‘Take heed, that no man deceives you’ (Matt 24:4). Do you believe Jesus is the only ‘way’ or there are many paths to the summit of salvation? Is Jesus of the bible, the same Jesus who is esteemed in modern culture or is there an occultic imposter waiting in the wings? In this controversial broadcast, Carl answers these questions and then some. The resurgence of Gnosticism in our day and age, has urged Carl to highlight the many proponents of this deceptive doctrine, in this broadcast. Join Carl now, as he pulls no punches in the ongoing fight for truth in our increasingly ecumenical society…
Here is a complete transcript of the broadcast (below)…
Friend, our podcast today takes a dark turn. In this segment, we will discuss the prevalence of ‘another Gospel,’ or rather ‘another Jesus,’ the Jesus of the Occult. This false Jesus pushes the popular and deceptive ecumenical doctrine, that Christ is not the only way to heaven. The Bible is clear however, that Christ is the only way, in John’s gospel, chapter fourteen, verse six and Acts chapter four, verse twelve, amongst other passages. Take it or leave it. The redefinition of Christ to suit any personal agenda, is in fact a repackaging of the lies which were sown during the Church’s inception. These so-called Gnostics, purvey heretical doctrine in true opposition to the earthly incarnation of Christ whom the apostles looked upon, handled, and bore witness to.
In fact, Gnosticism was so rife during the first three centuries, that it nearly stifled the church altogether…but God. The definition of Gnosticism, is erroneous to begin with. It is a dualistic system of religious thinking, with conceptual links to Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Hellenistic philosophy. The goal of a gnostic is salvation through gnōsis, which is the Greek word for knowledge. The cosmological dualism in Gnosticism consists of the divide working between the good, spiritual world and the evil, material world or so they claim. Key texts of Gnosticism reveal a highly developed mythology focused on ancient figures who revealed secret knowledge. The trouble is, the spiritual world isn’t just good and the material world isn’t just bad. It is from deceptive spirits within the spiritual realm, these Gnostics seek knowledge in the first place, and are deceived thereby. The Spirit world is comprised of both good and evil forces, which are diametrically opposed, not working together for the ‘greater good,’ which is often purveyed in modern fantasy depictions, such as Star Wars, The Marvel Universe and so on.
Once again friend, it is through knowledge instead of saving grace, as with all cults, that salvation is sought, yet we know salvation can only be attained through the atoning sacrifice of Christ and His blood. The freemasons, Zoroaster’s, Christian Scientists, Nicolaitans, Scientologists, Theosophists, Kabbalists etc., all claim salvation, via secret knowledge or by futile works. The Gnostics of old as is the case today, seek to allegorize or mythologize scripture, thereby undermining God’s Word. Because there is no central authority or canon of scripture in their eyes, the Gnostics teach a bewildering variety of views, which is as varied as the number and constitution of the demons, who authored them.
Now, the Epistles of John and Timothy speak strongly against Gnosticism which was burgeoning in the Apostle Paul’s day and its agenda is fourfold:
- Spiritualizing by metaphor the Old Testament, thereby equating it to mythology.
- Redefining Christian terminology, in order to dilute its potency.
- Substituting an impersonal God for the Almighty God.
- Reducing Jesus Christ to a demigod, on par with others of the false god pantheon.
The question I pose to you today friend, is the very same question Christ posed to the Apostle Peter. Jesus asks you, “Whom do you say that I am?” It is a question of identity. In Christ’s day some speculated Jesus was john the Baptist or Elijah come back to life. Yet Jesus commended Peter for the rock of confession that Jesus was the Christ, son of the living God. What say you friend? Down through the ages, men who’ve rejected the gospel, or fled from it, became enemies of God including secular philosophers, occultists and even historians, who paint the truth in a heretical light.
Indeed, the Apostle Paul’s warning is pointed, and found in 2 Corinthians 11:4, “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might submit to it readily enough.” Paul is saying here, be careful some will come, preaching Jesus but it isn’t the Jesus of the Bible, no it is a ‘false Jesus’ or ‘another’ Jesus all together. The false Jesus is draped in rainbow colors, embraces all religions, freely fornicates, can keep up with the drunk at the end of the bar, smokes a little weed now and again, is accepting of all behavior and reeks of ecumenicity. The false Jesus has no moral code and labels those who do, as bigots. You could say he’s the coolest cat on the block and liked by all. You see friend, Jesus is such an enigmatic figure in history that he garners not only attention, but demands a characterization of who he really is. As Josh McDowell likes to say, ‘Jesus is either a lunatic, liar or the real thing.’ To the Christian, He is the God of the universe, who came to take away the sins of the world but to the Gnostic, he is merely another spiritual entity. By relegating Jesus to myth, which is a Gnostic tendency, the culmination is an undermining of the authenticity of the New Testament and a fashioning of Christ, in man’s own image. For those who refuse to acknowledge their sins, Jesus must be reshaped, to suit their lifestyle, as a final act of rebellion on their part.
To the average person, Christ may have been a knowledgeable man of esteemed character, but not the Son of God as He claimed. To the scientologist, Christ was a member of the cult of the Essenes and believed in reincarnation. To the new ager, Christ or Christhood, represents the divine potential in us all, which may be obtained by reaching the state of Nirvana. To the Ufologists, Christ is merely an alien or space brother, who visited us in the distant past and who will once again return as the Maitreya, the progenitor of us all. To the Spiritist or Necromancer, Christ is merely another medium who came from the spirit world and contacted deceased spirits, during his time on earth. You see the false Jesus is a popular figure these days and can shapeshift to suit all cultures and false beliefs. He is very accommodating
Down the years, there have been quite a few, spiritist’s, occultists and philosophers who’ve attempted to refashion Christ in their own image and the list is long: Johannes Trithemius of the 16th century, contacted angels, and performed magical invocations to summon Jesus from the dead. Then came a mystical kabbalist, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, a contemporary of Trithemius, and an influential German philosopher who taught a particular magic in the name Jesus. Emmanuel Swedenborg of the 17th century, founder of the church of New Jerusalem who taught astral projection, spirit contact, and communed with spirit entities from the planets Venus and Jupiter. Then we have the infamous Helena Blavatsky co-founder of the Theosophical Society, author of Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine, who incidentally has an entire podcast to herself, that would be episode 38, you can check it out when you have the time. Then we have Levi Dowling, of the 20th century, a physician and preacher, who had a reoccurring vision to ‘build a white city,’ which led him down esoteric and occult paths. His writings included the so called, lost eighteen years of Jesus life where he visited India, Tibet, Persia, Assyria, Greece, and Egypt.
Alice Bailey another theosophist who through automatic writing contacted Djwal Khul, a demonic entity known as ‘the Tibetan.’ Incidentally, Bailey’s writings were highly influential for the United Nations founding documents. Guy and Edna Ballard, circa 20th century, also members of the Theosophical Society, both believed they were reincarnated and made Jesus Christ one of the members of the Great White Brotherhood of Ascended Masters. Harvey Lewis and Max Heindel, founders of the Rosicrucian Fellowship claimed Jesus was of Aryan descent, born of Gentile parents, never died on the cross, having Aryan blood flowing through his veins. They also claimed that Christ was a reincarnation of a spirit energy, which had visited the earth on several prior occasions…ok
Edgar Cayce, known as the ‘sleeping prophet,’ because he received his demonic communications in a trance like or sleep state, was another who claimed Christ was reincarnated many times over. Cayce also suggested Jesus studied astrology in his formative years and was educated in India, Persia, and Egypt. Benjamin Crème a New Age student of Theosophy, who surprised the world in 1982, claiming that ‘Christ is now here,’ left us all disappointed. To Crème, the spirit of the Christ or Christhood, lies dormant in every man and woman, waiting to be revived as we come to the full knowledge of godhood. And the list goes on and on with fantastical stories of misguided men and women, with corrupted minds, chatting with demons and sharing their findings. These include; Dolores Nowicki, Linda Goodman, Mary Alice Kemrey, Helen Schuman, David Spangler, Jane Roberts, Elizabeth Clare, Paul Twitchell, Charles Boyd Gentzel, Pauline Sharpe, Claude Vorilhon, William Sadler, Chelsea Yarbro, Patricia Crowther, Jeanne Dixon, Mary Browne (who claimed Jesus was merely a psychic and nothing more), and Anton and Howard Levey, authors of the Satanic Bible. And just so you are aware of the immeasurable disdain Anton Levey had for our savior Jesus Christ, he penned these vile words, “I dip my forefinger in the watery blood of your impotent mad redeemer, and write over his thorn-torn brow; The TRUE prince of evil-the king of slaves.” And friend if you’ve ever listened to the firsthand account of Levey’s dying words, you will know, he is paying a very hefty price for this blasphemy in Hellfire right now. And finally, we have Judy Knight, and Judith Hampton, founders of the Ramtha school of Enlightenment, which brings the light of Lucifer, to all its followers.
Friend, I’m sure I’ve bored your socks off, with this list of Gnostics who’ve bypassed the Roman Road to salvation and concocted their own path to eternity, which was no doubt influenced by intimate liaisons with demonically, deceptive entities, sent to beguile them. We are all eternal beings, that is not up for discussion, yet we will one day find ourselves either eternally damned or basking in the glory of eternity with Christ. The question is, which Christ? Beware, beware friend, that no one deceives you in this day and hour. If Jesus appears to you in the dusk light of your bedroom, ask Him for his driver’s license. We must assuredly, know the Christ we serve, is the Christ of the Bible and that is why you must become acquainted with God’s word. In truth there is a historical and factual foundation to Christianity which cannot be argued. The truth is on our side and the facts back them up. But it is essential in any theological discussion that we define terms to begin with. Let’s make sure we are all talking about the same Christ, before we go skipping down the road singing, ‘kumbaya’, hand in hand.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we find Jesus as a Christ but the Christ. Biblically, the word Christ is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew Term, Messiah. New Agers claim we are all Christ’s in our own right and there is no one true Christ. This is a lie. The Apostle John rebuts these claims saying, “Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Whoever denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist” 1st John 2:22. John later goes on to say that believing in Jesus as ‘the Christ’ is the reason he wrote his gospel in the first place, “But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” John 20:31. Jesus was ‘the’ Messiah, not a Messiah. Jesus warned us, when he said, “Many will come in my name saying, “I am the Christ” and will deceive many (Mat 24:5). He then went on to say, “Then if anyone says, look, here is the Christ, do not believe it” (Mat 24:23). In the occult, there are many Christs, but the reality is, there is only one Christ or Messiah and that is Jesus of Nazareth. False Christ’s and false prophets are replete in our time and a hallmark of the end of the age. We must be on guard, friend. In truth, Christhood for the occultist is merely the attainment of a higher consciousness which is available to all of us, whether through, astral projection, psychedelic drugs, spirit contact, leprechaun hunting or whatever means necessary. It has nothing to do with absolving our sinful nature.
Jesus performed miracles, but he was no conjurer or apparition, he rose from the dead but was never reincarnated, and he was sinless, never sinful. He was the Christ, not a Christ. Jesus was fully God and fully man, united uniquely in one person. Jesus will soon return to this earth in his flesh and bone body, the same way he left this earth, almost two thousand years ago. I urge you friend, to hang on to the blessed hope of his return and remain true to Gods word in the meantime. Do not be deceived. Jesus is the Christ.
https://carljosephministries.com/podcast/theosophy-doctrine-of-devils/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/new-age-jesus/
Title: Jesus of the Occult
Bibliography:
Douglas Mangum and E. Tod Twist, 1 Timothy, ed. Douglas Mangum and Derek R. Brown, Lexham Research Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), 1 Ti 1:4.
Edwin M. Yamauchi, “Gnosis, Gnosticism,” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 352.
Michael Green, Who is This Jesus? Grand Rapids, 2005.
Alan Gomes, Truth and Error, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1995.
Walter Martin Essential Christianity (eBook)
Walter Martin Kingdom of the Cults Minneapolis, Bethany House, 2005.
Related keyword searches:
Is Jesus the only way
Is Christ the only way
Is Jesus the only way to heaven
Kingdom of cults
Another gospel
Another Jesus
Fake Jesus
Gnosticism
Gnostics
what is a cult
Edgar Cayce
Alice Bailey
Six Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is Jesus of the Bible the same Jesus we see in modern culture?
No, the Jesus of the Bible is the unique, sinless Son of God who offers salvation through His atoning sacrifice. Modern culture often portrays a distorted version of Jesus—sometimes as a moral teacher, a spiritual guru, or even an impersonal cosmic force—reflecting ideas influenced by occult, New Age, or Gnostic beliefs rather than biblical truth.
2. What is the danger of the ‘Jesus of the Occult’ or ‘another Jesus’?
The ‘Jesus of the Occult’ is a false figure that promotes ideas contrary to biblical salvation, such as salvation through secret knowledge (gnōsis) or spiritual enlightenment apart from Christ’s sacrifice. This false Jesus often embraces relativism, ecumenism, and immoral behavior, undermining the true gospel that Christ alone is the way to salvation (John 14:6).
3. What is Gnosticism, and why is it considered a threat to Christian faith?
Gnosticism is an ancient belief system that emphasizes salvation through secret knowledge and divides the world into a good spiritual realm and an evil material realm. It denies the true humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ and reinterprets scripture to fit its agenda. Early church leaders and apostles like John and Paul warned against it because it distorts the gospel and confuses believers.
4. Why is it important to recognize the true Christ rather than a ‘false Christ’?
Recognizing the true Christ is crucial because only through Him can one receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. False Christs, who deny Jesus’ divinity or reduce Him to a mere spiritual guide, lead people away from salvation and into spiritual deception. The Bible warns us to be vigilant because many false Christs and false prophets will appear (Matthew 24:5, 23-24).
5. How do modern occult and New Age teachings distort the identity of Jesus?
Many occult and New Age teachings recast Jesus as a myth, a reincarnated guru, a cosmic being, or one among many ‘ascended masters.’ These views reject His unique incarnation, sinless nature, and resurrection. They promote self-salvation through enlightenment or hidden knowledge rather than through faith in the biblical Christ.
6. What is the biblical foundation for salvation, and how does it contrast with Gnostic or occult beliefs?
Biblical salvation is founded solely on grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not earned by secret knowledge, good works, or spiritual experiences. Gnostic and occult beliefs seek salvation through knowledge, spiritual power, or reincarnation, all of which are rejected by scripture as false and deceptive paths.
Carl is an authority. He is a biblical scholar, minister, author, husband, father, and life coach. In his mid-twenties he had a powerful encounter with God and saw miraculous healings as a result. Carl is a unique researcher who investigates current affairs, societal trends, prophecy, technology, cults, and end time events, all through a biblical lens.
Carl holds a Doctorate in Theology (Th D). His Alma Mata includes: Salford University, Manchester, UK, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK, Rhema Bible Training College (Tulsa), and Southwestern Christian University (Oklahoma City).
Carl Joseph Ministries empowers believers in Christ to fulfill their God given potential. Join Carl every other Monday on the Lions Unchained Podcast, available on Spotify, iTunes and other mainstream platforms.
He currently resides in Colorado, with his lovely wife Amy, and their three children.
