Religious nuts think Oprah is the Antichrist?

The leader of an evangelical Christian group has sparked outrage after branding Oprah Winfrey ‘the Antichrist’.

Mike Bickle, 55, who is head of the International House of Prayer (IHOP), made the controversial statement in a film which was released earlier this week by People for the American Way Right Wing Watch and aired on God TV.

He called the 57-year-old star a ‘forerunner to the Harlot movement’ and ‘utterly deceived’ in the warning to his followers.

He said, ‘I believe that one of the main pastors, as a forerunner to the Harlot movement, it’s not the Harlot movement yet, is Oprah.

‘She is winsome, she is kind, she is reasonable, she is utterly deceived, utterly deceived.

‘A classy woman, a cool woman, a charming woman, but has a spirit of deception and she is one of the clear pastors, forerunners to the Harlot movement.’

Explaining this so-called ‘Harlot Babylon’ in the film, he told viewers that it was a movement that conducted good deeds ‘for all the wrong reasons’.

He said in his speech, ‘The Harlot Babylon is preparing the nations to receive the Antichrist.

‘The Harlot Babylon will be a religion of affirmation, toleration, no absolutes, a counterfeit justice movement. They will feed the poor, have humanitarian projects, inspire acts of compassion for all the wrong reasons.

They won’t know it, beloved they will be sincere, many of them, but their sincerity will not in any way lessen the impact of their deception. The fact that they are sincere does not make their deception less damaging.’

Many were quick to leap to Ms Winfrey’s defence, mocking Mr Bickle’s statements.

A post on Veracity Stew read, ‘Do these people realize the absolute shit that is flying out of their pie-holes and how ridiculous it sounds? Yes! Tolerance, no absolutes, a justice movement, feeding the poor, humanitarian projects…all Satanic!

‘But, this is the inevitable result of the inbreeding between religious fundamentalists and the moneyed powerhouses that are fronting them and, quite frankly, playing them for the pathetic and wretched fools they are.’

Mr Bickle, who founded IHOP in Kansas City 12 years ago with a congregation of 20, is now believed to have tens of thousands of followers.

It is not the first time his statements have sparked controversy. In an interview last week he predicted that ‘the Second Coming will probably happen within the lifetime of people living today.’

He also came under fire recently for supporting Texas Governor Rick Perry in planning a day of prayer, due to take place next month. It is expected to be attended by opponents of abortion and gay rights.

by Lorelle Heath

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