TTUF Review of – DOCTOR STRANGE: A Visitation Into Mysticism

~ By James Fire

To ILLUMINE The NAUGHTY

On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1^st 2014 the book, Illuminatiam:The First Testament Of The Illuminati  was published, for all the world to read. When I first learned of this, I was stunned, for I knew enough about this startlingly secret society to know that they would never reveal their full-disclosure themselves, until the world was prepared (by them) to receive them.

“Fear not for your war-stricken, poverty-ridden planet: help is on the way. The Illuminati's path for humanity--our Universal Design--has spanned throughout centuries to safeguard the human species from extinction. As this age of War comes to an end, the new dawn will usher in a society where all people, in all places, can live in Abundance. 

“Now is the time to prepare. Open your mind to learn of the power that gives authority to kings and queens but lives hidden inside every human. The Illuminati's first testament is your life's guide to all that is ahead: 

- Revelations about the Illuminati's role in history
- Decades-old secrets of wealth and prosperity
- How to join the Illuminati in the coming age
- Your true purpose in this world.”

. . . when they were ready to launch their plan for humanity – which would lead to their ‘new age’ and the World Teacher who would inspire the world to embrace its own godhood. 

With the release of this book, I knew that the recruitment of souls would only increase to fever-pitch, and what better means of recruitment than a dramatic presentation ala Hollywood cinema?

This factory of fanciful fiction, that has so successfully captured the visions of the J.K. Rowling stories of Harry Potter, has also produced another current series by Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (and countless other films of fantasy, gods, vampires and what not) which is released alongside of Doctor Strange, the film that we will examine today on The TRUTH Under FIRE.

STRANGE VISITATIONS

The Geek in me is showing again – because I was so drawn to comic book heroes, both from DC comics and Marvel with their fantastical powers and abilities, I was no less fascinated by Dr. Strange and his world of magic. This may well have prompted me along the way to seeking out occult knowledge myself (though assuredly not everyone who reads Harry Potter or Dr. Strange does so). Such a story would however at the least make the curious mind more open to investigation if not participation.

Admittedly when I learned that there would be a Dr. Strange film, I was drawn once again – but not because of its theme of mystical arts; as one who once dabbled into these murky waters, I know of its nature and it by no means is wholesome, much less holy. 

And I always have found the story of the powerful and proud being broken, transformed into a human of humility, and come away from the experience as one who was once selfish and egotistical to one who has become a servant to man, caring with sacrificial dedication, to be compelling and engaging. Cumberbatch's extraordinary acting skills made this story all the more potent.

I recognized that Hollywood would have yet another recruiting tool in drawing people into such knowledge, just as many children have looked into, and perhaps even explored witchcraft or some such mysticism, or simply become more sympathetic to such views, as a result of becoming such avid fans of Harry Potter: 

ALLUREMENT THROUGH LITERATURE

Berit Kjos, author of Brave New Schools, founder of Crossroads ministry comments:

“Books such as the Harry Potters series fit, because they reinforce the global and occult perspective. Page after exciting page brings the reader into the timeless battle between good and evil, then trains them to see the opposing forces from a pagan, not a Biblical perspective. In this mystical realm, "good" occult spirits are naturally pitted against bad occult spirits, just as in pagan cultures where frightened victims would offer sacrifices to "benevolent" spirits who could help ward off evil curses and other threats. Few readers realize that from the Biblical perspective, all occult forces are dangerous. But today, it seems more tolerant and exciting to believe this illusion than to oppose the lies (emphasis mine). The words of Old Testament prophet Isaiah ring as true now as they did over 2000 years ago: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…." (ISAIAH 5:20).

Children don’t read Harry Potter merely to reach the conclusion and resolve the suspense. Many read the books over and over because they delight in identifying with the "good" wizards in this newly discovered world -- and sometimes even with the obviously evil wizards. They build memories based on felt experiences in an occult virtual reality, and they are desensitized to the danger. The talent and knowledge of the author makes this seductive world all the more believable. Just ponder these diverse bits of wizard philosophy:”

THE FANCY OF REALITY – The Film Explained

Now onto our examination of the film, Doctor Strange as told by Wikipedia (an abbreviation; to read the entire article, go here:

“In Kathmandu, Nepal, the sorcerer Kaecilius and his zealots enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and murder its librarian, keeper of ancient and mystical texts. They steal a ritual from a book belonging to the Ancient One, a sorcerer who has lived for an unknown [amount of] time and taught all at Kamar-Taj, including Kaecilius, in the ways of the mystic arts. The Ancient One pursues the traitors, but Kaecilius escapes with the pages and some of his followers.

“Stephen Strange, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, loses the use of his hands in a car accident. Fellow surgeon and former lover Christine Palmer tries to help him move on, but Strange, firmly believing he can regain use of his hands, instead uses all his resources pursuing experimental surgeries in vain. After learning of Jonathon Pangborn, a paraplegic who mysteriously was able to walk again, Strange seeks him out, and is directed to Kamar-Taj. There, Strange is taken in by another sorcerer under the Ancient One, Mordo. The Ancient One shows Strange her power, revealing the astral plane and other dimensions such as the Mirror Dimension. Amazed, Strange begs her to teach him, and she eventually agrees despite his arrogance, which reminds her of Kaecilius.

“Strange begins his tutelage under the Ancient One and Mordo, and learns from the ancient books in the library, now presided over by the master Wong. Strange learns that Earth is protected from other dimensions by a spell formed from three buildings called Sanctums, found in New York City, London, and Hong Kong [See note* directly beneath this synopsis of the film].  The task of the sorcerers is to protect the Sanctums, though Pangborn chose to forgo this responsibility in favor of channeling mystical energy into walking again. Strange advances quickly over several months, even secretly reading from the text Kaecilius stole from and learning to bend time with the mystical Eye of Agamotto. Mordo and Wong warn Strange against breaking the laws of nature, comparing his arrogant yearning for power to that of Kaecilius, who believes, after the deaths of his loved ones, that everyone should have eternal life.

“Kaecilius and his followers use the stolen pages to begin summoning the powerful Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, where time does not exist and all can live forever. This destroys the London Sanctum, and sends Strange from Kamar-Taj to the New York Sanctum. The zealots then attack there, where Strange holds them off with the mystical Cloak of Levitation until Mordo and the Ancient One arrive. Strange and Mordo become disillusioned with the Ancient One after Kaecilius reveals that her long life has come from her own use of Dormammu's power. Kaecilius mortally wounds the Ancient One, and escapes to Hong Kong. The Ancient One tells Strange that he, too, will have to break the rules, to balance Mordo's steadfast nature. She then dies, despite the best efforts of Strange and a bewildered Palmer. Strange and Mordo arrive in Hong Kong to find Wong dead and the Sanctum destroyed, with the Dark Dimension already engulfing Earth. Strange uses the Eye to turn back time and save Wong, before creating an infinite time loop inside the Dark Dimension that traps himself and Dormammu in the same moment forever. After killing Strange many times to no avail, Dormammu reluctantly agrees to leave Earth if Strange undoes the time loop, taking Kaecilius and the zealots with him.

“Disgusted by Strange and the Ancient One's disregard for the consequences of defying nature, Mordo departs. Strange returns the Eye, which Wong calls an Infinity Stone, to Kamar-Taj, and then takes up residence in the New York Sanctum to continue his studies. In a mid-credits scene, Strange agrees to help Thor, who has brought his brother Loki to Earth to search for their father Odin. In a post-credits scene, Mordo confronts Pangborn and steals the energy he uses to walk, stating that Earth has ‘too many sorcerers’.”

 *    In the Dr. Strange film there are three points on the Earth that are ‘spiritual polarities of protection’, as it were, located in New York, London and Japan. In like manner, the Illuminati have established three points on Earth that represent the three different powers under their command (Please note that we at TTUF do not necessarily agree with all of the assertions made in the preceding link to The Global Elite web site) – these are located in the District of Columbia (Military power center), London (the Financial power center) . . .  and Vatican City (the Religious power center). I find the parallelism rather intriguing . . .

The film feels like an amalgam of Batman Begins (a DC character aka Bruce Wayne with actor Christian Bale) and Iron Man (Marvel, with actor Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man).
Like Bruce Wayne – who travels the world in an exploration of human nature, and eventually ends up in Tibet to learn the secrets of The League of Shadows, their martial skills as well as the birthing of an elemental mythos that becomes the Batman – Doctor Stephen Strange is on a quest of his own – just as Tony Stark needed an electro-magnet to keep the shrapnel from a missile constructed by his own military contract company Stark Industries, Stephen needs to find a way to repair his irreparable hands. Where Stark used technology, Strange used mystical power.

Strange also shares a similarly charismatic, egotistical personality as Stark, and likewise is quite wealthy. It was fascinating to watch Benedict Cumberbatch in this role, as he played the part with perfect balance between a mild megalomania and amiability. Strange is a fiercely independent and powerful man accustomed to success and getting his own way – a mighty man indeed who for all his pride, falls tragically to a state of disability and is humbled. Using the last of his finances, he desperately seeks a medical/scientific means to heal his hands . . . and ultimately fails.

There is one chance left – when he hears of a paraplegic who ‘miraculously’ cures himself, and witnesses this man shooting hoops with some friends – he directs the doctor to Kamar-Taj and this is where his journey into the mystical begins.

THE REALITY OF FANCY

When he seeks counsel from the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), she tells him that his reality is simply “one of many”.

She states: “You're a man looking at the world through a keyhole. You've spent your whole life trying to widen that keyhole. To see more. To know more. And now on hearing that it can be widened, in ways you can't imagine, you reject the possibility.”

To which he replies: “No, I reject it because I do not believe in fairy tales about chakras or energy or the power of belief. There is no such thing as spirit! We are made of matter and nothing more. We're just another tiny, momentary speck in an indifferent universe.”

But then the Ancient One introduces him to other dimensions by first, striking him with a ‘psychic punch’ that knocks his soul from his body in a feat of astral projection; then by opening his third eye, allows him to experience a ‘quite trippy’ series of universes and multi-dimensional planes of reality. On his return from those places, he responds in comical fashion, “What did you put in my tea?”

Later, the Ancient One says, “You think you know how the world works? You think that this material universe is all there is? What is real? What mysteries lie beyond the reach of your senses? At the root of existence, mind and matter meet. Thoughts form reality . . . Through the mystic arts, we harness energy and shape reality.”

And here we have the tension of two philosophies: the one that Strange holds (at the start of the film) is (scientific) materialism:  that we humans are simply ‘meat sacks of thinking matter’ – biological machines; he rejects the notion of spirit and all things ephemeral. The one that the Ancient One holds is mysticism: that everything in the physical plane has a counterpart in the spiritual plane, and that by using the power of mind, one can manipulate the spiritual plane to affect the physical, and vice versa.

Materialism or Modernism has had its pinnacle in the middle of the 20^th century, having been born early in the 19^th – and it’s now giving way to Post-materialism or -modernism, which – now that the biblical God and Gospel have been generally and amply dismissed from the consciousness of society – subjective spiritual beliefs are being re-introduced; where facts are replaced with feelings; information is replaced with intuition; certainty is replaced with speculative philosophies.

Astral Projection, as seen in this film on a few separate occasions, is a technique whereby the astral body or ‘soul’ separates from the body by means of spiritual discipline, learning how to sever the ‘silver thread’ and then re-connect it at the end of the astral journey.

This technique is terribly dangerous because what is actually happening is an altering of consciousness, where one surrenders control over one’s own body and while engaged ‘elsewhere’ (whether the soul actually leaves the body, or it simply is submerged and fed images [of real places and things or imagined] by non-corporeal entities – read that demons), they are opening themselves up to influences, under the control of spirits that are typically leading human beings into these occult arts (these are called spirit guides, or ascended masters, but are actually fallen angelic beings intent on deception).

The other phenomenon is the opening of the Third Eye, (the preceding link is from a secular perspective, but shared here to show how wide spread the symbol of the 'Third Eye' is displayed by so many) which deals with chakras, which is primarily part of the belief systems found in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism and “. . . is thought to be an energy point or node in the subtle body. Chakras are believed to be part of the subtle body, not the physical body, and as such, are the meeting points of the subtle (non-physical) energy channels called nadi. Nadi are believed to be channels in the subtle body through which the life force (prana) (non-physical) or vital energy (non-physical) moves. Various scriptural texts and teachings present a different number of chakras. It's believed that there are many chakras in the subtle human body, according to the tantric texts, but there are seven chakras that are considered to be the most important ones.”

The three most important chakras are the Root Chakra – where what is often known as ‘serpent power’ resides, at the base of our spine (kundalini yoga specializes in this); the Third Eye Chakra, residing in the forehead area involves wisdom, intuition, imagination; and the highest of them all, the Crown Chakra, residing at the crown of the head, involves inner beauty and spiritual connectivity.

The opening of the Third Eye unleashes all sorts of influences that affect our minds, and leads to interaction with spirit beings inimical to our well-being. Yet the Ancient One realized that Stephen Strange would never be convinced of ‘the truth’ until his Third Eye was opened, and so he was, because once he returned from that spiritual voyage, he found himself convinced and kneeling before the Ancient One, breathed out, “teach me!”

The Ancient One said: “At the root of existence, mind and matter meet. Thoughts form reality.”

This is pure Mind Science or SOM (Science of Mind). From the following page of Founder’s Church of Religious Science – A Center for Spiritual Living, we have seven definitional references taken from Ernest Holmes text book on this subject, one of which states:

4. “The Science of Mind, then, is the study of Life and the nature of the laws of thought; the conception that we live in a spiritual Universe; that God is in, through, around and for us (emphasis mine). There is nothing supernatural anywhere, on any plane; that which today seems to us supernatural, after it is understood will be found spontaneously natural.” – SOM p. 75-2
           
The idea of ‘God’ in this case, is not the personal God of the Bible, but the impersonal ‘Force’ or ‘Source’ that is either the higher planes of reality in the Universe(s) it/themselves or an intermingling of ‘God’ and realities.
This is known as pantheism (God is all, all is God) as well as panentheism (God is in all, all is in God). It is a philosophic postulate that many, if not most leaders of the New Spirituality Movement (formerly New Age movement) believes must be adopted by all humanity if we are to evolve into the next stage of humanity, homo noeticus. To neglect to do so could very well lead to the demise of our race, they say.

THEY SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD (ISAIAH 8:20)

On this subject, we have the following article from AMOS37 ministries, written by our beloved brother and colleague, Keith McKenzie:

“Homo noeticus is the next step on the evolutionary ladder which is characterized by extra-sensory perceptions (beyond the 5 senses)–including telepathy What the author of that New Age article is putting forth is the New Age doctrine that man is evolving beyond the 5 senses.  As a Christian this is called demonic channeling.  I totally agree that the spirits that they channel are real, I don’t disagree that they give messages and even have the appearance of wisdom.

“DEUT 13 …. Doing miracles false prophets point to demons!

“How will this transformation take place in the evolution of consciousness… Drugs are the gateway to speed up much of this meditation to make contact with the higher self, powers, masters and spirits.

“See this very well done expose on the true nature of where all this so called energies are coming from and going.  The big set-up by making people highly vulnerable to mass hypnosis and demonic influence.” Luciferic Initiation 

“If you are into the New Age.  It is very dangerous.  Yes, you may be contacting spirits, guides and maybe even masters.  They are demons with far more intellect than ours.  That’s the bait!  They constantly say things to their vessels of communication that are contrary to true biblical teaching.  Like "you are evolving", "you are god".  Ever wonder why that is the thing God showed us in the bible.  He shows us He created all things and then wham, the serpent baits and lies to Adam and Eve.

“The serpent or as the bible calls him ‘the god of this world’ (2 COR 4:4) and the ‘prince of the power of the air’ has today at his disposal.  Radio, T.V., Internet, Hollywood, and a pantheon of evangelists who preach rebellion against the God of the Bible. The Bible warns us that in the end people would be using drugs and practicing witchcraft ("pharmekea" in the Greek).  That is what the New Age is nothing more than witchcraft [or sorcery ala Dr. Strange or wizardry ala Harry Potter] repackaged.”

It is interesting that one of the Sorcerer associates of Strange, Wong, says: “While the Avengers protect the world from physical dangers, we safeguard it against more mystical threats.”

Mind Science would have us believe that our thoughts can enable us to alter this world at will, and this idea has infiltrated the church as well under the guise of the so-called Word-Faith movement. By speaking out one’s words using the power of ‘faith’, this will bring about the desired results of what one is ‘praying’ for.

What is not realized is, this is exactly the same modus operandi of the occultist who will speak a spell or incantation – a series of words, properly spoken and in the correct order, to achieve a desired result.
It’s interesting what the Ancient One told Dr. Strange at one point, dealing with how one uses the mystic arts:

“The Mystic Arts involve drawing energy from dimensions and channelling it for your own use. For a long time, these were known as spells. But if you find that word too antiquated, we can use the term ‘program’ or ‘source code’.”

This feeds into the delusion that we are in possession of the power to exert god-like influences into our world and our lives – if only we could gain the right knowledge, say the right words, learn the precise gestures and articulated movements in casting a spell – or program – or source code. 

When, in reality, we possess no such power; but as we yield to such influences that will ‘do our bidding’ and grant us the illusion of our own empowerment, we will find to our dismay that we are enslaving ourselves to the power of demonic hosts! Therefore, the LORD prohibits any involvement with occult arts in its various forms in the Holy Scriptures.

And just as the Illuminati claims to safeguard humanity from extinction, the New Spiritualists claim to protect the Earth from archaic forms of thinking and belief, that hold tightly to old doctrines from outdated religious books and refuse ‘God’s’ new light and revelation: 

“That God is in us all, and all of us are in God”. The most obvious opponent of these New Spiritualists are biblical Christians, whose beliefs are founded upon just such an “outdated religious book” and vehemently reject such panentheistic beliefs. Many in the New Age who proclaim we are on the verge of a great spiritual awakening, also state that we are being hampered and hindered by those who cling old religions (primarily Christianity).
That God is transcendent and separate from His creation is taught everywhere in Scripture. 

The Revelation of Christ declares that this world will fall under the reign of anti-Christ and that rule will culminate in the plan to destroy Israel once and for all; yet Christ Jesus will intervene and the forces under the Beast will rally against Him (PSALM 2) and seek to defeat the LORD of Glory – certainly a Person that these diabolical forces would see as a ‘mystical threat’.

Could this film in most subtle fashion condition people into thinking that the threat to humanity will come ‘from out there’ just as so many alien invasion films that have been ever so popular in today’s cinema? Certainly, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be perceived by those given over to the strong delusion (2 THESS 2:11) as just such a threat, as He returns from heaven to this rebellious world to lay claim to His rightful rule.

THEY SPEAK AGAINST THIS WORD

There is a deleted scene where Kaecilius enters a church quoting: 

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal, admitting to the priest standing before him that this verse was among his favorite passages, but that it's the only verse that speaks truth in the entire Book.
He says that because while that Book promises eternity (eternal life), it doesn't deliver (and eternal life through Dormammu is precisely the objective that Kaecilious is seeking). Watch this deleted clip:

DOCTOR STRANGE Deleted Scene - Kaecilius Kills Priest 

Kaecilius claims to prove that there is no afterlife by then slaying the priest with his mystical weapons and then says to his corpse: "You see? No afterlife, just death."

However, the Book indeed delivers because of the one event that secular history disregards or even tries to disprove - the resurrection of Jesus Christ (sadly even so called pastors and Christian (in name only) leaders are beginning to deny this fundamental truth in growing numbers). There is no body in that tomb - while other religions have built shrines of the tombs of their founding leaders which contain their remains.

The LORD Jesus Christ has risen - He is risen indeed; and being the author (that is, the one indisputable authority) of eternal salvation (HEB 5:9), Who dwelt in heaven for all eternity and Who will reign there as supreme, to Whom every knee will bow and declare Him LORD to the glory of God the Father (PHIL 2:11) we who express faith in the LORD and in His WORD, may rest assured that the "Book does deliver" and has paid and paved the way to life eternal by the blood of the LAMB!

REVELATION 5:8-10
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

AN AFTERWORD: REGARDING AN AFTER LIFE

Throughout the film the theme of time is brought up both in the dialogue of various characters as well as in symbols and images in the film (primarily watches and clocks) – as well as the theme of our own mortality. The villain Kaecilius is driven to strive against time and death, which has taken (presumably) everyone he has ever cared about; “. . . time kills everything. . . Time is an insult, death is an insult . . . no one should have to die!” Dormammu, the powerful being that dwells outside of time, offers him immortality in exchange for his allegiance, and that is when Kaecilius begins to venture to the Dark Realm (where Dormammu reigns), that alters him and his followers into the villainous foes that we see.

Dr. Strange himself strives against time, for time is of the essence as he deftly operates on one patient after another, in an effort to spare their lives, to stave off their mortal fate – and grant them yet more time in this world. He realizes that his own life, though at its prime, is ticking away with mortal tempo. The entire film plays upon the old adage, “Time waits for no man.”

The Infinity Stone that resides inside of the Eye of Agamotto (The fact that this ‘Eye of Agamotto’ (pictured below) resembles uncannily the All-Seeing Eye (picture seen at left; the preceding link is from a secular perspective, one not shared by this author, but presented here to show how widespread the display of this symbol has permeated our society) of the Illuminati is not, I think, coincidental) is itself an instrument of power that warps,

bends, and redirects the flow of time, and Dr. Strange uses it to defeat his enemies.

For all the powers that these magicians and sorcerers possess, they, like the magicians and sorcerers of the prophet Daniel’s day, can’t provide a true and everlasting solution to the mortality of man – no incantation, no amulet or charm, no instrument of power can bring eternal life of any quality whatsoever to us fallen creatures, ruined in the ravages of the deadly power of sin.

UPDATE: The BEREAN CALL HAS JUST PUBLISHED A Third of Three Articles on "Mysticism And The Coming World Religion" - Read all three articles here:
PART ONE, PART TWO and PART THREE

~~~ end of update

There is of course, the One that defeated sin and death (ROM 8:2; 1 PET 3:18), the LORD Jesus Christ – and His power is Almighty – He is able to save and has done so, for all who will call upon Him in faith:

ROMANS 10:13-16
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?