Palin Prophecies

Given the interest so many people seem to have had in alleged prophecies about Barack Obama in the Bible, I am really astonished that the same individuals have been so slow to draw attention to the far clearer references in the Bible to another figure in modern politics. As any New Testament scholar can tell you, Palin is mentioned 141 times in the New Testament. Palin, you see, is the Greek word for “again.” But the original meaning has not stopped people from making much of the alleged references to Barack Obama, and so presumably should not be allowed to stand in the way of finding (Sarah) Palin in there too.

Probably the most disturbing such verse is Matthew 4:8, which is usually translated into English as “Again the devil took him…” But using the same principle employed to find “Barack Obama” in the New Testament, we surely ought to translate it as “Palin the devil took him [i.e. Jesus]…” And so those who thought that perhaps they should be worried about Barack Obama, really should be worried about Sarah Palin. Apparently when Jesus famously faced temptations just before starting his public ministry, the devil that tempted him was none other than Sarah Palin! What could be clearer? The Bible says it plainly, does it not? I do hope that, having drawn this to the world’s attention, those who have sought for hints of Barack Obama’s presence in the Bible will now begin to highlight the clear warnings we’ve been given about Palin.

Some New Testament scholars seem to have been prophetically aware of this. A friend recently pointed out to me that Randall Buth published an article back in 1976 in Notes on Translation 61 (pp.32-36), with the title “Mark’s use of palin and its relationship to discourse and plot analysis.” To have recognized the importance of Palin in the New Testament, and the need for analysis of her plot, shows a sensitivity to Scripture’s prophecies about early 21st century politics that are truly impressive indeed. To have done so back in 1976 is truly remarkable.