Prophecy is history in advance, thus the perceptive student of prophecy will show an avid interest in news. Since Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the American presidency, the media has been flooded with speculation about his role in the prophetic schema. Is Barack Obama the Antichrist? Is he the One, the Messiah?
TWO BEASTS OF REVELATION 13
There are two beasts described in Revelation 13. The first beast arises out of the sea, while the second beast arises from the earth.
Who or what are these beasts?
The first beast has ten horns; the second beast has two horns, so from here forward I will distinguish between them as the Ten-Horned Beast and the Two-Horned Beast. It is important to know that the total horns are twelve in number.
TEN-HORNED BEAST
Most expositors agree that the Ten-Horned Beast is the Antichrist, a solitary individual who leads a New World Order. This is the same figure I deem the Good Antichrist.
He or she arises out of the sea; i.e. he is a Jew from among the Ten Hebrew Tribes dispersed throughout the world following the invasion of Israel by Assyria in the 6th century B.C.E. The symbolic figure of the sea is interpreted by the Apocalyptic John to mean "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" (Revelation 17:15).
TWO-HORNED BEAST
The Two-Horned Beast arises from the earth; i.e., from the land of Israel. This latter beast is raised to power to assist the first Ten-Horned Beast. What is in Revelation 13 commonly translated "earth" is probably specific to the Promised Land rather than the global earth. It would be understood better if translated "land" instead of "earth".
Revelation 13 makes it clear that the Two-Horned Beast acts as an enforcer for the Ten-Horned Beast, the Good Antichrist. Note that the Two-Horned Beast is already in the Promised Land, which covenantally covers the entire length and breadth of territory between the Nile and Euphrates. It is not clear whether the Two-Horned Beast as an individual at the head of a political power is a Jew or a non-racial Jew in the Land. We know he acts on behalf of the Jews, in concert with the Ten-Horned Beast, to achieve their entry into the Promised Land.
The identity of the Two-Horned Beast is clarified by examining the relationship between the two beast powers, which appears to be a replay of Moses and Aaron. The Good Antichrist is the New Moses. The second Two-Horned Beast is made in the image of Aaron, the brother of Moses.
THE GOOD ANTICHRIST AS THE NEW MOSES
The parallels between Moses and the Good Antichrist are unmistakable.
BOTH EMERGE FROM THE WATER.
Moses: Pharaoh's daughter "called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water" (Exodus 2:10).
The Antichrist: "I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea" (Revelation 13:1).
BOTH CALL OUT THE JEWS.
Exodus 6:6, 11.
Revelation 18:4.
BOTH SING A NEW SONG; THAT IS, THE ACCOUNT OF THEIR SIMILAR, THOUGH UNIQUE, EXPERIENCE.
The Song of Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy at 32:1-43.
The Song of the Antichrist, the Lamb of the book of Revelation: "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Revelation 15:3). See my articles, "The Victory of the Beast, His Image, His Mark, and His Number" (May 2006); "Christ and Antichrist, the Two Lambs" (June 2006).
BOTH MARSHAL JUDGMENTS AND PLAGUES.
Exodus 7:14 - 12:30.
Revelation 15:6ff.
BOTH NUMBER THE CAMP OF ISRAEL.
Exodus 30:12
Revelation 7
BOTH HAVE A LIEUTENANT, WHO ACTS AS SPOKESMAN.
"And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God" (Exodus 4:14-16).
"And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land" (Exodus 7:1, 2).
Revelation 13:11ff.
BOTH ARE CONCERNED WITH SABBATH REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
"And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob" (Exodus 2:23, 24).
"And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens" (Exodus 5:4, 5).
In Revelation 14:7, the First Angel cites language from Exodus 20:11, the Sabbath Commandment.
BOTH EXHIBIT "SIGNS AND WONDERS" TO VALIDATE THEIR AUTHORITY.
Moses: "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 7:3).
The Antichrist: "[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan [Serpent, Revelation 12:9] with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Moses and Aaron exercised power over the serpent:
"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee" (Exodus 4:1-5 ).
"When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent" (Exodus 7:9).
BOTH WIELD A ROD.
"And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs" (Exodus 4:17).
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:15). Also, Revelation 2:27; 12:5.
ANALYSIS
The parallels between Moses and the Good Antichrist are unmistakable. Like Moses, the Good Antichrist is a servant of God. The Good Antichrist is charged with the duty of restoring the Jews to the Promised Land in fulfillment of God's covenant promises. But like Moses, the Good Antichrist does not act alone. Where there is a master, there is also an apprentice. The latter is the Two-Horned Beast, made in the image of Aaron.
It is not clear whether the Two-Horned Beast is a Jew or a non-racial Jew in the Land who acts in concert with the Ten-Horned Beast in the interests of the Jews.
THE MESSIANIC CONUNDRUM
The two beast powers are messianic in so far as they act in concert to restore the Jews to their covenant domains. This fact has led to confusion about the identity and role of famous politicians such as Barack Obama, Tony Blair, or Hillary Clinton.
Is it possible that this Ten-Horned Beast is Barack Obama, Tony Blair, or Hillary Clinton? No. I have written separate articles explaining why these three people are not the Good Antichrist. Their identifying characteristis do not correspond to those derived from a careful analysis of messianic prophecies. These characteristics pertain to gender, lineage, accomplishments, views, and physical description.
Is it possible that this Aaron-like Two-Horned Beast is Barack Obama, Tony Blair, or Hillary Clinton? Yes. Hence, even without a biblical explanation for doing so, people have centered their messianic hopes in Barack Obama. But their enthusiasm ought nevertheless to be tempered by the fact that Obama et al are NOT the One; rather, they are close to the One.
There can be but one messiah at any given time. Consider the lesson we learn from the relationship of Moses and Aaron in Numbers 12:
[1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
[2] And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
[3] (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
[4] And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
[5] And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
[6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
[7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
[8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
[9] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
[10] And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
[11] And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
[12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
[13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
[14] And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
[15] And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
This episode serves as a warning to any Aaron-like power thinking that his own "pride of authorship" entitles him to vie for or otherwise ignore the divinely-appointed and superior leadership of the Good Antichrist. The Good Antichrist alone understand God's will "apparently, and not in dark speeches". This difference is a matter of God's choice and calling.
ECONOMIC CRISIS
A further clue to the identity of the latter, Aaron-like Two-Horned Beast is found in the last few verses of Revelation 13 and the first few verses of Revelation 14. Both beasts appear during a time of economic crisis. The Ten-Horned Beast resurfaces as the Lamb in chapter 14. He is supported by 144,000 servants. The Lamb, aided by these 144,000, takes the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, possibly as his reward for resolving the global economic crisis. The 144,000 may be the Coalition forces currently in the Promised Land, given that Iraq is part of this biblical covenant territory.
Should these assertions stand the test of time, then the person occupying the office of the American presidency would likely be confirmed as the true identity of the Two-Horned Beast found in Revelation 13. Coming from the Christian West, the 144,000 servants would be spiritual- or pseudo-Jews and honorary first-citizens of the new kingdom. In the Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul explains that Christianity is the child of Judaism.
The first beast has ten horns; the second beast has two horns. It is important to know that the total horns are twelve in number. It appears that the unification of these two beasts thus leads to the complete restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel.
MOSES MARRIED AN ETHIOPIAN
It is common for a biblical narrative to hold a prophetic significance. We have to exercise exceeding caution that we not read into a passage a meaning that is not substantiated by sense or reason. However, as a secondary significance to the narrative of Numbers 12, I do not discount the possibility of the New Moses, the Good Antichrist, extending a paternal care over the region east of all Nile rivers (Nile proper, White Nile, and Blue Nile). The African countries (aside from Egypt) impacted by the Nile (Nile proper, White Nile, and Blue Nile) include Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, and Kenya. The last nation is the ethnic homeland of President Barack Obama.
If in fact Barack Obama aspires to the position of the Two-Horned Beast found in Revelation 13, he may want the Good Antichrist to extend his own mandate to include this region if for nothing else than the honor of Obama's own Kenyan heritage.
This region is beset with problems to the future of not only eastern Africa, but also to the Middle East. Al-Qaeda has been active in the Horn of Africa and continues to seek safe haven there in order to spread Islamic revolution. Pirates from Somalia threaten global trade through the Straits of Aden. AIDS, malaria, and economic and governmental stability continue to be problems throughout the region. Lastly, there is the major problem of genocide in Darfur.
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
Since 2002, the United States has sought to combat terrorism in east Africa through Operation Enduring Freedom.
Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA) is the name of the military operation defined by the United States for combating terrorism in the Horn of Africa. It is one component of the overall mission of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The other OEF mission in Africa is known as Operation Enduring Freedom - Trans Sahara (OEF-TS). You can read more about these operations on Wikipedia.
Any involvement by the Good Antichrist in negotiating and enforcing regional stability would necessarily be secondary to the primary mission of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. There are some who have a vested interest in frustrating peace in the Middle East, so further conflicts or issues that distract from the primary mission have to be avoided if extra engagements spreads resources too thinly.
CONCLUSION
Amidst the din of nations, when all comers have exhausted their skills, God has deigned to reveal His peace plan for the Middle East. This plan is the subject of prophecy. Prophecy is history in advance. Prophecy is fulfilling in the events of this our day.
If in fact Barack Obama is the lesser of the two beasts in Revelation 13, who is his superior, the Good Antichrist? We are left wondering.
The stage is set; all actors are in their places. Let the show begin.