CHRIST-APP by philtierneyblog

IX

In the previous segment I applied the traits of previous antichrist types to the words and actions of President Donald Trump.  I concluded that he has demonstrated virtually all of the character traits and modes of operation of previous versions of antichrists. That evidence provides only enough information to conclude that he has shown himself to be similar in character and methodology to other aspiring autocrats and tyrants throughout history.  But not all autocrats and tyrants have been antichrists.  We need more evidence to arrive at a verdict.  And that evidence can only come from the literature from which the idea of Antichrist originated – the Bible.  Let’s apply what we saw in the biblical stories to President Trump, then.

First, permit me to mention that quote from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians, once again.  I reiterate these verses for the sake of those who might otherwise question the legitimacy of my application of the traits Satan or the serpent in the Garden to a suspected antichrist.  This is what Paul wrote:  “The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) 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,and all the ways that wickedness uses to deceive those who are perishing.”                    (2 Thessalonians 2: 9& 10) 

This clearly links the way antichrists operate with how Satan operated in those stories.  In light of that, let’s recall how Satan behaved in those stories from Genesis, Job and the Gospels.

• He is conniving and purposeful, like the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  Donald Trump has consistently demonstrated an uncanny capacity to connive what would be in his tactical interests to accomplish his purposes.
• He camouflages himself in his surroundings, like the serpent in the Garden.  Donald Trump has completely identified himself with members of working class even though he has never been one and has consistently taken advantage of them in his work.  Likewise, he has done the same with military personnel even though he avoided military service himself. 
• He ensnares and poisons others, like the serpent.  Donald Trump captivates followers by putting into words their worst fears and poisons their minds with the most malicious language.
• He contorts his positions tactically, like the serpent.  Donald Trump frequently changes his positions on issues so as to frame them in ways that serve tactical advantage.
• He lies and is duplicitous, like the serpent.  By the end of 2019, Donald Trump lied to the public more than 15,257 times.  He publicly lied, on average, more than 15 times per day, during his first 1,000 days as President of the U.S.  He lies compulsively, even with no apparent need to lie. Everyone remembers the time when he had a meteorological map changed to mask one of his public lies.
• He deceives, like the serpent.  Donald Trump constantly presents information via Twitter in such ways as to manipulate his followers and assassinate other people’s characters on false pretences.  He manipulates information in order to promote himself. 
• He contradicts facts, like the serpent.  Donald Trump has consistently contradicted the facts of climate change that virtually all scientists have agreed upon.  He has consistently contradicted the findings of the entire U.S. Intelligence community. And he passes on conspiracy theories to advantage himself.
• He distorts information, like the serpent.  Donald Trump has claimed that the crowds at his inauguration were the largest ever even though they were not.  He consistently claims that he has grown the U.S. economy more than anyone ever has though he has not.
• He appeals to baser desires of self-interest, like the serpent.  Donald Trump evokes white working class men by blaming immigrants for their economic condition and stirs their resentments of women and people of color. He calls progressives evil and that feeds Evangelicals’ historic bias against other Christians.
• He divides, like the serpent.  He is the source of and exacerbates divisions among friends, family members, Americans and nations.  He accentuates differences between Americans in ways that divide and antagonize.
• He disrupts relationships, like the serpent and Satan in the story of Job.  Donald Trump, throughout his presidency, has sought to disrupt not only trade relations, but historic alliances between the U.S. and the other countries in NATO.  He has tried to disrupt relations within the E.U., as well.
• He relishes conflict, like Satan in the story of Job.  Everyone is aware that Donald Trump enjoys pitting advisors against each other.  He attacks others via Twitter to intensify conflict.
• He antagonizes to provoke adversity, like Satan in the story of Job.  Donald Trump is famous for calling people derogatory names.  He has cast aspersions on the faith of Senator Romney and Speaker Pelosi, as Satan spoke to God of Job.
• He tries to use God’s words to manipulate others, like Satan in the Wilderness.  Donald Trump employs the terms of Evangelical leaders to galvanize their support.
• He uses religious images to lure, like Satan in the Wilderness.  Donald Trump claims to have saved Christmas and that he will save Thanksgiving, as well.
• He offers control to gain control, using quid quo pro tactics to seduce and entrap religious people, like Satan in the Wilderness.  Donald Trumphas entered into a quid pro quo contractual relationship with white Evangelical and Charismatic Protestants, not to give them all the kingdoms of the world as Satan offered to Jesus, but to give them everything on their prayer list if they, in turn, will pledge their complete allegiance to him.  That includes promises to place only judges on courts who will rule in their favor on abortion, same-sex marriage, prayer in schools, public funding of religious schools, unimpeachable tax-exemption, as well as the unconditional support of Israel and recognition of Jerusalem its capitol in exchange for absolute support for him and his actions.
• He deceives the faithful to imagine that he is an instrument of God, like Satan in the Wilderness.  Donald Trump is using the aforementioned policies to deceive some Christians to believe that he is God’s instrument in order to gain their faith in his power.
• He seduces others to trust in him to attain their hopes and, thereby, drive a wedge between them and God in the process, like Satan in the Garden and in the Wilderness.  Donald Trump wants fame.  He wants acclaim.  He wants uncontested power.  He wants adulation.  The more he receives, the more he craves.  
• He magnifies his own influence, power and control, like Satan in the Wilderness.  He has shown that he is willing to use anything to accumulate control and to promote himself.
• He demands undivided loyalty and unmitigated praise. Donald Trump has demonstrated his demand for absolute loyalty by his use of people and his willingness to destroy those whose dedication to honesty, integrity or the nation surpass their devotion to him.
• He stokes hatred and divides people, which is opposite from the fruit of Love.  Donald Trump divides people and stokes hatred by what and the ways he says what he does at rallies and on Twitter. 
• He takes pleasure in the misfortunes of perceived adversaries, which is opposite of the fruit of Joy.  Donald Trump expressed pleasure at the death of John McCain and hoped that he’d go to hell.  He publicly stated, sarcastically, how it was too bad that the home of Elijah Cummings had been broken into, and then while he was fighting the grave illness that eventually resulted in his death, described Cummings as “racist” and “a brutal bully,” charging that he “has done a very poor job” representing his constituents and “has failed badly!”
• He expresses animosity toward others, which is the opposite of the fruit of Peace.  Donald Trump is a bully and has called more than 125 people derogatory names and has impugned their character.  Like Satan, he is a constant accuser.
• He is intolerant, which is theopposite of the fruit of Patience.  Donald Trump rarely puts forward individuals for permanent positions in the U.S. government because he fires appointees so frequently.  He does not tolerate disloyalty or anyone who reflects badly on him.  He castigates anyone different from himself.
• He is filled with anger and hostility toward those who are different, which is opposite of the fruit of Forbearance.  Donald Trump is famous for his fits of rage.
• He is mean-spirited, which is the opposite of Kindness.  Donald Trump removes from the poor and gives to the rich.  He takes advantage of adversity.  He hounds those he hates, including Jeff Sessions, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, and Jim Comey among others.
• He is corrupt, which is opposite of the fruit of Goodness.  Donald Trump tried to hold the next G7 Summit at one of his own resorts.  He has promoted his “International” hotel in Washington, D.C. to foreign diplomats. He has used tax-payer money to fund his frequent visits to his own golf resorts. He tried to extort negative testimony from Ukraine about the Bidens in exchange for military aid.
• He is disloyal and stokes fear, which is the opposite of the fruit of Faithfulness.  While demanding absolute loyalty from others, Donald Trump has no loyalty to those who have served him: Michael Cohen, Jeff Sessions, General Kelly, Rex Tillerson and others.  He not only fired them, but derided them afterwards.
• He is harsh and unforgiving, which is opposite of the fruit of Gentleness.  Donald Trump has demonstrated absolutely no appreciation for forgiveness.  He neither believes that he has the need of forgiveness from God or anyone else, nor does he offer forgiveness to anyone else if they disappoint him or reflect badly on him.
• He is vengeful, which is the opposite of Grace.  Donald Trump has devoted himself to carrying out vendettas on anyone who provided truthful information under oath to Congress.  For example, he immediately fired the Director of National Intelligence for reporting facts to Congress, as well as Colonel Vindman and his brother (who did not testify).
• He is impulsively self-indulgent, which is opposite from the fruit of Self-control.  Although he criticized his predecessor for playing too much golf while president, Donald Trump has impulsively retreated to his one or other of his resorts to play golf 267 times during 145 weeks of his presidency, costing 130 million dollars in taxpayer funds.
• He is a pretender and makes claims that are God-like or Christ-like: Chosen One, Anointed One, Messiah.  This, alone, distinguishes a false Christ, an antichrist, from other despots.
• Like Satan, Donald Trump’s goals seem to include deception, division, power, fear, control, and personal adulation.

This is the biblical evidence for deductively tracing an antichrist. I’d like to invite you to ponder the evidence and reach your own conclusion.  What is your verdict on the basis of the comprehensive evidence?