Author: Brian M. Rossiter

(I have recently started a YouTube channel where I will be discussing narcissism regularly. Check this out and stay up on the content!)

For those keeping up with my blogs, you know that I have been intensely railing against Satan and his followers for some time now.

There are numerous reasons for this. One is that I believe the Satanic Age is fully emerging before our very eyes. Yes, Satan has long been the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) and has been ruling over it since the Fall of Man. However, his ownership is nearing completion. I know this because the people of this world openly pay homage to Satan in every way possible, and many of our own children unknowingly worship him in broad daylight.

They hide nothing these days. They don’t need to, because most of the world can’t see it and the few who do barely care.

(Don’t believe me? Just start with this blog to see our leaders and celebrities serving Satan, and this blog to see how our children unknowingly do so.)

With that said, perhaps the most pressing reason I am all over this matter is that we need to understand the evil we are dealing with: really understand it.

If we don’t grasp the breadth and depth of our greatest enemy, how can we ever hope to battle him?

This also means understanding his human pawns that seek to destroy the faithful. It is precisely that aim that has inspired this blog. You see, a major part of the Satanic Age being present among us is the rise in truly evil individuals. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 summarizes this perfectly:

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

To be sure, there is no shortage of evil people and there never has been. However, these behaviors are clearly on the rise. In fact, my own experience and research has recently led me to understand that there is a sect of individuals who literally epitomize the Satanic characteristics in our world.

They are not the only ones sold out to the Evil One but, again, they most perfectly exemplify his traits.

The word “Christian” literally means “Christ ones” or even “little Christs.” True Christians, then, imitate Christ’s actions and characteristics, reflecting his light to the people of the world. Likewise, I now understand that Satan has a counter group that imitate his actions and characteristics, reflecting his complete darkness to the people the world. They can appropriately be called “little Satans” or, as I am calling them, “Satan’s foot soldiers.”

These individuals have a name and belong to a group. You are probably familiar with this name, but almost certainly don’t understand what it really means. Nevertheless, here it comes. Who is this group I am referring to? Who are Satan’s foot soldiers? This is what we might call them . . .

Narcissists.

Yes, narcissists. If you are immediately thinking of someone adoring themselves in the mirror and acting grandiose, then you are only getting about 1% of the picture. There is much, much more to this. As I will discuss, not only are narcissists a race of their own, but they are perhaps the most terrifying human beings on the planet. A bold statement, I know, but I sincerely mean it.

Allow me to explain.

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What is a Narcissist?

In ancient Greek mythology, there was once a man who was handsome and appealing beyond compare. Though he naturally had many admirers, no one could ever quite live up to his expectations. That is, until he came upon his own image while gazing into a pool of water. He found himself to be so striking that, as legend has it, he spent the remainder of his life fawning over himself near that same pool.

This man’s name was Narcissus.

I’m sure you immediately connected the dots and have gathered that this very name has given us the word “narcissist.” At its core, this means that a narcissist is “one who is in love with themselves.” But there is far more to it in our day and age.

Contrary to what most of us think—and what I used to think—narcissists are not simply prideful individuals who adore fancy things and are obsessed with appearances. These are not people who merely fell in love with their own image, as in the tale of Narcissus. To be sure, these characteristics are often true of narcissists.

The larger reality, however, is that narcissism is a very serious and full-blown “personality disorder,” called “narcissistic personality disorder” (NPD).

Psychologists and other mental health professionals have long classified it as such. This means that narcissists can be diagnosed with this disorder and treated (to a very small degree). I am not going to go into the weeds on how this is diagnosed, or even what every single definition of the disorder might be. Not only would this require a dozen blogs (or more), but I do not personally even see narcissism as a “personality disorder.” I will return to this point later.

For now, let me get into the meat of describing who these little slices of heaven really are. The characteristics below do not apply to every narcissist on the planet but are generally present within people of this ilk.

*Keep in mind that, for someone to be a narcissist, they need to show these traits as a pattern of behavior. They will consistently display these things, unlike healthy individuals who will only occasionally show some of them.

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Characteristics of a Narcissist

Characteristic #1: They Have no Empathy

As mentioned, not all these traits describe every narcissist. However, this particular one is essentially universal. Nearly every mental health professional familiar with narcissism agrees with this statement: narcissists lack all sense of empathy.

Empathy involves the ability to relate to someone else’ s pain or suffering. In short, those without empathy do not—and often cannot—have a genuine personal investment in anyone besides themselves. Chances are, those without empathy can fake having it and may even seem deeply compassionate or concerned to those who don’t truly know them. Most types of narcissists, especially the covert variety, are masters at feigning a personal interest in others.

But it’s just that: an act.

The truth is that narcissists could not begin to care less about the situations of those around them. Ironically, this is especially true of the individuals who are closest to the narcissist. Complete strangers are typically treated far better than a spouse or child in these twisted relationships.

To the narcissist, people are completely disposable, and they only matter in so much as they provide resources—often called “supply”—for them. This is precisely why they can (and will) destroy any relationship like they are turning the pages of a book. Essentially, they are utterly cold-hearted.

They lack all empathy and never truly care.

Characteristic #2: They are Unapologetic

Another key characteristic of narcissists is that they are virtually never apologetic. This, of course, goes hand in hand with lacking empathy. If you never truly care or relate to the needs of others, then it will not matter if you hurt them.

In researching, I have come across literally countless testimonies of individuals who spent years, decades, or even their entire lives enslaved to a narcissistic partner or family member. Virtually all of them report that they have never once received a sincere apology for anything. Whether it’s cheating, mental or physical abuse, gaslighting, or a host of other horrors, narcissists will never apologize.

In fact, narcissists frequently cause what it called “reactive abuse,” which means they forced another into finally blowing their lids and lashing out. Disgustingly enough, narcissists are infamous for pushing their partners into “going off” and then recording them doing so. This way, the narcissist can turn the tables and make it look like they are being mistreated. This is one of many sick acts they regularly execute.

To apologize would require accepting blame and being able to introspectively evaluate their behavior. Neither of which are possible for the narcissist. It’s true—they are totally unapologetic.

Characteristic #3: They are Manipulative

It is no stretch to say that, for the narcissist, every free moment is spent finding ways to manipulate those around them. No one—not children, romantic partners, parents, friends, business associates, etc.—can satisfy them. Likewise, no one is safe from their assaults. Just as it was with Narcissus in the Greek tale, no one is ever worthy. If you have pinpointed someone in your life as a narcissist, understand that there is no happy ending. They are not going to change.

Because of this insatiable thirst for more, narcissists will coerce others into becoming their servants.

There are several primary ways they do this. The first is through “love-bombing,” or the “euphoric stage” of the relationship. If it’s romantic, this is when they do nothing but sing your praises and convince you that you’re the best human being to ever grace the earth. This involves intimate acts, yes, but is even more predicated on constantly affirming one’s worth. In business, your narcissistic boss might tell everyone how fast you are picking things up, how hard a worker you are, and that you’re just what the department needs. In friendship, they may buy you things and offer to be that perfect sounding board you really need at the time.

You get the idea.

However, these are all forms of manipulation. Once they have lured you in and hooked you, the mask will drop, and “Mr. Hyde” will now come out to play. You’ll find yourself obsessed with the euphoric stage and trying desperately to get back. All along, they begin devaluing you and absorbing your time, money, and resources.

Another way the manipulation is accomplished is through the trifecta of gaslighting, projecting, and deflecting. I am going to talk more in depth about these strategies in the next article or two, so I won’t go farther into them now. Suffice it to say that making one doubt their reality, casting their own problems onto others, and wriggling out of all blame and/or responsibility are their greatest—though far from only—methods of manipulation.

For the narcissist, every person or event is an opportunity to manipulate.

Characterisic #4: They are Liars

It probably goes without saying that narcissists are liars.

They consistently lie about their whereabouts, who they are talking to or messaging, how they are spending their time, whether they are being faithful or not, and so many other things. Meanwhile, they will accuse you of doing the very things they are in fact doing. Projection, remember?

There is more to this though.

Narcissists not only lie incessantly to others but also to themselves. In fact, their entire lives are spent running away from themselves. The harsh reality is that these individuals truly loathe and despise who they are. There is so much insecurity and pain within them, and this is truly sad. They have typically endured and dished out more trauma in their lives than most of us can ever fathom.

They hate themselves, plain and simple. However, since they are also completely incapable of taking responsibility—in part because of the pain involved in doing so—their entire goal is to turn others into the person they hate the most: themselves. I will describe this more at the conclusion of this blog. The point is, their entire lives are spent lying to themselves about everything: who they are, who you are, how the world works, and anything else. They literally live in their own created fantasy world, where they are the only character that matters, and they operate accordingly.

Narcissists cannot live in the truth, or in reality at all. They are liars.

Characteristic #5: They are Stealthy

This trait is what really makes the machine run. This is what enables the narcissist to be, well, a narcissist.

Those who seek to deal genuine damage to others have long understood that there are two ways to do it, and that one is far more successful than the other. You can 1) Openly assert your agenda and immediately trigger their alarm bells or you can 2) Hide your true intentions and ensnare others in your schemes before they know what hit them.

Which do you think works better? Which option do you suppose the narcissist utilizes?

Obviously, it’s option #2. Very few destructive individuals ever announce their coming with bells, whistles, and a parade. I already mentioned the reason, which is that people would run the other way. It’s too obvious. At best, evil individuals might tease their intentions as a means of throwing it in our faces—as their way of being grandiose and arrogant—as the global elites did before the virus outbreak of 2020.

But I digress . . .

Yes, damage is best done by cloaking evil intentions with the garments of virtue. No human being—and I mean no one—understands this better than a narcissist. They are your best new friend. They are the newly found “love of their lives,” and the one who can finally save and protect them. You are their “greatest employee,” the “best son or daughter,” or the “only one who has ever really understood them.”

And them? That’s easy. They are the man or woman “of your dreams.” They are your “soulmate.” They are the most amazing boss, neighbor, or parent in all human history. They will help you get over your divorce, the loss of your home, your past trauma, and all the like. Your best interest is the only thing that matters.

Doubt it not!

You see, they will first appear to be good, caring, considerate, virtuous, empathetic, worthy, trustworthy, and consistent. After you believe all this, they will remove the mask . . . only to pull it back out whenever you begin to doubt any part of the described façade.

Make no mistake: narcissists are extremely stealthy.

Characteristic #6: They are Powerful

Only with the previous characteristics in place would this one make sense. Indeed: narcissists are very powerful.

You might expect me to make a disclaimer here and, in truth, I considered it. The disclaimer would have been that narcissists are just people, and so they have no more spiritual power than anyone else. After serious contemplation, I decided to override my initial thoughts on the matter.

Narcissists do possess spiritual abilities that many others do not have. I am not convinced that their manipulative skills are derived from a greater intellectual ability, or anything of the sort. Quite the contrary. Most narcissists are petulant children trapped in adult bodies. That’s a fact. If you have ever dealt with one for any length of time, you understand this.

Just as the followers of Christ possess a very real spiritual power, so do the followers of Satan. Now, here is the disclaimer: the two powers are nowhere near equal.

Still, narcissists can camouflage themselves and blend in as one of the “good guys.” They can subtly creep into our lives—even those of us who truly follow Christ—and wreak havoc in myriad ways. They can effortlessly destroy those without a moral compass or any inner strength. They can turn brother against sister, child against child, co-worker against co-worker, and friend against friend.

Their power should never be underestimated.

With that said—and hear this—they cannot overcome those who know Christ any more than Satan can overthrow God.

Satan’s Foot Soldiers

If you read my last blog concerning the 6 characteristics of Satan (and his followers), you may be connecting the dots. Yes . . . the 6 characteristics I described about Satan are the very same characteristics that epitomize the narcissist. The order may vary for the sole sake of these articles, but the traits are exactly the same.

This, dear friends, is not coincidental.

Narcissists destroy in the same way that Satan does, because they are one in spirit.

They do this, however, in a deeply psychological and evil way. The goal of a narcissist is to take a person, project their problems onto them, then blow that straw man up to soothe themselves. They literally turn you into them, then demolish “themselves.” In doing things this way, they do not personally suffer damage because it’s you who is suffering and not them.

You have now become (to them) everything they hate about themselves, so they can set fire to you physically, mentally, and certainly spiritually.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. One by one, they cycle through unsuspecting individuals and attempt to lead them into the pit. And here’s the thing: it often works.

They will devour your time, money, energy, relationships, and yes, they will absolutely demolish your faith. They do so intentionally most of the time, which tells me that we are not dealing with a “mental disorder” but with a “spiritual disorder.” Narcissists are social parasites—energy vampires—who suck the life out of you and leave you for dead. Sometimes, this is a literal event. Countless lives have been destroyed and innumerable suicides have taken place because of these Satanic creatures.

If you know people who fit the descriptions above, then I strongly urge you to better educate yourselves about narcissism. Further, you really need to distance yourself from this person—or these people—in very quick fashion. They are walking nightmares: evil on two legs. Like their dark master, they seek only the ruination of souls. They are perhaps the chief opponents of Christ and his followers.

They are Satan’s foot soldiers.

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If you have not read about the 6 Characteristics of Satan (and his followers), go back and check out that article! Also see my recent article on narcissism and on the evil nature of toxic behavior.

The title of this blog is self-evident, so I will offer little in the way of an introduction. Furthermore, I have a lot to say in this one, so I want to dive right in.

It is on the longer side, yes, but I truly believe it is well worth the time spent reading it. For those who are willing to do so, I hope you will agree.

Let’s get to my 6 characteristics of Satan and his followers.

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1. Characteristic #1: Satan is Powerful

I don’t need to wax poetic to prove this point, or even offer my own insights. The biblical authors were clear about Satan’s power. In the Book of Job, Satan performs all manner of wonders to sabotage Job’s life. Satan took Job’s livestock, murdered his servants, destroyed his land, demolished his reputation, and even murdered his ten children in one fowl swoop (Job 1-2).

He then struck Job with sores on his body and turned his own wife against him (2:7-9). Finally, he sent three insidious “comforters”—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—in an attempt to gaslight him and warp his mind. But notice the power exhibited, here. Satan was not only able to destroy so many lives but was also able to cause fire to rain down from heaven (1:16) and whirlwinds to appear at will (1:18-19).

This is a truly powerful being—make no mistake about it.

We also know that Satan famously tempted Jesus—the incarnate Son of God—at the onset of his ministry. There, Satan went so far as to say this:

“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours” (Lk. 4:5-7).

While Satan is the “Father of Lies” (Jn. 8:44), he wasn’t lying about owning all the kingdoms of the world.

Paul and Jesus both go so far as to state that Satan has ownership over our world, in its currently fallen state. Paul called him the “ruler of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4). He also called Satan the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Jesus called him the “ruler of this world” (Jn. 14:30).

Satan is not God, and he does not win the war; be certain of that. However, Satan is a being—a fallen angel—who possesses immense power. For now . . .

• Characteristic #2: Satan is Stealthy

While Job discovered that Satan’s power can be rather overt, he typically works behind the scenes. This does not mean that he wants to appear absent. It is said that “the greatest trick Satan ever performed was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” I disagree. Satan’s greatest trick is convincing the world that he is God.

The Bible is clear that Satan wants to be worshipped, not ignored. This was evident in his appeal to have Jesus bow down and worship him (Lk. 4:5-7), and in Isaiah’s description of Lucifer—yes, the Hebrew language uses that term—as the “son of the morning.” Lucifer wants to “ascend to the heavens,” “sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,” and make himself “like the Most High” (Is. 14:13-14). More could be said, but this is not the desire of someone who wants to go completely unnoticed.

Rather, it’s the desire of one who wants to be worshipped and adored.

What I mean by “stealthy,” then, is that he does not make his plans known at the onset. Again, his attempt is not to go unnoticed. Satan, after all, “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Hear this—Satan’s efforts are to blend in as one of the good guys. Everything is camouflaged to mask his true intentions; everything is a smokescreen.

That is, until he has successfully roped his victims into the net of corruption. As Al Pacino—while playing Satan, of course—remarked on the movie, The Devil’s Advocate: “You gotta keep yourself small: innocuous. Be the little guy . . . I’m a surprise . . . they don’t see me coming.”

They clearly derived these sentiments from personal knowledge of Satan’s strategies. Lucifer is stealthy—you don’t see him coming.

• Characteristic #3: Satan is Manipulative

Another one of Satan’s key characteristics is that he is manipulative. Consider again the temptation of Jesus, but this time look at exactly how Satan tempted him.

The first temptation was of basic need: food. Jesus, having been in the wilderness for forty days and nights, had not eaten in that time and was beyond famished. Satan knew this, so he used this need against Jesus, offering him bread (Lk. 4:3). However, he did so by trying to manipulate Jesus’ divine ability:

“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (4:3).

Next, Satan attempted to manipulate Jesus’ understanding of his purpose and power. By showing him the kingdoms of the world and offering them to Jesus—again, wanting worship—Satan wanted to make Jesus believe that things aren’t as they seem. Jesus—the Creator and Son of God—didn’t really have ultimate ownership over the world. Taking the occasion when Jesus was struggling in human form, he tried to gaslight him into believing something different about his own purpose and power (Lk. 4:5-7).

Finally, he clearly attempted to manipulate Jesus into abusing his power. By tempting him to jump off the top of the temple and have the angels rescue him (Lk. 4:9), Satan was trying to manipulate Jesus into abusing his divine authority and forsake his mission.

But don’t miss this point; note that Satan also quoted Scripture in his manipulative plans (Lk. 4:10-11). There is no clearer sign of manipulation than subverting the very words Jesus inspired through Scripture!

Hmm . . . do any people ever do that?

Lastly, after the temptation, Scripture reveals even further how manipulative Satan really is:

“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time” (4:13).

Satan picks his times and attacks when we are at our weakest points. In this, he proves that he is also a complete coward.

Let’s not miss the point here though. Friends, understand that these examples are all sophisticated forms of “gaslighting.” Satan loves to create manipulative scenarios that cause others to doubt their understanding of reality, thus turning the situation to his favor. Everything and everyone are a means to an evil end.

He knows the best times to take advantage of us, as well as all the right buttons to press. Satan is truly manipulative.

• Characteristic #4: Satan is a Liar

This one does not need a great deal of explanation, particularly because Jesus directly told us that Satan is the “Father of Lies.” But let’s look at the full statement, for emphasis:

“. . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44).

There is no truth in Satan. Lying is as easy for him as changing the TV channel is for us. In fact, he cannot help but lie.

Think about his first lie, the Big One. Upon hearing God’s command to Adam and Eve that eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would result in death, Satan (the serpent) said this:

“You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5).

This, of course, worked. Lies have tremendous power to destroy and no one knows that better than Lucifer. Here, he was able to completely subvert the truth. Not only would Adam and Eve not die, but they would in fact “be like God” Himself: eternal and ageless.

This also illustrate Satan’s ability to project his desires onto others. Satan desires to be like God, so it’s logical that he would project that outcome onto others. Projection is perhaps the strongest and most potent form of lying and, once again, Satan is the Father of projection. Satan can, does, and must lie.

• Characteristic #5: Satan has no Empathy

Recall from earlier the incredible damage inflicted upon Job. Satan destroyed countless servants, livestock, property, and even Job’s sons and daughters. All this was done to prove another lie, which is that Job served God only because of his incredible wealth and blessings.

Jesus walked in this world as one of us, being both fully human and fully divine. Because of this, he understands our human condition and can perfectly empathize with it. Jesus can put himself in our shoes and genuinely care because 1) He walked in our shoes and 2) His nature is to care. The author of Hebrews described this reality perfectly when he said:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (4:15).

Satan, on the other hand, can neither sympathize nor empathize with anyone. His heart is calloused. Destruction is the name of the game. Everyone is disposable, and he cares nothing for other beings, even those who worship him.

Satan decimated Job’s life and murdered those around him. He asked to “sift” all the apostles “as wheat” (Lk. 22:31). He tried to derail Jesus from his mission during the Temptation, afterwards through Peter (Mt. 16:23), and then ultimately succeeded in murdering Christ through corrupting Judas (Lk. 22:3). Presently, he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

For Satan, it’s win at all costs . . . even though he knows he can’t (discussed next).

Imagine the callousness it takes to destroy the lives of innocent people at will without having the slightest concern. Satan has no problem with it. Pure callousness. Unbridled cruelty. No depths are too low and no lengths are too far.

Satan is completely pitiless. Completely. There is no remorse, no regret, and no empathy.

• Characteristic #6: Satan is Unapologetic

Along these lines, Satan also has no ability to be apologetic. This may seem obvious, or even irrelevant to you. But let me explain.

Of all beings in existence, Satan understands the power of God. He knows who his Creator is and knows that he, himself, can create nothing. Lucifer understands how this will all play out and that he will inevitably lose. His future is Gehenna, the lake of burning fire.

He knows this for certain, yet he persists. He persists in his mission to destroy God’s good Creation and all those who serve the Lord. He knows he will go down but, rather than repent, Satan opts to “go down swinging.”

Like the Balrog on the Fellowship of the Ring, Satan wants only to take others down with him. His bitterness and hatred are all he has left.

This, friends, is the true face of evil.

To again quote Pacino from The Devil’s Advocate: “Freedom, baby . . . is never having to say you’re sorry.” This is truly Satan’s motto. As the movie also says—while quoting Milton’s Paradise Lost—Satan would rather “reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”

He would rather be destroyed than repent. Satan is completely unapologetic.

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Satan in his Followers

I have recently done a deep dive into the characteristics of those possessing “narcissistic personality disorder” (NPD), particularly the less obvious—but probably more dangerous—covert variety. For those unfamiliar with this, please take a few minutes to review this video. Your own well-being, or that of a loved one, could depend upon understanding these individuals, who are seemingly everywhere these days.

(I plan to discuss the sadistic nature of narcissism in our world in upcoming blogs, so stay tuned for this.)

My point in bringing this up now is simple: people with NPD are rampant, and they perfectly illustrate how Satan’s characteristics come out in the people of this world.

• Q. Remember how I said that Satan’s true desire is to be worshipped and adored? Well, who does that sound like? A. A narcissist.
• Q. What kind of people constantly operate with stealth, seeking always to manipulate others? A. A narcissist.
• Q. Who relies entirely upon a façade—a “mask”—and lives their life by stacking one lie upon the next? A. A narcissist.
• Q. Who has absolutely zero empathy for others and cannot apologize if their life depended on it? A. That would again be . . . a narcissist.

Am I saying that people with NPD and similar conditions are evil? Yes—and without question. I believe these are far more than mental disorders, though I am not saying that outside factors—such as upbringing, past trauma, and brain chemistry—have nothing to do with them.

What I am saying is that, if these behaviors cannot be clearly labeled as “evil,” then what possibly could?

When Jim Jones—who exhibited all the clear signs of a narcissistic sociopath—charismatically persuaded a flock of individuals to give up everything in their lives and start a “utopian” community in Jonestown, Guyana—which resulted in hideous abuse and what he called “revolutionary suicide” via poisoned Kool-Aid—was he simply suffering from mental illness?

What about other cult leaders? What about mass murderers like Stalin, Pol Pot, Adolph Hitler, and the like. What about school shooters like Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris, and Adam Lanza? Were they all just mentally ill?

Clearly, not all people with destructive personality disorders become mass murderers. However, they all deeply wound those around them. Often—as in the case of narcissists—they even enjoy doing so.

When one’s behavior mirrors the characteristics of Satan himself, there is no other way to see it; it’s simply evil.

We must not give this behavior a pass or attempt to explain it away in biological or psychological terms.

Evil is as evil does.

I will not go farther into this now, but I believe the majority of our actors, politicians, athletes, and other world leaders can (and should) be classified as narcissists (and we now know there is evil behind most of it). Just look at the way they behave. Nearly all of them are completely self-absorbed, have no or little empathy, cycle through an endless supply of romantic relationships, cause harm to those around them, and perhaps most importantly, they have no ability to accept blame or even care about the damage they inflict.

Not surprisingly, these same people are almost universally Freemasons and Satanists. As my readers know, I have probably taken more pains to prove this point than any other. If you are new to my blog, start here and begin the deep dive into the true nature of the world’s elites.

Yes . . . Satan’s followers exhibit his characteristics, and they are all around us: now far more than ever.

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Conclusion

Hopefully, you have found this article worthy of your time and reflection. However, you may still be wondering why I am discussing these matters and linking them all together. Why do I spend so much time trying to expose Satan, the Freemasonic enterprise, people with “personality disorders,” and simply those in our world who exhibit the traits of their evil master?

The answer is simple: Christians need to understand the enemy. We must know who we are fighting against, what their characteristics and strategies are, and the immense threat they pose to the true people of God. As Paul so poignantly said:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

While Satan’s earthly servants threaten us in innumerable ways, they derive both their power and nature from the “forces of evil in the heavenly places.” It’s biblically undeniable, but it also plays itself out clearly in reality.

Satan’s impact in our world cannot—and must not—be overlooked or in any way diminished. The clearer we understand the earthly and heavenly powers of darkness, as well as how Satan’s image is being reflected in our world, the better equipped we will be to wage spiritual battle and to “stand firm to the end.”

Be vigilant to observe the schemes of Satan, as well as those around you who carry them out.

Your very salvation could depend upon it.

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For those interested in seeing how evil this world truly is, please see my video, System of the Beast or check out my book sharing the same name.

[If you find this issue interesting, you will encounter many more fascinating things about heaven, the angels, and our future bodies in my book, Spiritual Things]

Over the years, I have come to understand that certain teachings in Scripture receive little to no attention within most worshipping communities.

We could look at the doctrine of hell—which I have discussed at length here—for example. We might also mention the harsh biblical reality that many who profess to be Christians will not be saved; as Jesus said, “For many are called but few are chosen” (Mt. 22:14). Similar statements are made throughout the Bible.[1]

Choosing to largely ignore teachings like these, while unacceptable, is at least logically understandable. Most people don’t want to hear that living the Christian life will be a major challenge, or that eternal suffering awaits those who don’t truly know Christ. But, in the case of the topic of this article, it’s difficult to say why it is often disregarded. My best guess is that it’s simply a difficult concept to grasp.

Whatever the case, I believe the resurrection body is easily one of the most interesting and inspiring topics in all of Scripture. It’s utterly astonishing to get a glimpse into the life of the heavenly beings, and to understand what we will someday be like after Christ’s return.

Hopefully, you will find this to be as important and thought-provoking as I do.

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Jesus: The Firstruit

In the Old Testament, two privileged individuals were able to forego death and ascend directly to heaven: Enoch and Elijah. Curiously, this never occurred even once in the New Testament.

However, many people in both the Old and New Testaments were raised back to life (i.e., were resurrected). Both Elijah and Elisha accomplished (through God) the feat of resurrecting others in the OT.[2] In the NT, we see this occur with Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:22-43), a widow’s son (Lk. 7:11-17), a woman named Dorcas (Acts 9:40), a man named Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10), and of course Jesus’ beloved Lazarus (Jn. 11:38-44). This even occurred with a host of unnamed individuals who were resurrected after Christ’s death, and then proceeded to walk around Jerusalem (Mt. 27:51-53)!

Clearly, many people were resurrected, and a couple have been assumed into heaven. But one—only one—has ever been brought back from the grave with what Paul calls the “spiritual body,” or the resurrection body.

Can you guess who that was?

If you said Jesus, then you wagered correctly! Paul stated this plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:20-21:

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”

Jesus is certainly the “firstfruit” because he conquered death on our behalf, ensuring that we will also be raised from the dead. But there is more to it. As stated earlier, Jesus is not the firstfruit from the dead merely because he was raised to life; others had been throughout the biblical narrative. Instead, he was the firstfruit because he was the first to be resurrected with the spiritual body that all his followers will one day receive.

It’s about him conquering death and doing so with the resurrection body!

This is further explained later in 1 Corinthians. Concerning the resurrection body, Paul says:

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (15:44-49).

Though death and the fallen bodies we currently possess came through Adam, life and the glorious “spiritual bodies” we will one day possess come through Christ. Not only did Christ redeem us from sin and death, but he will bestow upon us bodies like that of his glorious body.

This, friends, is where it starts to get very interesting.

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Jesus’ Resurrection Body

When we look at the appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection, we get a glimpse into the heavenly realm. We discover that, not only was Jesus almost unrecognizable, but that he was able to move in and out of our world at will. Truly, the spiritual body is a different thing altogether.

The first example of this came when Mary Magdalene tarried near the empty tomb, mourning for Jesus (Jn. 20:11-18). There, she sees a “man” and assumes he is the gardener who tends the area. Then, simply by hearing the man address her in a familiar tone—“Mary”—she becomes fully aware that she was talking to Jesus, himself. It was not his appearance that gave it away, but his manner of speaking.

Further, we see that Jesus appeared two different times to his apostles when they were hiding from the Jewish authorities.[3] These two visitations—occurring a week apart—both involved Jesus passing through a locked door to see his apostles. The second time, “doubting Thomas” famously touched Jesus’ body to ensure it was really the same man who had been crucified (20:27-28). Somehow, Jesus’ body did not have the limitations that ours do; he passed right through solid objects but could still be touched!

One of the strongest indications we receive that Jesus had returned with a transformed body can be found in Luke 24:13-35. Here, we read about two of Jesus’ disciples who are traveling from Jerusalem to a town called Emaus. Along the way, they encounter an unexpected guest. While much discussion occurs between them, the astonishing part of the story is what the two disciples failed to understand.

The trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus is about seven miles, as indicated in Scripture (24:13). Jesus joined them—at least some point early into the journey—and spoke with them the entire way. They didn’t recognize him. More amazingly, they implored Jesus to stay and eat with them after the long journey and he agreed to. The text reveals that, when Jesus broke the bread and blessed the food, “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (24:31). To further complicate matters, the same verse then records that Jesus “vanished from their sight.” Poof: Jesus was gone again!

Take note of what this text is really telling us. Two of Jesus’ disciples—who clearly walked, spoke, and even ate with him during his life—walked close to seven miles and sat down to dinner with him, without knowing who he was. Indisputable! Clearly, Jesus had been transformed after the Resurrection. Then, we have yet another example of Jesus being able to come and go between heaven and earth at will. This is the nature of the spiritual body.

While being more subtle in its point, perhaps the greatest evidence of Jesus’ transformed body is found toward the end of John’s Gospel. There, we read that Peter, John, James, Nathanael, Thomas, and two other disciples were out fishing in the Sea of Galilee (21:1-14). Having caught nothing, a stranger appeared on the shore and called out to them, asking them to try one more toss off the right side of the boat. This yielded a miraculous catch and John immediately proclaimed that the strange man was indeed the Lord (21:7)!

Afterwards, they came back and prepared some of the many fish they had caught and ate dinner together. Note that Jesus was able to eat, even with his new body. However, we cannot miss the most astonishing part. Even after the miraculous catch and making their way onto the shore—by now, no doubt close enough to really see Jesus—John includes this tasty little detail for us:

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord” (21:12, my emphasis).

Now, I ask you: why would this be included? Why on earth would the disciples, by that point, still clearly be wondering who this miracle man was? Yes, no one asked him . . . but they apparently thought about it. It was on their radar!

All these accounts reveal critical details about Jesus’ resurrection body. Jesus was able to eat, drink, and fluidly move in between the earthly and heavenly realms. Perhaps more powerfully, however, we learn the undeniable truth that Jesus did not look the same anymore. He may have resembled the Jesus of old but was different; something had changed, so much that his closest followers didn’t recognize him by his appearance alone.

Jesus’ body had been transformed, and he was now known mainly through his presence and actions.

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Our Future Glory

I will make the conclusion to this article short and sweet. Just as Jesus’s body had been transformed into a “spiritual body,” all who follow him will experience the same incredible reality.

As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:49:

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”

And then later, in 15:51-52:

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

Jesus’ death and resurrection not only secured everlasting life for those who abide in him, but also will award us with an incomprehensible bonus gift—incorruptible, heavenly bodies!

Truly, such things come to us who are most undeserved.

“We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Lk. 17:10b).

–

Footnotes:

[1] See Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 and 25:1-13 for several examples of this.

[2] See 1 Kings 17:21-22 and 2 Kings 4:34-35.

[3] See John 20:19-22, 26-29.

The ancient Egyptians believed they could satisfy the wrath of the deities with the blood of their fellow man, even sending some to an early grave to travel in the afterlife with the Pharaohs.

The people of Teotihuacan sacrificed human beings in hideous fashion to their god, Quetzalcoatl, also known as the “Feathered Serpent.” (I wrote extensively about this here.)

The Canaanites sacrificed their children to Molech, spilling their blood to appease the false god. Even some of the Jewish people were corrupted to the point of doing the same.

Different as they are in myriad ways, it seems as though virtually all religions have always converged on a central reality: there is power in the blood.

In Christian thought, this point should be rather obvious. After all, Scripture speaks repeatedly about the need to shed blood for the forgiveness of sins, and innumerable hymns speak to its potency.

But have you ever stopped to truly evaluate why? Why, exactly, does blood carry such power? Why is blood necessary for atonement and the forgiveness of sins?

In this article, I want to answer these pivotal questions. More than that, I want to suggest that there is far more going on with the significance of Jesus’ blood than most of us have ever realized. Far more.

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Blood Lust

The first question that needs answering is perhaps known to many of you but may not be totally understood. What is with the blood lust: why the obsession?

At the end of the day, blood represents life. Put another way, it is the life source; drain the blood and you drain the life of something. It’s just as God told the Israelites in Leviticus 17:11:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Hebrews 9:22 echoes this reality:

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

The shedding of blood requires the death of the person or animal providing it. Life and death: there can be no clearer or dramatic distinction available to us. Nothing else imaginable could ever have the significance of the sanguine liquid that fills our veins and pumps throughout our bodies. Is there a more vivid and powerful visual in all the world than seeing the blood drain from a wounded animal or, worse yet, seeing it leave a human being and pool beneath them?

Little by little, the power, the life force, and the energy fade as an exit from this world becomes certain.

I apologize for the graphic description, but the point needs to be clear—life is found in the blood. As such, nothing on this earth is more sacred than human blood. This is exactly why the ancients sacrificed their brothers, sisters, parents, and even children, to the many false gods of the world, all of whom find their identity in Satan: the one whom the Bible calls “the god of this world.” Horus . . . Baal . . . Moloch . . . you name it.

There are not many evil deities but one, just as there is only one true Lord of the cosmos: Jesus Christ.

Satan—Lucifer, the Evil One, the Ancient Serpent, and the Father of Lies—is a blood-thirsty monster who is destined for the pits of hell. Satan has been showered in blood by his devoted followers throughout all of human history, because he owns our history. He owns our world, for now.

This leads us to the greater point in this discussion of blood: the point that alludes so many (and long alluded me).

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The Currency of the Spiritual World

Ever since the Fall of Man, Satan has run the show. Contrary to popular thought, we are not born into a neutral situation, where we must decide which path to take. A newborn does not live somewhere between Satan’s clutches and Christ’s rule. No, in biblical thought, we are born into the ownership of the Evil One.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:1-3, my emphasis).

There isn’t a soul on earth who has, does, or will ever live apart from this reality. All of us begin our lives in servitude to Lucifer and, sadly, many remain that way until death. But there is, shall we say, “good news.” Blood can buy us back from this wretched state. Blood can give us a new Master and an infinitely better existence.

But, to do so, this blood must be of the highest quality. It must be far more precious and costly than the blood of any animal or even any mere mortal.

What would it take to be redeemed from Satan—whom, again, Paul called the “god of this world,” and the Jesus called the “ruler of this world” (Jn. 14:30)? How do you buy a living soul back from such a powerful, spiritual being? Well, there is only one logical way: with the blood of a more powerful, spiritual being.

This is exactly what Jesus did on this earth more than 2,000 years ago. Being fully God and fully man, only Christ was able to provide the proper atonement—the proper blood sacrifice—to deliver us from the grasp of those in the heavenly realms and the spiritual places. Jesus’ blood is the most valuable spiritual currency in this world or the one that we cannot see: the most valuable currency in all existence.

Jesus’ blood—and that alone—can save us from our fallen and Satanically-owned starting point, and only this spiritual currency can save us from an unspeakable ending point.

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Power in the Blood

Do you now have a better glimpse of what is really behind the world’s blood lust? Does the sacrifice that Jesus made—and the spilling of his divine blood—appear to you in a fresh and powerful way? With the previous information in mind, let’s now look at a few passages that should now take on a whole new meaning.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock . . .” (Acts 20:28-29).

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come . . . he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:11-12).

Finally, understand what Jesus said about the sacrifice he would later make:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45).

Only with this understanding of blood can we truly know what it meant for Jesus to give his life “as a ransom.” The Greek word used here for “ransom” is lutron, and it is used only twice in the entire New Testament. Both times refer to the same event, just from a different Gospel account (Mk. 10:45 and Mt. 20:28). Among other things, lutron means “the purchasing money for manumitting slaves.” That is, the currency that must be used to set a slave free from his or her captor.

You see, we were held hostage by the evil powers of darkness. All people coming into the world are held hostage in this state of complete slavery to Satan. Indeed, it is Jesus’ divine blood that bought us back from Satanic ownership.

Do you see that now? Do you really understand what is going on here? Jesus’ blood purchased us back from Satan! Divine blood was shed and used on our behalf, so that we could live as slaves to Christ rather than slaves to Lucifer!

A very, very real transaction took place 2,000 years ago at Golgotha, and it occurred in the spirit realm. Blood was the currency used . . . divine blood.

This is without question one the most profound biblical teachings and realities in all existence. This is the very thing that we take for granted when we say, “Christ died for us.”

In closing, please know this. Everyone—everyone—coming into this world inherits a cell in Satan’s prison. We are born as captives; that is our starting point.

Only the blood of Christ can set the captives free.

As the ageless hymn proclaims, there really is “pow’r in the blood.” Immense power. Now, hopefully, you fully understand why.

–

[What follows is only the tip of the iceberg. For the full view of who runs this evil world and what will come of it, see my video, System of the Beast.]

I have tried to detail for some time exactly how evil the world truly is and who is actually running it. In this article, I want to refresh our memories on these brutal realities.

As Wesley Snipes remarked concerning the vampiric nightmare depicted on the movie Blade: “The world you live in is just a sugar-coated topping; there is another world beneath it.”

In truth, the same can be said of our world. That is, the “real” world. Our reality is shaped by those who wield the power, and the power comes from being well-connected in one of the various earthly niches of music, film, sports, politics, and industry.

Of course, there’s more to it than that: a lot more. Within those respective industries, those who climb to the highest–and, thus, the most influential–levels don’t get there through hard work alone. In fact, that often has little or no bearing on one’s stature. Rather, power and influence are derived from dedication to the darkness and the human conduits of evil.

Put another way, you must be a part of Satan’s “church” and its most obvious earthly manifestation: Freemasonry.

I am not going to go into a full crash-course on the origins and influence, or the many symbols within the Masonic enterprise, here and now. If you want evidence of its horrors, look no farther than my World Beneath blog series and my extensive video called System of the Beast. Better still, go back and watch Altiyan Childs’ all-time powerful video that exposes Freemasonry to perfection.

With that said, I do want to share a number of damning images from some of the world’s favorite celebrities. Beneath each set of pictures I will also explain what we are really seeing and how it connects to the Satanic/Masonic enterprise.

Friends, it is this unholy alliance that rules our world. Satan–the “god of this world”–runs the show, and his human minions waste no opportunity to glorify him in every facet of their lives.

Look and see.

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First, we have the legendary music icon, Madonna. She is no stranger to the darkness.

(Here, we see her performing with horned demons on the far ends. In the left middle, we find her sporting a “new world order” (Novus Ordo Seclorum) jacket with the Egyptian pyramid and all-seeing eye (of Horus/Satan) on top. This is the same image we find on the dollar bill, of course. Finally, the middle-right image shows the 666 hand-sign while she also covers her eye in homage to the one-eyed god.)

Next up, Cardi B puts the Satanic/Masonic connection together for us beautifully.

(On the left, Cardi wears the checkboard pattern that shows up in nearly every Masonic lodge across the earth. This symbolizes that existence is made up of good and evil intermingled (and essentially inseparable). Yahweh is a god, but Lucifer is the true lord in Masonic teaching. She also shows the devil horns in the middle picture, and then pays homage to the one-eyed God on the right.)

Tom Hanks, who is often believed to be one of the “good guys” in Hollywood (hah!), displays his allegiance to Satan in these images.

(On the left, we have the double 666 hand-signs. The right is another Masonic “Hidden Hand” gesture, as displayed right beside Hanks.)

Next up for your viewing pleasure is a personal favorite: Katy Perry. Observe her hideous yet unmistakable fashion selections. Also, be aware that she has openly confessed to selling her soul to Satan.

(These images do all the talking: endless worship of the all-seeing eye of Horus (really, Satan).)

Fortunately, all this is a relatively new phenomenon. It’s not as though music and films stars have always been required to kneel before the dark lord. Oh, wait . . .

As far back as the 50s and 60s, Marilyn Monroe knew what it took to be in the spotlight.

(Yes, Norma Jeane understood that a little adoration of the one-eyed god can go a long way.)

Another 60s icon, Paul McCartney, was fully aware of the requirements for fame and stardom.

(In both pictures, McCartney emphasizes one eye: a favorite of Satanic followers of all stripes.)

In the same era, Bob Dylan now reveals the one-eyed god that he serves. This is a man, mind you, that has also openly confessed to selling his soul to Satan. Further, I have exposed him and others on this video in detail.

(On the left, we see Dylan doing the “Hidden Hand” of Freemasonry, also known as the Sign of the Master of the Second Veil (shown above with Tom Hanks). The middle image reveals the double 666 hand-sign around the eyes, and the right is your standard emphasis on one eye.)

Okay, maybe our favorite stars have always been under Satan’s wing. But at least we have a lot of famous “Christian” musicians who are on the right side of things. You know, there are god-fearing folks like Skillet’s John Cooper.

(Observe the double-devil horns (top left), which is passed under the guise of “rock and roll” among global elites. Next to that, we see the Masonic black and white striped tie. The lower right corner reveals Cooper’s lightning bolt tattoo, known across the board in the industry as a symbol of Satan (Lk. 10:18). Finally, the bottom left was thrown in because, well, that just really screams “Christian musician!”. The world is so fooled, friends.)

Alas, it’s not all bad news. We do have global leaders who are fighting for truth, freedom, and all the “little people” of the world. Thankfully, they are not sold out to the one-eyed god like the rest of those on top. Look no farther than Elon Musk to see this point.

There is one Elon Musk in all his glory! But what’s that on his Halloween costume? Let’s take a closer look.

(Here, we see the Baphomet head–a staple of the Satanic cult–with nothing other than an upside-down cross in the center of it. It doesn’t get more explicitly evil than this.)

I am fully aware of how many people among us adore Elon Musk and consider him a freedom fighter. If you need more convincing that he is simply another cog in Satan’s dark machine, then please see my article here that goes deeper into Musk.

This is just a small sampling of those you will find in Satan’s camp, but it proves the larger point: everyone who is really anyone in music, film, industry, politics, and what have you, are virtually all part of the Masonic/Satanic enterprise. It’s one big, demonic family . . .

There can be no doubt about this harsh reality. The world is not what you think it is, and it’s not run by who you think runs it.

As I said earlier, Satan is the “god of this world” and he runs the show. Through his global church of Freemasonry, he controls the world’s stage and all its major players like the evil puppeteer that he is.

Call this either your entrance into this fact or your latest reminder. Either way, understand that this world is truly evil and that the only way out of its clutches is to hide ourselves in Jesus Christ.

Satan and his human pawns run this world, but they can keep it.

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mk. 8:36)

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[To fully understand the Satanic System that is being constructed before us, see my video and book, System of the Beast.]

Though most are surprised by the recent events in our economy, they were startlingly predictable. In fact, those with their ears to the ground knew this was coming since early into 2020.

Just in the last couple weeks, more bad news emerged in the banking industry. Numerous regional banks experienced a total collapse. Among them was PacWest, Western Alliance, and Zions. In just the last several days, PacWest slumped just over 50% while Western Alliance lost 38%.

This comes on the heels, mind you, of several major bank collapses. In March 2023, Silvergate and Signature Banks failed. The much larger Silicon Valley Bank also collapsed, leaving a disaster in its wake and requiring the government to perform another “not a bailout” bailout.

Fear rightfully swirls in the minds of concerned citizens, as the days of having unbridled access to our own funds are clearly coming to an end.

I wish I could say there was better news when we look at food prices, but not so much. A recent GAO—U.S. Government Accountability Office—article explains where we have recently been:

“Last year, U.S. consumers saw the largest annual increase in food prices since the 1980s. While food prices generally increased about 2% in prior years, they increased about 11% from 2021 to 2022. Inflation contributed to the increase. But there were other factors—like global disruptions to the food supply chain—that may have had a greater impact. And not everyone felt this increase the same way.”

The article continues later with some more interesting information about the cause of the insanity:

“But there were some unique challenges in 2022 that may have contributed to the double-digit increase in food prices. For example, COVID-19 caused disruptions across the food supply chain.  As U.S. households shifted away from full-service restaurant meals, they purchased more food at grocery stores. There were slowdowns in production at meat processing plants when workers became sick and plants shut down. Similarly, transportation of food was bottlenecked when truck drivers got sick. The war in Ukraine also disrupted the global supply of agricultural commodities—such as wheat, corn, sunflower oil, and fertilizer. This reduction in supply, coupled with a U.S. drought, caused American consumers to see wheat prices increase.”

COVID-19  . . . slowdowns in production . . . plant shut downs . . . did I mention COVID-19?

However, anyone who has been to the grocery store in the last six months or so doesn’t need any fancy explanations or data; the sticker shock of going to the store, alone, is harsh enough to jolt even those of significant means.

Prices keep getting bigger and servings smaller. Even a quick stop to “grab a few things” leaves one about $75 lighter in the wallet. Personally, I am left wondering every time I leave the store: “what on earth did I get that cost so much?”

Yes, friends, it’s a mess out there. Banks are imploding, food prices are soaring while shortages ensue, and inflation is wreaking havoc on the average man and woman. This is undeniable, and here’s the painful truth: it’s not going to improve in the long term.

How do I know that? Well, it’s simple—they have told us that it won’t for years now.

__________________

When I say “they,” I of course mean the global elites. You know, the kind of people that run the Central Banking Cabal. The kind of people who meet in Davos annually to plan our lives. The kind who gameplan global pandemic events just months before they occur in real life. Those who have books prepared about said pandemic events before they even take place, and who have “vaccines” ready to roll out just two days after the release of a virus’ genome.

These are the kind of people who fill our governmental offices with their puppets, while offering the illusion that we have a say in such things. I am referring to those who make up the Freemasonry enterprise, providing us with our favorite actors, politicians, world leaders, athletes, and everything else of importance.

You know, “they.”

While the world grows darker, living conditions worsen, and our rights and freedoms disappear with each passing day, remember that they told us it would happen.

Remember all the globalists talking about the “Great Reset” with the release of COVID-19? 2030 would be the year that the Great Reset would be fully accomplished, and we were already living in a “New Normal.” We had to “Build Back Better” from the pandemic. Everything would be forever changed, for reasons that normal people could never comprehend.

As Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, proudly proclaimed: “This pandemic has offered us an opportunity for a reset.”

Klaus Scwhab, the founder of the Word Econic Forum, tied the Build Back Better campaign and the Great Reset together for us: “It’s a big effort to—some would say to build back better—we would say to really have great reset.”

Similar things were said everywhere and by all of the global “elites.” They were absolutely transparent and boastful about their plans for the world, and that COVID-19 would be the driving force behind it.

But why did a virus that had a lower mortality rate than the seasonal flu—and one that overwhelmingly claimed those who had surpassed normal life expectancy—need to change the world forever?

Don’t ask questions! It simply needed to.

As mentioned earlier, some people even wrote books claiming exactly that: the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated global disruptions and a Great Reset of the world’s economy. Moreover, people like Bill Gates, Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci (remember him?), and their demonic cronies have continued to tell us that we will have another pandemic. Yes, one in the form of the “other” great pandemic—COVID-19.

We are not done with anything . . . anything.

What I am saying, friends, is that everything you are seeing around you is happening by design. As I detailed in my video and book, System of the Beast, COVID-19 was the catalyst to energize their master plan. We are now seeing the long-term effects of this plan play out in front of us. I even made the case—which I stand by—that COVID-19 was the Great Lie that swept across the entire world.

When you close the world’s economy, shelter in place, lock people down, and destroy the supply chain on a global scale, then you are preparing the world for both immediate and long-term destruction. They knew this, while most people denied it. “Nah . . . it couldn’t be!”

Well, it is. The banking situation is part of the plan to move toward totally digital currencies. Each of us will someday (soon) need to play by the rules of the Beast’s System to function in the world. The food crises are connected, obviously. You cannot tank the banking system and the overall economy without them. You also cannot make people dependent upon the government and the emerging monetary system without them.

All of this is necessary for control. If you want to bank, eat, and live in this world, you will have to do it by their rules. For example, you don’t want a mystery “vaccine” for the next mega-virus? Too bad: I guess your social credit score just dropped through the floor!

This may seem over the top to some, but it’s the same message many of us have been preaching for several years now. It’s also the reality that continues to emerge around us, in every way previously mentioned. As it was with the pandemic and the Killer Jabs produced to accelerate it, only those with eyes to see and ears to hear will understand.

This is the world “they” promised us. Are you surprised to see they meant it?

–

–

There are many things in life that have no need of certainty. How did things like pogs, yoyos and crocs ever become national sensations? Why is it called a “pair of jeans” when we don’t call one half of a “pair” just a “jean”? What on earth really happened to Jeffrey Epstein?

This doesn’t simply apply to matters that have little bearing on our lives, either. Ultimately, what car or home we buy, where we work, and even who we choose to marry—while all being very important here and now—only matter for a finite period.

When you get down to it, only one thing in all of life has everlasting implications: whether I am saved.

The “I” part, of course, is not simply about Brian Rossiter but is about all of us. You must ask yourself the same question—am I saved? Ultimately, nothing else amounts to a blade of grass or clump of dirt if the answer to that question is no.

I have been asked many times throughout my ministry—typically by honest, God-fearing people—how (or if) we can know for sure that we are saved. My answer is always the same: Yes, we can know that we are saved.

Don’t worry; I plan to unpack the “how” part throughout this article.

However, we must briefly begin with what it means to be saved in the first place. Without an explanation of that, the rest could never make sense.

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What is Salvation?

Acts 4:11-12 makes it clear that salvation is found only through one name: Jesus, the Son of God:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Jesus said these famous words concerning himself in John 14:6:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Further, this simple—but life-changing—reality is echoed multiple times and ways throughout the Bible:

“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”[1]

Those who truly seek the Lord will find salvation. This reality is made clear all throughout the New Testament, and was prophesied in the writings of the Old Testament.

Salvation is typically characterized with descriptions like “to save, help in distress, rescue, deliver, or set free.” While this often refers to perilous times or calamitous events, I am of course talking about something different.

Salvation, in the holistic sense, is about being forgiven for our sinful acts and spared the much-deserved consequences of these acts. Chiefly, salvation is about being spared from an everlasting sentence to hell (Gehenna) and instead being rewarded with everlasting life in the new heavens and new earth.

While many terms—like justification, regeneration, and sanctification—and some very involved issues—like the role of faith and works—are involved in the reality of salvation, it essentially comes down to my explanation above.

Being “saved” is something that begins when we invite Christ into our lives but has no ending; not in this life or the life of the world to come. Further, salvation is not something one seizes and then inherently possesses for the rest of time. Salvation is an unending process that we very much participate in.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purposes” (Phi. 2:12-13).

Salvation is an ongoing process that involves a continuous relationship with God, the results of which have indescribable—and everlasting—effects.

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How Do We Know We Are Saved?

With a workable explanation of salvation in place, we are now prepared to answer the question raised in the title of this blog: Am I really saved?

I recall once running into a group of “evangelizers” at a festival and being asked if I was a believer. Trying to be polite, I said: “I know the Lord.” My courtesy was rewarded with this smug response: “Well, how do you know that you know Him?”

While this individual was clearly more invested in making a show of himself than assisting in my spiritual life—the group had banners, signs and such, after all—the truth is that the question is a vital one. How do we know that we know the Lord? How do we know that we are saved?

There are many ways that one could attempt to answer this question. We can certainly first understand this reality: we can know that we are saved because God tells each of us.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16).

The true believers will feel the Spirit of God’s indwelling presence and know that we are part of God’s family. This is both true and incredibly powerful. However, I want to suggest that there is more to this.

As previously mentioned, salvation is not simply a feeling or a “one and done” experience. Rather, salvation is an ongoing process that lasts throughout our lives here and in the hereafter. With that said, let me offer what I feel is an all-encompassing suggestion about how we can truly know we are saved, and pardon me for answering a question with a question. In this case, I feel it’s the most impactful way to appropriately frame the issue:

Are we becoming more like Christ or more like Adam?

That’s it. The answer to this question will determine if we are saved and, nearly as importantly, how we can know it. It’s truly that simple but, as with any serious theological discussion, a basic reality requires adequate unpacking.

My rationale for framing the matter this way is based on my understanding of the entire sinful predicament that we find ourselves in, and on Paul’s comparison of Adam and Jesus. Let’s briefly start with the former, which is a fundamental biblical teaching.

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Our Fallen Nature

We live in a fallen world, and each of us possess a fallen nature. The world is out of sorts and has been since essentially the creation of our race. As I have pointed out in my most recent book, the Bible contains approximately zero chapters where the world operated as it was intended. At least, zero chapters that include the existence of human beings.

No sooner did God create His prized creatures that we mucked up the rest of “very good” world! The Fall of Man, as recorded in Genesis 3, reveals this plainly . Adam, being the first created human being, functioned as our representative; he was the “federal head” of humanity. When Adam fell, we fell. Because of this fateful decision—which was enabled by the evil lure of Satan—we are now born with corrupted bodies that must be transformed, just as we are born with a sinful human nature that must also be transformed.

This reality is literally the great predicament described in Scripture and is the very matter that God has been rectifying since that time. Ultimately, this will only be fully accomplished when Jesus returns and gives us new bodies that can marvelously dwell in the new world he will create.

All this means that we are born to be like Adam; we are born into his image and are under the control of the evil one. That’s our starting point, and there is nothing we can do to prevent that.

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Jesus and Adam

Since we are born into Adam’s fallen image, the obvious conclusion is that we must somehow get out of his image. We must not—we cannot—be like him and expect to be saved. But how does one accomplish the task of being made into a different image?

The bottom line is that there is nothing we can do at all. We have no way of changing our starting point, or even our trajectory, on our own.

The “good news”—quite literally—is that we don’t have to. One facet of Jesus’ entrance into the world and his divine achievements is that he provided the only way to leave the image of Adam and be reborn into another image: his image.

Paul explains this clearly in several places. Of note, Romans 5:12-19 describes the contrast between the only two men in history that served as the heads of humanity. Adam—the “one man”—brought about sin, death, and condemnation to all people. Alternatively, Jesus—the “one man”—brought righteousness, life, and forgiveness to all who follow him.

Paul further explains in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus not only reversed the spiritual effects of Adam’s corruption, but also rectified the physical effects.

“If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man” (15:44-49).

That’s right: though our current bodies are frail and fallen, our resurrection bodies will be patterned after the glorious body of Jesus.

In these two sections of Scripture, Paul clearly contrasts Adam and Jesus, even calling Jesus the “last Adam.” This means that Jesus—being both fully man and fully God—was able to do what no one else could ever accomplish: replace Adam as the head of humanity.

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Conclusion

Are you becoming more like Jesus, or are you remaining like Adam?

This is the pivotal question that we must all ask ourselves. If we are becoming more like Jesus, then we know that we are saved. This does not mean that we will lead spiritually flawless lives. Instead, it does mean that the trajectory of our lives is on the upswing.

It means that we are being spiritually transformed as we go along and are constantly improving: shedding the sinful nature and being transformed into the image of Christ.

A person who is not exhibiting spiritual growth is not saved, plain and simple. Every branch that bears no fruit will be cut off (Jn. 15:2). Every person who does not bear the fruits of the Spirit are indeed performing the acts of the flesh.

Everyone who is not becoming more like Christ is not only becoming more like Adam . . . but is, in fact, becoming something far worse than imagined.

In the end, there are only two paths to take in this life. Each of us are either walking with Christ or walking with Satan. We are either becoming more like Jesus or more like Adam. The former will lead to everlasting life, while the latter will conclude in everlasting condemnation.

The stakes could not be higher and, ultimately, nothing else—not your house, your job, your health, or even your family—means a thing if this issue is not settled in your life.

So, what about you—are you becoming more like Jesus or more like Adam?

I will continue to work this out in my own life and strive to be transformed into the image of the risen Savior. I pray that you will do the same.

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For those interested in knowing more about the Bible in nearly every important way, please see my brand-new book, Simply Scripture. (I keep no proceeds from my books, but reinvest them into my ministry)

Footnotes

[1] See Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13 for a few examples.

Several years back, I wrote numerous blogs and even a rather lengthy book about the state of the dead. Specifically, this was all about how the Bible describes what happens when we die and how the afterlife will play out.

Now, I would like to revisit some of these concepts since many readers were probably not familiar with this website at that time. Since the topic can be extremely expansive, what I hope to offer here is a brief snapshot of my views on the matter.

To state it plainly, I believe that the Bible describes death as the absence of life and a time of unconsciousness until Christ’s return and the resurrection. Put another way, we do not die and go to heaven (or anywhere else).

Instead, we will be resurrected when Christ returns, given new bodies, and then proceed to reign with Christ in the new heavens and new earth that will be made at that time. Only at the resurrection will we live again.”

Let me provide a few of the reasons why I believe this is the case.

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Death as Sleep

The first thing I would like to point out is that the Bible consistently refers to death as “sleep.” In fact, the sleep-death comparison is easily the most widely used association within Scripture. Here is just a sampling of these occurrences:

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 The. 4:13).

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (Jn. 11:11).

“Then he (Stephen) fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60, my addition in parentheses).

“That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 11:30).

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:50).

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2).

This terminology is used in many other parts of Scripture; the sleep-death analogy is an irrefutable aspect of the Bible.

The question must be raised, then, as to why the biblical authors—and of course God, who inspired them—chose to refer to death as sleep. When you think about it, a couple thoughts emerge as logical explanations.

1). Sleep is an unconscious state of being. Like being in a coma, being asleep is exactly when we would consider ourselves to be unconscious; we have no awareness of the passing of time or what is going on in the world.

2). Sleep is a temporary state of being. So long as one does not pass away in their sleep, they will always wake up. Death, like sleep, is not an endless mode of existence. This reality is, of course, part of the “good news” that Jesus died for our sins and conquered death on our behalf.

I believe this is what the Bible is portraying with its consistent comparison of death and sleep. When we die, we are no longer conscious. As the author of Ecclesiastes said, “The dead know nothing” (9:5). This means that, upon death, the soul—however that is viewed (discussed later)—does not consciously survive the death of the body.

We do not go on to live in heaven, hell, Abraham’s bosom, Hades, or anywhere else in between death and the general resurrection.

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The Resurrection of the Dead

As the church creeds affirm, believers hold to the resurrection of the dead. That is, there will be a day in the future when Christ returns and raises the dead to life.

Biblically, this is undeniable. For those who doubt this, please see my blog here on the resurrection.

With this said, here is the problem with the typical understanding of the afterlife that is taught within most churches and institutes of higher learning: if we continue to persist upon death, then the resurrection is rendered null and void.

Think about it: what is the purpose of being resurrected—that is, raised back to life—if we are already living in heaven or elsewhere?

It is just as the legendary scholar (and martyr), William Tyndale said:  

“And ye, in putting them [the departed souls] in heaven, hell, and purgatory, destroy the arguments wherewith Christ and Paul prove the resurrection . . . And again, if the souls be in heaven, tell me why they not be in as good case as the angels be? And then what cause is there of the resurrection?”[1]

Tyndale is correct on all counts, including the objection that we should be given bodies like the angels possess. That is, if believers die and go directly to heaven.

I would go a step further though. Not only does life as a disembodied soul destroy the very purpose of the resurrection, but it in fact destroys the purpose of getting a body at all. If we are able to survive and live in a blissful existence as disembodied souls, then why does God need to add the body at the resurrection?

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Soul Damage

I have separate blogs dedicated to this issue but let me again summarize it here.

One of the major problems with the view that people die and depart to a conscious realm of the dead is the nature of the soul. For such a thing to occur, it would mean that human beings are souls which are trapped within bodies. Oddly, this is exactly how many Christian hymns and teachings describe things.

The immortal Albert Brumley hymn, “I’ll Fly Away,” comes to mind, with its focus on shedding this body so that we (our souls) can “fly away” to heaven.

The very notion of the immortal soul—as described in Neo-Platonic thought and elsewhere—is antithetical to Christian teaching. The Bible does not describe human beings as conscious souls that simply join bodies but could live without them. Rather, the Bible describes us as beings who only live because of the union between the body and the soul.

Simply put, we do not have souls but are living souls. This is very much like the hardware and software of a computer; neither can function apart from the other. Likewise, the body and the soul are both required for life. Take one element away and we no longer have a living being.

But this leads to the problem I am describing here. If the soul really is the “us” that lives within (or attached to) the body, then why on earth would sustaining a physical injury impair our souls? If one sustains a traumatic brain injury, why should the soul—the “real me,” that will later live by itself after death—be harmed? Why should a car wreck or a blow to the head change my identity, if “I” am really the immaterial soul that is living within the body?

This is just one of the many logical problems involved with the popularly held view that people die and go to heaven or hell at death.

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I understand that I have by no means explained every aspect of what is at stake within this one article. I am fully aware that certain passages of Scripture have been widely interpreted to suggest that we do survive death as disembodied entities. Among these are the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the account of the “thief” on the cross, and select other passages of Scripture.

I strongly urge anyone interested in this topic to read my book, The Death Myth, because it covers nearly every argument and passage used to promote disembodied life after death. Of course, it also details all of my arguments to the contrary.

For the time being, please reflect upon the points made here and try to approach the topic with an open mind. I fully understand that there is a strong emotional drive to believe that we and our loved ones will experience an immediate life of bliss upon death. We often badly want to believe that the deceased are “in a better place” and that they are enjoying the splendors of heaven.

However, reality is not determined by what we wish to be true but by what is actually true. In this case, an unconscious state of the dead—as described in the sleep-death analogy and in many other ways throughout the Bible—seems to best adhere with reality.

For those interested, part two of this discussion is on its way. Please check back in and consider subscribing to my blog so that you will be updated whenever new material is available.

I also have numerous videos here, if you would like to check them out.

Until next time, never stop searching for the truth and God bless.

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[1] William Tyndale, An Answer to Sir Thomas More’s Dialogue, book four, chapter four, 180-81.

(For those who want to really delve into the madness, see my video, System of the Beast. It connects all the dots and unveils the evil scheme at work in our world.)

As I have been discussing for the last several years, the all-seeing eye has fixed its gaze upon the entire world. More than that, it runs the world.

In case you didn’t know, the “all-seeing eye” is none other than Satan himself. For those who doubt that, I again point you to my video, System of the Beast.

This has been apparent in Hollywood and much of our culture for a while now, but now it is equally obvious in the world of sports. Take the recent situation with Damar Hamlin. Forget about the entire debacle, as to what really happened on the field and in the days following the event.

Instead, let’s focus on his alleged appearance a couple weeks later during the Bengals-Bills Divisional Round matchup. There, a heavily garbed and shielded “Hamlin” was seen making several gestures toward the cameras and the crowd. The official narrative was that he was making a heart symbol. Adorable, right?

Well, perhaps it would have been . . . if he were actually doing that. Look closely: he was instead doing a very common symbol that is found within the Illuminati and all related societies: the pyramid.

I had to change the colors of the photo a bit, because the originals are blocked by the snow-storm that hit that evening in Buffalo. Can you see the pyramid?

In case you don’t believe this is the pyramid-which hearkens back to Egyptian mythology and is deeply Satanic in nature–then observe the hand symbols that were performed immediately after. Yes, “Hamlin” flashed the infamous 666 sign that is rampant within Hollywood, politics, and now sports.

Further, observe Hamlin’s sacrilegious “Jesus jacket” that he wore at the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 12, 2023.

That looks like something that a true Christian would wear, right?

To compound the evidence, compare “Hamlin’s” pyramid and 666 hand signs above with Lebron James’ signs below. Identical right? I suppose James was just making a love symbol as well?

Just to be clear: James incessantly makes the triple-six for all the world to see.

Here, another James (Harden) shows his allegiance to the all-seeing eye.

Kevin Durant knows what power he serves, too.

In truth, it’s been this way for a long time. Just ask Magic and some of the old-time Yankee players.

“The Babe” covers his eye in homage to the one-eyed god.

Yes, it has been this way for a very long time. Probably from the beginning. The difference now is that no one has to hide it. The Devil is no longer in the details, and the examples are endless. See Jamarr Chase and his teammate, Tee Higgins, as well as the other images beneath.

Now, behold Usaine Bolt–perhaps the greatest sprinter of all time–as he puts all the Satanic symbols together for us. Also, note the bottom-left photo where he displays his Masonic ring.

Observe the 666 hand sign, Bolt covering/emphasizing one eye, showing us the Masonic “vow of silence,” and sporting his Masonic ring.

As I have shown ad nauseum in blog and video form, Freemasonry is Satanism in disguise.

With all this in mind, I want to propose something that may sound crazy to some but is simply consistent with the way the world works. I propose that most of our “gifted” athletes are exactly like our “talented” celebrities: they have derived much of their fame and abilities from their pact with Satan.

If you find this idea to be radical, understand that many of our cherished musicians and stars of film have downright bragged about “making it big” purely because of their pact with Satan. Don’t believe me? I have personally shown this for the likes of Bob Dylan, Yungblood, Pete Davidson, Katy Perry, Grimes, and Billie Eilish, among others.

[Just see my videos, Making the Pact (parts one and two) for undeniable proof.]

If one can derive musical abilities by calling upon Satan, then why is it a stretch to believe that one could obtain athletic abilities in the same way? Some people are genetically predisposed to have better skills than others, sure. But what about when you get to the very top in all the world?

Perhaps the degree of separation there has no earthly explanation. Obviously, the world-class athletes shown above (and others) believe this, as they consistently pay homage to Satan through their signs and symbols.

But again, beloved readers, the symbols I have shown here are a ubiquitous part of our world. Satan leaves his calling cards with all his followers and, like “legion,” they are many.

Recall a few of the images in my World Beneath series.

For one final piece of evidence, just scan through the images on this link to see a tiny sampling of the harsh reality. There is no denying this!

In the end, my message is the same one that I have been broadcasting for several years now. In simplest terms, the unpleasant truth is that Satan runs the show: nearly every aspect of this corrupt planet. He is the “god of this age,” the “ruler of this world,” and the “prince of the power of the air.”

Step one is coming to understand this reality: coming to really understand it.

Step two is putting as much distance between yourself and this Satanically-led world as possible.

Cling to Christ, hide yourself in Him, and stand firm to the end.

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**Check out my new book, Simply Scripture, available now in eBook and paperback versions!**

Without any question, the Book of Revelation has produced more confusion within the church than any other biblical text. Frankly, it probably isn’t close. Many books have seen their original meaning butchered over time, but Revelation stands on its own pedestal in this regard.

Its rich imagery and blend of literal and metaphorical teachings has led many readers to wild—and often heretical—conclusions. As I have often seen, some are willing to cast aside all other biblical texts and much clearer passages in their quest to hold certain cherished views: views that are typically based on a literal reading of a metaphorical passage.

Add to the mix Revelation’s questionable date of writing and authorship, and it’s not surprising that the book was barely included in the canons of the early church and onward.

But let me be clear: I am not criticizing Revelation or questioning its inclusion in the biblical canon. Moreover, I fully believe that God inspired the book and that it serves as the rightful conclusion to the Bible.

(For those who are interested in how the Bible was put together, please see this blog and my new book, Simply Scripture.)

With this said, my point here is that we all need to use caution when reading Revelation and employ certain interpretive tools in studying it. In other words, the problem with Revelation is not the text itself, but is the way we have been taught (or not taught) to interpret it.

Hopefully, this blog can help to clear up some of the confusion.

Why is Revelation so confusing?

There are several reasons for this. However, the primary reason is that Revelation is not—and never was—intended to convey a chronological account of how history will unfold. We cannot read chapters 1-22 as a continuous series of events. In fact, Revelation is a blended drink of past, present, and future events that are interspersed throughout the text.

For example, the “seals” of Revelation 6 are typically interpreted as describing the events surrounding the last days. However, flip to Revelation 12 and you are dealing with the distant past, wherein Satan is cast out of heaven and begins to pursue God’s people. Head to the very next chapter (13) and you’re back at end time events again (supposedly) involving the two great “beasts” and the Antichrist.

This can be seen throughout Revelation; the only pattern is that there is no pattern!

Second, Revelation is confusing because it also mixes literal and metaphorical teachings from beginning to end. This can be seen in the enigmatic “Mark of the Beast” (discussed in the next section), but it’s also evident throughout. Most scholars see the message to the Seven Churches (cc. 2-3) as being sent to churches that literally existed in that day. The same reality applies to the creation of the new heavens and earth (ch. 21), being that it is echoed in other parts of Scripture (Is. 65:17-25, 2 Pet. 3:13). Other examples include the final judgment, the destruction of Satan, and the return of Christ (22:12).

All are typically viewed as literal descriptions of either the past, present or future.

On the other hand, most—and I do mean most—of Revelation has a very symbolic flavor. That simple statement will sit uneasy with many readers, but it’s undeniable. Moreover, it’s exactly what the author (and God) intended!

Should we really believe that a great beast will one day emerge from the sea (13:2-8), or might that be an allusion to a Satanic empire? Does it make sense that angels will literally pour “bowls of wrath” out onto the earth (ch. 16), or might that be illustrating the calamities that will befall the world? Do we really think that locust/horse/scorpion creatures with human faces will be unleashed to torture the unbelieving world, or is that also an illustration that severe wrath will come upon the godless?

If we are being honest, we know that these images are not intended to be taken literally but symbolically. Revelation is replete with similar examples.

Indeed, when the chronological and symbolic issues are combined, Revelation can make for a fascinating but difficult read.

Keys to Interpretation

While there is no exact recipe to properly understanding every aspect of Revelation, there are certainly some keys that can help us.

The first key is understanding the historical context of Revelation. Contrary to what many would like to believe, the book was not written exclusively to those who will be living in the last several years of human history. Like any other biblical text, Revelation has a message for all generations of believers. Imagine if everyone who has read (or heard) this incredible text for the last two thousand years believed that it had no bearing on their lives: that only the last generation of believers could apply its teachings to themselves?

Well, that is apparently what many have come to believe. But let’s be clear: Revelation has not been holding most of its meaning for the final days. Like Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, and other passages, Revelation does have some end time application, to be sure. However, this is a relatively small amount of its overall content.

Most of Revelation had bearing on people’s lives throughout history. This is especially true given that its central purpose is to affirm God has the final victory, and that the world will one day be set right.

The second key is connected to the first, and it’s that John (presuming he was the author) drew heavily upon OT concepts and teachings. One simply cannot understand Revelation without appreciating this fact. Let me provide a couple examples to consider.

Revelation 12 discusses the “Great Harlot.” I have made the case that I believe this figure saw its initial (or historical) fulfilment in Jerusalem. The reason is that Revelation’s description of the Harlot almost perfectly echoes Ezekiel 16’s portrayal of Jerusalem as the adulterous wife. Both readings are rather long, but looking at them side-by-side plainly reveals that John was pulling from Ezekiel’s words.

On twelve separate occasions within Ezekiel 16 alone, God calls Jerusalem a harlot (zanah). This is sometimes translated instead as “prostitute,” as is the term used for harlot (porné) in Revelation 17. Clearly, it’s the same idea being expressed; Jerusalem—encompassing God’s people, here—had continuously betrayed her Husband by fornicating with many other lovers.

Another example of Revelation’s OT connection is, believe it or not, seen in the “Mark of the Beast” in chapter 13. While this is almost always viewed exclusively as a physical identifier that will be placed on either the right hand or the forehead—and in the final years of human history, no less—the reality is that this is much more of a symbolic identifier.

On at least five occasions in the OT, the Jewish people were commanded to place God’s laws on their hands and on their heads.[1] This was the most sacred duty—contained within the Shema—for those who worshipped Yahweh. They were instructed to instill God’s laws in their lives:

“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads” (Dt. 6:8).

This was not intended to be taken literally, though many Jewish leaders did so (Mt. 23:5). Instead, this was a symbolic gesture of one’s allegiance to God. Binding the laws to the forehead meant ingraining them into the mind. What about the right hand, though? In Scripture, the right hand symbolizes honor and power. For example, notice that Christ ascended to the “right hand” of God (Mk. 16:19). However, it can also represent the actions we undertake.

When Revelation talks about the “right hand,” it is talking about carrying out the actions of our will: acting upon what is in our hearts and minds.

Clearly, Revelation was drawing upon the OT Shema, meaning that there is at least a strong symbolic meaning to the “Mark of the Beast.” For more on this, see this blog.

Cracking the Code

With the previous section in mind, let’s finish with a practical view of Revelation and how best to interpret it.

It’s imperative that we understand that Revelation’s content is a blend of time periods, as well as literal and symbolic teachings. If you put the past, present and future into a blender—adding copious amounts of literal and allegorical teachings to the mix—what would come out is the Book of Revelation.

It is a terrible mistake to interpret every bit of the book literally or to see it as an explanation of how history will or has unfolded from front to back. We need to be extremely cognizant of which time period each passage is addressing, understanding that Revelation often deals with things that are now in our past.

Further, we must also remember that Revelation is steeped in Old Testament symbolism and teachings. We must ask what the author had in mind and what text/s he was drawing from. What OT parallels should we be considering? How should those parallels inform our interpretation of a given section of Revelation? These are both serious and critical considerations.

I have saved perhaps the most important suggestion for last. The simple reality is that Revelation must be viewed in light of the rest of Scripture.

I cannot stress this one enough.

The biggest problem I see with how many people interpret Revelation is that they start there and then interpret the rest of the Bible based on their understanding of Revelation. This, dear friends, is completely backwards. Given Revelation’s undeniable mystery and interpretive difficulties—which I have previously discussed—it makes no sense to use it as the foundation for our entire eschatological worldview.

In fact, it’s a recipe for disaster.

I’ll give you a powerful example. If you studied all of Scripture concerning Christ’s return, you would find that he returns only once and that the righteous and wicked are separated at that time.[2] What you will find nowhere else in the Bible is an allusion to a 1,000-year Millennial Reign that is sandwiched between Christ’s return and the ultimate destruction of evil.

Such a view is contrary to every other biblical passage, particularly those passages that require much less interpretation. See Matthew 24, Luke 17:20-37, John 5:28-29, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for some examples.

So, is Revelation wrong? Of course not! As I said in the beginning, it is our interpretation that is wrong. The “thousand years” of Revelation makes much better sense as a symbolic period wherein Christ reigns over the church from heaven after the Resurrection. In other words, the thousand years has been occurring since that time!

This is consistent with how “a thousand years” is used throughout most of the Bible, as illustrated in Psalm 50:10, 91:7, 90:4, and 2 Peter 3:8, to name only a few. I explain this interpretation in much greater detail here.

All this speaks to our interpretive lens. If we remember that much of Revelation is symbolic, that it does not follow in chronological order and, most importantly, that Revelation must be evaluated in light of the rest of Scripture—especially passages that are much more clearly stated—then Revelation need not be so confusing.

In fact, Revelation can be one of the most impactful and enlightening books in all of Scripture.

[1] See Exodus 13:9 and Dt. 6:8-9, and 11:18.

[2] See Dan. 12:1-2, Mt. 13:24-42, and Rev. 22:12.