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The Kingdom of Darkness

by Gerald R. Thompson*

First:   The Nature and Progress of the Kingdom of Darkness
Second:   Spiritual Warfare and the Devil Needs More Pawns

The Role of Secret Societies

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Pet. 5:8).

The world is filled with secret societies, at every level of social status. Some are located on college campuses, such as the Skull and Bones, a/k/a The Brotherhood of Death, at Yale University. Other secret societies are only for the ultra-rich and influential, such as the Bilderberg Group, or Bilderbergers. There are also several groups connected with, or claiming to be, The Illuminati, including the Bavarian Illuminati, the Ordo Templi Orientis, and others. You could drive yourself nuts trying to discover the names and true purposes of these many secret societies.

Some groups claim to have secret knowledge handed down by Jesus Himself, but this is a false claim. You see, there is no secret knowledge or wisdom that is from God. All godly knowledge and wisdom is freely available to anyone. Don’t be misled by Mat. 13:11, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Jesus only meant that He gave the apostles the interpretations of His parables (which we have preserved in the scriptures), but were not told to the public at the time. Jesus did not impart additional secret knowledge or wisdom to the disciples which was not recorded in scripture, but was transmitted through secret orders and societies – that is just a lie.

Truth be told, such claims are just a New Testament variation on the Jewish Halakah, supposedly derived from the oral traditions handed down by Moses apart from the scriptures. Jewish secret knowledge and Christian secret knowledge are the same in one key respect – they are both false.

My purpose here is not to do an exposé on any specific secret groups, but merely to affirm that many of them do, in fact, exist – and that they all are part of the kingdom of darkness, unwittingly or (more often) with full knowledge. Some secret societies hide their existence (Illuminati, etc.), other societies exist openly, but merely hide what they do internally (Masonic Lodges). Recently, Freemasons in particular have allowed documentary films to be made showing what goes on inside their lodges, in an attempt to diffuse public speculation and conspiracy theories. However, these films reveal more than they realize, showing the extent of arch-syncretism within them.

Those who study secret societies tend to believe their members are pulling the strings of governments, the banking and financial system, and the media behind the scenes. Secret societies are often accused of having started wars, financial collapses, and similar social unrest. In other words, people who study secret societies tend to view the members of those societies as ultimately being in charge of causing major world events for their own private purposes (always contrary to the public good).

What I suggest is that the members of these secret societies are not actually in charge at all, which is to say, they are merely puppets of the kingdom of darkness. They are being manipulated by the rulers of the darkness of this world, the spiritual forces in high places – that’s who is really in charge. For all of their wealth, their power and their influence, even these highly placed people pulling strings in the background are merely pawns.

With this in mind, secret societies serve two main purposes. First, to serve as the backbone of the Devil’s communication network and chain of command that he needs for infrastructure. Second, to keep this network alive and functioning over many years (and many lifetimes), secret societies need to be constantly recruiting more pawns.

Secret Societies are portrayed as selecting the elite for membership, weeding out the chaff, as it were, and grooming members for a greater role in the world. They posture themselves as having the key to success, wealth, power, wisdom or fame in order to appear attractive to new recruits. They are able to place their members into high social positions. They watch out for each other’s backs and help each other out in difficult situations. They build on the strength of loyalty and commitment to a higher purpose.

Secret societies are often characterized by initiation rituals that are (to most people) degrading or humiliating, as well as by secret signs, handshakes and symbols that are revealed to members as they advance in rank within. But have you ever wondered why they do these things? Or, who are these societies really weeding out, and who are they really accepting?

They are really weeding out the nonconformists, i.e., independent people who think for themselves. Who they are really accepting is the conformists, people who willingly submit their own wills to the will of another, and are willing to be manipulated because they thing they will gain something from it. That is why they are useful idiots, or dupes. They submit their wills to the will of persons often unknown, unseen, in locations undisclosed, to accomplish purposes that are untold.

Most of them are trading material benefits now in this life, and sacrificing eternal life in the hereafter. It is a shortsighted trade-off. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mk. 8:36). Yet, there seems to be no shortage of people willing to make this deal.

You see, the members of secret societies don’t have to be evil to be useful. They can be nice, pleasant people who are good members of society and religious folk. They just have to be willing and submissive to be useful. And the people who are the most submissive are the ones who are the most ignorant of the kingdom of darkness and how it uses them as pawns. Nice, pleasant, submissive and ignorant – the exact qualifications of every ideal church congregation. I mean, what minister or priest wants a congregation full of unsubmissive, independent thinkers? I’ve never met one. Which makes your average church congregation a fertile ground for finding recruits, sadly.

Especially with Freemasonry Scottish Rite, going through 33 degrees of rank requires learning gestures, symbols, signs and code words specific to each degree. The gestures and signs are not themselves significant – but as one advances in rank, they must continually, and increasingly, conform to instructions without question, perform the ritual exactly as given to them, and submit to the will of others. The ultimate expectation, of course, is that at some crucial point in time they will be called on to follow instructions, without deviation, without knowing who the instructions originally came from, but most importantly of all, without question. They are merely pawns – useful idiots to carry out a coordinated effort.

It can be argued that dark and sinister forces are the source of these instructions, but the tenets of Freemasonry, and I suspect other secret societies as well, are specifically designed to hide the true meaning of things, even from the members of the society. Thus, even if the upper-most echelon of Freemasonry was engaged in devil worship, the masses of members wouldn’t know it. They are mere pawns who are ultimately expendable, because members can always be replaced. Which is why recruitment of new members is continually ongoing. Every member of a secret society can be, and eventually will be, replaced. Only the dark purposes are permanent – the people are expendable.

GAME OF THRONES

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. (Rev. 19:11-14).

The stage is almost set for the grand battle between good and evil, between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. The Devil has had time to put his plans into action, and aided by technology he is more ready than ever before to launch his final assault on the kingdom of God. We know scripture has a lot to say about the scenario that will play out in the end times. What will be the role of the Devil’s pawns during that time? What do the scriptures say?

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” (Mt. 24:3-5).

The very first thing Jesus says when He is asked when He will return, is don’t be led astray. In other words, guard against succumbing to the delusion that holds everyone else, i.e., don’t stay in the matrix that blinds the rest of the world. Penetrate the deception, and break free from the matrix. People will try to fool you – don’t you be fooled. The kingdom of darkness is not your friend – it only brings destruction.

And the Devil’s tool of choice will be false religion. Do you want to know what to do? Don’t follow the crowd. Don’t seek political correctness or religious acceptance from the powers that control the world. Don’t follow the influencers on social media. Only the chosen few, as it were, will see the truth and choose the path that leads to life. And who are these many people – the crowd – who do not find the way that leads to life? They are the Devil’s pawns.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Mt. 24:7-8).

Aren’t all of these things happening right now, with increasing frequency? Is there any doubt that this scripture has already been fulfilled, and the birth pains have begun? Truly I say unto you, the kingdom of darkness is on the move.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” (Mt. 24:9). “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” (Lk. 21:16-17).

Have you ever asked yourself (regarding Mt. 24:9), who is they? They’ will persecute you, hate you, and kill you, you who don’t conform to the mass of humanity in either political or religious matters (which of course will be one and the same). But who are they? Luke answers the question – they will be your family, your friends and your neighbors. Not merely government officials, or the secret police, per se. But the people closest to you, who know the most about you, and who can easily observe (spy on) you. The people you think will protect you, won’t. The Devil’s pawns will be the civilians all around you. Think Nazi Germany, only ten times worse.

Notice the change in scope, as well. Jesus said the wars, famines and earthquakes will be in various places. But the persecution and hatred will be in all nations – in other words, everywhere. There will be no escape. Fleeing to another country will do you no good. This will all be made possible, of course, as a result of the establishment of a one world government and the practical eradication of national borders. Do you still think globalization is a good thing? Just wait.

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Mt. 24:10-12).

We started out this section by asking what role the Devil’s pawns will have in the end times. Well, here it is. Every time you see the word many, just think of them. The Devil’s pawns will fall away (leave true faith), and betray and hate one another. The Devil’s pawns will be led astray (deceived and deluded). The Devil’s pawns will become lawless and lose any love they had. Who are they again? Oh right – everyone you know, basically. Everyone wants to be on the winning side.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:13-14). “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (Lk. 21:12-13).

This gospel of the kingdom” – what gospel is that again? Well sure, it might very well include the good news of how to pierce the deception and leave the matrix by accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ – possibly. But think about it. If someone does that, at that time, when world persecution of Christians means almost instant death, what would be the incentive to do that? No one will want to become an immediate target of persecution. However, people might very well be looking for an escape. Recall that Jesus is speaking here in Mt. 24 in response to the question, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

In other words, the disciples are asking about, and Jesus is talking about, the Second Coming. The gospel of the kingdom must relate to the Second Coming. And what the gospel of the kingdom has to offer is hope – not merely a far-off distant hope in the indefinite future, but a certain hope in the near term. “This will all be over very shortly. Jesus is coming back and He will destroy all this kingdom of darkness nonsense and put everything right. And when He does that, very soon, you will be rewarded with eternal life and a place in his kingdom.” That will be the incentive.

So when Luke says, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness,” people will bear witness of what? The Gospel of the Kingdom. And this gospel will be proclaimed worldwide. However, this does not mean anywhere near a majority of people will believe the gospel. At least four times in Revelation we are told that people, in spite of being told the truth, given an opportunity to choose Christ, and being stricken with severe plagues for aligning with the Devil, will not repent. (Rev. 9:20,21; 16:9,11).

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. (Rev. 16:12). “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. (Rev. 9:14b-16).

What we have here is a description of 200,000,000 unrepentant pawns of the Devil who, having seen the kingdom of darkness at its worst, and having been exposed to the gospel of the kingdom, will nonetheless choose the Devil rather than Christ, and choose to wage war on God and Jerusalem. It won’t be because they haven’t been told the truth. It won’t be because of a lack of education or information. Instead, brutes that they are, “these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.” (Jud. 1:10). Not merely pawns, but minions, all.

Do Minions Have Dominion?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. … Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:5,10).

“And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” (Lk. 21:9).

Have you ever wondered why international conflicts (wars) will be one of the earliest signs that the end times are near? This is not mere anarchy, where the social fabric disintegrates and chaos results. This is organized conflict, where armies and navies are sent against each other following orders from the top. Although, these wars are not likely to make very much sense – rather than resolving conflicts, they are more likely to prolong them, and rather than bringing peace, they are likely to provoke more wars. Resulting in an escalation of global hostilities, in other words.

I suggest what is going on here (in part) is that the Devil, who has long orchestrated and manipulated the actions and movements of nations and governments, is flexing his muscles. He is preparing the nations of the world for a larger conflict like a world war, by whipping them all into a fighting frenzy. He is getting them ready to wage the consummate battle against God and Jerusalem. All this will come before the Tribulation begins.

After the Tribulation begins, the Devil will also, through the actions of his chief agent the Antichrist, as leader of the beast kingdom, wage a calculated war campaign to achieve specific goals of conquest. I will not go into the details of these various battles and wars here. If you are interested, the war campaigns of the Antichrist are described in Daniel chapters 7, 8 and 11, which I discuss in Part 4 of Politics & Prophecy: A Lawyer’s View of the End Times. And of course, neither the Devil nor the Antichrist will fight on the front lines of any of these wars – the fighting will be done by the Devil’s minions, who are expendable.

We already know from the prior section that a worldwide persecution of the people of God is coming. Yes, this will be carried out in part by relatives, friends and neighbors ratting people out to the authorities, but it will also take place via a concerted governmental effort. Thus, prophecy indicates that the Antichrist will make war against the saints and prevail over them, and wear the saints out. (Dan. 7:21, 25). Similarly, Dan. 8:24 indicates the Antichrist will “destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.”

You might think, and perhaps the Devil’s minions will think, that because they will be able to prevail against the saints and destroy them, their chances of prevailing over God will be pretty good when they launch their final offensive against Jerusalem. Needless to say, they will be in for a bit of a shock. As scripture tells us, “You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.” (Eze. 38:9). But, it will not end well for them.

Just as the Devil’s minions are ready to strike, disaster will befall them. “I will summon a sword against Gog [i.e., probably the Devil] on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur.” (Eze. 38:21-22).

First, the Devil’s minions will turn on each other. Then, judgment will fall from the sky. Finally, the armies of the Antichrist will be consumed by fire. (Eze. 39:6). And what eventually becomes of the Devil’s minions? They will all become bird food. “You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.” (Eze. 39:4). Or, as Revelation says,

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” (Rev. 19:17-18. See also, Eze. 39:17-20.)

Yes, they’re all going to be killed, from the greatest to the least. No matter the minion, death is one size fits all. There will be no rewards for the wicked, not in this life, and there won’t be 70 virgins apiece for them in the afterlife either. And it only gets worse for them. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Rev. 14:11). The totality of their dominance will be a brief 3½ years, as compared to the eternity of their torment. So much for the dominion of minions.

GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. … For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. (Ps. 37:1-2,9-10).

The Devil himself won’t fare any better than his many followers – in fact, his destiny will be exactly the same as theirs.

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. … Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:10,14-15).

Actually, since the Devil is exceptionally wicked, his torment will also be somewhat exceptional. Only of the Devil does the scripture tell us what will happen after he arrives at the lake of fire.

“All [the kings of the earth] will answer and say to you: You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’ Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers. How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! … But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’ All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot.” (Isa. 14:10-12, 15-19).

Wow – what an epitaph. To have aspired all of his life to be the ruler of heaven and earth, only to find out in death that he will be the object of ridicule and scorn by all of his followers for eternity.

And what of his legacy – what will become of his kingdom of darkness? Dan. 7:11 compares the final version of the kingdom of darkness (the one with “ten horns” ruled by the Antichrist) to a beast, whose body is destroyed and is given over to be burned with fire. Similarly, Dan. 2:35 says that all of the historic versions of the kingdom of darkness will be broken in pieces, and become “like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found.” In other words, a complete obliteration. The kingdom of darkness will have no legacy.

Thus, all of the goals and ambitions of the Devil will be overcome by the success of the kingdom of God and His Christ.

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. … And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Dan. 7:13-14, 27).

This, again, is the gospel of the kingdom. The kingdom of darkness will be utterly destroyed, and the kingdom of God will be established forever. No matter how dark the days become, no matter how much evil is prospering, no matter how much the Devil and his pawns appear to be winning, it is all a temporary illusion. God will never abandon His people, and He will never forget the earth. He will redeem them both, for as Jesus said repeatedly, the one who endures to the end will be saved. “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12).

Never, ever give in, or give up.

First:   The Nature and Progress of the Kingdom of Darkness
Second:   Spiritual Warfare and the Devil Needs More Pawns


ENDNOTES

*     Copyright © 2021 Gerald R. Thompson. All rights reserved. Used by permission. All Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version except where noted.