Pastor who demonized Obama as the antichrist calls for end to political demonization of Republicans

A right-wing pastor who literally demonized former President Barack Obama as a precursor to the antichrist responded to the shootings of two Republican lawmakers with a call for political civility.

Megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress, who said he'd vote for "strongman" Donald Trump over Jesus, blamed the shootings of GOP whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) on three of conservatives' most hated enemies.

"This appalling act of violence highlights the fact that the unrelenting demonization of our legitimately elected political leaders could lead to tragedy, and I refer particularly to the mainstream media, our universities and to Hollywood," Jeffress said. "Now is the time to tone it all down, embrace real tolerance, report objectively, and stop provoking our nation to conflict."

Jeffress, pastor of the 12,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas, warned that Obama and LGBT rights would usher in the antichrist in accordance with the biblical prophesy.

"While I am not suggesting that President Obama is the Antichrist," Jeffress said in his 2014 book, Perfect Ending. "The fact that he was able to propose such a sweeping change in God’s law and still win reelection by a comfortable margin illustrates how a future world leader will be able to oppose God’s laws without any repercussions."

Jeffress, who urged Trump to build a wall to keep out immigrants during a sermon ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, told former Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly that Obama's policies were hastening the end of days.

"I’m not saying President Obama is the antichrist," Jeffress said in 2014. "In fact, I’m sure he’s not, because the antichrist is going to have higher poll numbers."