President especially enjoys sweeping approval ratings and strong support from white evangelicals, who make up a significant part of his MAGA base, new polling shows
This. Trump literally fits the description of an “antichrist” (lowercase; one of a type) and many of the traits of the definite article (the specific Antichrist) described in the Bible.
But then they’re not expecting to be the ones deceived by an antichrist.
Even if he’s the antichrist, it’s still God’s plan by definition of the term “God” literally. The only question is if God exists or not. Or for me the question rather is if God’s existence matters or not.
I’d suggest it depends on whether one assumes we have free will or not.
My understanding of the Bible is that humanity has free will and so there are lots of things that happen that technically aren’t God’s will or plan (e.g. John 3:16 is pretty well known as mentioning God not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to have eternal life, but then there’s also the Great White Throne Judgement in Revelation where there are definitely some who are cast into the Lake of Fire - the second death). There’s a good argument to be made as well for the prophetic parts of the Bible not being “God’s will” but simply the result of Him being outside time and space and hence knowing what the result of humanity’s free will will be.
So no, I don’t think the Antichrist is part of God’s plan per se; rather, God knows there will be an Antichrist and that’s given as a warning so people 1) aren’t deceived by him and 2) know that God can handle him (in Revelation it ends badly for the Antichrist).
I guess that depends on how you define those terms - being omnipotent wouldn’t necessarily require the exercise of that power, whilst “all-loving” would depend on whether you consider allowing people free will and hence the ability to reject God to be loving or not.
This. Trump literally fits the description of an “antichrist” (lowercase; one of a type) and many of the traits of the definite article (the specific Antichrist) described in the Bible.
But then they’re not expecting to be the ones deceived by an antichrist.
Obligatory Ben Corey
I remember reading that in Trump’s first term.
It’s even more unsettling now.
Even if he’s the antichrist, it’s still God’s plan by definition of the term “God” literally. The only question is if God exists or not. Or for me the question rather is if God’s existence matters or not.
I’d suggest it depends on whether one assumes we have free will or not.
My understanding of the Bible is that humanity has free will and so there are lots of things that happen that technically aren’t God’s will or plan (e.g. John 3:16 is pretty well known as mentioning God not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to have eternal life, but then there’s also the Great White Throne Judgement in Revelation where there are definitely some who are cast into the Lake of Fire - the second death). There’s a good argument to be made as well for the prophetic parts of the Bible not being “God’s will” but simply the result of Him being outside time and space and hence knowing what the result of humanity’s free will will be.
So no, I don’t think the Antichrist is part of God’s plan per se; rather, God knows there will be an Antichrist and that’s given as a warning so people 1) aren’t deceived by him and 2) know that God can handle him (in Revelation it ends badly for the Antichrist).
Makes sense somehow but then God isn’t omnipotent and/or all loving so looks like a contradiction to me. Or maybe he just gave up on humanity?
I guess that depends on how you define those terms - being omnipotent wouldn’t necessarily require the exercise of that power, whilst “all-loving” would depend on whether you consider allowing people free will and hence the ability to reject God to be loving or not.