SADDAM AND HIS BUDDY SATAN

A recent story in the New York Times reported that, according to two experts on personality disorders, Saddam Hussein is not a Madman all of us can pass off as insane or psychotic, but he’s actually a "malignant narcissist."

This "severe form of narcissism," according to the May 4 article, gives people an "adeptness at charm and manipulation" that is beyond that of classic narcissists, who are defined as being "grandiose, self-centered, over-sensitive to criticism and unable to feel empathy for others."

"Inordinate narcissism," explains one of the researchers, "is expressed in grandiosity, a confidence in themselves and the assurance that they know what the world needs…They express their aggression in cruel and sadistic behavior against their enemies: whoever does not submit to them or love them."

Saddam’s self-glorification—"that he is Iraq," as the other researcher explains--is combined with a "deep-seated need to reassure himself through public adulation of how magnificent he is."

To me, this sounds like Satan’s M.O., which makes perfect sense given Saddam’s obvious alignment with the "father of all lies."

It’s very interesting to note that Saddam’s self-professed idol and role model is Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon from 604-562 BC and responsible for invading and demolishing Jerusalem, including the Temple built by Solomon, leading to the exile of the Israelites.

But while Saddam comes off as a boob, the AntiChrist, or Satan in the flesh, will fool many as he rises to power to become ruler of the world.

The question is how far off is the AntiChrist when you look at the state of things today? Certainly there are more and more Christians wondering this given the phenomenal and shocking success of the "Left Behind" series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, that "novelizes" the rise of the AntiChrist and End Times bible prophecy. The latest installment, "Armageddon," in fact, tops the current New York Times Bestsellers List for hardcover fiction.

When I was a kid, I remember it being a real big deal when Hal Lindsey’s "Late Great Planet Earth" (published in 1970) made the bestseller’s list. If you remember, Lindsey referred to us as the "Terminal Generation," and indicated strongly that the end of the world would play out in our lifetime.

Cleaning out my dad’s basement full of books after his death, I found and kept a book from the ’50s, called "Your Bible and You," in which the writer suggests in his opening paragraphs that things were out-of-control enough to make one wonder if the Latter Days weren’t imminent.

"Never have people been so afraid of the future," writes author Arthur S. Maxwell, quoting an editor’s column in U.S. News & World report in which David Lawrence wrote, "Man talks often nowadays of the universal destruction that hangs over him. In the vocabulary of the times, ‘international suicide’ is the phrase used by governmental spokesmen to describe the menace that threatens our lives and our civilizations. Peoples everywhere are terrorized now by the possibility that missiles of destruction can be hurled at them from globe-girdling devices of incredible power."

I was surprised to read in one of my research books about the Bible that the Apostle Paul actually thought he was seeing the makings of the latter days!

Notice what he wrote in II Timothy 3: 1-8 and how it correlates with what we’re seeing today:

[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
[6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
[8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

Footnote:

A book I found invaluable in helping me understand Biblically who Satan is and how he works is called "Satan and His Plan of Evil," and can be purchased through the website www.EnjoyTheBible.org