts of the country.

The Bible goes on to predict the rumors will “frighten” him and leave him so furious, that he has fits of rage and will want to destroy people over the reports.

The Antichrist will appear to receive a wound he can’t recover from, but will survive to put down the first attempts to remove him from office.

“[He] appeared to be fatally wounded, but the fatal wound was healed– and the whole world was amazed.”

Revelation 13:3

And of course, when Trump squeaked by in the Russia investigation due to internal DOJ policy which doesn’t allow the indictment of a sitting president, everyone– most especially those who are too young to remember the OJ Simpson murder trial– was completely amazed he survived what very clearly seemed to be a fatal wound to his presidency.

The Antichrist will have the nation’s most powerful religious leader influencing the country for him. This leader will try to convince Christians that the Antichrist is “God’s pick” and that we need to support him.

“And then I saw a second beast come from the Earth who looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon… and it deceived the inhabitants of the Earth…”

Revelation 13:11–12

The Bible predicts the Antichrist will survive the near-fatal wound to his rule, but then goes on to tell us he will need the most powerful religious leader in the country to help him solidify support among the religious in order to stay in power– specifically around the 3 1/2 year mark.

3 1/2 year mark? That’s re-election season. Interesting!

The prophecy describes a political/religious alliance where the most influential religious leader in the country goes around speaking to large crowds, displaying any and all religious credentials he can muster, in order to generate support for the Antichrist rule to last more than just 3/12 years.

The Antichrist will see himself as being above everyone else, as if he had no need for God. He will eventually elevate himself as the God and King of Israel

“And he will exalt himself above all… so that he sets himself up in God’s own temple in Israel, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2nd Thess 2:4, Rev 17

However… it’s hard to imagine this actually happening. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a professing Christian who saw themselves as being so flawless or had zero reverence for God. Well, take that back– never mind the admission that he’s “never seen a need” to ask God forgiveness for anything, or saying, “Why should I repent if I haven’t done anything wrong?” just TODAY he did something that seemed unthinkable…

Here’s Donald Trump, just as the Bible predicts, setting himself up like he’s the God and King of Israel:

Beyond words. This is what Antichrist looks like.

But you know what? He is not the God of Israel. He doesn’t worship or even know the God of Israel.

But are you ready for some Antichrist trolling about 2,600 years in the waiting?

Well, we know the Antichrist hates God and doesn’t worship him– but the Bible *does* actually let us in on a secret and tells us who the Antichrist does worship… and spoiler: it’s not actually Satan.

Drum roll please…..

The Antichrist will worship the god of border walls.

For real. The Bible actually says that.

“He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god no one will have heard of before: the god of fortresses. And he will worship this god with a lot of money.”

Daniel 11:37-38

You can’t even make this stuff up– yes, the Bible *actually* says that instead of worshipping the true God, the Antichrist will worship an unknown god of “fortresses.”

What does this word “fortress” literally translate to?

Border walls that secure a city or country, that’s what.

Yes, the Bible says the Antichrist will worship the god of border walls.

Some commentaries argue it’s not even referencing a real deity (though some think it was the ‘god of towers’ like a gate tower), but instead note that it is likely the Antichrist will be so obsessed with a border wall, worshipping it with a lot of money, that it functionally becomes his god.

Yup- trolling from long-since-dead-guys. Priceless!

The Antichrist’s most devoted followers will wear a sign of their allegiance to him on their foreheads.

“And they received a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads…”

Revelation 13

And we all thought it was going to be a barcode or chip….

And the final biblical prophecy on the Antichrist:

… But the people who truly know God and remain faithful, will firmly “resist” him.

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

Daniel 11:32

Yup– even the name of our movement is mentioned in the Antichrist narrative.

…

So in the end, what do I believe theologically on the subject of eschatology after this research project?

I don’t know yet.

But what I do know is this: If the Antichrist comes, I’m not going to be the one guy in the room who doesn’t recognize him.

Mrs Whiggins · January 19, 2020

So, spill more details about the debate? Any worthwhile discussion?

Goredho · January 19, 2020

11 minutes ago, Mrs Whiggins said:

So, spill more details about the debate? Any worthwhile discussion?

Just a lot of religious folks hand-slapping over the passage interpretations with the more evangelical MAGA types calling it fake news. One woman I know asked if they mean the quoted bible passages, which earned some indignant, un-Christlike responses. Its a fairly glorious train wreck.

Edited January 19, 2020 by Goredho

Mrs Whiggins · January 19, 2020

The whole fake news strategy has either been a complete success or a nightmare depending upon one's POV. Thanks Trump.

JimmyJames · January 19, 2020

I don’t know if the anti christ is a real thing or not but if it does exist trump is no doubt him.

Goredho · January 19, 2020

I’m not a believer, so to me it’s like Trekkies arguing over original cast vs next generation. Trump is vile — no religious context necessary.

Edit: thinking about it more, Trump’s evangelical support means there is religious context whether it should exist or not. If that article helps some born again Trumpists to lose their new religion, then praise be to that author.

Edited January 19, 2020 by Goredho

Mrs Whiggins · January 19, 2020

I think your edit regarding the religious context is spot on.

WhatTheBuck · January 19, 2020

14 minutes ago, Goredho said:

I’m not a believer, so to me it’s like Trekkies arguing over original cast vs next generation. Trump is vile — no religious context necessary.

The preferred nomenclature is "Trekkers."

Heretic.

Goredho · January 19, 2020

I repent! I repent!

tx 3 putt · January 19, 2020

7 hours ago, henrygandorf said:

i've heard good things about season 4. no spoilers please, i like to go in fresh.

Hopefully season 4 is the last season

Biff Tannen · January 19, 2020

I think more likely he’s just a buffoon with mental problems. But yeah, if it gets the evangelicals jimmies rustled, then I guess I’ll take it.

Goredho · January 19, 2020

2 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

I think more likely he’s just a buffoon with mental problems. But yeah, if it gets the evangelicals jimmies rustled, then I guess I’ll take it.

Yep, as a non-believer, I can’t think Trump is the anti-Christ. But a lot of his power stems from the manipulation of believers, so if this were to make them question their “false idol”, that’s a good thing. I’m sure it won’t, but hey, good on the author for the attempt.

Foggy Notion · January 19, 2020

2 hours ago, Goredho said:

I have no idea if this article is worth a crap theologically/biblically, but its freaked out a bunch of my social media circle and sparked some debate among them who are religious -- some who love Trump and some who hate him -- about whether the quoted bible passages are fake news (lol!).

https://www.benjaminlcorey.com/could-american-evangelicals-spot-the-antichrist-heres-the-biblical-predictions

Contents spoillered below:

Reveal hidden contents

Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist? Here Are the Biblical Predictions:

Does the Bible predict the future with stunning accuracy as so many in the end-times camp have claimed?

I grew up in the rapture-me-outta-here end times movement, and have spilled no shortage of ink critiquing it– even poking a bit of fun at it. As a theologian I fall into a category of belief that sees biblical prophecies about “the end” as being events that have mostly been fulfilled in the past, but I try to hold that belief gently and recognize I could be wrong.

Many of my fellow Christians in America have warned me over the years of exactly that, often telling me: “I feel sorry for you, because when the Antichrist comes you’re not even going to recognize him!”

To honor those who have given me such warning, I decided to spend the past week studying the most significant biblical prophecies and descriptions typically believed by my conservative friends to refer the Antichrist. If my evangelical friends are correct, and if it’s entirely possible that the Antichrist is on the global scene today, I certainly wouldn’t want to be the only person in the room who didn’t recognize the Antichrist when I saw him.

In case you too are a bit rusty in the area of biblical predictions about the coming Antichrist and don’t want to be oblivious if such a person were to arise, consider me your chief antichristologist who is more than happy to help you out.

Here are the no-kidding-not-satire-prophecies and signs of the antichrist the Bible tells us to watch out for… and that blew my mind by the time I was done:

The Antichrist will be the leader of a nation that is a military superpower with the ability to trample and crush the entire earth.

“The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”

Daniel. 7:23

This verse helps us start by narrowing down the nations and times the Antichrist could come from. The passage directly states he is from a nation that was different from times before, in that it was powerful enough to crush and destroy the entire earth– likely a nuclear superpower. Revelation also speaks of the Antichrist and his prophet having the power to “call down fire from the sky,” which further supports this notion.

Thus, when considering the prophecy in light of the modern world, it most likely leaves Russia or the United States, as both have over 6,000 warheads with remaining nuclear nations having under a few hundred. Furthermore, Revelation 17:15 describes the Antichrist coming from a place where there are “multitudes of peoples, nations, and languages” which would most accurately depict a “melting pot” nation like the United States.

The Antichrist will be a man who is exceptionally arrogant and will be known for giving boastful speeches.

“I could hear his boastful speech…”

Daniel 7:8, Revelation 13:5

So, as you keep your eyes peeled for the Antichrist, be sure to keep in mind that it won’t be a quiet leader who is deceitfully humble and flies under the radar– The Bible says it will be someone who loves to give speeches where he boasts about himself.

The Antichrist will be someone known for making a lot of public threats against people.

“…had a mouth like that of a lion.”

Revelation 13:2, Daniel. 7:4

As we begin to assemble the biblical prophecies, Christians on guard should be looking for a king-like figure who loves to boast about himself, but who also loves to go around roaring like a lion– things like threats to his enemies and a constant verbal flexing of muscle.

The Antichrist will come from among 7 tall “hills” that each act as a “head.”

“And I saw a beast coming out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, which stood for seven hills”

Revelation 13:1, Ch. 17

John described the Antichrist (beast) “rising up from the sea” as he looked out from the Island of Patmos in a supernatural vision. The Bible describes the beast as having 7 heads, which symbolized 7 “hills” that stood up high. Hills also are metaphorical for places of power in the Bible.

So, if the Antichrist were to come in the present age, we’d be most likely looking for an American president known for being exceptionally arrogant, boastful, and threatening others, but who also came from 7 tall “hills” or places of power… one of which would need to be somewhere in the vicinity of where John was looking out into the ocean where the vision occurred.

Huh… well this is a super weird coincidence:

Seven heads? Maybe like potential head-quarters?

Well, funny thing again: while Donald Trump owns at least ten skyscrapers that I’m aware of, apparently only seven of them are formally named Trump Towers:

Trump Tower, NYC

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago

Trump Towers, Istanbul

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto

Trump World Tower, New York

Trump Towers, Sunny Isles Beach

Trump Tower, Manila

And this is a little bizarre, but in John’s vision he said that the 7 heads had horns on them– some had just one, some had two… kinda like those antennas on top.

Wow, and you know what? John’s vision also said that the seven heads all had someone’s name written across them. Interesting!

And let’s not even open the can of worms regarding the building on 5th ave… Yeah, the same deal that was bailed out by Justice Kennedy’s son before Kennedy surprised everyone and retired– giving Trump what had been a swing vote on the Supreme Court. #PowerMove

Bummer of an address Jared! Glad you were able to offload that.

The Antichrist will cause people all over the globe to be filled with wonder and “follow” him.

“The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.”

Revelation. 13:3

This verse also speaks to the likelihood the coming of the Antichrist is more likely to be in the modern world instead of the ancient one. 2,000 years ago it would not have been possible for people all over the globe to become fascinated by a political leader, let alone “follow” them.

Okay, I get it…

Some predictions and prophecies can be like horoscopes: they can appear to apply to anyone.

And I’m with you… when you get into stuff like numerology and interpreting seven-headed beasts, it’s hard to know if something is an eerie coincidence, or just plain silly.

I’d honestly started this post intending to be silly, and during my research began to find the coincidences and certain numbers happening to match a bit amusing the first few times. But at a certain point the coincidences added up or got too specific, and it wasn’t funny anymore– it was deeply unsettling.

And by the end? Well, stick with me as the prophecies grow more specific, and you’ll see why my mind was a bit blown– and why as a Christian my spirit was deeply unsettled by the the end of it:

The Antichrist will be a political outsider with despicable character and a contemptuous personality who wins an election that no one expects him to win.

“… a despicable person will arise… a man of contempt… to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will slip in when least expected and will seize the kingdom through flattery and intrigue.”

Daniel 11:21

When looking to identify the Antichrist, the Bible starts to help us with some really specific prophecies. Based on what the Bible predicts, a most likely scenario for the arrival of the Antichrist would be a candidate for president who came from the private sector (not of ‘royal’ background) being found with despicable morality along with a contemptuous personality, who campaigned on flattery and lies– but somehow went on to win an election no one expected him to win… leaving the country stunned.

The Antichrist will give speeches where he speaks “great things” and then about things that are even “greater.”

“He had a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions…”

Daniel 7:20

Starting to get weird now, isn’t it? This is about the point I got goosebumps and a little freaked out also.

Yes, in warning us of the Antichrist the Bible predicts in both Daniel and Revelation that when the Antichrist comes, he’ll not only be the contemptuous and arrogant political outsider who pulls an upset in the election– but warns us that he’ll specifically be speaking of “great” and “greater” things along the way.

The Antichrist comes to power through collusion with a secret alliance who uses disinformation to help him win– even though he has a minority number of supporters.

“After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people.”

Daniel 11:23

So, you know… according to God’s holy and infallible word and all, one of the other major signs to warn us of the arrival of the Antichrist would be an election where someone won with fewer supporters, and where it was also proven that an evil outside power meddled with the process to specifically put that person in office.

But I can’t imagine the country would turn a blind eye if that ever happened, especially for my evangelical friends who tell me we need to always be on guard for the arrival of the Antichrist.

The Antichrist’s rise to power will seem like a miracle that God performed, tricking people into following Satan instead of God without even noticing.

“The arise in power of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.”

2 Thess. 2:9

Evil is evil, but evil is not stupid… or at least, Satan isn’t. When the time comes to make his power move in the human story, he’ll find a way to not only make evil palatable– he’ll try the ultimate bait and switch by making God himself seem responsible for this evil. What better way to get a hit in, than to do it and make it look like God actually did it?

When the Antichrist comes, be sure to look for powerful religious folk claiming it was a miracle from God:

“He did everything wrong, politically. He offended gays. He offended women. He offended the military. He offended black people. He offended the Hispanic people. He offended everybody! And he became president of the United States. Only God could do that.”

Franklin Graham

False Prophet

As president, the Antichrist will immediately find ways to make himself and his friends richer– and he will do it in a way no president had ever done before.

“Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done.”

Daniel 11:24

In this verse the Bible continues down the path of helping us get more specific about the rise of the Antichrist so we won’t miss it when we see it: He says that the Antichrist will be unique from all other presidents before him in the way he will be able to use the presidency to instantly get richer and toss lots of money over to his friends.

While all modern presidents are wealthy, and politicians give kick-backs, Daniel indicates something will be different about this president and that he will uniquely profit off the presidency in a way that previous presidents never imagined.

This prophecy could likely only be fulfilled if a rich business person were to win a deceptively influenced election, and then serve as president with some sort of business structure that got he and his friends richer and richer just from being president.

If such a thing were to ever occur, you might likely hear a government oversight body state something to the effect of: “The president has turned the government of the United States into a money-making operation for his family, his friends and himself.”

Once in power the Antichrist will reveal that his heart wants to make alterations to the “appointed times” that are in current laws.

“He will try to change the set times and the laws.”

Dan. 7:25

What’s fascinating is that the Bible never tells us he actually succeeds or does change the appointed cycles, but that he expresses wanting to change them. What would it look like to express an interest in changing laws around cycles and appointed times? It would likely be that the Antichrist will want to change elections, skip an election, or extend term limits, etc, thus what the Bible says of “intending to alter laws for appointed times…”

The Antichrist will make fake news popular and will be a chronic liar. His followers will believe his delusions because they hate the truth.

“He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior… He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.”

Daniel 8:25, 2 Thess 2:10

Daniel 8 and 2nd Thessalonians 2 are incredibly descriptive warnings to help us recognize the Antichrist. Predicting that under his rule “deceit will prosper” warns us to look for someone who calls the truth “fake news” and who is known for constantly lying.

In fact, the Antichrist lies so much that the Bible stops calling him the Antichrist and starts calling him The Liar– using the definite article for effect– as if he begins to personify fake news and lies.

The Antichrist will reward those who are completely loyal with powerful positions and lucrative real estate deals.

“He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will sell them land at a price.”

Daniel 11:39b

No kidding: the Bible predicts the Antichrist will be someone who negotiates powerful real estate deals with his friends.

The Antichrist is someone in need of constant affirmation, so the Bible predicts he will use his position to surround himself with blind loyalists who honor and submit to him.

To spot the Antichrist as the Bible predicts, look for a president who gives high level positions away on the basis of personal loyalty. While all politics involve a level of this, the Bible calls the Antichrist a worthless shepherd’ so he will likely have a cabinet of leaders in disarray and incompetence, with many being blatantly unqualified or even a bunch of them going to jail.

If that’s not enough to help us identify the Antichrist, the Bible throws us a major bone: He’ll be a president experienced at negotiating land and property deals, and he’ll have access to plenty to buy and sell.

While some prophecies are general enough to fit certain leaders here and there, thankfully the Bible give us some rather specific clues to also look for– like a rich and arrogant political outsider who happens to be in the business of negotiating land and property deals.

The Bible says that we’ll be able to spot the Antichrist because he will give an arrogant public speech in the middle of his first term where he boasts of “great things” but also uses God’s name as a curse in the same speech.

“And there was given to him a mouth speaking of ‘great things’ and blasphemous words… and he opened his mouth saying terrible things and blasphemed the name of God.”

Revelation 13:5-6

I mean, if this were to happen all my end-times friends would spot it, wouldn’t they? Revelation 13 very specifically tells us that somewhere in the middle of his first three and a half years in office, the Antichrist will give a very specific and telling speech: he will arrogantly brag of his accomplishments and ‘great’ things, and will also use God’s name in a way considered to be blasphemy.

This would be exceedingly eye-brow-raising for any serious Antichrist hunter, were this to ever happen in a presidential speech… right?

The Antichrist will draw strong support from many Christians as if they are willfully blind and outright delusional.

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and appear to perform ‘great’ signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, God’s own people. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction…”

Matt. 24:24, 2nd Thess 2:10

Sorry, but I’m old enough to remember when revivals were for God and blasphemy was a serious sin.

The Antichrist will spend his first term in office having an ongoing feud with the leadership of the nation on his southern border.

“He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South…”

Daniel 11:25

Creepy coincidence? The entire Antichrist narrative of Daniel 11 is situated around a conflict along the southern border where the Antichrist is wanting something that the king to his south wont give him. Based on the whole of Antichrist prophecies and the common thread of money and greed, it certainly appears to be money that he wants from the nation to his south…

The Bible predicts that negotiating a deal will be hopeless, as neither side is willing to budge. The Antichrist hates the leadership south of his border and hates his people. Not surprisingly, the Bible says they aren’t big fans of the northern king (v11:27). Scripture tells us that negotiations never get off the ground, as kings to the south don’t want to give the Antichrist anything.

It also says that the Antichrist will go down to the southern border as things heat up– there is a crisis where both sides have troops along the southern border– and that the Antichrist will return home with a large sum of money shortly after.

Another interesting coincidence: in April 2019 Trump toured the southern border and returned home days later to the Pentagon awarding him $1 billion toward his border wall.

The Bible also says that even though the Antichrist will come home with a large sum of money, that he’s even more furious about things after.

Maybe the money wasn’t enough for what he wanted and didn’t know where the rest would come from?

The Antichrist will be so angry at the king to his south that he will decide to intentionally inflict harm on that ethnic group in retaliation.

“He will set himself against the people… doing much damage before continuing his journey.”

Daniel 11:28

Yes, you’re tracking with me correctly: the Bible predicts the Antichrist will be an arrogant political outsider who talks about “great” and “greater” things, who wins an election where he has less supporters due to the election being tampered with, who then instantly gets rich off the presidency and spends his time in a feud with the president across from his southern border.

And yes, the Bible actually says that after negotiations fail at the souther border he decides to get even by intentionally inflicting harm and distress on that ethnic group.

Get ready to have your mind blown with what Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming Antichrist says on this matter, especially in light of what Daniel tells us regarding the Antichrist’s retaliation along the border:

“There will be a leader over the land who will not help the ones who are dying.

He will not go looking for the young who got lost, or care for the children.

He won’t help the ones who are sick or broken, or even give nourishment to the hungry ones who are still healthy.”

– Zechariah 11:16-17

Children being ripped from their parents as a deterrent from crossing into the “northern kingdom,” refugees being locked in cages without adequate care, some dying in our custody, children still missing or given for adoption even though they weren’t orphans?

Yeah, the Bible references the “worthless shepherd” who will do that– AKA: the Antichrist.

Still need a few more warning signs from the Bible as to the identity of the Antichrist? Apparently God doesn’t want us to miss it, because the last few drive it all home:

The Antichrist will be furious over “rumors and reports” that come from the east and north, and will fly into fits of rage as the reports surface.

“But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many.”

Daniel 11:44

That’s right: In the middle of the Antichrist’s feud along the southern border he will hear troubling “rumors and reports” that specifically come from the eastern and the northern parts of the country.

The Bible goes on to predict the rumors will “frighten” him and leave him so furious, that he has fits of rage and will want to destroy people over the reports.

The Antichrist will appear to receive a wound he can’t recover from, but will survive to put down the first attempts to remove him from office.

“[He] appeared to be fatally wounded, but the fatal wound was healed– and the whole world was amazed.”

Revelation 13:3

And of course, when Trump squeaked by in the Russia investigation due to internal DOJ policy which doesn’t allow the indictment of a sitting president, everyone– most especially those who are too young to remember the OJ Simpson murder trial– was completely amazed he survived what very clearly seemed to be a fatal wound to his presidency.

The Antichrist will have the nation’s most powerful religious leader influencing the country for him. This leader will try to convince Christians that the Antichrist is “God’s pick” and that we need to support him.

“And then I saw a second beast come from the Earth who looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon… and it deceived the inhabitants of the Earth…”

Revelation 13:11–12

The Bible predicts the Antichrist will survive the near-fatal wound to his rule, but then goes on to tell us he will need the most powerful religious leader in the country to help him solidify support among the religious in order to stay in power– specifically around the 3 1/2 year mark.

3 1/2 year mark? That’s re-election season. Interesting!

The prophecy describes a political/religious alliance where the most influential religious leader in the country goes around speaking to large crowds, displaying any and all religious credentials he can muster, in order to generate support for the Antichrist rule to last more than just 3/12 years.

The Antichrist will see himself as being above everyone else, as if he had no need for God. He will eventually elevate himself as the God and King of Israel

“And he will exalt himself above all… so that he sets himself up in God’s own temple in Israel, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2nd Thess 2:4, Rev 17

However… it’s hard to imagine this actually happening. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a professing Christian who saw themselves as being so flawless or had zero reverence for God. Well, take that back– never mind the admission that he’s “never seen a need” to ask God forgiveness for anything, or saying, “Why should I repent if I haven’t done anything wrong?” just TODAY he did something that seemed unthinkable…

Here’s Donald Trump, just as the Bible predicts, setting himself up like he’s the God and King of Israel:

Beyond words. This is what Antichrist looks like.

But you know what? He is not the God of Israel. He doesn’t worship or even know the God of Israel.

But are you ready for some Antichrist trolling about 2,600 years in the waiting?

Well, we know the Antichrist hates God and doesn’t worship him– but the Bible *does* actually let us in on a secret and tells us who the Antichrist does worship… and spoiler: it’s not actually Satan.

Drum roll please…..

The Antichrist will worship the god of border walls.

For real. The Bible actually says that.

“He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god no one will have heard of before: the god of fortresses. And he will worship this god with a lot of money.”

Daniel 11:37-38

You can’t even make this stuff up– yes, the Bible *actually* says that instead of worshipping the true God, the Antichrist will worship an unknown god of “fortresses.”

What does this word “fortress” literally translate to?

Border walls that secure a city or country, that’s what.

Yes, the Bible says the Antichrist will worship the god of border walls.

Some commentaries argue it’s not even referencing a real deity (though some think it was the ‘god of towers’ like a gate tower), but instead note that it is likely the Antichrist will be so obsessed with a border wall, worshipping it with a lot of money, that it functionally becomes his god.

Yup- trolling from long-since-dead-guys. Priceless!

The Antichrist’s most devoted followers will wear a sign of their allegiance to him on their foreheads.

“And they received a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads…”

Revelation 13

And we all thought it was going to be a barcode or chip….

And the final biblical prophecy on the Antichrist:

… But the people who truly know God and remain faithful, will firmly “resist” him.

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

Daniel 11:32

Yup– even the name of our movement is mentioned in the Antichrist narrative.

…

So in the end, what do I believe theologically on the subject of eschatology after this research project?

I don’t know yet.

But what I do know is this: If the Antichrist comes, I’m not going to be the one guy in the room who doesn’t recognize him.

This is great stuff. I’m not a believer, but I was raised in a fringe religion that focused heavily on the apocalyptic second coming of Christ, so all this talk of the anti Christ hits close to home. I heard the description of the anti Christ from the book of Daniel over and over again when I was a kid, so it’s crossed my mind - if I was a believer now, would I think Trump is the anti Christ? It would be hard not to.

MAGA hats are the mark of the beast! I hadn’t thought about that one.

bolverk · January 19, 2020

The word “trump” is borrowed from the French. It literally means to deceive or to trick.

Take that however you will.

Edited January 19, 2020 by bolverk
Elaboration

jimmyjazz · January 19, 2020

I have seen the light. Donald Trump is our savior:

Thanks be to Donald

Spoiler

January 18, 2020
What Do Democrats Fear in Donald Trump? Greatness
By J.B. Shurk
James Carville says Trump is the greatest threat to America since the fall of communism. It is easy to laugh away such a declaration, but I think there is an invaluable truth expressed. Trump is as important in stature as the United States' most formidable military and political opponent of the twentieth century. Trumpism as an ideological force has the mass and acceleration of a Soviet Empire that threatened to conquer the world. Nobody speaks about the Bush Doctrine in such terms. Nobody confuses the Obama Doctrine or the Carter Doctrine as projecting that kind of power. Yet here we are, just three years after the election, and somehow the belittled and mocked hotel owner from Queens has stumbled into creating a movement that matches in strength and potency what took Marx, Lenin, and Stalin over a century to perfect. Consider the fear that Carville and his ilk must harbor about what is to come.

What does he see that makes him tremble so? In a word, greatness.

How could he not? When you see a man being endlessly ridiculed and scorned brush off those insults with ease and smile back, you know something is different. When you watch a 6'3" sack of energy bustling across the stage four or more times a day in suit and tie before tens of thousands of spectators watching his every move, and he seems more rested and comfortable than the press gallery a third his age, you know you haven't seen this before. When his enemies spend years using the combined forces of corporate media, the legal system, and the intelligence agencies to dispose of him one way or another, and the man responds with an off-the-cuff one-liner that shows he could not care less, you know you are dealing with something rare.

Carville hates the man because he knows what he is. Donald Trump is a world-historical figure. He is not merely a part of history; he is an agent warping it with his own gravity. His ideas and actions represent a firm break from the prevailing paradigms of the past. His is an original voice arguing aggressively against the status quo. If everything about this moment feels different, that's because it is. We are all witnesses to history's play, but few generations see a world-historical figure ascend to its stage.

The media are blind to the moment, but future historians will see. Almost everything in the public sphere is now defined in relation to Donald Trump.

He stood on the dais during his inauguration and practically said, "See all these Republicans and Democrats and their great plans for our country? I'm going to destroy them all and burn down most of what they've built since World War II." No wonder both sides joined hands with the Deep State and attempted to do by coup what Hillary could not. Winning the American presidency is one thing, but shining a bright light on what the American government has become is something else entirely.

Consider how many powerful ideas Donald Trump has cast into the national consciousness. He has exposed both major parties as socialist globalist cults more concerned with government health care and foreign nation-building than a policy for American freedom. He has exposed how free trade can never be free when based on slave labor. He has exposed how the silent destruction of towns across the Midwest came not from China's comparative advantage, but from American companies' use of slavery by proxy. He has redirected investment away from Wall Street and toward Main Street for the first time in over thirty years and has unleashed three decades' worth of pent up entrepreneurial energy in the very towns long deemed dead. He has questioned how the federal government can have any legitimacy if it fails at enforcing its very own immigration laws.

Not one Nobel laureate imagined this American renaissance of GDP and stock market surge, record-low unemployment, wage growth, and low inflation in one bubbling cauldron. It took a change agent. Not one foreign policy mandarin suggested unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of the American oil man in order to destroy our enemies' power over us permanently. It took a change agent. Not one State Department official questioned why the United States was still subsidizing Europe's generous socialist welfare system seventy years after WWII. It took a change agent. Nobody wondered why we were enriching China at our own expense and preparing for a world where a communist dictator would lead. It took Donald Trump.

Without worry or apology, Donald Trump stands before the world with a giant mirror, and the world does not like what it sees. At a time when Western governments have found common cause with murderous dictators in demanding limits to free speech and free minds, Donald Trump goes to Poland and excoriates European socialism as the newest iteration of human bondage. He celebrates the very Western civilization that the West now works to bury. More than anyone on the world stage, he argues for individual freedom as the indispensable ingredient for civilization itself and free nations as the essential bulwark against international governance and tyranny. In speech after speech across the globe, he stands alone and pushes back against the weight of history's currents.

The world has noticed. It is Donald Trump to whom Nigerian Christians turn for survival from Islamic terror. It is Donald Trump who has strengthened Israel by keeping promises his predecessors lacked the fortitude to see through. It is Donald Trump whose name is often whispered by freedom-fighters in Venezuela, whose American flag is respected by regime protesters in Iran, and whose image is waved by thousands demanding freedom in Hong Kong. Nobody clamoring for freedom is waving pictures of Angela Merkel in the air, but in Hong Kong and Taiwan, a photoshopped image of Donald Trump as Rocky Balboa is easy to find. At a time when the German chancellor argues for limiting free expression, those people most desperate to escape China's yoke see the American president as the only fighter who might help set them free. He is our American president, but he belongs to the world now, too.

Because he is actively working to destroy entrenched ideas and institutions, his opposition is clear-eyed and equally aggressive. Rather than the traditional political tug-of-war that pits adverse interests against each other without significant movement toward any direction, President Trump as a world-historical driver of change is engaging in pitched battle with winner-takes-all stakes.

Whether he ultimately succeeds in shifting various equilibriums is irrelevant to his role in history. In victory or defeat, he represents a firm marker against which past and future events will be viewed. What his fiercest adversaries are only now realizing is that Trump has shifted the trajectory of history permanently. He is not operating on their terms; they are all actors in the Trump Era.

How do you go up against an era? That's like going up against a season. Whether you like it or not, summer and winter are with us. No wonder James Carville is afraid.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.

James Carville says Trump is the greatest threat to America since the fall of communism. It is easy to laugh away such a declaration, but I think there is an invaluable truth expressed. Trump is as important in stature as the United States' most formidable military and political opponent of the twentieth century. Trumpism as an ideological force has the mass and acceleration of a Soviet Empire that threatened to conquer the world. Nobody speaks about the Bush Doctrine in such terms. Nobody confuses the Obama Doctrine or the Carter Doctrine as projecting that kind of power. Yet here we are, just three years after the election, and somehow the belittled and mocked hotel owner from Queens has stumbled into creating a movement that matches in strength and potency what took Marx, Lenin, and Stalin over a century to perfect. Consider the fear that Carville and his ilk must harbor about what is to come.