According to Webster, lemmings are small mouse like creatures….noted for periodic mass migrations from Norway and Sweden.  These migrations sometimes result in the mass drowning of these creatures.  In effect, lemmings commit suicide, en masse.  I know a man who says he’s witnessed one of these events, a migration of lemmings leaping off the cliffs over the Pacific Ocean on Oregon’s coast.  He sees this as a comparative caricature of human self-destruction when duped souls figuratively leap off cliffs based on their ‘group think’ mentality.  He believes people naturally gravitate toward the same type of mass hysteria and mindless behavior.  I agree.  Some group think markers may be sophisticated or subtle, but the effect is the same.  ‘Lemming leaps’ would be just another interesting and curious phenomena in nature if it were not for the clear spiritual lesson the Creator offers in the example of this creature’s behavior.

AARP the Magazine claims it is the “world’s largest circulation magazine”.  The magazine’s six-times-a-year lead articles on ’senior’ citizens are appreciated by the massive population of seniors and others who read the magazine in doctor and auto center waiting rooms.  In the July/August issue film director Ron “Opie” Howard is the featured senior in Meg Grant’s article entitled “Ron Howard’s Revenge”.  Regarding Howard, I remember my disappointment when one of my favorite child actors who played “Opie” of Mayberry chose as an adult to pursue the completion of the film The DaVinci Code.  As the Director, Howard was well aware that many considered the work blasphemous and entirely false.  But he quietly and diplomatically persisted in reaching his goal, citing freedom of expression. 

From the AARP Magazine article are these quotes about the 55 year old “Opie”:

            “Think nice can’t trump vice?  The Angels and Demons Director may take us to the dark side in his films, but his heart’s still in Mayberry.”

            “He’s not just a clean, happy guy,” says his friend and longtime producing partner, Brian Grazer. “He has edge–but no anger.  He understands darkness.”

            “He’s Opie grown up,” says Henry Winkler, who co-starred with Howard on the television series Happy Days in the 1970’s…”  “He’s wise.  He was wise when I first met him.  I think he’s an old soul.  There is a wonderful sense of fairness in Ron”.

            “Howard is self-deprecating, quick to offer a laugh at his own expense.  When asked about his enduring popularity, he deadpans, “I’ve just been around a long time.”  Then his ears seem to perk up, his lips part to reveal that gap-toothed grin, and he bursts out in hearty laughter.”

            “If he has a dark side, I’ve never seen it,” says Winkler.”

            [Cinematographer] Totino insists he has never seen Howard lose his temper.  Which isn’t to say he’s a milquetoast.”

            “…I really do try to live by this pretty simple principle [says Howard]: my folks weren’t formally very religious, but they taught us to follow the golden rule.”

            “Because of his style, Howard engenders tremendous loyalty”, writes Grant.

While admittedly there is no real life connection between the article on Howard and this BLOG post, the “picture” painted of Howard nonetheless offers an excellent parallel to teach about a glaring spiritual error evident in an increasingly expressed obsession –conjecture regarding the anti-christ.  Merely a joke to the millions who don’t even believe there is a real anti-christ, among the professing church in America, discussion of this “instead of messiah” imposter is now a daily mainstay in face to face conversations, on the internet, the radio and television.  It is undeniable this “group think” obsession began in 2008 with the claim that then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama is the future anti-christ. 

As a born again follower of Christ Jesus, a child of the triune God of the Bible, I am ashamed and dismayed that other followers of Christ (and false believers who are tares among the wheat) keep returning over and over again to this obsession, like dogs to their vomit.  Does my displeasure with those who claim Barack Obama is the anti-christ indicate that I believe I know who IS the anti-christ?  No.  And with my limited human understanding do I think I can accurately rule out any particular person as a candidate for the anti-christ?  No.  But I do understand that many are not accurately recognizing the identifying persona and modus operandi of this key end times character revealed in the Scriptures.  This demonically controlled individual has not yet come into public recognition.  Revealing his identity will not be forthcoming until the body of Christ is removed from the earth.   But now the coming prince is not being portrayed as he will present himself when he does arrive and is elevated by those he will deceive.

Lemming-like, duped creatures fail to recognize the decoys Lucifer offers now.  The enemy of our souls is quite pleased to have the masses run off the cliff as they denounce the U. S. President (or any other example) as the anti-christ.  But the irony is, the more the President is denounced and the more he is claimed to have ‘evil motives’, the more he fails to meet the criteria of the henchman of the devil!  Duped lemmings need to reverse their understanding of the coming anti-christ.  He will be entirely loved and trusted.  He will not be someone who engenders the hate leveled against this President.

The profile offered of “Opie grown up” in the magazine article is much more an example of the character that will be displayed by the anti-christ than is the character and operation of any other proposed figure, living or dead.  I have never understood why so many claim dictators such as Herod or Hitler could have been the anti-christ.  By and large, wicked men of the past (or those living today perceived as wicked) do not give us insight as to who the future anti-christ will be.  This deceiver will be perceived by the masses as entirely “good, kind, benevolent  and harmless” — a man most suited to orchestrate world peace.   He will display no character deficits, unlike the many who’ve been wrongly dubbed as this unique individual.

Before any reader leaps to the wrong conclusion, I would not waste my time trying to get anyone to focus on a specific individual as the anti-christ.  I’ve made it clear I do not think President Obama is the anti-christ and I certainly don’t think Ron Howard fits the profile either.  I am interested in encouraging true followers of the Most High God to increase their ability to recognize truth compared to error.  We are called to exercise spiritual discernment.   “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

An accurate understanding of the anti-christ persona and his modus operandi should more likely lead us to suspect true blue ‘golden boys’ as potential candidates.  This individual will be so brilliant and suave and convincing that NO ONE will doubt or criticize him.  He will project an “Opie” like image –not the dark image of someone accused of faking his birthplace.

Learn to discern.  Followers of Christ are of little use in witnessing for truth when they follow the crowd, like lemmings leaping off cliffs.  The anti-christ will have impeccable credentials, not character deficits like King David.  Christians who look for new ’signs’ that the anti-christ is here now only reduce their eternal reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Let us repent and get on with our calling:  witness for the truth of the saving gospel of Christ Jesus.  Lady Lydia